John F. Forward Sr. (October 3, 1851 – December 24, 1926) was an American Republican politician from California. Forward was born 1851 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Walter and Elizabeth Forward. His grandfather Walter Forward was U. S. Secretary of the Treasury.In 1866 he started work as a machinist and continued for seven years.He then joined the Pennsylvania Railroad as a fireman. Forward came to San Diego in 1887. In San Diego he worked in the San Diego County's recorder office for 19 years, and, from 1892, headed the office for 14 of those years. Forward died 1926 aged 75 in San Diego.