Family/Spouse: Philip NOLAN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bud was a World War II hero. He was shot down in Java, participated in 35 bombing raids and saw over 200 hours of actual combat. He was decorated for gallantry for his service as a radio operator and belly gunner on a Flying Fortress in the Pacific. He was stricken with malaria on the day of his flight home from Australia. His finance lived in Australia and was to come marry him in the states.

Due to the poor health of one of her family members, she stayed there and he rejoined her to marry in that country. They were residents of Melbourne, Australia when his father died back in the states in 1980. He lived there the rest of his life in Australia and was only able to visit America as an older gentleman. He had four daughters, all whom seem to be truly lovely souls, including their large families. In his memorial book, he was missed for the way he made his family laugh, the swing on the large apple tree which he constantly kept in repair, his love of Eskimo pies and biscuits, his dislike of offtune singing and for the part of him that just couldn't be replaced!! I'm sure all this was said with the wonderful sense of humor of this branch of the family. (F-DOC)

Norman married Mary Angela LEIGH on 18 Jan 1947 in Gardenvale, , Victoria, Australia. Mary was born on 4 Sep 1915 in Dandenong, , Victoria, Australia; died on 15 Oct 1988 in Mornington, Victoria, AUS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Norman Leroy Forte married Theresia Rosa Link when she was 18 years old in Philadelphia. This is about the age he was when running in track for competition. There are several medals dated 1908 that I have rubbings of. He won the 100 yard dash at OGSC, 3rd place in the 75 yard dash in another and the Middle States Championship at the University of Pennsylvania on another. (F-431)

Norman and Theresia Forte's children have shared the following recollections of their parents. Their father was a good provider, but wasn't around for active involvement with his older sons. Photography was one of his interests. He was always taking 16mm motion pictures of his family. About 10 of these films and his old projector are in the possession of Doris Forte Dudick. He also did some of his own dark room work and a few of these pictures still exist. He made jewelry and worked with precious stones. He loved to dance. Any normal day, he'd be dressed in a suit and tie. (F-625)

Norman was from a family of very strong willed, unique individuals who never really got along when they gathered. At crisis points in his families' life, ex: upon parents death, Norman, seemed to be the only son capable of making the decisions and handling the affairs. Theresia, is remembered by all of her children, with respect. They feel she was a "real lady." They can't remember her raising her voice or hitting, yet she always maintained discipline. She seemed to be understanding with her children. Hank and Link remember her letting them borrow the car when he needed it.

She loved to read, play cards, go to the movies, listen to the radio, be with friends, and dance. She had all of her children take piano lessons. Link, Betty and Hank took the most lessons because of their interest in it. She would dance with her children. Her all time favorite music was "The Nutcracker Suite." She was a fantastic seamstress and a good cook. Physically, she was always very thin and smoked cigarettes. She didn't weigh over 100 lbs. She was in a fashion show in her younger days at the Keswick Theater at Keswick Ave., Glenside, Pennsylvania. Norman, her husband, used to recall this with pride. She was a member of the American Red Cross during World War II.

The life she and Norman established for their children was very regular. Monday was wash day. Saturday night dinner always included thick steaks with mashed potatoes. Saturday night was also the bath night for the children. Some of her sons don't remember this very fondly. Sunday dinner included pork chops. Sunday afternoons, at least when Doris was a teenager, was a "Go to the Movies" afternoon. She died at age 61 from a brain tumor.

All in all, her children described her in glowing terms. The following information about Norman and Theresia's residences and jobs is from a combined interview of Bud, Doris, Link, Hank and Bill at the Sept., 1988 Forte Reunion at Indian Lake and from a much earlier interview of Norman Sr. himself. During World War I, "Papa," as his grandchildren called him, couldn't get drafted because he had too many children and an important job. He considered himself a self-made Civil Engineer who learned the ropes from his father, not from any college. Employment records would probably list him as a Tar Salesman. While the War was taking place, Papa was invited to Hog Island Navy Yard, S.W.. Philadelphia by President Wilson to the christening of Kwis Konk--the first concrete ship or liberty ship. He then started supplying that shipyard.

