Albertina Allen Forrest (1872 – 1904)
Jacob Dorsey Forrest (1866 – 1930)
Jacob and Albertina married in 1893. After their marriage, Albertina continued her studies in Chicago alongside her husband and sister and seems to have earned a PhD according to one obituary. The couple later moved to Indianapolis, and both worked at Butler College (now University).
The couple had no children but appear to have had a very happy marriage. Sadly, Albertina became very ill and went to Sea Breeze, Florida, for her health, accompanied by her sister Cora (who also worked at Butler, possibly as a teacher). Though it’s unclear what she died from, it sounds neurological in nature. Her husband came down as her condition worsened though there is a report he planned to bring her back home as she was improving published in the Indianapolis News (paper) two weeks before her death which is pretty devastating.
Jacob published The Development of Western Civilization in 1907 which was dedicated “TO HER from whose too brief companionship the preparation of these pages cut off so many precious hours.” Which: Wow.
The monument to Albertina was created by Rudolph Schwarz who was also instrumental in the creation of the Indiana Soldiers’ And Sailors’ Monument which stands at the center of downtown Indy on Monument Circle. He created many other notable works of a similar nature throughout the state.
Time has ravaged the actual marker with Albertina’s name and dates on it, the letters picked off by erosion, chance, and people. The remaining letters specify her death location and parts of her birth and death dates. It’s too bad this marker has not been restored (or if it has, that it continues to be picked apart). Upon his death, Jacob was buried with Albertina, but no marker was set for him.
RIP Forrests
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