Bio: Foster, Amos 1861

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: FOSTER, GRIFFTH, HALL, O'NEILL, WOODROW, WALLACE, WILL

----Source: 1918 History of Clark Co., WI, by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge, pg. 589 - 590.

                                    Amos Foster & Family

AMOS FOSTER, a well-to-do dairy farmer of Section 10, Colby Township, was born in Olmsted County, Minn., Jan. 28, 1861, son of William H. and Emeline (Griffith) Foster. His grandfather Foster was an early settler in Ohio, but both William H. and his wife were born in New York State, the Former in 1823, and the latter in 1827. In 1858, William removed to Olmsted County, Minn., Pre-empting 160 acres of land there and making that locality his home until 1872.

In March, 1873, he arrived in Colby Township, Clark County, and homesteaded a farm in Section 4. At that time there were no roads in the locality, and no clearing had been done on the farm, so his earlier years there were years of strenuous activity. The first dwelling of himself and family was a log cabin, and with oxen he broke and cleared his land. He took active part in local affairs, serving as justice of the peace for two years.

In 1881 he sold his farm and moved to Barron County, Wis., where he resided until his death, in March, 1893. His wife died in Wabasha County, Minn., in September, 1916. They had eight children: Charles, born in 1844, who is now deceased; Melissa. also deceased, who was the wife of Dan Hall; Samuel, of Wabasha County; Laura Emory, of Plainview, Minn.; Amos, subject of this sketch; John, deceased, and Julius, living in the State of Washington. The son, Charles, was a veteran of the Civil War, enlisting in August, 1861, in a regiment of Minnesota Cavalry, with which he saw service at the time of the Indian massacre in Minnesota, in 1863, being sent against Little Crow, the chief leader of the savages.

Amos Foster came to Clark County in December, 1875 but it was not until 1884 that he bought his present farm of eighty acres in Section 10, Colby Township. Twelve acres had been chopped on the land, but none of it had been stumped. There was a small frame house, but no barn. In 1894 he built a new house, his first dwelling having been destroyed by fire March 15, 1890. During the four years interval he resided in the house of his brother-in-law, John O'Neill.

In 1905, Mr. Foster erected his present brick dwelling of eleven rooms. He has 'now sixty acres of plowed land and raises hay, oats, barley and corn in 1910 he, built a fine barn 36 by 80 feet in size, and in 1912 an eighty-ton silo. He was one of the originators of the dairy business in his locality, and keeps full-blooded Holstein cattle, having a registered bull, and milking twenty-one cows.

The American Society of Equity is strong in Colby Township, and Mr. Foster is one of its prominent members. He is a member of the Catholic Church and of the Catholic Order of Foresters.

Nov. 18, 1882, Mr. Foster was united in marriage with Maria O'Neil, who was born in Ohio, daughter of John and Mary (McKale) O'Neil, natives of Ireland, both now deceased, her father having been a farmer by occupation. She was one of seven children: Maria, Thomas, John, Frank, Patrick, Kate and Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Foster are the parents of seven children-Alvin, Katie, Walter, Elmer, Hazel, Margaret and Frances. Alvin, who married Teresa Steinberg resides with Amos Foster. He and his Wife have six children--Gladys, Mareellus Woodrow. Vernon, Cornelius and Byron. Kate married William Wallace, now deceased, and resides in Milwaukee, and has one child-Francis. Walter, a former school teacher, and Elmore, are both in the United States war service. Walter, at this writing (April 2, 1918), being a corporal in an ordnance company at Camp Custer, Mich., and Elmore already in France, with Co. F, 10th United States Engineers. Hazel is the wife of Joe Will, of Marathon County, Wis., and has three children--Foster, Jerome and Doris Margaret, who is a school teacher, resides at home, as also does Frances.