His birth occurred near Lexington, Rockbridge county, Virginia, on the 19th of September, 1882, his parents being James Henry and Anna Margaret (Cummings) Forsyth of that place. The father was a Presbyterian clergyman who for many years did Sabbath school and mission work in eastern Kentucky. He preached in Pike county after taking up his above at Pikesville in 1900, but is now living retired in Ashland after a long and useful career in the service of the Master.