John Forsyth

1850 - 1916  (66 years)

• Name	John Forsyth
  Born	9 Feb 1850	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	1852	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Residence	1861	Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada   [5]
  Occupation	1883	Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	salesman
  Occupation	1891	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Carpenter
  Residence	1891	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Methodist
  Occupation	1901	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Traveller
  Occupation	1911	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Manufacturer, Buttons
  		Joh Forsyth Limited Corner of Albert and Dupont streets in Waterloo, Ontario
  Residence	1911	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Methodist
  Business	Bef 1912	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	John Forsyth Shirt Co.
  		John Forsyth Company Limited From: Berlin Celebration of Cityhood - Issued by Authority of the City. Berlin Ontario, Issued in Commemoration of its Celebration of Cityhood July 17th 1912.
  		John Forsyth Factory
  		Kitchener-ForsythShirts-0001-LuckyCoin-ebay2018.jpg
  		Kitchener-ForsythShirts-0002-LuckyCoin-ebay2018.jpg
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/186892033
  Residence	1912	234 Frederick St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	John Forsyth Home 234 Frederick Street Originally constructed for Menno Bricker in 1891, this lovely home with Queen Anne Revival elements was purchased in 1912 as a family home by John Forsyth. He founded the Forsyth Shirt Company and made significant contributions to Berlin's development both through his business and his involvement with various civic boards and associations. Architectural features to note are the windows, gables with wooden shingling, rooflines and decorative brackets under the eaves.
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-97975
  Died	16 Jul 1916	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Buried	Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I97975	Generations
  Last Modified	10 Jul 2025

  
  

  Father	John Forsyth,   b. 1815, Fort Erie, Welland Co., Ontario ,   d. 30 Jul 1858, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 43 years)
  Mother	Jane Rodgers,   b. 1819, , England ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F7852	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth Brook,   b. 9 May 1852, , England ,   d. 1915, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 62 years)
  Married	4 Jan 1883	Peterborough, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada   [4, 6]
  Children	1. John Derby Claud "Claude" Forsyth,   b. 24 Mar 1885, Peterborough, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 23 Jun 1948, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 63 years)
  Last Modified	10 Jul 2025
  Family ID	F25232	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  The John Forsyth Shirt Company Limited was founded in 1903 as a distributor of pins, thread, buttons, celluloid collars and other items. Once established, the company began selling shirts and ties, as well as, other clothing items. In 1908, the John Forsyth Shirt Company purchased the Star Whitewear building at Duke and Young streets in Kitchener. In 1914, it purchased the William Kress Company on King Street South, and in 1916, bought the former Market Hotel, at Albert and Dupont Streets. This building was used as a factory to make pajamas and underwear. The company was sold in 1973 and the Kitchener factory was closed in 1996. At this time production move to Cambridge. Today the company is based out of Mississauga. Today the company offers career apparel, knits and woven, lifestyle sportswear and casual wear, swaters, fleeces, headwear, outerwear, and wind wear. It also offers performance dress, two-pocket uniform, pilot-style, and twill shirts as well as ties for men and women. Waterloo Region Archives 2012 _______________ Deceased, Was A Successful Manufacturer and Wholesaler The Record to-day with regret chronicles the demise of Mr. John Forsyth, president of the Forsyth-Kimmel Button Co., which occurred unexpectedly Sunday morning at his residence, 234 Frederick Street. Mr. Forsyth was afflicted with neuritis, but had partly recovered and was able to partake of his breakfast, after which he retired to his room, where he later expired. The death of Mr. Forsyth removes a citizen of sterling worth, a man of industry and energy who played his part in the upbuilding of this industrial community. The deceased was born in Preston on Feb. 9th, 1850. Of interest it is to note that he and the late George Clare, M.P., were born in the same room. The ability of the young man was directed along business lines towards success in early life. For some time he managed the retail store of Cameron and Co. of Bright, Ont. This establishment, at the time, was considered quite a large business and it was undoubtedly due to the management of Mr. Forsyth that the store became entitled to the reputation which it enjoyed in the surrounding territory. For a number of years he was stationed in Grand Rapids. Later he came to Berlin, where he resided for 31 years. In this city he began a career which was successful. John Forsyth soon became known among the commercial travellers and merchants of a wide field within the province. He was one of the first to sell buttons from a house with headquarters in Berlin. The growth of the wholesale button industry was parallel to the thrift of the of the subject of this sketch. The deceased experienced the changes in the method of selling and distribution which characterize modern business. For example in earlier years he sold the products of his firm when vehicles were the chief mode of transportation. Thirteen years ago the deceased launched into the manufacturing business. The John Forsyth Shirt Co. was organized and located in the Staebler Block. The young company grew rapidly, its products finding a ready market. Later the company was re-organized under the management of his son, Mr. J. D. Claude Forsyth, under whose direction the Forsyth shirt has become a household word throughout Canada. In recent years Mr. Forsyth devoted all his time to the wholesale business of the Forsyth-Kimmel Button Co. of which he was the president. Mr. Forsyth was also an active worker in the Church and the community. He was a member of Trinity Methodist Church, a brother of the Ancient Order of United, Workmen, a member of the Western Commercial Travellers' Association and the Toronto Commercial Travellers' Association. He was president of the Gideons of Ontario. He was always, in good health and a pleasant associate and hospitable friend. He was an admirer of Nature, being fond of flowers, trees and shrubbery of which he had an expert knowledge. Mr. Forsyth is survived by one son, Mr. John D. Claude Forsyth. His wife Elizabeth Brooks, to whom he was married in 1883 in Peterboro, predecessed him 15 months ago. One brother of Lakeview, Mon., and two sisters, Mrs. Cowan, Three Forks Mon.. and Mrs. Charles Huber, city, also survive him. The Funeral will be held at 2.30 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon. The Berlin News Record Mon, Jul 17, 1916 Page 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S270] Census - ON, Waterloo, Preston - 1852, Pg 23. [S137] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1901, Berlin (Town/Ville) A-4 Page 4. [S340] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1911, Div. 38 Page 3. [S1592] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1891, Section 2 Page 11. [S2433] Census - Canada - 1861, Ontario, Oxford, Blenheim Twp., Div 4 pg 128. Janer Forsythe 41 b. England Eliza 18 b. Canada Martha Jane 14 John 11 [S721] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, marriage certificate 10040 (1883), Forsythe-Brook. John Forsyth, salesman of Blenheim, Birth Place: Canada Age: 32 Estimated birth year: abt 1851 Father Name: John Forsyth Mother Name: Jane Forsyth Spouse Name: Elizabeth Brook, residence Peterborough, Spouse's Age: 35 Spouse Birth Place: England Spouse Father Name: Daniel Brook Spouse Mother Name: Sarah Brook Marriage Date: 4 Jan 1883 Marriage Location: Peterborough

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 9 Feb 1850 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1852 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1861 - Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Occupation - salesman - 1883 - Blenheim Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario, Canada Married - 4 Jan 1883 - Peterborough, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Carpenter - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Methodist - 1891 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Traveller - 1901 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Manufacturer, Buttons - 1911 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Methodist - 1911 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Business - John Forsyth Shirt Co. - Bef 1912 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 16 Jul 1916 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth