Joseph Forbes (educator) facts for kids

Joseph Barlow Forbes (January 29, 1840 – May 5, 1927) was an American teacher. He is famous for starting the first free public school system in Utah. He also helped create one of the first public high schools in the area.

Early Life and Adventures

Joseph Forbes was born on January 29, 1840, in Bangor, Maine. His family later moved to Boston, where he grew up. His parents hoped he would become a doctor, but Joseph dreamed of sailing the seas.

When he was in his early twenties, he sailed to Calcutta on a ship owned by his family. After arriving in Calcutta, he became the first mate on another ship that traveled to Southern Europe.

Serving in the Civil War

When Joseph returned to Boston, the American Civil War was happening. He joined the army on April 26, 1861. As a lieutenant, he fought in important battles like Bull Run and Antietam. His service ended in June 1863.

The next year, he sailed to California. He joined the army again, working as an assistant to Major John Bidwell. In 1865, he left the army and began a journey back east across the country.

Starting Schools in Utah

On his journey, Joseph Forbes stopped in Salt Lake City. There, he met Brigham Young, a leader of the Latter-day Saints. Young suggested that Joseph use his education to help set up schools for the community. Joseph and his friend decided not to stay at that time.

They traveled south to American Fork. Joseph met Nancy Dayton there. He stayed at her stepfather's boarding house and began teaching school. A local leader, Leonard E. Harrington, asked Joseph to organize the schools in American Fork. Joseph did this, creating a system where students were separated into different grades.

Harrington helped pass laws to support the public school system Joseph imagined. In 1892, a new brick school building was built in American Fork and named the Forbes School. Joseph Forbes taught in American Fork for 46 years. He also taught for eight years at a college in Salt Lake City and in other towns like Riverdale, Utah.

Family Life and Challenges

In 1866, Joseph Forbes married Nancy Dayton. He also joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and remained a member for the rest of his life. Joseph and Nancy had thirteen children together. Nancy also worked as a midwife, helping families with new babies.

Facing Difficult Times

In 1879, Joseph married a second wife, Mary Jane Gardner. They had eleven children. At that time, having more than one wife (called plural marriage) became illegal. In 1887, a law called the Edmunds-Tucker Act made plural marriage a crime. Joseph Forbes had to hide to avoid being arrested.

He was eventually arrested and held in a prison in Salt Lake City. He was released after signing a paper saying he would only consider himself married to his first wife. When Mary Jane had another baby, Joseph was at risk of being arrested again.

To protect their family, Joseph took Mary Jane and her children to Sanford, Colorado. About a year later, Nancy also moved to Colorado at Joseph's request. Since plural marriage was not accepted there, she moved across the border to New Mexico. One of Joseph's students in Colorado later became the famous boxing champion Jack Dempsey.

When the Church leader Wilford Woodruff announced the 1890 Manifesto, which ended plural marriage, the Forbes family returned to American Fork.

A Lasting Legacy

Joseph Forbes passed away in 1927 at the age of 87.

Honoring a Great Teacher

In 1921, the people of American Fork honored Joseph Forbes for his many years of service. April 15, 1921, was called Forbes Day. It became a big holiday, with businesses and schools closing. Joseph and his two wives took part in a parade with the local band.

Speeches were given, and Joseph thanked the people for their love. He said he was ready to "face my Maker unafraid, and with joy in my heart." Joseph Forbes died on May 5, 1927. The Deseret News newspaper wrote in his obituary that he had been a teacher for 54 years. He taught for 46 of those years in American Fork, where three generations of families attended his schools. This was a very rare achievement in education.

Joseph Forbes created the school system in American Fork. Two schools in the town were named after him. One of these schools was built in 1949.

In Books

Joseph Forbes' grandson, Paul Dayton Bailey, wrote a lot about his grandfather. He wrote a book called Grandpa Was a Polygamist in 1960. It was later reprinted as Polygamy Was Better Than Monotony in 1973.