James FOSTER is a representative of the agricultural interests of Marshall county and also one of its native sons, his parents having located here in pioneer days, from which time the name of FOSTER has figured conspicuously in the annals of Marshall county. The father of our subject, Joshua FOSTER, was born in Ohio, in 1821, and about the time he attained his majority came to this county. He was married in Hopewell township to Betsey BRUMSEY, a sister of Nathan BRUMSEY, and they began their domestic life on Sandy creek, afterward removing to a farm at the head of that stream. Subsequently they made a permanent location on section 25, Roberts township, where the father brought the land under cultivation, transforming it into a highly improved farm. He began life poor, but his industry and well-managed business interests brought to him prosperity. His political support was given the democracy, and he served as township trustee and school director. The cause of education found in him a warm friend, and his children were provided with good advantages in that direction. His death occurred in April, 1895, and his wife passed away in about 1885. Their surviving children are: Benjamin, Louis, Albert and George, all of Evans township; James and Walter in Marshall county, and Wilber, of Livingston county, Illinois.
Mr. FOSTER of this review was born December 15, 1858, on section 25, Roberts township, and on the homestead farm grew to manhood, early becoming familiar with all the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. His life has been given to general farming, and he is today the owner of eighty acres of improved land, which is now rented. In politics he is a democrat, but has had no desire or inclination for public office. In business he is straightforward and honorable, and as one of the early settlers of the county well deserves representation in this volume.
Extracted May 2011 by Norma Hass from The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois, 1896.
Among the native sons of Marshall county who have had no reason to change their place of residence, but have found here ample opportunity for the exercise of business ability and enterprise, is numbered James FOSTER, whose birth occurred in Roberts township, December 15, 1858, and now resides on section 24 of the same township. He represents one of the old pioneer families here, his father, Joshua FOSTER, having come to Marshall county, Illinois, in 1841. He was born near New London, Ohio, March 21, 1821, and in 1836 became a resident of Fulton county, Illinois, the family home being established near Fairview. At an early day he drove cattle across the country to the markets with his father and he shared in the hardships and privations of pioneer life. In business affairs he prospered and became the owner of eight hundred acres of valuable land, which he shared with his children.
On the 23d of April, 1843, Joshua FOSTER was united in marriage to Miss Betsy BRUMSEY, who was born near Elizabeth City, North Carolina, August 8, 1825, and they became the parents of eight children, namely: Benjamin, who is represented on another page of this volume; Edward, who died March 12, 1881; Lewis J., who is engaged in farming in Iowa; Albert, a retired farmer living at Saunemin, Livingston county, Illinois; George, a retired farmer of Evans township; James, of this review; Walter, who is also represented elsewhere in this work; and Wilbur S., a resident of Saunemin. After a useful and well spent life the father died May 3, 1895, honored and respected by all who knew him. In politics he was a Jacksonian democrat.
At the usual age James FOSTER entered the Fairview school in Roberts township, where he pursued his education, and in 1880, when a young man of twenty-two years, lie started out in life on his own account. He has prospered in his work and has so carefully conducted his farming interests that his labors have brought to him a measure of success now enabling him to live retired. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land in Roberts township and the farm annually returns to him a gratifying income.
Extracted July 2011 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois, 1907.
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