Effie May Austin was born February 17, 1865 in Elmira, Chemung Co., New York, daughter of carpenter and farmer, Edwin R. Austin and Phebe Moore Clark. On June the eleventh, 1884 she was united in marriage to George Franklin Forsyth at her father’s home on 611 West Gray Street in Elmira, by Rev. Thomas K. Beecher. The young couple moved into a modest home at 506 Grove Street in Elmira. Almost a year after marriage she gave birth to a set of twins, a boy and a girl; who were named Burton Austin, who they called Burt, and Elizabeth May, who they called Bessie. Following the birth of her twins, her grandmother Hannah Clark died at the end of that year. A daughter was born on January 8, 1887 and was named Helen Louise, who they called Lori. Their final children was born, a daughter was born on February 4, 1889, named Phebe Clark. In November of 1891, Effie’s only surviving grandfather, Silas Clark died in Big Flats. A few months later her husband Frank became ill and three weeks later it became apparent that he would not live, twenty-eight year old Frank Forsyth died on January 22, 1892; Effie was twenty-five years old, the children: Burt and Bessie were only six, Lori had only just turn five, and young Phebe was a week shy of turning three. The young widow continued living, taking in boarders as a source of income. It wasn’t until 1899 when the decision was made to move back into her childhood home with her elderly parents. In October 1901, Effie was in Ithaca visiting friends when she received word that her daughter Lori was seriously ill. She hurried home to find her daughter had died at just fourteen years old of a ruptured appendix. Effie remained on living with her parents, her daughter Bessie was married in September of 1905 to Ray Voorhees, her son Burt was married months later in May of 1906 to Leah Bailey; leaving the youngest daughter Phebe at home. Her first grandchild was born in September of 1906, the daughter of Bessie, who was named in the memory of her sister, Helen Louise. A grandson was then born in November of 1910, the son of Bessie, named Kenneth Jay; yet the young infant lasted one month before he died. On July 11, 1912 death yet again came to the family, Effie’s father, a prominent carpenter and once a farmer, committed suicide in the barn behind the residence. He had just turned seventy eight a few days prior to his death. The family was devastated, her mother especially, and with the heartbreak her mother then became very ill. During the time of her mother’s illness, her daughter Bessie gave birth to a son in April of 1913, named Howard Burton. In August of 1914 her daughter Phebe was married to Elton J. Wade. A few months later her elderly mother succumbed to her long lasting illness and died on October 2, 1914. A granddaughter was born in October 1915, the daughter of Phebe, named Elizabeth Jeanette. Another granddaughter was born in September of 1918, daughter of Bessie, named Mildred Ruth. Her other daughter Phebe gave birth nearly two months later in November 1918 to a son named Roger Wesley. Phebe then had a son in July of 1921 named Clifford Ralph. In 1925, it was decided that Effie would sell the family home on 611 West Gray Street and move into the attic apartment of her daughter Phebe’s home a few streets over at 1456 Lake Street. Effie received a letter on April 14, 1922 written by her daughter Bessie who was living nearby in Catlin, it announced the birth of a son, Effie’s grandson, named Merlin Ray. Then late that night Effie received word that her daughter Bessie had died of heart failure contributed by a difficult birth. Her daughter was only thirty six years old. Her son Burton divorced and remarried to Gladys Sampsell in September of 1922 and a daughter was born in November of 1923 named Marcia. Burton fathered two other daughters, Marion in January of 1926 and lastly was Phyllis Jane born in October of 1927. During this time Effie’s elder brother, William Clark Austin, died on January 8, 1925 in Elmira, New York. Phebe’s later child born was in June of 1928, a daughter named Dorothy Louise. Her granddaughter Helen Voorhees married James Daines and had a son, named Donald Kenneth, in June of 1929, Effie’s first great grandson. Helen had another child, a daughter named Dorothy in August of 1930. Effie would live to see two more great grandchildren be born, her grandson Howard had married Anna Kahler in 1934 and moved to a farm in Big Flats. He became a father to a son in December of 1935, named Kenneth Burton. Another child was born in March of 1937, a daughter, named Anna Elizabeth. Effie remained living with her daughter Phebe until she died of an extended illness on March 23, 1938, she was seventy three. In her life time she had lost her parents, both by heart breaking circumstances, as well as her husband, her two daughters and her only son. She did however live to have a family again, she was grandmother to eleven and great-grandmother to four. Effie was well-known to have had a remarkable memory and was a very strong woman.