MARY ELIZABETH GAITHER was born on 7 Sep 1810, a Friday, in Iredell Co., NC. She was the 7th of 9 known children born to Basil Gaither and Angelene Gatton. Her parents had been born in Maryland, and in the late 1700’s they had come down the “Great Wagon Road” to the “Forks of the Yadkin” settling in Iredell Co. As she grew up she took the nickname of “Polly.”
In about 1829 Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Gaither married Nelson Forcum in Iredell Co., NC. “Polly” and Nelson Forcum settled in Turnersburg Township, Iredell Co, where they would spend the rest of their lives. They soon started a family and eventually, Polly and Nelson Forcum would have 11 known children.
In the 1850’s Nelson Forcum became a prosperous farmer, and acquired numerous parcels of land. It is said he donated land to build the Clarksbury Methodist Church.
It wasn’t until the North invaded the South in the War Between the States in 1861, that Nelson, Polly and their family cast their lot with the “old North State.” All of Polly’s sons, Thomas Alfonso Forcum, Basil W. Forcum, John Burgess Forcum, and William Wright Forcum enlisted in Co H, 4th Regiment of North Carolina Troops, which was then assigned to General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. The Regiment participated in all the major battles in the Eastern Theater. Only two, John Burgess Forcum and William Wright Forcum survived the conflict. It is difficult to consider the anguish of a mother who had lost half her sons.
Polly’s two sons who survived the War, soon married and both moved to Montezuma, Poweshiek Co., IA, to start new lives there, which turned out to be quite prosperous. But both sons kept in contact with, and visited their parents in Iredell Co., over the next three decades.
Throughout the 1870’s and 1880’s Nelson continued to be a well-off farmer. It is known that Polly’s son, John Burgess Forcum returned to Iredell Co. to visit her in 1880. Albert Forcum was her grandson, the son of John Burgess Forcum who had moved to Iowa. On 14 Oct 1886 “The Statesville Landmark” carried the following article, "Albert Forcum drowned in the Canadian River in Indian Territory while engaged in a cattle drive from Mobeetre, TX to Dodge City, KS. He was the son of J. B. Forcum of Montezuma, Iowa who went west from Iredell County shortly after the war. J. B. Forcum is the son of Nelson Forcum of Turnersburg township." Polly had lost a grandson she had never met.
Then on 29 Sep 1887, “The Landmark” carried the following article, "Mr. and Mrs W.C. Blaylock of Cool Springs township, who have been on a three month visit to relatives in Iowa, returned a few days ago and are glad to be home. Their kinswoman, Mrs. J. B. Forcum, Montezuma, Iowa, came back with them to visit her relatives in Iredell County." Mrs. John Burgess Forcum was Martha E. Gaither, and Polly’s daughter-in-law.
At the age of 81 years, 8 months, 14 days, Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Gaither Forcum passed away on 21 May 1892 in Turnersburg Township, Iredell Co. She had been a loyal member of Clarksbury Methodist Church for almost 60 years, and was laid to rest in its cemetery.
Known siblings:
1. Nancy Gaither (1 Apr 1786 – 21 Apr 1861)
2. Elizabeth Gaither (circa 1791 - ?)
3. Anne Nancy Gaither (circa 1791 - ?)
4. Brice M. Gaither (circa 1800 – 1 Sep 1828)
5. Vincent Gaither (10 Apr 1802 – 11 Jul 1887)
6. Azariah V. Gaither (17 Apr 1804 – 12 May 1892)
7. Mary Elizabeth “Polly” Gaither (7 Sep 1810 – 21 May 1892)
8. Ivory “Ivy” M. Gaither (circa 1813 – circa 1884)
9. James Franklin Gaither (12 Dec 1816 – 17 Feb 1893)
Known children of Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Gaither and Nelson Forcum:
