Our story starts with Elizabeth Harvey.
Elizabeth Dorcas May was born into the family of Thomas Patton May and Elizabeth (Leslie) May on July 8, 1852. Born on a Lower Johnson Creek farm very near or on the homestead of Robert Leslie 1763-1822, the grandfather of Elizabeth Dorcas May. In the 1880 Census, Pike County District 5 is Elizabeth is living with Thomas and Elizabeth on Lower Johns Creek, listed as house labor and having a sickness, Cold.
March 1, 1896 Elizabeth Dorcas May marries William T Harvey. Groom is shown on marriage certificate born in West Virginia, now living in Pike County, age 50 first time marriage. Elizabeth is shown living in Pike County at 43 years of age, second marriage. *Note William Harvey was listed Disable Veteran with the Ohio 36 Inf.
1900 Census in Pike County in District 2, living at the Mouth of Foundation Branch, most locals knows it as Sugar Camp Br. This 300 acre tract formally patented by Thomas May in January 5, 1844. This property was part of Dower left Elizabeth after Thomas P May’s passing Aug 23, 1910. The Census list two children, Mirian daughter age 12 , born 1887, and a son named Thomas age 11 born 1888. Both children born into Elizabeth by her first marriage, her first husband was a Miller found evident in later reference when Mirian married Edward Ray Forsyth.
1900 Census
1910 Census Pike County, Shelby Creek Precinct, District 2, list Elizabeth D Harvey head of house hold, married 2 twice, 14 years, with three children born unto her with two children living. Elizabeth apparently lost a child unknown at this time. Mirian and Thomas Patton Harvey living in house hold, ages 22 and 21 years. Elizabeth Harvey is listed as Post Master / Fourth Class Post Office. William Harvey was not listed. United States Burial Register, Military Post and National Cemetery list burial at Robinson Creek, date of death September 13, 1910; 18 days after the passing of Thomas P May.
1910 Census / Pike County
Elizabeth (May) Harvey
Photo Courtesy of U Pike
William Harvey Cemetery Registry
1920Census / Pike County, Pikeville District 1
The Courtship Begins Between Ray & Mirian
Before the 1920 Census got under way we find Mirian now married to Edward Ray Forsyth with two sons born into the family. Thomas Harry Forsyth and Harry Virgil Forsyth. Living on Front Street in Pikeville, Edward Ray being employed as a store clerk. Edward Ray’s father was James Henry Forsyth born in Rockbridge , Virginia. educated at Washington and Lee University in the Class of 1881. James Henry would marry Margaret N. Cummings September 20, 1881. The family of six had came to Pikeville Ky on a steamboat named Cando, as an educator and minster. Edward Ray had one sister Margaret and two brothers Harry Virgil Forsyth, and Franklin Forsyth the youngest child in the family. Franklin James Forsyth would later marry his High School sweetheart Georgia Dils the daughter of John Dils. Frank J as most people called him would later be known as the best Electrical Engineer in Kentucky and the up foremost Historian in Eastern Kentucky.
Elizabeth Harvey, Mirian’s mother would continue living on the Robinson Creek farm with her son son Thomas Patton Forsyth.
1930 Census / Pike County, Shelby Precinct 2
1930 Census/ Pikeville District 3
Edward Ray’s listed occupation is Machine Shovel Operator in Floyd County. While the Forsyth family lived in Pikeville all of the children of Edward Ray and Mirian successfully earned a higher education degree at Pikeville College. the first to enter college was Thomas Henry, shown below with the Class of 1935.
Thomas Henry Forsyth three rolls down on the right.
Harry Virgil was the second child to enter Pikeville Academy . In the Highlander Harry Virgil is the top row, 2nd from left.
Elizabeth May is the third child born into Forsyth family.
Elizabeth May is bottom left
Anna Margaret is the forth child of Edward Ray and Mirian Forsyth
By the time 1940 Census is complete by Enumerator on April 26, 1940 , the Forsyth Family has moved back to Robinson Creek because of Elizabeth Harvey’s illness. Edward Ray Forsyth is still working for Kentucky Highway Road Department as a shovel operated. Thomas Henry Forsyth is working for ESCO mining company as Deep mine Foreman. Harry Virgil Forsyth.
Elizabeth Harvey passing brings undoubted sorry to Forsyth Family, Mirian was very close to her mother. On May 3, 1940, Elizabeth Dorcas May Harvey, the daughter of Thomas P May had ran her final course on a very exciting and prosperous life.
With War II on the horizon the Forsyth Brothers in the near months to follow were getting ready to gear up for military training. These next group of photos was apparently taken with Harry Virgil Forsyth camera before he shoved off across the Atlantic to fight in Europe as an Army Captain. These group photo negatives were discovered at an Estate Sale. Numerous antique collectors had passed over a group of negatives before the Pike County Historical Society had discovered them. Very bad shape, stuck together by years being stored in a hot attic and dust.
Mirian Forsyth
L to R: Marian Forsyth, Geraldine Absher, Edward Ray Forsyth and Thomas Henry Forsyth. Gearldine Abshire later would be Thomas Henry’s future wife. Harry Virgil Forsyth was most likely behind the camera.
Thomas Henry Forsyth
Harry Virgil Forsyth, this photo was taken before he shipped off to Italy during WWII. Harry Virgil Forsyth was listed as Captain. You will notice the School House behind Harry Virgil in the bottom below the mouth of Sugar Camp on Robinson Creek. Its unclear which family member had taken this photo Harry Virgil Forsyth, but with additional photos that will shown in this post no doubt this is Harry’s camera soon to be seen on Benjamin Harrison Military Training Camp.
Anna Margaret Forsyth and Elizabeth May Forsyth, Elizabeth May is getting her skirt hemmed.
Anna Margaret and Elizabeth May ready for Sunday Morning Service
Thomas Henry Forsyth and Geraldine during the early courtship. Geraldine Absher was Freshman at Pikeville College 1938 while Harry Virgil Forsyth was a Sophomore. Thomas Henry Forsyth was with the Class of 1935.
1938
Someone is humored.
The negatives these phots were scanned from were heavily damaged, a small portion of a historical photo is better than no picture at all. This photo of Mirian Forsyth was taken on the family farm at the mouth of Sugar Camp on Robinson Creek.
Harry Virgil Forsyth arrives at Fort Benjamin Harrison Military Training Camp
Fort Benjamin Harrison Military Training Camp Competition
Harry Virgil Forsyth was very dedicated to life in Military Service. He excelled quickly moving up in the ranks. Virgil’s personal pocket note book was found in his military trunk.
Lose personal notes
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Victory Quilt was crafted by local Lady Volunteer Auxiliary group most likely associated with the American Red Cross. Quilted after the death of Harry Virgil Forsyth, killed in action November 9, 1943.
Harry Virgil Forsyth is buried in Sicily-Rome American Cemetery
Harry Virgil Forsyth recognition of Service and Death Monument is located in the R H Ratliff Cemetery Shelbiana, Kentucky
