Henry County AlArchives Biographies.....Foster, John Webb October 14 1850 - living in 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 26, 2004, 10:52 pm Author: Brant & Fuller (1893) JOHN WEBB FOSTER, attorney, of Abbeville, Henry county, Ala., was born October 14, 1850, in Lowndes county, Miss., and is the son of John A. and Mary (Webb) Foster. John A. Foster, a native of Georgia, born in the year 1828, graduated from the university of `Alabama at the age of nineteen years, and a year later was admitted to the bar, but did not at once engage in practice. To replenish his purse he went to Lowndes county, Miss., and for several terms taught school; while thus employed, he was elected president of the Southern Female college, at La Grange, Ga., which position he filled for a number of years, and then came to Alabama and entered upon the practice of law at Clayton, Barbour county. While thus engaged, the Civil war broke out, and he entered the Confederate army as first lieutenant of the "Seals Guards," and subsequently became captain, which rank he held until the termination of hostilities, when, finding his purse depleted, he taught a select school a short time, after which he resumed the practice of law, which he followed until 1880, when he was elected chancelor of the southeastern division, which important position he has held ever since. Mrs. Mary (Webb) Foster was a native of North Carolina, was married at the age of eighteen, and died in 1857, the mother of four children. Mr. Foster remarried in 1859, and to this marriage have been born one son and two daughters. Of these seven children, five are still living. John Webb Foster was deprived of an early education by the outbreak of the war, and received the better part of his instruction from his father, after peace was restored. He was very studious, and in October, 1868, was admitted to the bar. He remained at Clayton until 1870, when he settled in Abbeville, having been appointed register of the chancery court of Henry county, which office he held from March, 1870, to June, 1883; he also served as county superintendent of education from April, 1871, to February, 1881. In 1884, he was elected to the state legislature, and re-elected in 1886. Concerning his career in that body, the Montgomery Daily Dispatch had this to say: "Mr. J. W. Foster is a son of John A. Foster, who has the reputation of being the most astute politician in Alabama, and the son is ‘a chip off the old block.' The son has many of the most marked characteristics of the father. He is a close observer of men, never forgets a face, and is most kind and considerate of the feelings of others. In stature, he is rather short and stout, and has a rather dreamy black eye; but is, nevertheless, far from having anything dreamy in his make-up. He is frank, candid and practical; in manner, he is modest and unassuming, and is companionable, pleasant and agreeable, and impresses favorably all those with whom he comes in contact. An able lawyer, a close student, and possessing all the elements of a successful politician, Mr. Foster is worthy to fill any position, and with his long legislative experience, would add lustre to a name already bright in the political annals of the state." Mr. Foster was united to Miss L. E. Petty, in May, 1871, daughter of B. F. and Kate Petty; her father was one of Clayton's men; also a man of prominence and ability, with that force of character that belongs to men of stanch principles and honest methods; his death occurred in 1887, aged sixty-five years; he left an ample competency for the support of his family. By his marriage, Mr. Foster became the father of three children-Lola, Emma and Kate. Mr. Foster is a public-spirited gentleman in every sense of the word, has always taken an active part in politics, has a very extensive acquaintance with the noted men of the state, and as a lawyer, occupies the highest rank. Additional Comments: from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 1090-1091 Published by Brant & Fuller (1893) Madison, WI This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb