Ruby Jane Forsyth

Notes for RUBY JANE FORSYTH:

l According to the Buckner Orphanage records: The Forsyth girls were placed in the orphanage in Dallas, Texas after the death of her father James B. Forsyth in November 1905. Ruby would only have been 5 years old at the time. Her mother, Belle Clark Forsyth (in very poor health with heart and kidney problems) was on March 2, 1906 advised by the Baptist minister named J.M. Mizzell in Naples, Texas that the Buckner Orphanage was a place that could care for the children. On April 20, 1906 the final application papers were completed and sent to Dallas along with the statement of Dr J.M. Walls as to the physical condition of Belle Forsyth dated April 19, 1906. (NOTE: The letterhead on the doctor's statement says that "Walls and Smith" were druggists "not doctors".) Someone in Naples other than Belle took Clara, Myrtle, Ruby, and Maybelle to Dallas and turned them over to the founder and general manager R. C. Buckner on May 4, 1906. Apparently the founder of the orphanage was not there much of the time, but he was out soliciting funds (charity) to keep the orphanage open.

l It didn't take long for Belle to miss the girls very much and she wrote to the Buckner Baptist Orphanage on May 8, 1906 appealing for work at the home so that she might be nearer the girls. She reiterated in her letter that she was not attempting to interfere in the workings of the orphanage, but that the children were her "last treasures" in life. She wanted to be near unless on of them became ill.

l Belle stated in another letter on July 9th that if she could just be near the children she and her baby Opal could stop grieving so about the girls. She said she was poor and had to work no matter where she was living. It didn't matter whether she was in Dallas or Naples.

l Buckner wrote back on July 23, 1906 that she could come and stay for a week and they would see if there might be someway that she could do some light work for her keep and become part of the "family" there. Clara , who would have been in the forth grade at this time, had written to her mother pleading that she come and work in the sewing room at the orphanage so she could see the way they were being treated. On July 29th Belle sent another letter that stated she was quickly making preparations to come to Dallas and be with the girls at the orphanage.

l When Belle got to Dallas she stayed only 3 days and left according to a note written on her letter in the file. The next letter that came dated on August 26,

1906 and to the attention of Buckner stated that she was coming back to take her girls out because they were not being property cared for and that it was a mess at the orphanage. In her pitiful letter she he assured Buckner that if he didn't want everyone to know what was going on in that home that he'd better let the children go back with her. She threatened to go to the law and to sue him if necessary. She gave Buckner 10 days to get her children cured of all disease.

l Evidently, it made Minister Mizzell anxious and he wrote to the founder of the home on September 4, 1906 saying, "No one will take seriously the slanderous words of this widow," but that they should just let her have the girls back because she was their mother. He felt that because people "like to talk" that some would make much of her complaint. He added that he was sorry he had ever involved himself in the affair. The "blank" forms were completed and Mizzell saw to it that money was provided for the train fare to and from Dallas. He did however suggest that there would be a representative to investigate the home to clear up any disputes. Mizzell was planning to leave Naples for a new position in New Boston and invited Buckner to come and solicit funds for the home there.

l Clara's eyes were so infected that she would crawl under her bed because the light hurt her so badly. She said the children didn't have regular meals and were told to "pray" for their food. They were covered with lice. Belle came on the train and took the girls out of the home without incident on September 6, 1906. She left Dallas on the same day. One of the girls had such bad sores on her legs that her stockings had to be soaked off after they got back to Naples.

l The Buckner Orphanage is still in existence today, but it's called the Buckner Baptist Benevolences and is under the administration of Norman L. Lockett.

R.C Cambell is the President. Mr. Lockett was very helpful in providing our family with the documentation of all correspondence and records in their files in

Dallas. Address: 5200 S. Buckner - Dallas, Texas 75227 Phone: (214) 328-3141

l After Belle had placed Ruby in two different orphanages in Texas and Arkansas, she farmed her out to a family named "Mineer who lived in or near Hot Springs where she became a companion to their retarded son. Her sisters all went to other families. I don't know how much connection they had with each other at this time.

l Those who knew Ruby said that, "There never was a better woman." According to Linnie's daughter, she was a "city girl" and had to learn everything about being a farm wife from scratch including cooking. She was a very small built woman with tiny feet (size 4), brown hair with red highlight's, and brown eyes.

Children of CHARLES GOLDMAN and RUBY FORSYTH are:

l 117. i. MARVIN CLEO10 GOLDMAN, b. , Montesanto, Washington.

l 118. ii. CHARLES RAY GOLDMAN, b. September 27, 1921, Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas; d. February 23, 1997, Little Rock, Arkansas *Buried Evansville, Arkansas - Academy Cemetery.

l 119. iii. LILLIAN BELLE (TOOKIE) GOLDMAN, b. April 09, 1923, Hot Springs, Arkansas; d. February 1974, Washington.