Born: October 24, 1826
Birthplace: Franklin County Tennessee
Father: William Hugh Montgomery 1792 – 1829
(Buried: Cowan Cemetery, Cowan, Tennessee)
Mother: Elizabeth Dougherty “Betsie” Cowan 1803 – 1870
Husband: Lt. General Nathan Bedford Forrest 1821 – 1877
(Buried: Health Sciences Park, Memphis, Tennessee)
Married: September 23, 1845 in Hernando, Mississippi
Children:
Captain William Montgomery Forrest 1846 – 1908
(Buried: Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee)
Frances “Fannie” Ann Forrest 1849 – 1854
(Buried: Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee)
Died: January 22, 1893Place of Death: Memphis, Tennessee
Age at time of Death: 67 years old
First Burial Place: Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee
Disinterred: to Forrest Park, Memphis, Tennessee in 1904, renamed Health Sciences Park in 2013
Exhumed: from Health Sciences Park on June 3, 2021 and buried temporarily in Munford, Tennessee
Reinterred: Elm Springs Estate, Columbia, Tennessee on September 18, 2021
The following info is provided with a portrait of Nathan Bedford when he first met Mary Ann. The name of the portrait is "MARY ANN" by artist John Paul Strain. It may be found at http://www.johnpaulstrain.com/art/mary-ann.htm
The legend of Nathan Bedford Forrest began long before the start of the American Civil War. Although there are a number of differing accounts of the events that took place in the summer of 1845, Bedford did meet his future wife in a notable and romantic way. The story illustrates that even in his early 20’s, Bedford displayed the character, chivalry, and powerful personality that would later propel him to become one of the most successful and feared cavalry commanders of the Civil War.
On an August Sunday, Forrest met the daughter [niece] of a Presbyterian minister, Mary Ann Montgomery, and her mother while they were on their way to church. The Montgomery’s buggy had broken down while crossing a stream. A couple of the local young men were on the river bank laughing and teasing Mary Ann and her mother. Bedford rode up on his horse, saw what had happened, and dismounted. Immediately he waded across the stream and carried Mary Ann to safety and then rescued her mother. Deciding that the boisterous jokesters needed to be taught a lesson, Bedford crossed the stream again and proceeded to thrash the young men.
After properly introducing himself, Bedford asked permission to call on Mary Ann. Impressed with his gallantry Mrs. Montgomery agreed. Bedford and Mary Ann were married six weeks later on September 25, 1845. And so began the life long love affair that would become part of the legend of General Nathan Bedford Forrest.
Obituary: Confederate Veteran Magazine - Page 63 - Vol.1 - February 1893 No.2
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