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James Alexander Foster
JAMES ALEXANDER FOSTER, business man of Parkers Landing, Armstrong county,
was born in Indiana county, Pa., Nov. 23, 1856, son of Evan C. and Elizabeth (Kephart)
Foster. His grandfather was born in England, and came to the United States
with his wife and children, locating in Williamsport, Pa., where he died.Evan C. Foster, father of James A. Foster, was born in England, and was
young when his parents came to America. He grew to manhood in Pennsylvania and
became a lumber contractor. While looking after his business interests in
Clearfield county, Pa., he was suddenly attacked with a fatal illness, in the
latter part of 1857. He married Elizabeth Kephart who was of German Ancestry.James Alexander Foster attended the public schools of Saltsburg, Pa., until
he was twelve years of age, and then started out for himself, the death of his
father having placed responsibilities on him unusually early. For eighteen
months he drove a team in a lumber camp on the Susquehanna river, and
afterward secured employment in the chemical works at Natrona, Allegheny Co.,
Pa., where he remained until 1880. Meantime he made some study of Chemistry
and took a course of instruction at Duff�s business college, Pittsburgh, and
in addition utilized his spare moments learning telegraphy and the railroad
business. Later he completed a course in architecture. In 1882 he located in
Chicora, Butler Co., Pa., and in 1890 came to Parkers Landing. From 1885-1904
he was associated with the Standard Oil Company in some capacity. Since 1910
Mr. Foster has been connected with the Weisfield Manufacturing Company and
Chemical Company, and is manager of their extensive business and one of the
stockholders in the same.In June, 1883, Mr. Foster was married to Christine S. Fredrick, daughter of
Bernard Fredrick, of Chicora, Pa., and they have three children: Arthur W. who
is deceased; Vida I., who is the wife of S.A. Sherman, of Youngstown, Ohio,
and Kathleen E. Mr. Foster and his family are members of the Presbyterian
Church. Politically he is a Republican, and he is clerk of the city council,
having been a member of this body, representing the Second ward, for five
years. He is secretary of the Board of Trade, and for five years was a member
of the school board and its secretary. His public activities have always been
useful and honorable. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity.Source: Page 901, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and
Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed November 1998 by Nanci Michalkiewicz for the Armstrong County
Beers Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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