Thanks to Dick Barton of the Iowa Biographies Project Henry Martin Forsythe, deceased, was a machinist who rose to a position of responsibility in connection with railway interests. He was born August 16, 1825, and died on the 27th of June, 1902, having reached the age of seventy- seven years. His birth occurred in Hickory, Pennsylvania, and he was a son of John and Rebecca (Baird) Forsythe. The father came from County Down, Ireland, to the new world and settled in Pennsylvania, where he lived for a number of years. He afterward removed with his family to Ohio, where he followed farming, continuing to reside in that state until his life's labors were ended in death. Henry M. Forsythe was the tenth in order of birth in a family of twelve children and was reared upon the Ohio farm, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the farm boy as he aids in tilling the fields and in cultivating and harvesting the crops. He acquired his education in the district schools and afterward learned the tanner's trade, but did not follow it. Instead he went to Hanover, Indiana, where he engaged in running a sawmill in connection with a partner, there continuing for about eight years. He next came to Linn county, where he accepted odd jobs, doing any work that would yield him an honest living. Later he turned his attention to railway interests and was in charge of machinist's work, being thus connected up to the time of his death. He possessed good mechanical ability and along machinist's lines worked his way upward to a position of considerable responsibility. On the 24th of November, 1852, Mr. Forsythe was united in marriage to Miss Helen Lang Anderson, whose people came from Scotland and settled in Kentucky. Subsequently they removed to Indiana, where her father, William Anderson, carried on farming. His wife bore the maiden name of Margaret Harper. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Forsythe were born eight children: Alice, now deceased; Emma Harper, who is engaged in teaching school; Clarence B., who married Carrie Porter; Minard A.; Lavinia M., a school teacher; Elida May, deceased; Evelina, the wife of S. W. Brainard, by whom she has four children - Sydney F., Kenneth A., Helen Caryl and Henry S.; and Harry H., who was the youngest of the family and is now deceased. Mr. Forsythe belonged to the United Presbyterian church and his life was ever an upright and honorable one, in harmony with his professions. He at all times endeavored to follow the golden rule, doing unto others as he would have them do unto him, and his many sterling qualities won him the respect, confidence and good will of those with whom he was associated.