1. Thomas Alfonso Forcum (circa 1830 – 26 Nov 1862)
2. Basil W. Forcum (circa 1813 – between 30 Jun–16 Jul 1862, Battle of Seven Pines
3. A. A. Forcum (female) (circa 1832 - ?)
4. John Burgess Forcum (19 Dec 1835 - 20 Sep 1920), m. Martha E. Gaither.
5. William Wright Forcum (4 Feb 1838 - 06 Jan 1922), m. Jane Rebecca Ward.
6. Serena Emmaline Forcum (25 Jan 1841 - 10 May 1921), m. Joseph Winfield Mise.
7. Mary Rebecca Forcum (10 Apr 1843 - 20 Sep 1920), m. Joseph Wright.
8. Dorcas Clementine Forcum (28 Sep 1845 - 30 Oct 1912), m. John Burgess Stroud.
9. Lucretia Amelia Forcum (May 1847 - 21 Feb 1902), m. William Levi Gaither.
10. Evaline L Forcum (circa 1848 – 20 Feb 1900), m. William Anderson Horn.
11. Laura Jane D. Forcum (04 Nov 1850 - 23 Jun 1885), m. Rev. James Madison Heath.
By Jim Forcum
In about 1829 Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Gaither married Nelson Forcum in Iredell Co., NC. “Polly” and Nelson Forcum settled in Turnersburg Township, Iredell Co, where they would spend the rest of their lives. They soon started a family and eventually, Polly and Nelson Forcum would have 11 known children.
In the 1850’s Nelson Forcum became a prosperous farmer, and acquired numerous parcels of land. It is said he donated land to build the Clarksbury Methodist Church.
It wasn’t until the North invaded the South in the War Between the States in 1861, that Nelson, Polly and their family cast their lot with the “old North State.” All of Polly’s sons, Thomas Alfonso Forcum, Basil W. Forcum, John Burgess Forcum, and William Wright Forcum enlisted in Co H, 4th Regiment of North Carolina Troops, which was then assigned to General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. The Regiment participated in all the major battles in the Eastern Theater. Only two, John Burgess Forcum and William Wright Forcum survived the conflict. It is difficult to consider the anguish of a mother who had lost half her sons.
Polly’s two sons who survived the War, soon married and both moved to Montezuma, Poweshiek Co., IA, to start new lives there, which turned out to be quite prosperous. But both sons kept in contact with, and visited their parents in Iredell Co., over the next three decades.
Throughout the 1870’s and 1880’s Nelson continued to be a well-off farmer. It is known that Polly’s son, John Burgess Forcum returned to Iredell Co. to visit her in 1880. Albert Forcum was her grandson, the son of John Burgess Forcum who had moved to Iowa. On 14 Oct 1886 “The Statesville Landmark” carried the following article, "Albert Forcum drowned in the Canadian River in Indian Territory while engaged in a cattle drive from Mobeetre, TX to Dodge City, KS. He was the son of J. B. Forcum of Montezuma, Iowa who went west from Iredell County shortly after the war. J. B. Forcum is the son of Nelson Forcum of Turnersburg township." Polly had lost a grandson she had never met.
Then on 29 Sep 1887, “The Landmark” carried the following article, "Mr. and Mrs W.C. Blaylock of Cool Springs township, who have been on a three month visit to relatives in Iowa, returned a few days ago and are glad to be home. Their kinswoman, Mrs. J. B. Forcum, Montezuma, Iowa, came back with them to visit her relatives in Iredell County." Mrs. John Burgess Forcum was Martha E. Gaither, and Polly’s daughter-in-law.
At the age of 81 years, 8 months, 14 days, Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Gaither Forcum passed away on 21 May 1892 in Turnersburg Township, Iredell Co. She had been a loyal member of Clarksbury Methodist Church for almost 60 years, and was laid to rest in its cemetery.