Due to the nature of his job, and his own personal interest in enjoying changes in housing, he and his family moved a great deal. All of his children were born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at one of the following residences: (in 1915) Detroit St.; (1916) 3808 Delhi St.; (1917-18) 915 W. Butler St.; (1918) 4521 Morris St., Germantown; (1919-20) 138 Keswick Ave., Glenside; (This is verified in the 1920 Census for Chiltenham, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania Norman is listed as a Sales Engineer in merchandising. They had 3 children at the time, Henry, Norman and Marie. Theresia lists her birth place as Pennsylvania and her parent's as Germany. F-261) (1920) 5713 N. Marshall; (1921) 414 Roberts Rd.; (1922-24) 935 Kenmore Rd. in Overbrook; and (Aug. 1925-June 1931) 17 Teague Ave in Glenside. Kenmore Road is where Henry contracted diphtheria.

Whenever a family member caught a disease such as measles, whooping cough, etc., the whole family would be quarantined to the house for around 3 weeks. This was a typical health practice at the time.

Norman and family can be found living in Abington Township, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania in the 1930 census. Norman was age 38 and his wife was 32. He owned his own home with a value of $8700.00 at the time. He and his parents were born in Pennsylvania. His wife was born in Pennsylvania also, but her father's birth place was Baden, Germany and her mother was born in Hessendomstadt, Germany. Norman is listed as a commercial traveler in the building and brick industry. Henry, Norman, Marie, William, Julius and Doris were members of their household. It also states that Norman was 23 and Theresia was 18 when they married. (F-665) After the start of the Depression, in 1931, Norman got a job with Barrett Company and they moved to 825 Walnut St. Norman was a good provider and his family of six children did not feel the effects of the Depression. This also meant that he was often at work and gone during the week. He spent Sunday afternoons working on his expense account. His sons remember him calling down, "What does the speedometer read?" This was information that they retrieved for his reports.

He and his wife were from stern English and German backgrounds, respectively, and their word was law. None of the children remember arguing with their authority till they were grown. Bud went to Cathedral Grade School for 8th grade and Cathedral Prep School in 9th and 10th. Henry, who was called Harry, was nicknamed Hank by his peers here, because there was already a Harry in the group. Nineteen Thirty Two found them living at 655 W. 8th St. in Erie.

In 1934, they moved to Rose Point in Roxbury, Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Here, Bud attended Cochran Junior High School for the end of his 10th grade year and the senior high for 11th and 12th grades. He was a member of the glee club. His appreciation of music is quite evident in 1988 also. He graduated in 1936 and first went to work for Barrett Company as a shipping clerk. (This was the same company that his father worked for.) Henry worked at National Radiators in the Billing and later the Tabulating Dept. He remembers working with IBM equipment in 1936/7 that was the for-runner of today's computers.

Doris started first grade while at Rose Point in 1935. There address at this point was on Agnes St., and then Second Ave in 1936. World War II started. Bud left in 1939 to join the Army Air Corp. Norman still worked for Barrett, a division of Allied Chemical and Dye Corp. in the Tarvia Division. They were the largest corporation next to General Motors in the whole world at that time. (F-17) Further moves took them to 1319 Menoher Highway in 1939 and 1028 MillCreek Rd. in 1940, both in Johnstown, Pennsylvania When the U.S. was drawn into World War II in 1941, all of Norman and Theresia's children except Doris who was underage, joined the services. Linc, Bill and Bud were all Radiomen. Linc and Bill were in the Navy, Linc being stationed in New Calidonia, Australia.

Bud was in the U.S. Army Air Corp. He was first stationed in Langley Field, Virginia, then in Java, East Indies (now Indonesia) and when Java was attacked by the Japanese for it's oil wells, he was stationed in Melborne, Australia. He met his future wife the first day he arrived in Melborne at a pub. After the war, he went back to Australia and married her. There is a whole Forte branch now living there because he made his life's home with his new wife there. His brother, Henry, was in the Quartermaster Corp in North Africa. His sister, Betty, was a W.A.C. Amazingly, this whole family survived the war without injury. (F-236) On the home front in April, 1942, Norman, Theresia and Doris moved to Sawyer Rd., in Bradford, Pennsylvania where they owned a house for the first time since Philadelphia.

