Albertus Burgin Fortune was born in Swannanoa, Buncombe County, North Carolina on March 7, 1845. He attended school at Black Mountain, and at the age of 17 joined the army and served in the Civil War in Company C, 16th Battalion as First Sergeant. His obituary states Captain A.B. Fortune. Whether this rank was achieved during military service, or was accorded as a honorary title is not known.
After the war he attended Colonel Steven Lee's school in Chunns Cove and boarded in Asheville. He studied law under Judge Bailey and was licensed to practice.
His first work was on the Western North Carolina Railroad at Swannanoa. He was also a contractor on the Asheville and Spartanburg railroad.
On March 10, 1870, he married Leah Adeline "Addie" Burgin of Swannanoa, daughter of John Burgin who was born about 1800. They became the parents of four children:
(1) Albert Burgin Fortune born about 1871.
(2) Lizzie Fortune born about 1873 & married Ivey Johnson.
(3) George D. Fortune born about 1875.
(4) Adeline Fortune born about 1877 & married George Phillips.
Adeline Burgin Fortune died December 8,1877. Albertus married a second time on December 10, 1878 to Mary Johnston Patton. They became the parents of five children:
(1) Cora J. Fortune born about 1880 & married W. Ernest Shuford.
(2) Albertus Burgin Fortune Jr. born about 1882.
(3) Ada Fortune born about 1884 & married William G. Baird.
(4) Bessie Fortune born about 1886.
(5) One child died in infancy - name unknown.
During his lifetime Albertus Fortune Sr. ylbuilt several sections of railroad around Asheville, one from Buena Vista to Fletcher, and another from Luther to Turnpike. He then went to Virginia and helped build the railroad from Martinsville to Patrick Court House. He also did contracting work in Georgia for the Seaboard Airline Railroad, and constructed the beltline around Atlanta.
After completing the work in Georgia, he came back to Asheville and went to work in the Buncombe County Treasury Office for E.W. Patton, Treasurer. He was later elected to hold the office of Register of Deeds in 1902. He held that job until his death on December 27, 1906. He was a member of the Mt. Herman Lodge of the Masonic Order in Asheville. He was buried with full Masonic honors in Asheville Cemetery (now Riverside) with services conducted by Dr. R.F. Campbell, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church.
(Submitted by: William Wayne Metcalf)