Known siblings:
1. Nancy Gaither (1 Apr 1786 – 21 Apr 1861)
2. Elizabeth Gaither (circa 1791 - ?)
3. Anne Nancy Gaither (circa 1791 - ?)
4. Brice M. Gaither (circa 1800 – 1 Sep 1828)
5. Vincent Gaither (10 Apr 1802 – 11 Jul 1887)
6. Azariah V. Gaither (17 Apr 1804 – 12 May 1892)
7. Mary Elizabeth “Polly” Gaither (7 Sep 1810 – 21 May 1892)
8. Ivory “Ivy” M. Gaither (circa 1813 – circa 1884)
9. James Franklin Gaither (12 Dec 1816 – 17 Feb 1893)
Known children of Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Gaither and Nelson Forcum:
1. Thomas Alfonso Forcum (circa 1830 – 26 Nov 1862)
2. Basil W. Forcum (circa 1813 – between 30 Jun–16 Jul 1862, Battle of Seven Pines
3. A. A. Forcum (female) (circa 1832 - ?)
4. John Burgess Forcum (19 Dec 1835 - 20 Sep 1920), m. Martha E. Gaither.
5. William Wright Forcum (4 Feb 1838 - 06 Jan 1922), m. Jane Rebecca Ward.
6. Serena Emmaline Forcum (25 Jan 1841 - 10 May 1921), m. Joseph Winfield Mise.
7. Mary Rebecca Forcum (10 Apr 1843 - 20 Sep 1920), m. Joseph Wright.
8. Dorcas Clementine Forcum (28 Sep 1845 - 30 Oct 1912), m. John Burgess Stroud.
9. Lucretia Amelia Forcum (May 1847 - 21 Feb 1902), m. William Levi Gaither.
10. Evaline L Forcum (circa 1848 – 20 Feb 1900), m. William Anderson Horn.
11. Laura Jane D. Forcum (04 Nov 1850 - 23 Jun 1885), m. Rev. James Madison Heath.
By Jim Forcum
MARY ELIZABETH GAITHER was born on 7 Sep 1810, a Friday, in Iredell Co., NC. She was the 7th of 9 known children born to Basil Gaither and Angelene Gatton. Her parents had been born in Maryland, and in the late 1700’s they had come down the “Great Wagon Road” to the “Forks of the Yadkin” settling in Iredell Co. As she grew up she took the nickname of “Polly.”
In about 1829 Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Gaither married Nelson Forcum in Iredell Co., NC. “Polly” and Nelson Forcum settled in Turnersburg Township, Iredell Co, where they would spend the rest of their lives. They soon started a family and eventually, Polly and Nelson Forcum would have 11 known children.
In the 1850’s Nelson Forcum became a prosperous farmer, and acquired numerous parcels of land. It is said he donated land to build the Clarksbury Methodist Church.
It wasn’t until the North invaded the South in the War Between the States in 1861, that Nelson, Polly and their family cast their lot with the “old North State.” All of Polly’s sons, Thomas Alfonso Forcum, Basil W. Forcum, John Burgess Forcum, and William Wright Forcum enlisted in Co H, 4th Regiment of North Carolina Troops, which was then assigned to General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. The Regiment participated in all the major battles in the Eastern Theater. Only two, John Burgess Forcum and William Wright Forcum survived the conflict. It is difficult to consider the anguish of a mother who had lost half her sons.
Polly’s two sons who survived the War, soon married and both moved to Montezuma, Poweshiek Co., IA, to start new lives there, which turned out to be quite prosperous. But both sons kept in contact with, and visited their parents in Iredell Co., over the next three decades.
Throughout the 1870’s and 1880’s Nelson continued to be a well-off farmer. It is known that Polly’s son, John Burgess Forcum returned to Iredell Co. to visit her in 1880. Albert Forcum was her grandson, the son of John Burgess Forcum who had moved to Iowa. On 14 Oct 1886 “The Statesville Landmark” carried the following article, "Albert Forcum drowned in the Canadian River in Indian Territory while engaged in a cattle drive from Mobeetre, TX to Dodge City, KS. He was the son of J. B. Forcum of Montezuma, Iowa who went west from Iredell County shortly after the war. J. B. Forcum is the son of Nelson Forcum of Turnersburg township." Polly had lost a grandson she had never met.