Norman was known for his love of new cars. He had a brand new car about every 2 years. It was in Bradford, where he owned a LaSALLE. His kids remember many of his cars as being very special, ex.: A Chrysler New Yorker, (Sedan) metallic blue with a blue interior. Also, it was here that Doris Forte met her future husband, John Dudick. After she married, Norman and Theresia sold the farm and moved to State St. in 1948 and then Vista Circle in July of 1949, still in Bradford, PA, then on to 2285 Kensington Ave., Kenmore, Buffalo, N.Y. in 1950.

It was at this point that Allied Chemical, Norman's employer wanted to move him to Syracuse, New York after shutting down the Tarvius division. He was unhappy going to a totally new city and therefore switched employment to Allied Bituminous. (pronounced Bitchimuns) Soon after, Bituminous moved him to Erie, Pennsylvania.

Bituminous was bought out by Ashland Chemical. Erie is where Norman and Theresia spent their remaining years. (F-228) A couple years after Theresia died of a brain tumor, Norman remarried Agnes Casey. They lived at 728 Michigan Ave. in Erie, Pennsylvania and had a long marriage of 20 years. Her son inherited their furniture and mementos. Edward Forte's (Norman's grandfathers) original diary was amongst his effects that likely went to Agnes' son by her first marriage. This is noted in the hopes that the original diary can one day be found. Norman's mass was held at St. Jude the Apostle Church at 11:00 A.M. He and his first wife are interred in Calvary Cemetery, Section 27, Lot 381.

Norman married Theresia Rosa LINK on 5 Jul 1915 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Theresia (daughter of Julius LINK and Elizabetha Wilhemina ECKSTEIN) was born on 22 Feb 1897 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; was christened on 6 Jun 1897 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; died on 15 Aug 1958 in Erie, Erie, PA, USA; was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Erie, Erie, PA, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Transcript of a copy of the christening record for Theresia Rosa Link as translated from the German by Ken Smith: 3/85. Therese Rosa, daughter of Herr Julius Link and his legal wife, Elizabeth Ekstein, born 22 February, 1897 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Baptized 6 June 1897 by the undersigned Christen Merkel. Witness: Rosa Link Seal: St. Matthews Evangelical Lutheran Church at Philadelphia. The seal imprinted on the original document as translated by Matthias Seifert is: German Evangelic Lutheran Mathew Community (of) unaltered Augsburgh(ish) Confession of Philadelphia, 1891. This would have been a very traditional sect at the time as the Augsburgh Confession was the first Lutheran written set of standards presented to the Roman Emperer in 1530. (E, F-109)

Theresia volunteered as a member of the Red Cross Motor Corps during World War II. She died of a brain tumor in her 50's and was greatly missed. She was said to be a very gentle woman who was able to raise a large family without ever raising her voice. She is buried in Lot #381, Section 27 of Calvary Cemetery, in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Notes:

