Born in
French Grant, Ohio, Fort moved with his parents to
Marshall County, Illinois, in April 1834. He completed preparatory studies and attended Rock River Seminary. He studied law. He was
admitted to the bar in 1847 and commenced practice in
Lacon, Illinois. Fort was elected sheriff in 1850. He served as clerk of Marshall County in 1852, and was a county judge in 1857. He was appointed a
second lieutenant in the
11th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, on April 30, 1861. He was promoted through the ranks to
lieutenant colonel and
quartermaster. He was
brevetted major and lieutenant colonel of Volunteers on March 13, 1865. He served as a member of the
Illinois State Senate in 1866. Fort was elected as a
Republican to the
Forty-third and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1881). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1880. He retired from public life. He died in
Lacon, Illinois, January 13, 1883. He was interred in Lacon Cemetery. He married Clara Boal, the daughter of
Robert Boal, and was the father of state senator
Robert Boal Fort. ==References==