Then on 29 Sep 1887, “The Landmark” carried the following article, "Mr. and Mrs W.C. Blaylock of Cool Springs township, who have been on a three month visit to relatives in Iowa, returned a few days ago and are glad to be home. Their kinswoman, Mrs. J. B. Forcum, Montezuma, Iowa, came back with them to visit her relatives in Iredell County." Mrs. John Burgess Forcum was Martha E. Gaither, and Polly’s daughter-in-law.
At the age of 81 years, 8 months, 14 days, Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Gaither Forcum passed away on 21 May 1892 in Turnersburg Township, Iredell Co. She had been a loyal member of Clarksbury Methodist Church for almost 60 years, and was laid to rest in its cemetery.
Known siblings:
1. Nancy Gaither (1 Apr 1786 – 21 Apr 1861)
2. Elizabeth Gaither (circa 1791 - ?)
3. Anne Nancy Gaither (circa 1791 - ?)
4. Brice M. Gaither (circa 1800 – 1 Sep 1828)
5. Vincent Gaither (10 Apr 1802 – 11 Jul 1887)
6. Azariah V. Gaither (17 Apr 1804 – 12 May 1892)
7. Mary Elizabeth “Polly” Gaither (7 Sep 1810 – 21 May 1892)
8. Ivory “Ivy” M. Gaither (circa 1813 – circa 1884)
9. James Franklin Gaither (12 Dec 1816 – 17 Feb 1893)
Known children of Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Gaither and Nelson Forcum:
1. Thomas Alfonso Forcum (circa 1830 – 26 Nov 1862)
2. Basil W. Forcum (circa 1813 – between 30 Jun–16 Jul 1862, Battle of Seven Pines
3. A. A. Forcum (female) (circa 1832 - ?)
4. John Burgess Forcum (19 Dec 1835 - 20 Sep 1920), m. Martha E. Gaither.
5. William Wright Forcum (4 Feb 1838 - 06 Jan 1922), m. Jane Rebecca Ward.
6. Serena Emmaline Forcum (25 Jan 1841 - 10 May 1921), m. Joseph Winfield Mise.
7. Mary Rebecca Forcum (10 Apr 1843 - 20 Sep 1920), m. Joseph Wright.
8. Dorcas Clementine Forcum (28 Sep 1845 - 30 Oct 1912), m. John Burgess Stroud.
9. Lucretia Amelia Forcum (May 1847 - 21 Feb 1902), m. William Levi Gaither.
10. Evaline L Forcum (circa 1848 – 20 Feb 1900), m. William Anderson Horn.
11. Laura Jane D. Forcum (04 Nov 1850 - 23 Jun 1885), m. Rev. James Madison Heath.
By Jim Forcum
In about 1829 Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Gaither married Nelson Forcum in Iredell Co., NC. “Polly” and Nelson Forcum settled in Turnersburg Township, Iredell Co, where they would spend the rest of their lives. They soon started a family and eventually, Polly and Nelson Forcum would have 11 known children.
In the 1850’s Nelson Forcum became a prosperous farmer, and acquired numerous parcels of land. It is said he donated land to build the Clarksbury Methodist Church.
It wasn’t until the North invaded the South in the War Between the States in 1861, that Nelson, Polly and their family cast their lot with the “old North State.” All of Polly’s sons, Thomas Alfonso Forcum, Basil W. Forcum, John Burgess Forcum, and William Wright Forcum enlisted in Co H, 4th Regiment of North Carolina Troops, which was then assigned to General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. The Regiment participated in all the major battles in the Eastern Theater. Only two, John Burgess Forcum and William Wright Forcum survived the conflict. It is difficult to consider the anguish of a mother who had lost half her sons.
Polly’s two sons who survived the War, soon married and both moved to Montezuma, Poweshiek Co., IA, to start new lives there, which turned out to be quite prosperous. But both sons kept in contact with, and visited their parents in Iredell Co., over the next three decades.
