C.L. (Les) Forsyth was born in Toronto, Ontairo, Canada, the only son of
  Charles Pireet Forsyth and Annie Nixon, an Irish woman, who had emigrated to
  Canada at the age of 12. When he was only 18 months old, his father died,
  causing Annie to seek her living as a practival nurse. Because of the travel
  necessitated by this profession years agao, Les was raised primarily by his
  aunts and grandparents, until age 6. At this time he came to Medicine Lodge
  to live with his uncle, W.R. Forsyth, who was known to one and all as "Uncle
  Bill." From that point on, Les enjoyed an interesting commuter existence, 
  living alternately in Canada nd Medicine Lodge. At that period in time of
  travel history, such transcontinental movement was quite a task for one so
  young.
     According to Les himself, he was somewhat "onery" during his youth and as
  a high school freshman returned to Toronto to learn a suitable trade. He
  commenced an Electrical Engineering course, which he completed in 1915. His
  high school senior summer was spent working in a harvest field in Lake City
  where "you slept where you could and the stars were your roof."
     In 1915 Les began working in the furniture store owned by Uncle Will. Aside
  from his work he found time for baseball, football, girls, and cars (which were
  still a novelty) in 1918 he enrolled in Embalming School in Kansas City, and
  as an Oklahoma and Kansas duly licensed embalmer, became the first member of
  the profession in Northern Barber County. In those days the funeral service 
  was much different, as it was usually conducted in the home.
     On July 28, 1920, Les married Estelle G. Greisinger of Anthony, Kansas. 
  Estelle had come from Anthony to Medicine Lodge to teach school, and the
  courtship culminated in their marriage. They lived on North Walnut in the
  house now occupied by Mrs. Burke Shields. Four months after their marriage,
  Uncle Will's wife died, and they moved to West Lincoln to care for him. That
  home has since housed Bob's family, and grandson Drew's family (bringing five
  generations of Forsyths to its rooms).
     Their first son, Bill, was born in Mrs. Carrie Patten's home in 1923. In
  those days practical nurses took the infirm and expectant mothers into their
  homes, as there was no hospital. After Bill's birth, the family moved back to
  North Walnut Street and lived in their first home for an additional 13 years.
  In 1933 Bob was born in a home owned by Mrs. Hewitt on West Second St.
     In 1936 Les and family moved to the Forsyth Funeral Home and lived there for
  15 years. His eldest son Bill, and his wife, Janice (Nattier) became residents
  of that address in the same year with their children, Paula, Drew, and Brad
  remained at that address until 1978. Drew and his wife, Maureen Kearney (also
  of Canada), and their daughter, Kelly Joanna, have since moved into the Funeral
  Home residence.
     Les' and Estelle's sons, Bill and Bob, have both worked in the family 
  business and have each given their parents three grandchildren. Bob and his wife
  Julie, reside in Dallas, Texas, with their children, Leslie, Lisa, and Robbie. 
  Bill and Jan continue to reside in Medicine Lodge, as does their son, Drew, and
  his family.
     Their daughter, Paula, and her husband, Dr. Fred Cromes, and daughters, Abbe
  and Paige, make their home in Dallas, and son, Brad, lives in Kansas City.
     At 83 years young Les Forsyth continues to watch his chosen home, Medicine
  Lodge, and his family grow; and for the record, he has one of the most interesting
  ways of recounting Barber County folklore.
               
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 178 
     Submitted by: Maureen Forsyth