- DAVID SMITH FOSTER, who was one of the pioneer merchants
of Beloit, and a man who was
- noted for his ability and integrity, was born on May 26,
1826, at North Andover, Mass. He was the son of Moses and Sarah
(BALDWIN) FOSTER. Moses was a direct descendent of Abraham FOSTER,
a native of England, who emigrated to the United States in 1638
and settled in Ipswich, Mass. Ephraim FOSTER, a son of Abraham
FOSTER, was born October 9, 1659; moved to Andover, Mass., September
21, 1746.
- The subject of our sketch received his early education in
the common schools of his native town,
- and after absorbing the knowledge to be gained there attended
the Franklin Academy and finished his studies at Phillips Academy,
at Andover, graduating in the class of 1843. After completing
his education he followed his natural bent for a business life
by commencing as a clerk in the wholesale dry goods house of
Langley and Abbott of Boston, and continued with them until 1848,
when he entered the employ of Eben D. Jordan, now the great firm
of Jordan, Marsh & Co. In 1856 he concluded to branch out
in the business world for himself, and being attracted by the
possibilities in the thrifty and growing town of Beloit, he removed
to this place and commenced his business career. He entered into
the dry goods business and closed it out the following year during
the panic. He afterwards engaged in the merchandising in the
grocery and woodenware line and was very successful, continuing
this until 1869, when he sold out to M. E. B. LEWIS.
- Mr. FOSTER was a man who had the best interests of his town
at heart and was always striving
- for the betterment of his fellow men by private and public
improvements of all kinds that would tend to make Beloit the
beautiful and prosperous city that it now is. His fellow citizens
appreciated his many public-spirited acts in this regard and
honored him in many ways, consequently he was three times called
to serve as mayor of the city of Beloit. In politics he was always
a staunch Republican. Mr. FOSTER stood very high in Masonic circles,
being a thirty-second degree Mason, Knight Templar, past commander
of Knights Templar, also past grand generalissimo of the state
of Wisconsin. In religious faith he was a Unitarian.
- On March 7, 1854, Mr. FOSTER was united in marriage with
Miss Agnes F. BYERS, of
- Andover, Mass. They were the parents of five sons - John,
Alfred, Joseph Byers, Frank Smith and David Humphrey.
- Mr. FOSTER's death occurred on January 31, 1903. He was honored
and respected by all.
-
- Taken from "Rock County, Wisconsin, Vol. II"
by William Fiske Brown, (c)1908, pp. 807-808.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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