The probate index for Alpha Forsyth
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-15882-8709-29?cc=1834344&wc=12340411

The guardianship petition of Alpha Forsyth (for the children of William Henry Forsyth)
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-15881-29273-26?cc=1834344&wc=12340252

(Lucinda Ann Witt) According to the Laura Stevenson, a grandchild of Alpha and Lucinda, and to Grace Worrell, a great-grandchild, Alpha L. Forsyth was the son of Oliver Franklin Forsyth and according to the estate records of Margaret Layson, Alpha was one of her heirs.
The “Marriages of Adams County, Illinois Vol. I: 1825 - 1860” lists Alpha marrying Lucinda Ann Witt on 28 January 1844. The “Illinois Statewide Marriage Index” also lists this date, but states “maybe” 14 March 1844. Since their marriage license was not dated until 9 March 1844, in Adams County, Illinois, the earlier date must be incorrect. It is assumed the latter date is correct as it occurs 5 days after their marriage license was issued.
Alpha married secondly to Porcillie "Cill" Carrier, in Hancock County, Illinois on 19 August 1886. No children were born to this union.
According to the Laura Stevenson, Lucinda Ann Witt was the daughter of Daniel Witt and Martha Brewer. She was born in Virginia in 1820, and died sometime before the 1880 census when Alpha is listed as a widower, and was living with 2 laborers, a housekeeper, and the housekeeper’s son. Lucinda was probably buried in the family cemetery on their farm as Laura Stevenson suggests, however no headstones have been found for Alpha or Lucinda. Laura Stevenson claimed that she had seen Alpha's stone, got and lost the dates from it. The stone of his grandson Alpha has been found there, so she may have confused the two names. The current state of the cemetery is overgrown with day lilies. As far as I am aware, no one have ever cleared the ground and done an exhaustive search for stones.

Alpha and Lucinda had 4 children:

William Henry (28 Nov 1845 - 11 May 1871) m. Martha Lurinda McFarland
Nancy Elizabeth (1848 - 1940) m. James Wilson Worrell (1844-1921) Children: 1. Alpha, 2. Grace M., 3. Fern, 4. Ralph born 1880, 5. Luella Combs, 6. Dorrah, 7. Laura, 8. infant, twin of Fern died July 16, 1886.
Alpha Joel (Jan 1850 - bef 1860)
Joel D. (Jun 1851 - 10 Jan 1878) m. Laura Alice Watson (c. Lulu Forsyth dy)
Mary Ann (May 1853 - Aft 1891) m1. 30 Mar 1873, Hancock County, IL, Alfred Landstrum; m2. William ‘Shorty’ Harper (Oct 1859-)
Robert Layson (~1855 - bef 1860) - per Rachel Sharp

The 1850 Federal, Adams County, Illinois Census, for Houston Township, lists Alpha, age 31, as a farmer with 1500 acres, Lucinda age 28, William H, age 5, Nancy E age 2, and Alpha 1/2 year old. The same census in 1860 lists Alpha as age 39, a farmer with 800 acres valued at $16,000, Lucinda age 38, William age 15 1/2, Elizabeth age 12, Joel age 10, and Mary age 7. Their slave Ester Halo, age 28, farmer, born in Alabama, is also listed. Hester, was left to Alpha in his father's will, and came with the family from Kentucky in 1834, when the Alpha, his mother, grandmother, and siblings came to Illinois. Hester would have only been 12 years old. She does not show up in the 1840 or 1850 censuses. She is also said to have stayed with the family after the Civil War, and was buried in the family cemetery. No headstone for her has been found, but Grace Worrell claimed to have seen her stone.

Some of the other relatives that came to Illinois with Alpha and his family are: David and Sarah (Layson) Pond, Stephen and Nancy (Layson) Owens, and Mildred Layson. The Ponds and Owens lived in Monroe City, Missouri for a time. The Owens were said to be in Illinois by 1830. Since most of Alpha's farm land appears to have been originally owned by their wealthy Uncle Robert Layson, the families may have emigrated separately to occupy portions of his land. The same Robert Layson died in September, 1848. In 1852, John Martin Layson representing the Layson family filed suit against Alpha and his siblings to take the land upon which they lived, claiming it was theirs by right. Alpha filed a countersuit to keep the lands upon which they lived, as they had made improvements to the land. In the final decree, they were able to do so, and the lands were divided equally among Robert Layson’s nephews and nieces or their heirs.

