George Foster

As printed in 1911

GEORGE FOSTER.

George Foster, widely known as a prosperous agriculturist and respected citizen, is the owner of a well improved farm of two hundred acres in Pike township and also has considerable property in West Liberty. His birth occurred in Ohio on the ist of September, 1846, his parents being Wilder and Mary (Mc- Kelop) Foster. The father was a native of Vermont and the mother was of Scotch descent. After their marriage they took up their above in Ohio, where Mrs. Foster passed away in 1848. In 1856 Mr. Foster journeyed westward, settling in Iowa City, Iowa, where he lived with one of his sons for several years. He then removed to Nebraska and there spent the remainder of his life. Unto him and his wife were born ten children, two of whom are yet living, namely: Mrs. Van B. Mills, who is a resident of West Liberty, Iowa; and George, of this review.

The latter remained with his father until a youth of thirteen and since that early age has made his own way in the world. On leaving the parental roof he went to live with his brother, working by the month as a farm hand for three years. In 1862 he joined the boys in blue of Company F, Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under command of Captain A. B. Cree, of Iowa City. His first colonel was ex-Governor Stone, for whom he cast his first vote at the age of seventeen years. He participated in the engagements of Fort Gibson, Mississippi, Champion's Hill and Black River Bridge, took part in the siege of Vicksburg and was in the battles of Jackson, Mississippi, and Winchester, Fishers Hill and Cedar Creek, Virginia. He likewise went with Sheridan on his famous ride. On the 25th of July, 1865, he was honorably discharged, returning to Iowa City with a most creditable military record. Thence he came to Muscatine county, here working by the month for a season, while during the following year he was employed by Dan Doer. In 1867 he was married and started out as an agriculturist on his own account, cultivating rented land for a short time. He then bought one hundred and twenty acres of his present farm in Pike township and subsequently made an additional purchase of eighty acres, so that his holdings now embrace two hundred acres of well improved and highly cultivated land. His property has been developed in keeping with the most progressive ideas of modern agriculture and he annually gathers bounteous harvests. He also owns thirty-three lots and a fine residence in West Liberty and well merits the prosperity which he now enjoys, as it is attributable entirely to his own efforts.

On the 22d of November, 1867, Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Miss Alice Stotler, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1848, her parents being Peter and Sarah (Stauiifer) Stotler, likewise natives of the Keystone state, where they were married. On removing westward they settled on a farm in Pike township, Muscatine county, and a short time later went to Adams Station, where they lived for a brief period, Mr. Stotler cultivating rented land for a year. He then entered eighty acres of the farm which is now in possession of our subject and devoted his attention to its operation throughout the remainder of his life. His demise occurred on the 28th of February, 1874, while his wife was called to her final rest in March, 1854. They had eleven children, four of whom are yet living, as follows: Mrs. Katherine Perry, of Cedar Valley, Iowa; Mrs. Mary E. Davis, who makes her home in Atalissa, Iowa; John C, living in this county; and Mrs. Foster. The last named became the mother of three children, namely: John E., a high school graduate, who is married and lives on a farm near the homestead place; Mattie E., who follows the profession of school teaching; and one who died in infancy.

Though he has no desire for the honors and emoluments of public office, Mr. Foster has served as a member of the school board for thirty years, being a warm friend of the cause of education. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, which was the defense of the Union during the dark days of the Civil war. He belongs to the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and thus still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.

He is truly a self-made man and deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. It is the men who are self-reliant and industrious and who depend upon their own resources who are real factors in a community's upbuilding, and to this class Mr. Foster belongs.

As printed in History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time; (1911). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.