"Keeweechic's Forney" Forney by keeweechic

Sallie Daugherty arrived in this area 1847 with her four sons from Arkansas and bought 1,000 acres of land just south east of where Forney lies today. She named the area Union Hill which later became known as Lone Elm. In the early 1850's, more settlers began to arrive in this area. After the great war, many veterans also moved here, many began their lives as farmers and ranchers. By the late 1860's, the Village of Brooklyn was established as the only town and trading centre east of Dallas and west of Kaufman and by 1873, Brooklyn was a growing town, with saloons, merchandise store and lodge. It was the year that the Texas and Pacific Railroad come through Brooklyn, which was to change the face of the town forever. When came the time to register the town with the Post Office, it was found that another town had the same name and so another name had to be selected.

John Wein Forney, born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was a director of the Texas and Pacific Railroad Company and was believed to have been instrumental in the new railroad route through the village of Brooklyn. So in thanks to Mr Forney, it was suggested that Forney’s name be submitted, to which it was accepted and thus the name of the town of Forney was established permanently.

With only a population of around 5,588, Forney is surprisingly known as being the “Antique Capital of Texas” with more than 150 dealers in the area.