Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  p. 654.
 
VERNON A. FORBES

     "He whom the gods love, dies young." Thus, in the passing of Vernon A.
Forbes one of the rising young attorneys of Central Oregon, the Bend bar lost a
valued and representative member and the community one of its foremost citizens.
On the 7th of July, 1918 he met his death by drowning while fishing in Crescent
Lake. He was born at St Croix Falls, Wisconsin, October 17, 1883, a son of Smith
R. and Mary E. (Outcelt) Forbes. Both families are old and honored and the
Forbes family came originally from New York state. The great-grandfather of our
subject, Francis Stowell, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The Outcelt
family were among the earliest pioneers of Wisconsin and Vernon's grandfather
was second cousin of Abraham Lincoln.
     In the acquirement of his education Vernon A. Forbes attended the grammar
schools at St. Croix Falls and was graduated from the Osceola high school in
1904. He then determined to become a member of a profession and choosing law he
entered McAlister College for a preparatory course. Subsequently he enrolled in
the law department of the University of Minnesota and was graduated from that
institution with his LL. B. degree in 1909. The following year he came west,
recognizing the many opportunities offered by a growing country, and locating in
Bend commenced the practice of his profession. He brought to the profession
splendid training and innate ability and he soon became one of the prominent
young lawyers of Bend. The year 1912 saw his entrance into political life, for
he was elected to the house of representatives of the state from the
twenty-first representative district. He was reelected twice and served during
the sessions of 1913-1915 and 1917. He was a dominant factor in shaping
legislation and one of his first acts was to unite the representatives of
eastern Oregon in a compact body to act in harmony in all matters affecting that
part of the state and by his readiness in debate and comprehensive grasp of
questions of public concern he assumed and held a prominent place as a leader.
Tiring of political life be subsequently refused reelection and returned to his
law practice, which was growing rapidly. He was an exceptional lawyer and his
broad study, careful analysis and logical reasoning were dominant factors in his
success. No doubt he inherited some of his ability along professional lines, for
one of his uncles, John Outcelt, a veteran of the Civil war, was for many years
one of the leading attorneys of Knoxville, Tennessee. Another uncle, G. A.
Outcelt, is now practicing in Oklahoma, where he has won prominence and
substantial success. On the 7th of October, 1918, the bar of Bend in the circuit
court passed a set of resolutions of condolence to the family and friends of Mr.
Forbes, and Hon. T. E. J. Duffy, judge of the circuit, in the course of the
proceedings spoke thus:
     "As I listened to the reading of these resolutions, and as I thought of his
tragic death in all of its sadness, I was yet consoled by the thought that honor
comes to whom honor is due, for we will remember that these resolutions and
these eulogies are the first to be offered in this court and county, both of
which Mr. Forbes labored so long and so well to create and establish.
     "It was my rare good fortune to know Mr. Forbes well, both as a boy and as
a man. We were college mates together. Early in his study of law he was
recognized by his classmates and instructors as a clear thinker and a logical
reasoner. He possessed a legal mind, besides he was abundantly prepared for his
chosen profession by profound and exhaustive study.
     "As a lawyer Mr. Forbes was energetic, industrious and careful, and as an
advocate, clear, earnest and forceful. His legal mind seemed to seize as it were
the very spirit of juridical doctrine, and he discussed authorities, which
showed him to be a master of interpretation.
     "Mr. Forbes was a safe counselor and devoted to the interests of his
clients, and although uncompromising when the justness of his cause was at
issue, still his good judgment impelled him at times to yield a point rather
than involve his client in expensive litigation, when as much or more could be
gained by an equitable compromise.  Whenever he could without jeopardizing his
client's interests, he always consented to any reasonable request coming from
opposing counsel, and in these interchanges of courtesies his word was as good
as his bond.
     "In his dealings with his brother members of the profession he was fair,
honest and considerate. Mr. Forbes was loyal to the law and he honored and
respected the courts before whom he practiced, and it was these traits of
character that gained the admiration and respect of his brethren, who have come
here today to offer their last best tribute to one who shall be among them no
more.
     "His zeal for the law did not detract his attention from the duties every
man owes to the community in which he lives as a citizen. He came to central
Oregon at a time when it began to show new life and development, and located at
Bend when it was just beginning to emerge from the obscurity of a frontier town,
and the prominent part he has taken in the upbuilding and development of Bend
and Deschutes county is so well known in the community that it would be idle to
recount in detail.
     "As a legislator he had a brilliant record. He stood high in the estimation
of his colleagues and was considered one of the foremost lawmakers of the state.
He was a man of indomitable will and a leader among men, and during the three
successive terms that he served the state in the legislative assembly, he must
be given credit for promoting and having enacted some of the most constructive
legislation that has ever appeared upon the statute books of this state.
    "In politics Mr. Forbes was a stanch republican and his political views were
clear-cut and decided. He always took an active interest in the success of his
party at the polls, but his partisanship was not such that permitted it to stand
in the light of the good he found advanced by opposing political parties.
     "As a man Mr. Forbes was plain, modest and unassuming, and in his private
life he was courteous, kind, generous and sympathetic.
     Socially he was not hasty in forming friendships, but when once a
friendship was formed it was as firm and constant as the polar star. It was a
dependable quantity.  To him friendship was a living virtue, deep rooted in his
soul and a part of his very being and always ready to manifest itself on all
proper occasions.  Mr. Forbes in his untimely death left to mourn his loss, his
widow, who was Miss Anna Markel, a son, Vernon A. Forbes, Jr., his father; an
invalid mother; and a devoted sister, Miss Gail Forbes.  In all relations of
life he was both faithful and honorable and his friends were legion. From the
start he recognized that the present and not the future holds opportunity and
therefore he made each passing hour count for the utmost in his various
activities.
 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.