John Wesley Fortenberry was born 22 April 1817 in MS to Isaac Fortenberry (c1775-c1848) and Cordelia "Bethany" Magee (c1780-aft1846) and died after 1870 MS of unspecified causes. He married Mary Jane Rebecca Young Faulk 22 April 1841 in Marion County.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Lucy M. Fortenberry | 16 August 1854 MS | 21 June 1931 Marion County | Elisha Magee (1820-1898) |
| Adeline S. Victoria Fortenberry | 1852 Marion County | 1904 Marion County | James S. Pope (1851-1913) |
| Irvin M. "Jack" Fortenberry | |||
| Gabriella Fortenberry | 25 November 1850 Mississippi, United States | 6 November 1904 Marion County, Mississippi, United States | Warren Thomas Willoughby (1845-1918) |
| William R. Fortenberry | 1847 Marion County | 1910 Marion County | Julia Virginia Foxworth |