Death came after a long illness in St. Francis hospital at Macomb at 8:20 a. m. yesterday, January 30, 1951 to James A. Fortney of Hamilton, long-time resident of this community.  Mr. Fortney had been in failing health for the past two years and had been critically ill with a heart ailment for about six months.  His death terminated three weeks of hospitalization.

The remains will be removed from the Clugston funeral home in Macomb to the Radden funeral home here at 10:00 a. m. on Thursday, and funeral services will be conducted at Radden's at 2:00 p. m. Thursday.  Rev. Chester Hensley, son-in-law of the deceased, will officiate at the last rites and the burial in LaHarpe Cemetery.

Mr. Fortney was born near Fountain Green on February 7, 1879, a son of Frank and Fanny (McConnell) Fortney.  At his passing on Tuesday he had reached the age of 71 years, 11 months and 23 days.

The deceased had spent all his life in this county.  He served for many years as a railroad employe [sic], had been in various business enterprises and loved fishing as a sport.  Eight years ago he and Mrs. Fortney purchased a cottage on the Mississippi river and the scenic highway near Hamilton.
To "Jim" this represented the acme of beauty, peace and contentment for his declining years.  He [several missing words] -clined.

Mr. Fortney had become a member of the Church of Christ in early life.

It was on March 6, 1900 that he and Miss Lillie Jane Patterson were married.  Just last year they had the pleasure of entertaining many long-time friends as their guests for the formal observance of their golden anniversary.

Surviving are the wife, two daughters, Mrs. Gayle Hensley of Bloomington and Mrs. Gladys Tow of Macomb; and two grandsons, Herman Dale Tow, Jr. and Thomas Royce Hensley. One brother, Charles Fortney, preceded him in death.

Lillie Jane Patterson, daughter of William J. Patterson and Virginia A. McCumber, was born December 10, 1881, in Pilot Grove Township, Hancock County.  She died in February of 1970 and was buried in LaHarpe City Cemetery next to her husband.

See also: Franklin Fortney & Margaret Frances McConnell

Fortney, Frank J, white, male, 30, married, farmer, born PA, both parents born PA
Fannie, white, female, 25, wife, married, keeping house, born IL, both parents born PA
James A, white, male, 1, son, single, at home, born IL, father born PA, mother born IL
William H, white, male, 17, nephew, single, at home, attended school within the census year, born IL, father born PA, mother born KY

Fortney, Frank, head, white, male, Apr 1852, 48, married for 22 years, born PA, both parents born PA, farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, owned his farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 40

Fannie, wife, white, female, May 1855, 45, married for 22 years; mother of 2 children, both living; born IL, both parents born PA, could read, write and speak English

James A, son, white, male, Feb 1879, 21, married for 0 years, born IL, father born PA, mother born IL, farm laborer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English

Charles M, son, white, male, Sept 1891, 18, single, born IL, father born PA, mother born IL, at school for 8 months

Lillie, daughter-in-law, white, female, Dec 1881, 18, married for 0 years, mother of 0 children, born IL, father born TN, mother born OH, could read, write and speak English

Cushman, Jessie, boarder, white, female, Apr 1887, 13, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born unknown, at school for 8 months, could read, write and speak English

Fortney, James A, head, male, white, 30, married (1st) for 10 years, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, laborer, odd jobs, employee, whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - yes, number of weeks out of work during 1909 - 6, could read and write, rented his home

Lillie, wife, female, white, 39, married (1st) for 10 years; mother of 2 children, both living; born IL, father born TN, mother born VA, spoke English, could read and write

George, son, male, white, 9, single, born IL, both parents born IL, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909 [Gayle, female]

Gladys, daughter, female, white, 6, single, born IL, both parents born IL, attended school after Sept. 1, 1909

Fortney, James E [sic], head, owner, free of mortgage, male, white, 41, married, could read and write, born IL, both parents born U.S., spoke English, occupation - none

Lillie J, wife, female, white, 38, married, could read and write, born IL, both parents born U.S., spoke English

Gayle M, daughter, female, white, 19, single, did not attend school after Sept. 1, 1919, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, teacher, public school, working for wages

Gladys M, daughter, female, white, 16, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1919, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Fortney, James A, head, owner, [no entry for home value], did not own a radio, male, white, 50, married, age at first marriage - 21, could read and write, born IL, father born PA, mother born IL, spoke English, laborer, odd jobs, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no

Lillie J, wife, female, white, 47, married, age at first marriage - 18, could read and write, born IL, father born TN, mother born OH, spoke English

Tow, Herman, son-in-law, male, white, 25, married, age at first marriage - 20, could read and write, born IA, both parents born Norway, spoke English, salesman, thresher company, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no

Gladys, daughter, female, white, 25, married, age at first marriage - 21, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Herman Jr, grandson, male, white, 2 3/12, single, born UT, father born IA, mother born IL