Foster Family
FOSTER. The Foster family is one of Irish extraction orginally, although for several generations its members have played an important part in the history of Pennsylvania, to which the founder came before the organization of Armstrong county. The family is a large one, its representatives being found in various localities, and they are all worthy of the sturdy stock from which they sprang.
Thomas Foster was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and coming to America with his family settled in what is now Wayne township, Armstrong Co., Pa. Here he spent the remained of his life. His chidren were: David; William; Joshua; John; Margaret, Mrs. Alcorn; Catherine, who married Joseph Stockdill; Mary, who died unmarried; and Martha, who married George Stockdill.
Joshua Foster, son of Thomas, and father of Joshua, was born in Donegal Ireland, and was brought to America by his parents when six years old, arriving here in 1822. He married Margaret Stockdill, born in Ireland July 24, 1818, and they settled upon a farm at what is now Snydersville, Wayne township. Mr. Foster built a comfortable residence upon this property, dying there July 19, 1890, his widow surviving until July 27, 1891, and both are interred in the old Episcopal burial grounds in Wayne township, near Echo. They had children as follows: Catherine, born March 1, 1841, died in infancy; Thomas was born March 27, 1842; Rebecca J., born Jan. 10, 1844, married Robert Stuart; George, born March 27, 1845, died Aug. 18, 1866; David was born Dec. 31, 1847; Joshua was born Aug. 28, 1852; Joseph Clark, born Sept. 2, 1857, died Sept. 14, 1902.
David Foster, son of the above mentioned Joshua, married Elizabeth McKinley. He is now living retired at Kittanning. His family consisted of children as follows: Albert, Edward, Bertha, Jennie, Bella and Rebecca.
Joshua Foster, son of Joshua Foster, was reared to agriculture pursuits, and has always lived upon the homestead which is now his property. He owns 150 acres of valuable farm land, on which he has one gas well; the land is underlaid with soft coal, which is very valuable.
Mr. Foster married Margaret A. Williamson, daughter of Hugh Williamson, of Boggs township, this county, and the following children have been born to them: Florence; Hannah R., who died in 1907, aged twenty-two years; Sadie, who died at the age of two years, nine months, twelve days; and Ira, who is at home, assisting his father on the farm.
Mr. Foster is a Democrat. He belongs to the Episcopal Church, which he is serving as vestryman. For years he has been one of the leading agriculturists and reliable citizens of his township.
Andrew S. Foster, merchant and postmaster at Echo, Pa., was born May 16, 1882, in Cowanshannock township, this county, son of Thomas and Mary Jane (Stuart) Foster, grandson of Joshua Foster, and great-grandson of Thomas Foster.
Thomas Foster, father of Andrew S. Foster, was born at the Foster homestead in Wayne township March 27, 1842, and was reared upon this property. For some years he farmed in Wayne township, but later purchased property in Cowanshannock township, where he died Aug. 3, 1903. He was one of the well-known men of his period and locality. His wife was a daughter of William Stuart, of Wayne township. Thomas and Mary Jane (Stuart) Foster had the following children: Anna R., who married George M. Evans, and resides at New Kensington, Pa.; Margaret M., who married Fulton Adams, and also lives at New Kensington; William T., who is married to Margaret Bowser, living on the old homestead; Andrew S.; Emma L., who married Oliver L. Beck, a merchant of New Kensington; Patterson, who died at the age of seven years; and Clark, who died when six months old. The widowed mother of this family resides at New Kensington.
Andrew S. Foster attended public school in his native township and Rural Valley high school, following which he took a course at Slippery Rock Normal School, to fit himself for the profession of teaching. For two terms he proved his ability in this line, one in Cowanshannock township, and the other in Valley township. For the following seven years he was engaged in oil well drilling. He then spent eighteen months at Pittsburgh, in the insurance business, and on June 1, 1911, came to Echo. Buying out H. M. Bowser's general store, he has since conducted it with profit to himself and accommodation to the people of Echo, for he carries a full and varied line of goods, priced moderately so as to meet the demands of his customers. On Oct. 2, 1911, he received his appointment as postmaster.
Mr. Foster married Florence A. Miller, daughter of William Miller, of Wayne township. Two children, Floyd W. And Verna P., have been born of this marriage. Mr. Foster is a Republican. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and fraternally is connected with the Odd Fellows (Lodge No. 738, of Dayton), the Eagles (at the same place, charter member), and the Elks (at Kittanning, Pennsylvania).
Source: Pages 734-735 Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed October 1998 by Joyce Sherry for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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