Information from Henry Lincoln's son, Norman Leroy Forte, shows that Henry Lincoln went to Northwestern University & became a top civil engineer. As a civil engineer in the steel industry he helped build Heinz Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey (where the auditorium did stand), the Brooklyn Bridge (or the Delaware River Bridge), the stone bridges across the Schuylkill River from the University of Pennsylvania Boathouse row to the Art Museum and various railroads. He was employed by Edgemore Iron Co. in Delaware and at one time was the Vice President of the Phoenix Bridge Co. There are supposedly various monuments of him throughout New York State because of his job in constructing railroads and bridges. (F-621, E) During World War I, he was a dollar-a-year man at the Cape Station to load ammunitions on ships. (He was independently financially secure-so the Dollar-A-Year was a charitable job on his part.) Due to his profession, he & his wife and children had to move quite often. Some of their places of residence were: Edmore, Del., and Pottstown, Pennsylvania They definitely lived on the corner of Chelten and Stenton Avenues in Germantown, (Pennsylvania) on April 12, 1896, because the funeral of Marie Isabel, two year old daughter of Daniel L. and Belle V. McGowen Leahy was held at his home a couple days later. Their final home, the one that his grandchildren remember, was in the suburb of Glenside, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania They also had a summer cottage in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. (F-49) He was raised a Presbyterian but was converted to the Catholic faith for his wife's sake. His wallet is in the possession of Doris Dudick. It's most interesting original contents included a tin type of Diantha Fitch Bunnell Forte, a set of 4 leaf clovers glued to a card dated 8-1-1897, and a collection of poems; "Only," "My Little Boy That Died," "Foretaste," and "Worthiness." His family bible, that came from his mother's side of the family, the Bunnel's, is still in existence, being cared for by Henry Lincoln Forte, III, grandson to Henry Lincoln Forte, I. Many of the family member's births are recorded in it. Memories of Henry Lincoln Forte by his grandson, Bill (William) Forte include a man known as "Grandfather," who was an engineer on the Brooklyn Bridge & Heinz Pier (in Atlantic City, New Jersey). He had a proper English air about him. Even at age 80 he hated the Irish. (This adds interest as his wife was Irish.) He would get angry when his grandchildren called their father, "Dad", because "Dad" was an Irish expression. The beds in his home felt like they were made from corn kernels. Bill remembers his grandmother as a small, frail woman who baked great cupcakes and served puffed rice for breakfast. She loved to ride in their car when they picked her up and brought her for multiple week visits to Erie, Pennsylvania Henry Lincoln was bedridden due to a stroke for the last nine years of his life, and his daughter, Edith, would take care of him, while his wife visited their son, Norman's family. Betty remembers him as being a very grumpy, strict grandfather. She says that her grandmother could just ignore his grumpiness and get on with life. She was a delightful woman. (F-115, 122d) I have been able to locate Henry L. Forte and family in the 1880, 1900, 1920 and 1930 Philadelphia Pennsylvania census records. In 1880, Marie C. was listed as Minnie Forte by name and Henry was listed as a Draftsman by trade. In 1900, all the data verifies information in interviews of family members. All children had been born in that census. They lived at 3530 North Broad in Philadelphia at the time. (F-43,259) In 1920 only Henry L., Marie C., Edith M. and Elizabeth Forte were living at 3519 Broad. Henry L. is listed as an employed Civil Engineer in general practice. His father was born in Barbados and his mother, Connecticut. The 1930 census confirms this information. Marie was born in Pennsylvania as was her mother. Her father, however, was born in Connecticut. Daughter Mary was still living with them. They owned their home worth $8000.00 at the time. (F-260, 666) The picture included herein, is Henry Lincoln Forte on the left and a likely brother, Leslie or Cyrus on the right. It is from a copy of a tintype. Tintypes were in use from 1854-1900. This rules out it being anyone but this generation.

Henry married Marie (Elizabeth) Conley RAUCH about 1875. Marie (daughter of Wilmer (Rouch) RAUCH and Isabella CONNELLY) was born in Jun 1856 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; died on 6 Apr 1935 in Glenside, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried on 9 Apr 1935 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The parents of Marie Rauch are likely as listed. The parentage chosen fit the family ages and names given by Norman Forte, grandson, in an interview of him (F-17), the 1860 and 1870 census records for Pennsylvania and the death certificate for Marie Conley (Connely) Rausch (Rauch) Forte listed above. (F-240 and F:DOC) A grandchild of Marie, Henry (Hank) Forte remembers her as being called Grandma McGowan. Maybe, because her mother remarried a McGowan, she assumed the name of McGowan. (F-453) However, her son Norman claimed his mother's maiden name was Rausch in his marriage application.

Marie is listed as Marie Rauch, age 13 in the 1870 census which was taken in November of 1870. There is one record that needs rechecked. The 1850 Census Records for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania list a James Raoush who was living with a Connely, Isehebel and a Johann, age 11. The names are coincidental and need rechecked. (F-388) (1850, Phil., Dau, p.254, Middle P.) or check (1850, Dau, p. 354, East Han) for a James Rauch.

