The Foster Families of Adair County, Iowa

WILLIAM A. FOSTER.

William A. Foster is a resident farmer of Lee townshijD, living on section 30. He was born in Bureau county, Illinois, August 15, 1872, a son of William and Matilda (Savage) P'oster, both of whom were natives of Ireland, where they were reared and married. In the fall of 1871 they came to the United States and established their home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they remained for a short time. They then removed westward, taking up their above in Bureau county, Illinois, after passing through Chicago where the ruins of the great fire were still smouldering. They lived in Bureau county until March, 1879, when they made their way to Adair county, Iowa, settling in Richmond township, where Mr. Foster purchased eighty acres of land. Two years later he removed to Lee township and bought eighty acres on section 27. At a still later date he purchased an adjoining farm of eighty acres and in 1892 he removed to Greenfield, where his death occurred on the 16th of December, 1911. The success he achieved was the merited reward of his well directed labors. His widow survives and yet makes her home in Greenfield.

William A. Foster supplemented a district-school education by a business course in the Capital City Commercial College at Des Moines and when his textbooks were put aside he returned home. His father after removing to Greenfield engaged in the livery business and William A. Foster being an only child remained at home and assisted his father in the conduct of the enterprise.

In 1900 Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Patterson, a daughter of Jacob A. Patterson, one of the pioneer settlers of Greenfield township who survives and makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Foster who, after their marriage, removed to a farm in Lee township owned by his father. There they lived for one year and then took up their above upon their present farm. The place comprises two hundred and sixteen acres of excellent land lying one and a half miles south of the corporation limits of Greenfield and constituting one of the valuable farms of Lee township. It is equipped with the latest accessories and conveniences of the model farm and he uses the best improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields. He leads a busy life from the time of early spring planting until crops are harvested in the late autumn arid that his methods are at once practical and progressive is shown by the excellent results that are attending his efforts. He not only sends large crops to market each year but has also become interested in other business affairs, being now a stockholder in the First National Bank of Greenfield and in the Greenfield Creamery Company.

To Mr. and Mrs. Foster have been born three children, William A., Donald A. and Esther M. Mrs. Foster is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Foster has membership in Greenfield Lodge, No. 386, A. F. & A. M. He votes with the republican party where national issues are involved but otherwise cases an independent ballot if his judgment dictates this to be the proper course. He is a member of the present board of trustees, serving his third term in that position and he is also a member of the school board. It is easy to secure his cooperation in any plan or project for the general good. His watchword is advancement and he applies it to his connection with public affairs as well as to his private interests. Year by year he has advanced not only in the attainment of success but in his outlook of life and he is regarded as a broad-minded, public-spirited citizen.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ALBERT M. FOSTER.

Albert ]M. I'oster, a progressive young agriculturist of Lee township, owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 26 constituting one of the valuable farms of Adair county. His birth occurred in Jasper county, Iowa, on the 12th of August, 1879, his parents being Charles and Margaret J. (Abbott) Foster, who were born, reared and married in Ohio. Immediately following their marriage, which was celebrated some time in the '50s, they came west to Iowa, locating in Jas2)er county, where they resided for many years. In the spring of 1883 they came to Adair county, Charles Foster purchasing the farm which is now in the possession of our subject. He continued its operation throughout the remainder of his life and won success in his undertakings, the community losing one of its substantial and esteemed citizens when he passed away on the 2d of lay. 1911. His wife was called to her final rest in Januarv, 1912.

Albert M. Foster was but in his fourth year when brought by his parents to Adair county and has remained within its borders continuously to the present time. He attended the district schools in the acquirement of an education and on reaching manhood began farming in conjunction with his father, with whom he was associated in agricultural pursuits until the latter's death, when he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the home farm. The place comprises one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land on section 26, Lee township, and yields a gratifying income to its owner, who carries on the work of the fields in a most progressive and able manner. He is a stockholder in the Greenfield Creamery Company and widely recognized as one of the prosperous and enterprising citizens of the community.

On the 29th of July, 1901, Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Miss Grace B. Porter, a daughter of David Porter, of Lee township, this county. To them have been born two children but only one survives, David. In his political views Mr. Foster is a republican, loyally supporting the men and measures of that party. At all times he has been true to the obligations and responsibilities that have devolved upon him in every relation of life and therefore well merits the esteem and goodwill which are uniformly accorded him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

L. E. FOSTER, M. D. C.

Dr. L. E. Foster, who is one of the younger veterinary surgeons of this section of the state, is also one of the ablest and most successful. He was born in madison county on the 2d of INIay. 1888, a son of Ashford L. and Jennie (Orr) Foster, natives respectively of Madison county. Iowa, and of Ohio. The paternal grandfather, John Foster, removed from Ohio to Madison county, Iowa, in the early days of its settlement and was a well known pioneer. The mother of our subject removed to Madison county in young womanhood with her jDarents. Ashford L. Foster followed agricultural pursuits during his active life but for the past fifteen years has lived retired in Winterset.

Dr. L. E. Foster was reared under the parental roof and attended the public schools in the acquirement of his elementary and secondary education, being graduated from the Winterset high school with the class of 1907. In the fall of that year he took up the study of veterinary surgery, entering the Chicago Veterinary College, from which he was graduated in 1910. For the next two years he was house surgeon of the college and assistant to the president and during that time he gained much experience that has been of great value to him since he began the independent practice of his profession. On the ist of May, 1912, he located in I Greenfield and in the intervening three years has built up an extensive practice. He is known as an able veterinarian not only throughout this county but throughout adjoining counties, and the large measure of success which he has gained is unusual for one of his years.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.