Throughout the 1870’s and 1880’s Nelson continued to be a well-off farmer. It is known that Polly’s son, John Burgess Forcum returned to Iredell Co. to visit her in 1880. Albert Forcum was her grandson, the son of John Burgess Forcum who had moved to Iowa. On 14 Oct 1886 “The Statesville Landmark” carried the following article, "Albert Forcum drowned in the Canadian River in Indian Territory while engaged in a cattle drive from Mobeetre, TX to Dodge City, KS. He was the son of J. B. Forcum of Montezuma, Iowa who went west from Iredell County shortly after the war. J. B. Forcum is the son of Nelson Forcum of Turnersburg township." Polly had lost a grandson she had never met.
Then on 29 Sep 1887, “The Landmark” carried the following article, "Mr. and Mrs W.C. Blaylock of Cool Springs township, who have been on a three month visit to relatives in Iowa, returned a few days ago and are glad to be home. Their kinswoman, Mrs. J. B. Forcum, Montezuma, Iowa, came back with them to visit her relatives in Iredell County." Mrs. John Burgess Forcum was Martha E. Gaither, and Polly’s daughter-in-law.
At the age of 81 years, 8 months, 14 days, Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Gaither Forcum passed away on 21 May 1892 in Turnersburg Township, Iredell Co. She had been a loyal member of Clarksbury Methodist Church for almost 60 years, and was laid to rest in its cemetery.
Known siblings:
1. Nancy Gaither (1 Apr 1786 – 21 Apr 1861)
2. Elizabeth Gaither (circa 1791 - ?)
3. Anne Nancy Gaither (circa 1791 - ?)
4. Brice M. Gaither (circa 1800 – 1 Sep 1828)
5. Vincent Gaither (10 Apr 1802 – 11 Jul 1887)
6. Azariah V. Gaither (17 Apr 1804 – 12 May 1892)
7. Mary Elizabeth “Polly” Gaither (7 Sep 1810 – 21 May 1892)
8. Ivory “Ivy” M. Gaither (circa 1813 – circa 1884)
9. James Franklin Gaither (12 Dec 1816 – 17 Feb 1893)
Known children of Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Gaither and Nelson Forcum:
1. Thomas Alfonso Forcum (circa 1830 – 26 Nov 1862)
2. Basil W. Forcum (circa 1813 – between 30 Jun–16 Jul 1862, Battle of Seven Pines
3. A. A. Forcum (female) (circa 1832 - ?)
4. John Burgess Forcum (19 Dec 1835 - 20 Sep 1920), m. Martha E. Gaither.
5. William Wright Forcum (4 Feb 1838 - 06 Jan 1922), m. Jane Rebecca Ward.
6. Serena Emmaline Forcum (25 Jan 1841 - 10 May 1921), m. Joseph Winfield Mise.
7. Mary Rebecca Forcum (10 Apr 1843 - 20 Sep 1920), m. Joseph Wright.
8. Dorcas Clementine Forcum (28 Sep 1845 - 30 Oct 1912), m. John Burgess Stroud.
9. Lucretia Amelia Forcum (May 1847 - 21 Feb 1902), m. William Levi Gaither.
10. Evaline L Forcum (circa 1848 – 20 Feb 1900), m. William Anderson Horn.
11. Laura Jane D. Forcum (04 Nov 1850 - 23 Jun 1885), m. Rev. James Madison Heath.
By Jim Forcum
Gravesite Details
Copied from church cemetery records, compiled 2007.
Family Members
Spouse
Children
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PVT Thomas Alfonso Forcum
1830–1862
-
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CPT John Burgess Forcum
1835–1920
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PVT William Wright "Wright" Forcum
1838–1922
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![]()
Serena Emmaline Forcum Mise
1841–1921
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Mary Rebecca Forcum Wright
1843–1920
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Dorcas Clementine Forcum Stroud
1845–1912
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Eveline Lucretia "Lena" Forcum Gaither
1847–1902
-
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Laura Jane D. Forcum Heath
1850–1885
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