Family/Spouse: Arthur CONNALLY. Arthur (son of CONNELLY) was born about 1799 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; died on 19 Oct 1844 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; was buried on 26 Oct 1844. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

There are several Isabella Conley/Connelly's in the 1850 census. The one where she is listed as Isabella Conley, age 10, daughter of Hugh and Jane Conley, is not her. I found her transcribed birth record and this Isabella was born on Feb. 22, 1840 in Bald Eagle, Centre Co., PA and her later husband was William Hayes. There is an Isabella Connelly living in South Ward, York Co., PA in the 1850 census listed at age 16. Her father was not living in the home. Her mother was Sarah, age 58. It was a large family with one older brother having the name of Harry. They were all born in Pennsylvania. A couple of the brothers were carpenters. The last possible match was an Isabella Connell who was the daughter of Alexander M. and Mary Connell.

This was again a large family. He was a farmer. They lived in Conemaugh, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania. This ancestor seems to have been married to a Wilmer Rouch according to an 1860 Philadelphia Census and a Martin McGowen in the 1870 Philadelphia Census. The 1870 census appeared to have both of Isabella's children by a Rauch living with her children Isabel and Martin McGowan. The 1870 census gives her age as 30. (F-246 & 246a) Her grandson, Norman, referred to her as spunky "Grandmother McGowan". She was Irish. (F-17)

There is an Isabella Rauch, dealer, who had stalls #501 and 503 in the Farmer's Market in the 1861 Philadelphia directory that might be this Isabella. However, her husband is not listed in the directory. It does however, list women with the word widow after their name in the same directory, so she probably is married at the time. (F-452) Isabel is buried at Old Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia.

Isabella married Wilmer (Rouch) RAUCH about 1853. Wilmer (son of S. ROUCH and H.) was born about 1838 in , Augusta, VA; died in 1860-1865. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Isabella married Martin Ignatius V MCGOWAN about 1865. Martin was born on 5 Feb 1823 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; was christened in 1823 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; died after 1870 in Of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: MENNS. died before 1925. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the 1880 Philadelpia City listings there is a Harry F. Rauch who was a clerk at 332 S. Water, and his home was at 2130 Steward. This is likely to be our Harry Rauch. Some family members thought Harry was a Civil War Veteran from Connecticut. If his birth date of 1853 was correct in the census records it is unlikely that this particular tradition is correct as the war ended in 1864. He was listed at age 17 in the 1870 census which was taken in November of that year.

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.

Marie married Henry Lincoln FORTE, I about 1875. Henry (son of Edward Cyrus FORTE and Diantha (Elizabeth) Fitch BUNNELL) was born on 12 Apr 1855 in Orange, New Haven Co, CT, USA; died on 28 Sep 1936 in Glenside, Montgomery Co, PA, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Isabel married Daniel L. LEAHY before 1894. Daniel died after 7 Oct 1930. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Martin married Marie Theresa CLOK before 1895. Marie was born in 1870; died in 1935. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Wilmer Forte, 1st child of Henry Lincoln Forte & his spouse, was a private in the Spanish American War, Co. F, First Regt., Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was married to an Irish girl, but left his wife. He was an actor in the early Vaudeville shows. He was taken to drink, but his niece, Doris Dudick, remembers that he was great fun to be with. He was known by Walter Winchell, news broadcaster and broadway columnist. His unexpected death in New York City was even announced on Walter Winchill's radio program.

Wilmer married Mary A. A. VINCENT on 29 Dec 1908 in , , RI, USA. Mary died after 1908. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Edith didn't marry. She is living with her parents in the 1930 census in Abington Twp., Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania That is the same township where her brother Norman was living at the time.

Notes:

Isabelle was an opera singer, a "contralto". She sang with the Philadelphia Opera Co. Her stage name was Helen Rousch. She used to play the piano and sing at home. She married John J. Reily, a chartered accountant.

Family/Spouse: John J. REILY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He is listed in the occupation of Proprietor in the 1930 census for Philadelphia.

Family/Spouse: Anna M. PATTERSON. [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]

Norman married Agnes Clementine CASEY on 13 Aug 1960. Agnes was born on 25 Feb 1904; died on 11 Jul 1986 in Erie, Erie, PA, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Joe and Earl Forte owned picture theaters in West Philadelphia, Ambassador, Sherwood, Baltimore and Byrd. They were the two siblings that were very close. Joe died of a heart attack & Earl died the next day. Both had families. It appears that Joe was the son to fill out the information on his mother's death certificate as J.A. Forte was listed as the informant. He did not know his mother's father's first name.

Family/Spouse: Margaret H. TAYLOR. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mildred married Willard Rafetto, a wealthy man and had a 3 children; Mildred, Willard Jr., and Rodney. (F-105b, 128)

Family/Spouse: Willard RAFETTO. Willard (son of Louis RAFETTO) was born on 21 Aug 1896 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; died in Apr 1967 in Bala, Cynwyd, Montgomery, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her funeral was held at her relative, Henry Lincoln Forte's home at Chelten and Stenton Avenues in Germantown, Pennsylvania