Sgt., 3rd Infantry and 6th Cavalry West Virginia
1843-1921
Jacob Watson Fortney at the age of 18 joined the 3rd Virginia Volunteers Infantry at Clarksburg, Virginia. He reenlisted age 21 into Company D, 6th Regiment West Virginia Cavalry. The 6th Regiment was ordered on June 16, 1865 to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was hospitalized in Fort Leavenworth with rheumatism. Jacob was discharged February 3, 1866 at Fort Leavenworth with a surgeons’ certificate of disability.
Jacob stayed out West and purchased a wagon and team delivering flour, sugar and tobacco to Chicago, Denver and Salt Lake.
He later returned to West Virginia and married Ethelinda Stuck on October 23, 1871. They had five children one my Grandmother Olive Devene Fortney Ward. Jacob died July 21, 1921