Alpha's son, Alpha Joel is also supposed to be buried in the family cemetery. Laura Stevenson said that Joel was married and died young, the same year as her parent’s marriage (1871), which is the year that his brother William died, so she may have mixed them up. His estate recorded indicate that he died 10 January 1878 and was married to Laura A. Laura Stevenson listed his wife as Alice and indicated that they had a daughter Lulu who died as a small child and is supposed to be buried in the Forsyth Cemetery also. No stone for her has been found, nor for her father.
At Margaret (Layson) Forsyth's estate sale on 11 February, 1841, Alpha Forsyth purchased 2 cows along with their calves, 2 mares, a lot of hogs, a chopping axe, gears, a hoe, stretchers, a harness, several lots of corn, a bed, some barrels, and a harrow. He is then listed as an heir of Margaret (Layson) Forsyth on 10 December 1841, when he approved the account of Dr. Calvin Brown. Later on 8 November 1850, he is listed as one of the heirs of Robert Layson, brother of Margaret (Layson) Forsyth.

Alpha is found on the 1872 plat map of Houston Township, Adams County, and on 27 August 1881 his is listed as the guardian of his grandson Alpha when the boy turned 14. This grandson Alpha is the one whose headstone was found in the Forsyth Cemetery.

Edna (Forsyth) Hyslop, great-great granddaughter, claimed that Alpha Layson Forsyth’s middle name was Lyman, but his grandson was named Alpha Layson. His grandparents, John Layson and Margaret Martin, had a son and grandson named John Martin. The family therefore had a history of using the mother's maiden name as the middle name for at least on of their children. It seems reasonable that Alpha's mother's maiden name could have been his middle name. His great-great granddaughter-in-law, Minnie Elizabeth Forsythe in her book “The Forsythe-Humphrey Story” called him the first William Henry Forsyth, but she was mistaken. Her later correspondence with Laura Stevenson cleared up this naming mistake.

Alpha is said to have been born in Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky on 9 April, 1818. The descendants of his sister, Eliza, state that she was born on 5 June, 1819, which is a reasonable separation between children. Their parents, however, are known to have not been married until 31 December, 1818. Since, it is unlikely that their parents would have had children out of wedlock; it must be assumed that Alpha's and/or Eliza's birthdates are in error, but if so, what dates are likely?

The November 1840 Illinois Federal Census indicates that both Alpha and Eliza were born before November 1820. The 23 November 1850 Illinois Federal Census for Houston Township, Adams County indicates that Alpha was born between 23 November 1818 and 22 November 1819, and that Eliza was 1 year older. The 1860 Federal Illinois Census for Houston Township, Adams County indicates that Alpha was born between 1820 and 1821; however it also lists him as only 1 year older than his wife, where the 1850 census listed him as 3 years older. The 1880 Census for Chili, Hancock County, Illinois, lists him as age 60 indicating he was born between 3 June 1819 and 7 June 1820. If we correct his range of birthdates for the 1860 census, we find him born between 1818 and 1819. And lastly, his 3 obituaries all indicate that he was born between 4 September 1818 and 3 September 1819. Considering all these sources, we find he must have been born between 23 November 1818 and 3 September 1819. His parents, obviously, did not have 2 children in the eight months following their marriage, unless of course they were twins. Coincidently, Laura Stevenson states in her letters, that Alpha was a twin, so it is likely that they were both born on 5 June 1819.

Alpha was "a rich farmer, had extensive holdings". He owned farm land in both Hancock County, and Adams County, much of which was inherited from his mother, and his uncle Robert Layson. The farm was located 5 miles southwest of Bowen, Illinois. In 1978 the remaining portion was owned by Wilson Olaf Worrell, a descendant of Alpha and Lucinda's daughter Nancy. In 1999, the farm was said to still be in the hands of a Forsyth descendant, referred to as an "old guy", possibly the same gentleman; the rest having been sold off by descendants. The original homestead, which stood in Hancock County, had a large 2 story brick house, with a large basement having separate bins for apples, potatoes, corn, etc. Alpha used to hide his money in these bins. The house was constructed using wooden joints instead of nails. Inside the home was a beautiful stairway, a large master bedroom and fireplace. The master bedroom contained a high bed in which Alpha passed away. In back was a large covered porch, leading to a 2 story work shop, and a brick meat house. There was also a large covered porch in front. He apparently had a granary, and an orchard. After Alpha passed away, his daughter Nancy and her family lived there. The house no longer stands. Nearby was the family cemetery, surrounded by a fence and pillars. Near to the cemetery stood a county school which Alpha allowed to be constructed on his farm. The school taught through 8th grade. Joel Darrah Worrell, Alpha's grandson taught school there, and Joel's sister Laura (Worrell) Stevenson sometimes substituted there for him. The school was eventually closed in 1924, and also no longer stands. Apparently the impression of its foundation is still visible from the cemetery.

