Samuel Carr Forker

Samuel Carr Forker (March 16, 1821 – February 10, 1900) was a Democratic Party politician and banker who represented New Jersey’s 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for one term from 1871 to 1873. His congressional service took place during a significant period in American history, as the nation continued to grapple with the political, economic, and social consequences of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Throughout his single term, he participated in the legislative process and represented the interests of his New Jersey constituents within the Democratic Party framework.

Forker was born in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey, on March 16, 1821. He pursued preparatory studies in his youth, receiving the foundational education that prepared him for a career in business and public life. In his early adulthood, he left his birthplace and relocated to Bordentown, New Jersey, a growing community along the Delaware River that offered expanding commercial opportunities in the mid-nineteenth century.

Upon settling in Bordentown, Forker engaged in banking, a profession that would define much of his career. He became associated with the Bordentown Banking Company, where he rose to positions of significant responsibility. He served as both director and cashier of the institution, roles that placed him at the center of local financial affairs and provided him with experience in fiscal management, credit, and investment at a time when stable banking services were essential to regional commerce and development.

Forker’s prominence in local business and his alignment with the Democratic Party led to his election to national office. He was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-second Congress, representing New Jersey’s 2nd congressional district. His term extended from March 4, 1871, to March 3, 1873. During this period, he contributed to the legislative process as the federal government addressed issues related to Reconstruction, economic policy, and the evolving balance of power between the states and the national government. Although detailed records of his specific committee assignments and legislative initiatives are limited, his service reflected the participation of New Jersey Democrats in national debates of the era. He sought to continue his work in Washington but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1872 to the Forty-third Congress.

After leaving Congress in 1873, Forker returned to his earlier vocation and again engaged in banking. His post-congressional years were marked by continued involvement in financial affairs, drawing on the expertise he had developed before his time in public office. His experience as a banker and former member of Congress made him a figure of standing in his community, even as he gradually withdrew from active public life.

In 1890, Forker moved to Delanco Township, New Jersey, where he entered retirement. He lived there with his son, spending his later years away from the direct responsibilities of business and politics, but remaining within the region where he had spent his entire life. Samuel Carr Forker died in Edgewater Park Township, New Jersey, on February 10, 1900. He was interred in Mount Holly Cemetery in his native Mount Holly Township, closing a life that had combined local financial leadership with service in the United States Congress during a transformative period in the nation’s history.