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THE FOSTER FAMILY

No family in America has produced more eminent people than the Foster family. Among the descendents are included Hon. John Foster, Boston, 1640; Governor Hutchinson, of Massachusetts, Governor during the Revolutionary War; Judge Thomas Hutchinson, Boston; Hon. Jedediah Foster, member of Congress from Massachusetts; Hon. Theodore Foster, Member of Congress from Rhode Island; Hon. Dwight Foster, Member of Congress from Massachusetts; Hon. Dwight Foster, Attorney General of Massachusetts; Hon. Lafayette S. Foster, of Connecticut, President of the United States for one day; Hon. Charles Foster, of Ohio; Hon. John W. Foster, of Indiana; Hon. George S. Boutwell, Secretary of the Treasury in President Grant's cabinet and a large number of others. The family is one of the largest in Massachusetts and its several branches participated largely in its early history.

Judge Isaac Foster, who crossed the plains in 1849 in an ox team; went back to Illinois by sailing vessel; and again crossed with mule team and wagon in 1852, to settle in San Jose, California, was a member of this family.

From the Foster Genealogy

By Frederick C. Pearce of Chicago

Ancestry of Reginald Foster of New England traced back to Anarcher, Great Forester of Flanders, who died 837 A. D. Also the record of all other Fosters in America.

Page 1022-Reverend Isaac Foster (Giles, Timothy, Timothy, James, Thomas John). He was born in New Hartford, Connecticut, September fifth, 1790; moved with his parents to Sacketts Harbor, New Jersey; married Grace Parsons, 1812.

Isaac Foster was educated in Lowville Academy and studied law. In the war of 1812 was engaged in merchandise business in Sacketts Harbor. Was pressed into the United States service as commissary and served with General Wolfe in Canada. He was entitled to a pension but did not prosecute his claims.

Isaac was a temperance teetotaller and an Abolitionist with Garrett Smith, Arthur Tappan and William Lloyd Garrison. For several years he was pastor of the Presbyterian church in Leyden, New York. In 1837 he accepted a commission from the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions as a missionary to Illinois, three miles south of Chicago.

He gave up his commission later, and in 1849 crossed the continent to California goldfields, returning to his home in Plainfield by water. In 1852 again he crossed the continent with his family to San Jose, California, where he was judge of the Mayor's Court for some years.

He died in the 78th year of his age in San Francisco, and is buried in Oak Hill cemetery in San Jose, California. He resided in New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, Illinois and California.

Page 1023-Isaac Giles Foster (Isaac, Giles, Timothy, Timothy, Thomas, Thomas, John.) Was born in Turin, New York, May 9, 1820. Educated in Lowville, New York, Academy for a Professor of Law. When a young man surveyed a route from New York to Niagara Falls through Indian territory to build roads. Went with his parents to Illinois. In 1848 married Roxanna Cheney; crossed the continent with his father and brother Vincent in 1849, returning by the Isthmus of Panama. He crossed with his own family and the Burrells in

1853 and was captain of the company which made up this train.

In 1855 he went into the mines, and again later to the Frasier River mines. Later lived in San Jose; in 1861 to ranches on the Coast of San Mateo. There were two ranchesone stock, the other timber. July 1868, removed to Santa Barbara County, retiring from business in favor of his sons.

Page 1023-Rev. Isaac Foster and Grace Parsons, their grandchildren.

Page 1031-Eugene Preston Foster married Orpha Woods. Three children, Orpha, Grace, Edith, Ida, Mildred, Eugene. They lost three sons and a daughter, all in infancy.

Page 1023-Lucy Ann Foster, married November, 1869, to Joseph Sexton. Their children: Charles E., born January 14th, 1871; Harrie Eugene, born February 17th, 1872; Lottie F., born February 25th, 1873; Mariett C., born May 25th, 1874; Howard W., born November 6th, 1875; Evelyn Rose, born October 6th, 1876; Edna Laura, born April 10th, 1878; Joseph Foster, born December 25th, 1879; Ernest Cheney, born February 13th, 1881; Walter R., born January 12th, 1883; Horace Arthur, born September 25th, 1885; Lucy Alice, born September 11th, 1888.

Page 1013-Fred Foster married Nellie Nickles. Their children: J. Dale, Roxanna, Harold, Stella, Nora, Eloise. Second Wife, Mrs. Stella Olmsted Canham his cousin.

Page 1013-Frank Foster, married Maud Faulding. Their children: Burt, Cecil, Ruth.