When Alpha died, he divided his lands between his surviving two daughters. Nancy inherited 160 acres of the Hancock County farm, and 110 acres of the Adams County lands. She also inherited $1,800. He also left a small piece of land to Dick and Mary Ellen Clark for a home. Apparently Alpha’s daughter-in-law, Martha McFarland, also inherited some of the land, as she owned 10 acres there in 1910. When Martha's husband died in 1871, he had 80 acres in the area, which was divided amongst his 3 sons when they came of age.

Alpha died on 4 September, 1891, in Chili Township, Hancock County, Illinois. “When he was on his death bed, and his doctor informed him of his condition, he remonstrated with the doctor, and told him that he didn't have time to die as he had to finish harvesting the crops." He was buried on 6 September, 1891, in the Forsyth Cemetery, on his farm in Hancock County, Illinois.

(Lucinda Ann Witt) WORRELL:

Nancy Elizabeth Forsyth married James Wilson Worrell (22 Nov 1844 - 19 Jun 1921) on February 15, 1871 in Hancock County, Illinois.

They had the following children, all born in Chili Twp., Hancock County, Illinois.

Luella Leola Worrell (1 Apr 1872 - 5 Oct 1964) m. 7 Oct 1903, Edwin Scott Coombs
    1. Worrell Van Antwerp Combs ( 19 Nov 1905–30 Jun 1954) m. Dorothy Elizabeth Flick
        1a. Worrell Van Antwerp Combs 1933–
        1b. Sheliea Ann Combs (7 Apr 1935-) m1. _____ Bintliff, m2. 1964, Paul Murray Slattery
          1b1. Robert Glenn Slattery m. Laurie _____
        1c. Marquis Forsyth Scott Combs (15 Aug 1938-10 Dec 2001) m. 2 Feb 1994, Margeret Susan Goggan
          1c1. dau Combs (Stacey M. Spivey) - not mentioned in his obit, but is in hers
    2. Yale Forsyth Combs (6 Jun 1907–10 May 1964) m. 27 Sep 1934, Fanny G. Syme (-31 Jan 1985)
        2a. Rena Lulu Malcor (adopted as Janet Rita Doran) (1 Aug 1927-)
            2a1. Linda Janet Knudsen
                 Brian Keith Scott
                 Jack Jason Watts
        2b. Cynthia Combs m. _____ Hatfield
        2c. Richard Combs
          2xx gch

Alpha Forsyth Worrell  (3 Nov 1874 - 21 Jun 1954) m. 28 Oct 1920, June Daily Baker (1 Jun 1888 - 23 Jan 1978)
    1. Helen Winifred Worrell (10 Sep 1921 - 22 Jan 2020) m. 26 Dec 1946, Leslie Earle Stephenson (2 Nov 1922)
    2. Olaf Wilson Worrell (8 Aug 1925 - 22 Jun 2000) m. 22 Aug 1948, Esther Lula/Louise Morely (27 Sep 1922 - 22 Apr 1999)
        2a. Douglas Wilson Worrell (16 Dec 1952-) (has cousin Valerie D. Holmes)
        2b. Dean Olaf Worrell (14 Dec 1954-) m. Kathleen Ann Zemke
            2b1. Bethany Jean Worrell (1995-) - https://www.bethanyworrell.com/
        2xx Baker Worrell ?grandson
    3. Rachel Ann Worrell (7 Mar 1929 - ) m. 28 Jul 1851, Ralph England Sharp, Jr. (1 Oct 1925 - 12 Jan 1999)

Joel Darrah Worrell  (22 Nov 1877 - 13 Apr 1962) m. 9 Jul 1914, Marguerite Black - no children (wife died 10 days after marriage)

Ralph Eugene Worrell (10 Oct 1880 - 20 Aug 1932) m1. 1 Jun 1913, Frances Van Buskirk; m2. 4 Sep 1917, Elizabeth Dolarina McCabe
    1. Marion E. Worrell 1921-
    2. Ralph E. Worrell 1924- m. Mary Nading (4 children)

Grace Lucille Worrell  (2 Jul 1883 - 18 Jan 1956, Memphis. TN) m. 8 May 1930, Nicholas Happ - no children (46 and still single)

Mabel Fern Worrell (16 Jul 1886 - 19 Jun 1973) m. 26 Jun 1919, Erle Sherman Peterson
    1. Marilyn Peterson (1925-17 Aug 2021) (only child) m1. 18 Jun 1949 div. Apr 1966, Harlan Hugh Mansnerus (14 Nov 1925-10 Sep 2002) m2. 1971, _____ Fryer
        1a. Mark Harlan Mansnerus (7 Sep 1955-)
        1b. Clayton J. Mansnerus (14 Apr 1965-) m. Lidia
        1c. Valerie Fryer (Sep 1974-) m1. _____ Holmes m2. _____ Jackson

