In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1826
From The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881)
JOHN FOOS, manufacturer and capitalist, Springfield; was born in Madison Co., Ohio, in 1826; came to Springfield in 1848 and became connected with the mercantile interest of the place; in 1861, he purchased the Barnett oil-mill, and, soon after, the Steel, Lehman & Co. Mill, and has since been a large dealer in seed and oil. During the war period, he was engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods, being then connected with the woolen mill, since discontinued. In 1870, he became connected with P. P. Mast, the firm now being Mast, Foos & Co.; in 1876, he took hold of the St. John Sewing-Machine Factory, which, up to that time, had had a rather doubtful existence of about one year. Under his control and management, the business has grown to large proportions; further notice of this manufactory will be found elsewhere in this work. It will be seen Mr. Foos has been an important factor in the successful development of several important interests of the city, and is now one of its leading business men. He married, in 1856, Samantha Marks; from this union they have five children.
As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name John Foos: Scipio E. Baker (b. 1860) Charles Rabbitts (b. 1820) Edwin C. Dinwiddie (b. 1867) James Leffel (b. 1851)
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.