Frank L. Forlow, A Raw Deal - Part 2

When Frank Forlow left Hicksville after being prosecuted and acquited for forgery and embezzlement, and then embarrassed by a false report in the Cincinnati Enquirer which was printed in many local newspapers of the area, it was unknown whether he could restore his reputation as an attorney or not.  
His plans were go with his wife to her home in Joplin, Missouri, and then perhaps back to Huntington, Indiana, to set up a new practice in 1893, when the article appeared.

In fact, Frank Forlow became so well-known and esteemed that his biography appeared in both the Missouri History Encyclopedia and the History of Jasper County, Missouri. He left the raw deal behind him and forged a new, successful life and career.

From the Missouri History Encyclopedia, 1901, Vol. 2, pp. 486-487:

"Forlow, Frank Leslie, lawyer, was born in Hicksville Township, Defiance County, Ohio, October 31, 1858, son of Amos and Eliza (Myers) Forlow.  His parents were still living on the farm in Defiance County which has been their hoe for more than half a century.  Mr. Forlow's paternal ancestors were natives of Ireland, members of the family locating in America prior to the Revolution, and his great-grandmother was a descendant of a German family, members of which were also among the pioneers of America.

Mr. Forlow lived on his father's farm and attended the country schools in the neighborhood until he was fifteen years old, when he entered the public schools of Hicksville, Ohio, where he completed the course, after which he entered the Northwestern University, from which institution he graduated a few years later.  He taught school in Logan, Ayersville, and Evansport, Ohio, and in 1882, he commenced the reading of law.  In 1885, he was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio, and a year later was licensed to practice in the United States courts at Toledo, Ohio.

For a number of years, he was a law partner of Honorable W. D. Hill and practiced at his home town in Ohio until 1893, when he removed to Webb City, Jasper County, Missouri, where he soon established a lucrative practice, which since has continued to increase. In 1897 and 1898, he was city attorney for Webb City, and for four years was attorney for the city of Centerville.  Prior to his location in Missouri, he held a number of minor offices in Ohio, and for two years was president of the Northwestern Ohio Teachers' Association.

Mr. Forlow has always been an earnest worker in the ranks of the Democratic party, active in the campaigns, in the field and on the stump.  He is a member of Joplin Lodge, No. 501, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and of Lodge No. 244, Knights of Pythias, of Hicksville, Ohio, of which he is a past chancellor.  For two years, he was a member of the Ohio Grand Lodge of the last named order and served as a member of important committees.  He is a member also of the Webb City Camp of the Woodmen of the World.

September 16, 1885, he was married to Miss Ida Harmany, daughter of Judge W. S. and Margaret (Mock) Harmany, well known residents of Joplin, Missouri.  Mrs. Forlow is a niece of Rear Admiral David B. Harmany of the United States Navy (retired), and is a Daughter of the Revolution.  She is highly educated and accomplished, and assists her husband in caring for his large practice.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Forlow are members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Joplin."

A History of Jasper County and Its People, Vol, 2, by Joel Thomas Livingston adds even more to Attorney Forlow's story:

"Frank L. Forlow, a native of the great state of Ohio, which was not so very long agoon our far western border, but is now in the eastern quarter of the country, and which has almost rivaled Virginia, 'themother of states and of statesmen," in the number of presidents it has given to the American republic.  Frank L. Forlow, of Webb City, is a fine representative of the enterprise, progressiveness, and all-conquering daring of the people of that illustrious commonwealth.  He was reared to manhood on its soil, began his education in the public schools and imbibed its very spirit by long and intimate connection with its institutions and association with its citizenship.

Mr. Forlow's life began in Defiance county, Ohio, on October 31, 1858.  He is a son of Amos and Eliza (Myers) Forlow, the father is a native of Butler county, Ohio and the mother of Berks county, Pennsylvania.  The father has followed farming from his youth and is still engaged in that interesting and independent pursuit in Defiance county in his native state, although he is now living in the city of Defiance and is practically retired from the excessive labor of the farm.

Frank L. Forlow grew to maturity on his father's farm and attended the district schools in its vicinity.  After completing their course of study, he passed four years at the Northwestern University, and was graduated from that institution in 1878.  He then taught school in his native county five years, and while doing so studied law with a view to realizing his great ambition for a professional career.  At the end of the period mentioned, he gave up teaching and entered a law office in Defiance to complete his preparation for admission to the bar. In that city, he was admitted to practice in 1885 and at once, began devoting himself wholly to professional work.


He conducted a successful and increasing practice in his native county for a period of nine years. By the end of  that time, the region around him had become well settled and highly developed, and he longed for a newer territory, with its hopes and possibilities largely yet in embryo, and its opportunities still awaiting seizure and use.  He therefore determined to come to Missouri, and in 1894, he became a resident of this state, locating in Jasper County and Webb City.

