Son of John M. and Sarah S. Forbes.
From the Boston Journal, 13 October 1897.
Obituary.
Col. W. H. Forbes
Distinguished Citizen of Massachusetts
and a War Veteran.
News was received in Boston Monday night of the death of Col. William H. Forbes of Milton, at his summer home on Naushon Island, Buzzard's Bay. Col. Forbes had been ill for some time, and early in the season went to his summer residence on the island from his home on Adams Street, Milton.
Col. Forbes' death will be keenly felt in Milton, where he was one of the best know residents, and is regretted by his many social and business associates in Boston.
The remains will be brought to Milton for burial, and services will probably be held at his late residence on Milton Hill.
William Hathaway Forbes was born on Nov. 1, 1840. He was fitted for college by E. S. Dixwell and H. L. Patten, and entered Harvard as a classmate of Oliver Wendell Holmes of the Supreme Court, .....
Leaving college during the first Junior term, he went into business in Boston in 1860.
On Dec. 26, 1861, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, Company E, First Massachusetts Cavalry, and served in South Carolina until July, 1862, afterward going with the Army of the Potomac. He was promoted to First Lieutenant, Aug. 16, 1862, and on Jan 14, 1863, to Captain. He was made Major of the Third Batallion, Second Massachusetts Cavalry, June 20, 1863.
Having been taken by a party under Mosby, at Aldie, Va., July 6, 1864, he was held as a prisoner of war until Dec 10 of that year, but was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of his regiment on October 28. He was honorably discharged May 15, 1865.
Mr. Forbes married Miss Edith Emerson, daughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the poet, Oct. 3, 1865, and was engaged in active business in Boston until 1887, for a number of years being with John M. Forbes & Co. He received the A. B. degree by vote of the corporation of Havard College in 1872, and spent the spring and summer of that year in Europe.
In 1887 Mr. Forbes resigned the Presidency of the Bell Telephone Company, which he had held for eight years or more, remaining as a Director. He was also a Director in several other companies.
He took an active interest in Milton Academy, and for many years was a member of the Board of Trustees. He was a member of several Boston Clubs, and took and active interest in yachting and outdoor sports. He was the owner of Meddler, one of the most famous stallions ever imported and of the Duke of Magenta, another imported thoroughbnred. He had several breeding farms in Milton, and kept two Arabian stallions, being interested in the development of this breed.
Col. Forbes had eight children: Ralph Emerson, Edith, William Cameron, John Murray, Edward Waldo, Waldo Emerson, Ellen Randolph and Alexander. John Murray Forbes died in 1888, aged 17, and Ellen Randolph died in infancy.
In college Mr. Forbes was the chum of Col. N. P. Hallowell, and although they were not in the same regiment in the war, they were ever close friends and companions. Col. Hallowell says that one of the principal characteristics of Mr. Forbes was a broad-minded and generous nature..... He never gave through the organized charities, and preferred to keep from his left hand the knowledge of what his right was doing. But he was never happier than when doing a generous act on behalf of some unfortunate who had appealed to him, and whose case he had investigated personally....