Notes:

Julius Link was listed as a cabinetmaker in his daughter, Theresia's birth certificate. One special carved piece of furniture was in possession of Theresia Rosa Link's during her adulthood. Theresia's bedroom furniture also could have dated back to her father although this is not certain. The bedroom set was last in possession of her husband, Norman Forte's, second wife. (F-115) Mabel Link, deceased, also owned a carved chest made by Julius. Julius was from Hendungen, Bavaria according to his marriage record. This agrees with his emigration record. He was born in Baden, Germany according to his daughter Theresia in the 1930 Census for Pennsylvania.

He arrived in New York City in April of 1889 at age 16 with his sister Rosa. They are listed of Hendungen, Germany. He had no profession at the time. They traveled in "Steerage V" on the ship, Lahn. They left from the port Bremen, Germany and then Southampton, England.

Hank and Bill Forte, grandsons of Julius Link feels certain that the Links were actually from Darmstadt, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the state of Bayern (Bavaria), Germany. (F-55,444) Different family members feel the Links also lived in Essen, Baden Baden in W. Germany or from a city that is recalled as Melorystadt? or Michelstein?, close to Bomberg Germany (Bavaria).

The 1930 census records for their daughter, Theresa states that her mother, Elizabeth Eckstein was born in Hessen-Darmstatt, Germany and her father, Julius Link was born in Baden, so family tradition probably reversed their birth places. He died of typhoid fever shortly before his son Julius was born. He asked his sister Rose to look after his family.

Even so, son Walter was placed in Girard College (home for boys) when he was 6 years old. His mother, Elizabeth W. Ekstein, remarried and had one more son. She also died young around age 45 (F-41, 105a) Her second husband broke up the household and took his son with him. Theresia was already married to Norman and they took in sister, Aurelia. Aurelia then married and went to Atlantic City. She had a daughter who died at age 18. Walter was about 18 and went on by himself. He had left Girard at age 16. He met Mabel, his future bride, at church around age 18. He married at age 23. Julius, Jr. was put in a foster home. Julius's parentage is not known for sure, but is listed here via a large number of matches to the ancestors of Barbara Link Lustenader. (F-118,232) We have his sister Rosie also listed in the 1900 census records for Philadelphia, PA with a birth date of Dec 1874 who came over the same year as her brother, Julius in 1889. (D-72)

Transcript of the Marriage Record for Julius Link and Elizabeth Ekstein as translated from original German copy by Ken Smith: 3/85

(Brau-Schein) (Dass) Herr Julius Link from (Hendungen), Bavaria and Frowlein Lizzie Ekstein from Beerfelden, Hessen (-Damstadt) (wedded) 25th July, 1896 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (in the presence of witnesses): Herr Adam Kraft (*pronounced Kroft), Frl. Rosa Link. (Chelich verbunden) (norden sind nird hierdurch glaubnurdig bexeugt) Philadelphia (den) 25th July 1896. G.J. (Muller), pastor of (Unabh) St. Paul's Lutheran Church. (*see F-108, E)or a translation by Mathias Siefert of Hendungen, Bavaria, Germany:That Mister Julius Link from Hendungen, Bavaria and Miss Lizzie Ekstein from Beerfelden, Hesse on 25th July 1896 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in presence of the witnesses Mister Adam Kraft, Miss Rosa Link: martially joined have been, is herewith believable witnessed Philadelphia the 25th July 1896 ? J. M

Julius married Elizabetha Wilhemina ECKSTEIN on 25 Jul 1896 in St. Paul's Lutheran Ch., Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Elizabetha (daughter of Jacob ECKSTEIN and Susana Katherina WAGNER) was born on 13 Aug 1872 in Beerfelden, Hessen, DEU; was christened on 24 Aug 1872 in Beerfelden, Hessen, DEU; died in 1916 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried in 1916 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Elizabetha is listed with the birth place of Hessendarmstatt, Germany in her daughter, Theresa's 1930 census information. After the death of her husband, Julius Link, Elizabetha remarried and had a son. (F-156)