The law was still the idol of his longings and he has never abandoned it.  On his arrival in Webb City, he immediately sought admission to the bar of this county, and he has ever since been occupied busily in an active general practice in the courts of this state and those which adjoin it on the west and south.  His practice is large and steadily increasing, and has included some of the most important cases in this part of the country.  In fact, Mr. Forlow is one of the leading lawyers of southwestern Missouri, and is employed in every case he can find time to take.

It can easily be inferred that his professional duties have been extensive and exacting.  But he has not allowed them to absorb all of his time and energy.  He has also been interested in mining, and is so at the time of this writing in the year 1911.  He has been very successful in her professional activiites, for he has shown in them ability of a high order.  His mining operations have also been fruitful and responsive to his hopes, for they have been conducted with judgement and governed by prudence and foresight.  In every department of his industry, Mr. Forlow has shown himself to be master of the situation with all its powers and opportunities in his control.  The people all around him accord him the first rank in the legal profession, and they also hold him in esteem as a very capable, enterprising and successful business man.

Mr. Forlow has always taken a very active interest in public affairs.  In political thought and action, he is allied with the Democratic party and has made himself by his energy, zeal and efficiency in its service one of its leaders and most potential forces in his part of the state.  He has served as chairman of the Jasper county Democratic committee, and in that position, has displaced a capacity for organizing and enthusing the rank and file of his party that has been of great benefit to it.  He was for six years also one of the leading and most active members of the school board, and as such, was effective in raising the standard of the schools and greatly augmenting their usefulness.

All matters of public improvement in his city and county have had his earnest and helpful support and felt the force of his resourceful mind and quickening hand.  In fraternal life, he has long been a member of the Order of Elks, and in religious connection has for years belonged to the Episcopal church.  He lodge and his church are looked upon him as highly useful moral agencies and he gives them his close attention and renders them every assistance in his power in the good work they do.

On September 18, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Ida M. Harmany, a native of Rock Island, Illinois.  Her father, W. S. Harmany, came to Missouri and located in Joplin in 1877.  Soon after his arrival, he founded the first machine works in Joplin and for many years was in active control and management of them.  He is still a resident of that city, and one of its most esteemed citizens."

Buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Webb City, Jasper County, Missouri

Frank Leslie Forlow died in March, 1927 in Missouri at the age of 68.  His obituary appeared in the Joplin Globe, Joplin, Missouri, March 29, 1927, page 1.

"SERVICES PROBABLY WILL BE AT 2:30 O'CLOCK WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

Webb City, Mo., March 28.  Arrangements for the funeral of Frank L. Forlow, a prominent Jasper county attorney, who died at 2:30 o'clock this morning at his home, 130 North Ball Street, following an illness of three months, are incomplete. 

Definite arrangements await information as to whether Bishop Partridge of the Episcopal church of Kansas City, can come here to preach this service.  The funeral will be held at the residence, probably at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon.  Burial will probably be in Fairview cemetery at Joplin.

BEDFAST TWO WEEKS

Mr. Forlow had been confined to his home since the middle of December.  He had been bedfast the last two weeks, and last Thursday his condition became critical.  His death was due to hardening of the arteries.

Mr. Forlow had been an attorney forty-two years, thirty-three years of which time he had practiced in Webb City.  At his death, he was president of the Jasper County Bar Association, an office he held ten years.  He also was a member of the American Bar Association and the Missouri Bar Association.

He was 68 yearsold.  Born at Defiance, Ohio, October 31, 1858, whre he received appublic school education, he began teaching school when 16 years old to obtain money to make his way through college.  He was graduated from a college at Ada, Ohio, in 1885, when 27 years old, and began practicing law.  The same year he came to Joplin.  On September 18, 1885, he married Miss Ida Harmany.

Mr. Forlow came to Webb City in 1894 and occupied the same office at 112 North Main street continuously.

MEMBER OF STATE BOARD

In addition to being president of the Jasper County Bar Association, Mr. Forlow was serving as a democratic member of the elsemosynary board, which was formed in Governor Hyde's administration.  Last January, he concluded two terms as legal advisor and assistant prosecuting attorney under Roy Coyne.

Mr. Forlow also had serve as president of the National bank being a member of the board of directors many years, and later being elected vice-president.  He was at the head of the institution when it was merged with the Webb City bank, having served as president about two years.

He had been a member of the Episcopal church of Joplin thirty years and a member of the Elks Lodge. Besides his wife, he is survived by two sisters and a brother, who resides in Ohio."