Background
John Forward, Senior was born 1851 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Walter and Elizabeth Forward.
John Forward, Senior was born 1851 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Walter and Elizabeth Forward.
In 1866 he started work as a machinist and continued for seven years. He then joined the Pennsylvania Railroad as a fireman. Forward came to San Diego in 1887.
In San Diego he worked in the San Diego County"s recorder office for 19 years, and, from 1892, headed the office for 14 of those years.
In 1903 Forward founded Union Title and Trust Company and, after resigning as recorder, directed it for nine years as its president Forward was mayor of San Diego during 1907–1909.
He was elected on an anti-establishment campaign with only 39% of the vote. Since that time, runoffs have been required if nobody receives a majority of the vote for mayor.
Forward was a prominent citizen, "staunch republican", and strongly supported unions as the "salvation of the working manitoba"
Forward died 1926 aged 75 in San Diego.