Forward township is so named in honor of Hon. Walter Forward, the distinguished jurist. He began his career in 1801 as editor of the Tree of Liberty, a democratic organ, and the second journalistic venture in Allegheny county. He was member of Congress two terms, first comptroller of the treasury under Harrison, secretary of the treasury under Tyler, charge d’affaires to Denmark under Taylor, and finally judge of the district court of Allegheny county, in which position he died in 1852. He sustained a high character for ability and integrity throughout his long public career, and enjoyed a national reputation.

While Virginia exercised jurisdiction over the territory which included what is now Forward township, this part of that territory was Yohogania county, and the courts were held at the house of Andrew Heath, who lived near the town of West Elizabeth, on the west side of the Monongahela. In the records of that court the names of Thomas Applegate, Daniel Applegate, James Wall and Joseph Becket appear as jurors, road-viewers, etc. They were residents in this territory, and had doubtless taken the oath of allegiance to Virginia. What is now Forward was a part of Rostraver township when Westmoreland county embraced this part of Allegheny.

The first to locate permanently in Forward township were the Applegates and Walls, who came from New Jersey in 1766. They were followed by others from the same state, and hence, for about a century, the place where they settled was known as the "Jersey Settlement," and the name "Jersey" was first suggested for the township. The following are the probable years of settlement by many of the early immigrants:
Thomas, William, Samuel and Benjamin Applegate, James and Walter Wall, 1766;
Donald Munro, Hugh Davidson, James Halleday, James Terry, Richard Parker, John Reed, Samuel Devore, Abraham Miller, William McClure, Philip Rodgers, Robert Smith, Cornelius Thompson, Adam McConnell, James Wilson, 1768;
William Neiley, Alexander Dunlap, Andrew Pearce Joseph Warne, James Pearse, 1769;
David Williams, Moses Devore, 1770;
Azariah Davis, Henry Liming, Joseph Liming, 1772;
Robert Craighead, 1773;
Daniel Thompson, Joseph Beckett, 1774;
Matthew McKinney, Richard Sparks, John Imbly, 1777;
Alexander Craig, 1778;
Zaccheus Wilson, 1779.

Surveys were made to the following parties, though the year of settlement is not known: Redman Magner, Ezekiel Dye, Stephen Lowrey (warrant) William Hall, 1785; John Dye, Edward Taylor, John Cavit, Elijah Heydon, 1786; Christopher Heydon, 1787.

This region enjoyed peace and security during the long period of the Indian disturbances.

The township borders upon the Monongahela river a distance of thirteen or fourteen miles, and adjoins Westmoreland county on the east. Becket’s, Sunfish, Keller’s, Pangburn’s, Limestone and Fallen Timber runs are among the principal streams. The land is hilly, but fairly productive, and valuable deposits of coal measurably increase, its value. William G. Alexander, a merchant of Pittsburgh, removed to Elizabeth about 1847, and established Locust Grove Coal-works about a half-mile above Lock No. 3, on the property of Hon. Thomas M. Howe. Mr. Alexander’s operations were not financially successful, owing to frequent losses in shipments to southern waters. He disposed of the Locust Grove works to Archibald McLees. They have since been abandoned. Andrew Leech purchased coal-lands from the Morrison estate about a mile south of Lock No. 3, and opened the seam of coal at the mouth of the run passing down the valley at Leechburg. Becoming involved financially through his southern and western connections, he transferred the works to his brother, James Leech, from whom they passed to the Wenona Coal company, the present operators. In 1875 the coal works in Forward township above Elizabeth, in consecutive order, were those of Blaine & Walker, the Wenona Coal company, McKnight & Co. (Butler Coal-works), the Irvin Coal company, W. H. Brown &Co. (Old Eagle Coal-works), and Robbins, Lynn & Co. Hon. James G. Blaine is the owner of a large tract of coal-land above Elizabeth.

There are no churches in the township, and no villages of any importance. The population in 1870 was 1,300; in 1880, 1,740. Elkhorn postoffice, so named from the paper-mills of that title, was established in 1875.