The obituary of Samuel, the eldest child, stated that the Fortneys came to Illinois in 1855.  Efforts to locate this family in 1850 have been unsuccessful.

Some researchers have reported that Samuel's wife was Sarah Ann Callihan, daughter of Thomas Callihan.  Others have reported that she was Sarah Ann Miller.  We are completely convinced that Sarah Ann "Sally" or "Sallie" Fortney was not Thomas Callihan's blood daughter, but that she was the daughter of his second (or subsequent) wife, Margaret or Margarete (maiden name undetermined).  It is our contention that Thomas and Margaret were both married previously, that each had children from those marriages, that each had a daughter named Sarah, and that Sarah Ann (Sally or Sallie) Fortney was the daughter of the Margaret Callihan who came with Thomas to Hancock County, Illinois, died there and is buried at Fountain Green Cemetery.

Thomas did not name all of his children when he wrote his will in 1863, shortly before he died.  The estate was settled several years after Margaret Callihan died.  Named in the probate files were two women named Sarah.  One was the late Sarah Witmeyer, specifically referred to as Thomas' daughter and whose heirs were paid $62.21 on January 8, 1872.  The second woman was "Sally" Fortney, who received household goods and signed a receipt for $73.12 from Margaret Callihan's portion of the estate.  Follow the above link to Thomas Callihan to review the wills and probate documents.

On the Board of Health document filed with the marriage license of Samuel and Sally's son, Franklin, his parents' names were recorded as Samuel Fortney and Sally Miller.

Sarah Fortney was living with her son-in-law and daughter in Adair County, Missouri, in 1880. She died August 22, 1889, at Alma, Harlan County, Nebraska, and was interred at Woodruff Cemetery, Phillips, Kansas.  The inscription on her tombstone is said to read Sallie Fortney, died August 22, 1889, Age 73 Ys. 7 Ms. 5 Ds.  This calculates to a birth date of January 17, 1816.

The following information on Samuel and Sarah's children draws on the research of Cora R. Swift.

i.	Samuel M. Fortney, born in 1834 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  He died in 1897 in Adair County, Missouri, and was buried in that county at Willmathsville.
ii.	Sarah Ann Fortney, born October 12, 1837, in Pennsylvania, died October 18, 1905.  She married William Morrison about January 28, 1864, in Hancock County.  He apparently died before June 1, 1900.  Sarah died October 18, 1905, probably in Marceline, Linn County, Missouri, and was buried at Marceline.
iii.	Henry M. Fortney, born February 2, 1838, in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.   He married first, Celia Effrin, and second, Martha J. Tatman.  Henry died January 11, 1923, interment at Highland Cemetery, Mahaska County, Iowa.
iv.	David Fortney, born December 20, 1840, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, died April 19, 1893, at Hannibal, Marion County, Missouri.  His remains were returned for burial at Fountain Green Cemetery.
v.	William H. Fortney, born October 23, 1842, at Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  He married Elizabeth Weller on April 3, 1877, in Adair County, Missouri.  He died March 18, 1912, at Valley Center, Sedgwick County, Kansas, and was buried at Kechi Cemetery, Kechi Township, Sedgwick County.
vi.	Margaret "Maggie" Fortney, born August 7, 1845, in Pennsylvania, died July 27, 1927 in Adair County, Missouri.  Maggie married William Wallace Palmer, son of Peter Palmer and Phoebe Cartwright, about November 28, 1867 in Hancock County.  William, a veteran of the Civil War, died August 22, 1909, probably in Adair County.  They are both buried at Sabbath Home Cemetery in Adair County.
vii.	Anna M. Fortney, born February 18, 1848, in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. She married Wayman Wesley Williams, son of John Williams and Letitia Jones, about September 11, 1866, in Hancock County.  Wayman was born April 23, 1843, in Illinois, probably Hancock County.  Wayman died February 7, 1904, in Alma, Harlan County, Nebraska; Anna died January 2, 1933, in Alma.  They are both buried at Woodruff Cemetery, Woodruff, Phillips County, Kansas.
viii.	Franklin Fortney was born April 28, 1852, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  He died December 27, 1916, at his home in Pilot Grove Township, Hancock County, and was buried at LaHarpe City Cemetery, LaHarpe, Hancock County.
ix.	Theadore George Fortney, born about 1858 in Hancock County.  He apparently died before June 1, 1870.

Anna Fortney, 42, female, farming, value of real estate 3000, value of personal estate 800,
born PA
Davis, 19, male, born PA, married within the year, attended school within the year
Frank, 14, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Margaret, 13, female, born IL, attended school within the year
Theadore, 1, male, born IL

Fortney, David, 28, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 1000, born PA, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Sarah, 52, female, white, keeping house, born PA
Frank, 19, male, white, farm laborer, born IL

Morrison, William, white, male, 46, married, farmer, born OH, parents born [no entries]
Sarah, white, female, 43, wife, married, keeping house, born PA, both parents born PA
Rosa, white, female, 14, daughter, single, at school; maimed, crippled, bedridden or otherwise disabled - yes; attended school within the census year, born IL, father born OH, mother born PA
Harry, white, male, 13, son, single, working on farm, attended school within the census year, born IL, father born OH, mother born PA
Emma, white, female, 10, daughter, single, at home, attended school within the census year, born IL, father born OH, mother born PA
Joseph, white, male, 8, son, single, at school, attended school within the census year, born IL, father born OH, mother born PA
Fortney, Sarah, white, female, 59, mother, widow, at home; maimed, crippled, bedridden or otherwise disabled - yes; born PA, both parents born PA