Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Forsythe, Hon David ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 5, 2007, 2:10 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Company HON. DAVID FORSYTHE, who is one of the largest land owners and cattle-buyers in Florence Township, was born in Ballynure, County Antrim, Ireland, April 25, 1850, a son of Andrew and Jane (Ballentyne) Forsythe. He was one of eleven children, all but four of whom still survive, viz.: James, who is internal revenue collector at Monroe, La.; Jane, widow of Samuel Finley, of Wilmington, Ill.; Mary, widow of Frederick Alex, of Lake Forest, Ill.; Andrew; Robert H., a farmer of Onarga, Ill.; Samuel, of Peoria; and David. The grandfather, John Forsythe, was a lifelong farmer of Ireland. Of him it is said that "his religious orthodox was equaled only by the intense devotion he bore to the interests and fortunes of his country." He had a brother, Andrew, Sr., a wheelwright in County Antrim, and a man of broad education, at the same time intensely loyal to his country and his church (the Presbyterian). He believed that the people of a country have a natural right to its soil, its air, its water; to make its laws; to till its soil; and to receive such benefit as accrues therefrom. For his intense devotion to the Irish cause, the animosity of the government pursued him and all belonging to him. On every pretext his property was injured, his peace was disturbed and his family harassed. His nephew and namesake grew up with the same convictions and was even more frank in their expression. He was the tenant of a brutal landlord, who first subjected him to every species of hardship and then evicted him by chopping down the rafters of the house during his absence, which, falling into the fireplace, burned the house to the ground. In poverty and suffering he was compelled to seek another home for his family. It was in this way that he was led to come to America, the land of the free. Hither his eldest son, John, had preceded him some years. This son later became one of the most prominent Democrats in Illinois and was chairman of the state central committee. He was a co-laborer with Abraham Lincoln in the office of secretary of state in Springfield, and after Lincoln's election as president he tendered his former associate an appointment as United States consul to Belfast, but the offer was declined. Later he organized a company to serve in the Civil war, but on account of illness at home he resigned his commission and took his family to Florida. In the early history of Chicago he was one of the foremost figures, particularly among the Irish residents of the city. His death occurred there in 1885. When fifty-one years of age Andrew Forsythe, in 1849, crossed the ocean, accompanied by his family. He came west via the great lakes, but while sailing up the St. Lawrence River, the engine of the boat exploded and one of his daughters was killed. Her body was taken to Fond du Lac, Wis., and there buried. The sad accident disheartened the others. After reaching Chicago they proceeded to Sparta, Ill., and at Christmas-time took a vessel at New Orleans for their native country. In 1861 they again came to the United States, arriving in Will County in September and settling on section 3, Florence Township, which land was owned by Hon. John Forsythe, of Chicago. A few months later the father went to Chicago, where he remained until May, 1863. He then returned to Florence Township, and here spent the remainder of his days, dying June 20, 1880. It has been said of him that he preserved to his death the scrupulous integrity which he had inherited with his Presbyterian creed, and that practical Irish patriotism which was its twin legacy. When the last tribute of respect was paid to his memory, people of all denominations gathered to attend his funeral, and the capacity of the largest church in the place was taxed to its utmost to accommodate his friends. His wife was a daughter of John Ballentyne, a farmer and tanner; her grandfather was one of the conspicuous figures in the revolutionary periods of his country, and at onetime, when his life was in the greatest danger, he was conveyed out of the country in a barrel. The education of our subject was completed in an academy in Chicago. In 1866 he returned to the Will County farm, of which he took complete charge two years later. In 1876 he married Bessie, daughter of James and Rebecca (Freeburn) Hamilton, natives of Londonderry, Ireland. The family crossed the ocean and settled in Nithburg, Upper Canada, where she was born. In 1857 they located in Jackson Township, this county. Some three years afterward they removed to Florence Township, where Mr. Hamilton died in 1886. His widow now makes her home with a daughter in Chicago. After his marriage Mr. Forsythe purchased the live stock and appurtenances of the homestead, which he farmed as a renter. In 1877 he bought one-half of section 4, a part of which property his father had added to the homestead. On this place he has since resided. During the intervening years he has added to his original purchase until he now has nine hundred and sixty acres of land in one body, some of this being as good land as can be found in the county. Since 1867 he has been a large cattle buyer and feeder, and has shipped to the Chicago markets. It is almost exclusively through his livestock interests that he has gained his success in life. In 1871 Mr. Forsythe was elected highway commissioner and was chosen treasurer of the board. The year following the bank in Wilmington failed and he was a loser to the extent of $1,100. After filling various minor offices, in 1880 he was elected supervisor of the town of Florence. His service was so acceptable to the people that he was twice re-elected to the office, the last time having no opposition. He refused to serve a fourth term. In 1872 he was nominated for the legislature, but refused to accept the nomination, withdrawing in favor of William Mooney, who was elected. In 1890 he was again nominated for the legislature and was elected by a handsome majority. During his term as a member of the thirty-seventh and thirty-eighth general assemblies he worked on the following committees: live-stock and dairying, of which he was chairman; corporations, canal-river improvements and commerce, mines and mining, agriculture, sanitary affairs, retrenchment and miscellaneous subjects. He was one of the famous one hundred and one who elected Senator John M. Palmer to the United States senate. He was the champion of the anti-truck bill and was largely instrumental in securing its passage. He also championed a bill to lower the rate of interest from eight to six per cent, but accepted a compromise at seven per cent. Fraternally Mr. Forsythe is a member of Wilmington Lodge No. 208, A. F. & A. M., and is a Scottish Rite Mason. He and his wife are identified with the Presbyterian Church. They have an only son, John, who is now attending the high school at Wilmington. Additional Comments: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/forsythe889gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 7.7 Kb