Husband James Foster, Sr. 1 2 3
Born: 14 Feb 1810 - Sugarcreek Twp, Venango Co, PA 1 2 3
Christened:
Died: 4 Aug 1898 2 3
Buried: - Graham Cemetery, Sandycreek Twp, Venango Co, PA 4
Father: John Foster (Abt 1786-1837) 1 2
Mother: Mary Martin ( - ) 1 2
Marriage: 1853 1 5
Other Spouse: Catherine Smith (1814-1836) 1 3 5 - 15 Dec 1831 3
Other Spouse: Margaret C. Armstrong (1816-1853) 1 5 6
• Additional Image.
Wife Priscilla C. Robinson 5 7
Born: 1822
Christened:
Died: 5 Oct 1900 5
Buried: - Graham Cemetery, Sandycreek Twp, Venango Co, PA 4
Other Spouse: Joseph T. Burns ( -1853) 8
Children
1 F Margaret H. Foster 1 5 9
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Rev. W. H. Bunce ( - ) 1 5
Marr: 1886 - ? Venango Co, PA
2 M Joseph T. Foster 1 9 10
Born: 30 Jun 1862 - Sandycreek Twp, Venango Co, PA 5
Christened:
Died: 1921
Buried: - Graham Cemetery, Sandycreek Twp, Venango Co, PA 11
Spouse: Margaret J. "Maggie" Houser (1865-1947) 12 13
Marr: 23 Apr 1885 - Sandycreek Twp, Venango Co, PA 14
General Notes: Husband - James Foster, Sr.
His date of birth may be Feb 4. Another source states he is buried in Sandy Cemetery, near Polk, Venango Co, PA.
He was brought to Sandycreek Township by his parents on their removal from Sugarcreek Township in 1812 and was reared on the old farm. His schooling was limited to the meager advantages afforded in the locality during his boyhood, but nothing was lacking to make his practical training complete. He became thoroughly familiar with the agricultural methods of the day, and in 1833, the year after his marriage, commenced farming on his own account, settling with his young wife on the property in Sandycreek Township later owned by his sons, Joseph T. Foster's portion including the residence site and Robert A. Foster owning another part. James Foster owned about three hundred acres there. This old homestead, desirably located upon a hill in the valuable oil lands of Sandycreek, was all in the woods when the young couple settled there, and they had to clear a spot for the erection of their log cabin, starting life courageously under circumstances that to-day would be considered anything but promising, but which in their time were the usual thing. Development, of both the agricultural and oil resources, has transformed it completely. Situated some five miles south of Franklin, in the big bend of the Allegheny, it was the center of the Bully Hill oil region, a noted field in the seventies, but long before that James Foster had proved that it was valuable for farming purposes, to which he devoted his early energies. With the discovery of the new source of wealth he became interested in the production of oil also, prospering far beyond his early expectations. He was not only one of the most successful business men in his neighborhood, but a leader in public affairs, serving as member of the school board; road commissioner, etc., and he was a stanch Republican in his political views. For over sixty years he was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his wife was one of the original members of the East Grove congregation, which he served as steward and trustee; he was largely instrumental in the erection of the church. [CAB, 577]