Denver County, History of Colorado, BIOS: FOSTER, A. C. (published 1918) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003643 August 27, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 15-16 A. C. FOSTER. Among Denver's progressive, prosperous and public-spirited citizens who have come to the top through their own efforts and are deserving of special mention in a volume of this character is A. C. Foster of the firm of Sweet, Causey, Foster & Company, bond and investment brokers, with offices in the Equitable building in Denver. He is a representative of an old and prominent family of Tennessee and was born in Nashville on the 25th of July, 1867, his parents being Hon. Turner S. and Harriet (Erwin) Foster, who were also natives of that state. The father was at one time a leading attorney of Nashville and later became judge of the district court, sitting on the bench for many years, presiding over his court with dignity, ability and honor. During the Civil war he enlisted for active service in the Confederate army and served throughout the entire conflict between the north and the south. He died in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1897 at the age of seventy- five years, having for many years survived his wife, who passed away in Nashville in 1869. They had a family of three children: Dr. John M. Foster, now living in Denver; Mrs. Charles S. Caldwell, whose home is in Nashville; and A. C. Foster, of this review. In early life A. C. Foster attended the Montgomery Bell Academy, from which he was graduated in 1884, and after leaving college went to Crosby county, Texas, where he engaged in ranch work as a cowboy, remaining in the southwest for three years. On the expiration of that period he arrived in Denver in January, 1890, and turned his attention to the real estate business, in which he continued for a long period most successfully. He not only bought and sold property but was connected with speculative building and during that period erected some of the finest modern business structures of the city which stand as a monument to his enterprise, his business foresight and ability. This includes the A. C. Foster building on Sixteenth and Stout streets, which is one of the prominent office buildings of the city. When the boom started in Creede, Colorado, Mr. Foster removed to that place and continued in the real estate business there for a year, but on the expiration of that period he returned to Denver and became a bookkeeper for the Denver Hardware Company, with which he remained for two years. He severed that connection to accept the position of office manager with the Denver Hardware Company, with which he remained until the firm went out of business, when he was appointed receiver and continued as such until the property was sold. He next engaged in the brokerage business and ultimately became a member of the Denver Mining Exchange. He continued to handle stocks and bonds under his own name until 1897. On the 28th of October of that year Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Miss Alice Eddy Fisher, of Chicago, a daughter of Lucius G. and Katharine Eddy Fisher, of that city. Following his marriage he returned to Denver to take up his abode and gave up the brokerage business to accept the position of credit man with the Daniels & Fisher Stores Company. In that position he remained until the Daniels Bank was organized, when he became the cashier of the new institution, and so served until the Daniels Bank became the nucleus for the present United States National Bank of Denver, which is now one of the leading financial institutions of the west. It was organized by Mr. Foster in association with Gordon Jones, Henry T. Rogers and W. A. Hover, together with several other prominent business men of Denver. Mr. Foster was elected cashier and a director in 1904 and afterward was advanced to the position of vice president, in which capacity he continued until February, 1912, when he resigned to become a member of the bond house of Causey, Foster & Company. In 1914 the firm name was changed to Sweet, Causey, Foster & Company and theirs is today the largest business of the kind In Denver. Mr. Foster's opinions on business methods are largely accepted as authority throughout the city and this section of the state, a fact which is indicated in his election to various offices that have to do with business development and progress. For two terms he was honored with the presidency of the Retail Credit Men's Association of Denver, was vice president of the National credit Men's Association and also vice president of the Investment Brokers' Association of America. He is on the board of directors of the Denver Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. He is a man of notably sound judgment, keen sagacity and clear discrimination. He readily recognizes the possibilities and. foresees the outcome of any business condition or situation and his strong purposes and intelligently directed efforts are fruitful of most gratifying results. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have become the parents of three children: Lucius F., who was born in Denver in 1898 and is now in the United States Naval Reserve, stationed at Nantucket island, Massachusetts; Katharine, who was born in December, 1906; and Cynthia, who was born in 1908 and is now attending the Wolcott School. Mr. Foster gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He belongs to the Denver Club, the Denver Country Club, the Rotary Club, the Cactus Club and the Mile High Club and he is a member of the Art Commission of Denver. In a word, he stands for all those forces and interests which make for development and progress along material, intellectual, social, cultural, political and moral lines. His has been a notably successful career in business. Never fearing to venture where favoring opportunity has led the way, he has steadily progressed, achieving his purpose, while at the same time the public has been an indirect beneficiary in the promotion of business interests which contribute to the advancement and general prosperity of the city at large.