Robert Clark (R.C.) Forbis was born October 5, 1870 in Grand Prairie, Texas. He moved to Young County as a boy and attended school in Throckmorton.
In 1891 he came to Dickens County with a herd of C.D. Cattle. He spent the first winter at Jones Springs located about 10 miles west from Dickens on the Burlson County School Land. He also turned cattle on the Lee County School that had been fenced out by the Matadors. He had a Camp at Pecan Springs that had originally been a Matador Camp. Later he traded Pink Campbell ten heifer calves for his claim on 200 acres preemption. Later when the four section Act came in he took up four sections that are now in the Goen´s pasture. He grazed Matador and Spur land and worked with both wagons. Dickens was his post office.
He married Miss Fannie G. Green of Dickens July 21, 1897 and six children were born to them, One died in infancy. The other five are Frank, Clark, Virginia, Brittian and Stafford.
They moved to Afton to the present Forbis Ranch at Patton Springs where the Old Becton Post Office was located in 1899. He lived there until his death in 1941, and was active in Church and Civic affairs.
Mr. Forbis and Uncle Bill Stafford bought the Flying A Cattle in 1907 and continued the partnership until 1913.
He leased grass on the Plains around the Wake Community until 1917. In the Spring of 1917 he leased about 18,000 acres on the Mill Iron Range north of Pease River and stayed in that country until the Fall of 1923.
Name: Robert Clark FORBIS Sex: M Birth: 5 Oct 1870 in Grand Prairie, Texas Death: 14 Apr 1941 in Afton, Dickens County, Texas Burial: Afton Cemetery, Dickens County, Texas Event: Fact Note: Was Location In 1899 Event: Medical Note: 37 Day Illness Following A Stroke Of Paralysis Father: J.C. FORBIS Mother: Virginia CLARK Religion: Baptist Note: Mason Residence: 1915 Note: Moved To Spur, Dickens Co., Texas Note: Moved To Young Co. As A Boy & Attended School In Throckmorton Note: Lived In Afton-Forbis Ranch At Patton Springs Where The Old Becton Post Office Residence: 1891 Note: Came To Dickens Co. With A Herd Of D.C. Cattle Marriage 1 Fanny G. GREEN b: Abt 1877 in Culpeper County, Virginia Formed 1748 From Orange County Married: 21 Jul 1897 in Dickens, Dickens County, Texas Note: Minister- S.A. Cobb, Baptist Name: Fanny G. GREEN Sex: F Birth: Abt 1877 in Culpeper County, Virginia Formed 1748 From Orange County Death: 11 Nov 1959 in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California Note: Died At The Home Of Her Daughter While Visiting In Long Beach, CA. Father: John A. GREEN b: 23 Apr 1841 in Greenville, Culpeper County, Virginia Mother: Sue Virginia LEWIS b: 1840 in Culpeper, Culpeper County, Virginia Marriage 1 Robert Clark FORBIS b: 5 Oct 1870 in Grand Prairie, Tarrant County, Texas Married: 21 Jul 1897 in Dickens, Dickens County, Texas Note: Minister- S.A. Cobb, Baptist
R.C. (Bob) Forbis, 70, pioneer Dickens county ranchman and stock farmer, passed away at his ranch home near Afton, 7:30 Monday evening, April 14, 1941, after a 37 days illness following a stroke of paralysis. Mr. Forbis had been in declining health for the past two or three years.
Rev. A. P. Stokes, a former pastor, and Rev. W. F. Pool conducted services at the First Baptist Church of Afton at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 16. Masonic rites were held at the Afton Cemetery, where interment was made under direction of Campbell Funeral Chapel.
Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Fannie Forbis; one daughter, Mrs. Virginia Sue Walters, of Lubbock; four sons, Frank and Clark Forbis, of Afton; Brittian Forbis, Ft. Worth; and Stafford Forbis, of Carlsbad, New Mexico; one sister living in California; two grandchildren, Robert Lewis and Don Clark Forbis; and numerous other relatives and friends.
Pallbearers were: W. K. Young, H.I. Yeates, F.L. Byars, Jim Offield, Leon Lawson and M.J. Hickman.
Flower bearers were: Jean Byars, Billie Avara, Ouida Armstrong, Adaline Byars, Doris Avara, Maurine Pool, Mozelle Cates, Nine Lee Green, Lillian Hickman, Edna Earl Davis, Eva Lee Goosby, and Carolyn Hill.
Robert C. Forbis was born October 5, 1870 at Grand Prairie, Denton County, Texas.[sic Tarrant Co.] In 1891 he came to Dickens County with a herd of cattle, and has made his home here since.
He was married to Miss Fannie Green, July 21, 1897 at Dickens. To this union were born six children; one son died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Forbis moved to Patton Springs in 1899 and built on the site of the present home, where Mr. Forbis dealt extensively in cattle and land. In 1915 the family moved to Spur for the benefit of school for the children, returning to the ranch during the summer vacation months. Mr. Forbis was prominent in civic and social affairs, being one of the builders and board members of the Baptist Church of Afton, at one time a director of the Spur National Bank, and always interested in the progressiveness of the communities in which he lived.
In the passing of R.C. Forbis, Dickens County loses one of its builders and staunch supporters; a pioneer of 50 years, who helped settle this country and transform it into present thriving communities.
The Texas Spur joins the host of friends in sympathy with the family at the loss of husband and father.
Out of county relatives and friends attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Bob Brumley, Amarillo; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Burleson, Matador.
©The Texas Spur, April 17, 1941
Funeral services for Mrs. R.C. Forbis were held in the Afton Baptist Church at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Rev. Riley Fugitt officiating. She was 82.Mrs. Forbis died Friday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Virginia, Fossbury, Long Beach, CA. She had been visiting in California since July.
Mrs. Forbis came to Dickens County in 1891. She was married to R.C. Forbis in 1897. Mr. Forbis died in 1941. They moved to Afton in 1899, but lived in Spur while their children were attending school.
Survivors include four sons, Clark and Frank Forbis, Afton; T.B. Forbis, Roswell, NM; and Stafford Forbis, Carlsbad, NM; one daughter, Mrs. Virginia Fossbury, Long Beach, CA; one brother, J.D. Green, Roaring Springs; two sisters, Mrs. Nettie Davis, Spur; and Mrs.Virginia Campbell, Long Beach, CA. Three grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Pallbearers were Marvin Green, Lee Davis, Lewis Davis, Con Davis, John Green, Tom M. Green, and Worth Green. Honorary pallbearers included Oscar Stokes, F.L. Byers, E.J. Offield and Robert McAteer.
Interment was in Afton Cemetery.
©The Texas Spur, Thursday, November 12, 1959
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