From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and  
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 
 
Typed by E. J. Heinemann 
 
p. 695 
 
LORAIN FORTNEY, who was prepared for the legal profession and was  
admitted to the bar in November, 1896, is professor of languages at the  
West Liberty State Normal School, in which capacity he has been notably  
successful.  He was born in Reedsville, West Virginia, in 1869, and is  
a son of George Fortney, and grandson of Hunter Fortney, who was a  
pioneer farmer in the state and died at the advanced age of eighty-one  
years. 
     George Fortney was born in Newburg, West Virginia, and is a 
successful farmer.  He married Melissa J. Wilson, a daughter of 
Eugenius Wilson, who is now retired.  Mr. Wilson was born in 1821, and 
at an early age learned the trade of a cabinetmaker and carpenter.  He 
also owned a flouring mill and was a man of great business ability. 
     Lorain Fortney displayed a degree of ability at an early age which 
precluded the idea of spending his life on a farm.  Being a student by  
nature, he soon mastered all that was to be learned in the district  
school, and in 1889 attended the Fairmont State Normal School.  He then  
entered the West Virginia University at Morgantown, and in 1896 was  
graduated with the degree of L. L. B.  he was admitted to the bar at  
Kingwood, West Virginia, in November, 1896.  He also received the  
degree of A. B. from West Virginia University, in 1900.  In the  
meantime he was engaged in teaching school.  He was principal of  
schools at Independence, West Virginia, for three years, and then  
served as principal at Newburg, his old home, for two years.  He  
afterward taught at the Concord State Normal School at Athens, West  
Virginia.  He was called from there to West Liberty State Normal School  
in September, 1900, where he occupies the chair of languages, and  
teaches Latin, German and French.  He pursued postgraduate studies in  
the West Virginia University during the summer quarter of 1900.  He is  
a man of fine educational attainments and takes a very high rank as an  
instructor. 
     Mr. Fortney was joined in marriage with Mamie Seduick, of West  
Monterey, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1897.  She is a daughter of H. J.  
and Mary (Keefer) Seduick, and a granddaughter of William T. and  
Elizabeth (Fletcher) Seduick, and also of Samuel F. and Mary (Binker)  
Keefer.  All of the grandparents are deceased.  H. J. Seduick was born  
in Butler county, Pennsylvania, in 1856.  He is a successful oil  
producer, and is prominent in Republican politics in that section.  
Mrs. Fortney has one sister, Mrs. D. A. Woods, of Leechburg,  
Pennsylvania.  Mrs. Fortney was born March 1, 1876, at West Monterey,  
Pennsylvania.  Mr. and Mrs. Fortney have two children,-Helen, born May  
14, 1900; and Mary, born June 20, 1901. 
     The subject of this sketch is a Republican in politics; he was 
elected superintendent of schools in his native county in 1893, and 
served one term.  He was appointed a member of the county board for the  
examination of teachers, and served from 1895 to 1897.  Fraternally, he  
is a member of Fair Play Lodge, No. 26, I. O. O. F., of Independence,  
West Virginia, having belonged to it for ten years.  He is a member of  
Aurora Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M. of Newburg; Chapter No. 26, R. A.  
M., of Athens; Commandery No. 11, K. T., of Grafton; Lodge No. 5, K. of  
P., of Newburg; and has passed through the chairs in the Odd Fellows  
and Knights of Pythias lodges.  His wife is a member of Eastern Star  
Lodge at Athens, West Virginia.  She is entitled to membership in the  
society of Daughters of the American Revolution.  Although not a  
college graduate, she attended Oakdale Academy, in Pennsylvania, and  
Salem College and West Virginia University.  Mr. and Mrs. Fortney are  
members of the M. E. church.  They now live in West Liberty, West  
Virginia.