B.J. Forbes

Benjamin Johnson Forbes

Full Name: Benjamin Johnson Forbes
Date of birth: May 19, 1872
Date of death: January 7, 1954

Terms of Service top

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District
H 103 Jan 13, 1931 - Jan 10, 1933 42nd   Democrat Weatherford / Parker   Parker
H 103 Jan 8, 1929 - Jan 13, 1931 41st   Democrat Weatherford / Parker   Parker
H 103 Jan 11, 1927 - Jan 8, 1929 40th   Democrat Weatherford / Parker   Parker
H 103 Sep 13, 1926 - Jan 11, 1927 39th (1) (2)   Democrat Poolville / Parker   Parker

(1) Benjamin J. Forbes, in special election 1/5/1926, sworn 9/13/1926, succeeded Fine G. Bedford, resigned. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(2) Assumed Democrat based on listing as Democrat in subsequent Legislatures. Texas Legislative Manual.

Terms of Service top

House District 103
Jan 13, 1931 - Jan 10, 1933
Legislatures: 42nd  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Weatherford / Parker
Counties in district: Parker
House District 103
Jan 8, 1929 - Jan 13, 1931
Legislatures: 41st  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Weatherford / Parker
Counties in district: Parker
House District 103
Jan 11, 1927 - Jan 8, 1929
Legislatures: 40th  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Weatherford / Parker
Counties in district: Parker
House District 103
Sep 13, 1926 - Jan 11, 1927
Legislatures: 39th (1) (2)  
Party: Democrat
Home City/County: Poolville / Parker
Counties in district: Parker

(1) Benjamin J. Forbes, in special election 1/5/1926, sworn 9/13/1926, succeeded Fine G. Bedford, resigned. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(2) Assumed Democrat based on listing as Democrat in subsequent Legislatures. Texas Legislative Manual.

Biographical Information top

Selected newspaper articles

Biographical Sketches

  • Biographical sketch, "Who's Who and What's What in the Texas Legislature," by Ed Kilman, 2/6/1929, p. 9. Houston Post-Dispatch.
  • Biographical sketch and photo of Benjamin Johnson Forbes and his horse Ollie, "Horseback Preacher Still Rides Circuit Carrying the Word of God," The Winkler County News (Kermit, Texas), 11/25/1948, p. 13, crediting Winkler County Library. "A native of Pettus County, Mo. [Missouri], Forbes came to Collin County, Texas in 1889 . . . Brown-eyed Brother Forbes was Parker County's representative in the Texas Legislature from 1926 to 1932."
    Obituary, B.J. Forbes, "Colorful Pastor Will Be Buried in Weatherford," Cleburne Times-Review, 1/8/1954, p. 4, crediting Johnson County Historical Collective. "Forbes was elected in 1926 to fill an unexpired term in the state legislature and was re-elected for two consecutive terms thereafter. During one of his campaigns, he rode horseback about the countryside seeking votes." Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries). January 8, 1954 November 25, 1948

Other Resources

  • Census of 1930 - B.J. Forbes, Parker County, preacher, age 57, born circa 1873 in Missouri, wife Minnie, daughter Jewel. FamilySearch.
  • Benjamin Johnson Forbes, birth date 5/19/1872 in Petts [Pettis] County, Missouri; death date 1/7/1954 in Weatherford, Parker County, Texas; minister. FamilySearch Texas Deaths, 1890-1976.
  • B.J. Forbes, birth date 5/19/1872, death date 1/7/1954, burial in Spring Creek Cemetery, Weatherford, Parker County. Includes obituaries from Firm Foundation, 3/23/1954 (Benjamin Johnson Forbes), and unknown source ("Famed 'Horseback' Pastor Dies"). Find a Grave.

Photographs

  • Photograph. B.J. Forbes, 42nd Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. B.J. Forbes, 41st Legislature, State Preservation Board
  • Photograph. B.J. Forbes, 40th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

Committee Information top

42nd R.S. - 1931
Criminal Jurisprudence  
Labor  
Liquor Traffic (Vice Chair) 
Public Printing  
41st R.S. - 1929
Agriculture  
Labor  
Liquor Traffic  
40th R.S. - 1927
Agriculture  
Examination of Comptroller's and Treasurer's Accounts  
Federal Relations  
Liquor Traffic (Vice Chair) 
State Eleemosynary and Reformatory Institutions  
39th R.S. - 1925
Highways and Motor Traffic  
Labor  
Liquor Traffic  
Military Affairs (Vice Chair) 

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