DeWitt Clinton and the Bucktails led by Martin Van Buren) to the New York State Assembly as a delegate from the district containing Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Niagara Counties (in which Erie was then created).
In the spring of 1820, he was elected to the State Senate to represent one of nine seats in the Western District (which consisted of Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Cortland, Genesee, Madison, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Oswego, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins counties).
The city of Buffalo was officially organized in spring 1832 and a common council was created and Forward served "as a representative from the first ward" and was elected chairman.
Before 1811, he built a small one-story house on Pearl Street in Buffalo with an addition on the side to carry on the business of the post office and collectorship.
The villagers returned in Spring 1814 and Forward constructed a two-story brick house, again on Pearl Street, that was "considered the most elegant residence" in Buffalo.
He was buried in his brother-in-law's family burial lot, which eventually became Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo after Granger's widow sold it to Charles E. Clarke in 1849.