Laura Alice Worrell (2 Nov 1888 - 11 Dec 1987) m. 9 Jul 1914, James Ross Stevenson (31 Oct 1885 - 3 Apr 1964)
    1. Marcena Stevenson (2 Sep 1915 - 22 Jun 2013) m. 20 Jun 1942 George Otto Crossland (20 Nov 1914 - )
        1a. Naida Crossland (1 May 1945-7 Apr 2021) m. Gerald Ray Garrett
        1b. George Otto Crossland (28 Sep 1947-) m. Gertrude _____ m. div. Apr 1975 Mary L. Burk
    2. Naida Stevenson [Grier] (15 May 1917-16 Apr 2001) m. May 1946 John Marshall Grier (31 Oct 1914-1978)
        2a. Barbara Grier m. James DeCastro
        2b. Darrah Grier (11 Nov 1951-) m. 7 July 1973 John Franklin McCammon
           2b1. John Marshal McCammon (1 Nov 1978-) m. 15 Aug 2009, div. 11 Dec. 2015, Jamie L. McCray
           2b2. ?Laura Leigh McCammon? (1981-)
    3. James Ross Stevenson  (13 Jan 1921 - 19 Jan 1996) m. 10 Jul 1948 Ernestine Rowan McDonald

Ethel Lanstrum (1874–bef 1900) m. 14 Jan 1892, Charles Ogelsby Casterline (1868-1928) - no children

Grace Josephine Lanstrum (Apr 1880–) m1. 7 Dec 1896, div Albert Neely Carlin, m2. 18 May 1912, Henry I. Lea
    Irma V. Carlin (3 Mar 1898/1899-7 Nov 1981) - never married/artist

Mabel Vaughn Lanstrum (Dec 1880–) m. 19/26 Jun 1901, Oliver Lloyd McCann (22 Jun 1862 - 27 June 1935)
    Helen McCann (18 Jul 1902-4 Jan 1998) (only child) - never married

Sidney Lanstrum (Mar 1884–19 Dec 1907) never married

Florence L Lanstrum (16 Sep 1887–9 Nov 1975) m. 6 Jan 1906, George Arthur Wade (18 Oct 1881-22 Oct 1944)
    George Lanstrum Wade (16 May 1908–8 Dec 1990) m. Lucia Marian McConnell
        Stephen George Wade (13 May 1943-) m. Mary Naeher Loss (15 Aug 1956-)
            Matthew Jonathan Wade
            Allison Mary Wade
        Susan Becky Wade (26 May 1946-7 Oct 1999 ) never married (3 neices and 1 nephew)
        Sandy Lucinda Wade (2 Sep 1947-) m. 26 Sep 1980, Michael Edward Bodine
            dau. Wade
    Virginia Lea Wade (30 Mar 1915–6 Dec 2002) m1. div John Duba m2. 21 Oct 1950, Harold N. Lee
        Ginny Lea Duba (1936-2015) never married

Pauline R. Harper (1891-) never married music teacher 1910 (18), 1930 (38)

(Lucinda Ann Witt) LANSTRUM:

Mary Ann "Mollie" Forsyth married Alfed Lanstrum and then William Shorty Harper

Ethel Lanstrum (1874–bef 1900) m. 14 Jan 1892, Charles Ogelsby Casterline (1868-1928) - no children

Grace Josephine Lanstrum (Apr 1880–) m1. 7 Dec 1896, div Albert Neely Carlin, m2. 18 May 1912, Henry I. Lea
    Irma V. Carlin (3 Mar 1898/1899-7 Nov 1981) - never married/artist

Mabel Vaughn Lanstrum (Dec 1880–) m. 19/26 Jun 1901, Oliver Lloyd McCann (22 Jun 1862 - 27 June 1935)
    Helen McCann (18 Jul 1902-4 Jan 1998) (only child) - never married

Sidney Lanstrum (Mar 1884–19 Dec 1907) never married

Florence L Lanstrum (16 Sep 1887–9 Nov 1975) m. 6 Jan 1906, George Arthur Wade (18 Oct 1881-22 Oct 1944)
    George Lanstrum Wade (16 May 1908–8 Dec 1990) m. Lucia Marian McConnell
        Stephen George Wade (13 May 1943-) m. Mary Naeher Loss (15 Aug 1956-)
            Matthew Jonathan Wade
            Allison Mary Wade
        Susan Becky Wade (26 May 1946-7 Oct 1999 ) never married (3 neices and 1 nephew)
        Sandy Lucinda Wade (2 Sep 1947-) m. 26 Sep 1980, Michael Edward Bodine
            dau. Wade
    Virginia Lea Wade (30 Mar 1915–6 Dec 2002) m1. div John Duba m2. 21 Oct 1950, Harold N. Lee
        Ginny Lea Duba (1936-2015) never married

Pauline R. Harper (1891-) never married music teacher 1910 (18), 1930 (38)