Born Joseph Walter Francis in 1869. Son of Walter S. Francis and Salina J. McNair, both of Erie County, Pennsylvania. They married May 2, 1865 in Erie County, Pennsylvania. The 1870 United States Census confirms Joseph was living with his parents and older brother in Erie County, Pennsylvania.
His father Walter S. Francis died July 21, 1872, when Joseph was 3 years old. He had 1 older brother, Earl B. Francis (born May 1866 in Michigan). Following the sudden death of their father, their mother Salina began working as a nurse, however, she could barely support her sons. She was originally denied widow pension benefits and was not awarded benefits until 1890. According to her son Earl's obituary in 1934, he was "placed on a farm" when he was 8 years old (2 years following the death of his father).
Joseph was incarcerated at Western State Penitentiary when he was 17 years old, serving a 1 year 3 month sentence for "assault and battery with intent to kill."
He served in the military from 1891 - 1904, first serving the US Marine Corps, then the US Army. He served in the Spanish-America War. Deserted the military in Sept 1904. Married Farbie Osburn in 1905. He changed his name from Joseph Walter Francis to Walter Joseph Forest sometime between deserting the military in Sept 1904 and marrying Farbie in 1905.
Later in life he was a traveling preacher in Texas, where his wife Farbie was born and raised.
Family lore states that he was "adopted" and raised by the Francis family, with his real father being Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. However, through genealogical records obtained and DNA, it is confirmed that his father was in fact Walter S. Francis. Joseph had many secrets and reasons for concealing the truth of his past. In light of this, the inscription "He Did His Best" is a great description of the trials he endured.
His father Walter S. Francis died July 21, 1872, when Joseph was 3 years old. He had 1 older brother, Earl B. Francis (born May 1866 in Michigan). Following the sudden death of their father, their mother Salina began working as a nurse, however, she could barely support her sons. She was originally denied widow pension benefits and was not awarded benefits until 1890. According to her son Earl's obituary in 1934, he was "placed on a farm" when he was 8 years old (2 years following the death of his father).
Joseph was incarcerated at Western State Penitentiary when he was 17 years old, serving a 1 year 3 month sentence for "assault and battery with intent to kill."
He served in the military from 1891 - 1904, first serving the US Marine Corps, then the US Army. He served in the Spanish-America War. Deserted the military in Sept 1904. Married Farbie Osburn in 1905. He changed his name from Joseph Walter Francis to Walter Joseph Forest sometime between deserting the military in Sept 1904 and marrying Farbie in 1905.
Later in life he was a traveling preacher in Texas, where his wife Farbie was born and raised.
Family lore states that he was "adopted" and raised by the Francis family, with his real father being Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. However, through genealogical records obtained and DNA, it is confirmed that his father was in fact Walter S. Francis. Joseph had many secrets and reasons for concealing the truth of his past. In light of this, the inscription "He Did His Best" is a great description of the trials he endured.
Born Joseph Walter Francis in 1869. Son of Walter S. Francis and Salina J. McNair, both of Erie County, Pennsylvania. They married May 2, 1865 in Erie County, Pennsylvania. The 1870 United States Census confirms Joseph was living with his parents and older brother in Erie County, Pennsylvania.
His father Walter S. Francis died July 21, 1872, when Joseph was 3 years old. He had 1 older brother, Earl B. Francis (born May 1866 in Michigan). Following the sudden death of their father, their mother Salina began working as a nurse, however, she could barely support her sons. She was originally denied widow pension benefits and was not awarded benefits until 1890. According to her son Earl's obituary in 1934, he was "placed on a farm" when he was 8 years old (2 years following the death of his father).
Joseph was incarcerated at Western State Penitentiary when he was 17 years old, serving a 1 year 3 month sentence for "assault and battery with intent to kill."
He served in the military from 1891 - 1904, first serving the US Marine Corps, then the US Army. He served in the Spanish-America War. Deserted the military in Sept 1904. Married Farbie Osburn in 1905. He changed his name from Joseph Walter Francis to Walter Joseph Forest sometime between deserting the military in Sept 1904 and marrying Farbie in 1905.
Later in life he was a traveling preacher in Texas, where his wife Farbie was born and raised.
Family lore states that he was "adopted" and raised by the Francis family, with his real father being Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. However, through genealogical records obtained and DNA, it is confirmed that his father was in fact Walter S. Francis. Joseph had many secrets and reasons for concealing the truth of his past. In light of this, the inscription "He Did His Best" is a great description of the trials he endured.
His father Walter S. Francis died July 21, 1872, when Joseph was 3 years old. He had 1 older brother, Earl B. Francis (born May 1866 in Michigan). Following the sudden death of their father, their mother Salina began working as a nurse, however, she could barely support her sons. She was originally denied widow pension benefits and was not awarded benefits until 1890. According to her son Earl's obituary in 1934, he was "placed on a farm" when he was 8 years old (2 years following the death of his father).
Joseph was incarcerated at Western State Penitentiary when he was 17 years old, serving a 1 year 3 month sentence for "assault and battery with intent to kill."
He served in the military from 1891 - 1904, first serving the US Marine Corps, then the US Army. He served in the Spanish-America War. Deserted the military in Sept 1904. Married Farbie Osburn in 1905. He changed his name from Joseph Walter Francis to Walter Joseph Forest sometime between deserting the military in Sept 1904 and marrying Farbie in 1905.
Later in life he was a traveling preacher in Texas, where his wife Farbie was born and raised.
Family lore states that he was "adopted" and raised by the Francis family, with his real father being Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. However, through genealogical records obtained and DNA, it is confirmed that his father was in fact Walter S. Francis. Joseph had many secrets and reasons for concealing the truth of his past. In light of this, the inscription "He Did His Best" is a great description of the trials he endured.
Inscription
He did his best.
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