Legislator Details

Image of Alexander Forsyth
Image Description:
Portrait of Alexander Forsyth scanned from Men of Progress p.490.

Alexander Forsyth
AKA:
Number of sessions served 1
Gender: Male
Age at election: 36

Vital Records Information:

Birth
Date: 8/16/1860
City: Adelaide, ON
County: Middlesex County, ON
Country: Canada
 
Death
Date: 6/5/1923
City: Standish, MI
County: Arenac County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date: 6/8/1923
City: Standish, MI
County: Arenac County, MI
Country: US
Cemetery: Woodmere Cemetery

Marital Information:
married Miss Henrietta Brooks, dau. of Wm. Brooks, of Lambton, ON in 1882; children: 3, Jennie, Annie and William.

Number of Children: 3


Background

Religion:
Military Service:
Occupation: teacher, insurance underwriter
Race: Caucasian or White

Education:
high school at Petrolia and later at Sarnia, ON

Biographical Sketch:
Of Irish ancestry. Son of Alexander and Anne (Moore) Forsyth. Began teaching school at age 16 and continued in that field for several years, in Ontario and then North Branch, Lapeer County, MI starting in 1882. While there he engaged in the drug business, in which he invested all his savings, but the venture was a losing one, and in 1888 the business was closed out. He resumed the profession of teaching and when his obligations had been discharged he opened an insurance office at North Branch. In 1890, he sold out the business and removed to Standish where he opened another Insurance company, the first in the county. In 1894 a foreign insurance company insuring farm property withdrew from Arenac County and Mr. Forsyth organized the Home Mutual Insurance Co., being a farmer's company and was elected secretary and treasurer of the company. In 1897, he took up banking and reorganized the Arenac County Bank, which had previously failed, and after getting it on a sound basis, sold out his interest. He was an independent up to 1892, since which time he was a Populist and a Free Silver Democrat. Member of the Masons, including the Auxiliary Eastern Star.

Notable Facts:
He was a delegate to the National Populist Convention at St. Louis, Mo., in 1896. Birth month varies by source: Men of Progress says May; Find-a-Grave says July; Seeking Michigan death record says August, but all are the 16th in 1860.


Sessions Served:

Chamber: Senate
Party: Democratic Peoples Union Silver
Committees Served On: Asylums for Insane at Kalamazoo and Traverse City, Education and Public Schools , Industrial Home for Girls , Home for the Feeble Minded, State Library
Postions Held:

City of Residence: Standish
County of Residence Arenac
District: 24
District Description: Counties of Arenac, Bay and Midland

Date Elected: 11/3/1896
Date Sworn In: 1/6/1897
Date Left Office:

Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed

Maritial Status: Married
Notes:

Bibliography:

RepLeg p.36, includes portrait; Men of Progress p.490, includes portrait; USCen 1900; Find-a-Grave.com; Michiganology