George W. Foster, E. Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller



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George W. Foster.  In connection with one of the specially important departments of the state
government of Louisiana Mr. Foster holds the responsible office of chief state inspector of
fertilizers and feed, with executive headquarters in the capital city, Baton Rouge.

Mr. Foster was born at Algiers, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, on the 20th of February, 1866, and is
a son of James and Ann (Murphy) Foster, both natives of Ireland, where the former was born in
County Roscommon in the year 1829, and the latter in County Tyrone in 1830, both having passed
the closing years of their lives at Algiers, Louisiana, where the death of the father occurred
in 1873 and that of the mother in the following year, both haying been devout communicants of
the Catholic Church and both having been known for their superior intellectuality.  James Foster
was reared in his native county, and in the fair old Emerald Isle his youthful educational
advantages included those of historic old Trinity College, in the City of Dublin.  He
established his residence in Louisiana within a short time after coming to the United States,
and at Algiers he engaged in business as a ship chandler.  As a contractor he developed a large
and prosperous business in the supplying of coal to railroad and steamship lines, besides having
developed a large general contracting business.  He became a loyal supporter of the principles
of the democratic party, and he served several years as postmaster at Algiers.  Mary, eldest of
the children, became the wife of Henry F. Frazer, a cooper by vocation, and both died at
Algiers, where the death of Mrs. Frazer occurred in the year 1920;  Susan whose death occurred
in 1906, was the wife of Henry Doyle, who is a coppersmith and who still resides at Algiers ;
George W., of this review, was the next in order of birth;  Kate, who resides at Algiers, is the
widow of Walter T. Ryan, who was a locomotive engineer and who was killed in a railroad wreck.

George W. Foster was afforded the advantages of parochial, private and public schools at
Algiers, and at the age of fourteen years he was there graduated from St. Mary's Academy. After
leaving school he found employment as messenger boy for the old M., L. & T. Railroad and
Steamship Company. now a part of time Southern Pacific system, and he was advanced to clerical
positions of ever increasing responsibility within the fifteen years of his alliance with this
corporation.  After leaving the railway service he was engaged in the grocery business at
Algiers until 1907.  He then gave one year to the general contracting business at the same
place, and then became associated with the agricultural department of the Louisiana state
government, in which he was assigned to the inspection department at New Orleans.  Since 1916 he
has resided in Baton Rouge and been the efficient incumbent of the office of chief inspector of
fertilizers and feed.

Mr. Foster is a staunch advocate of the cause of the democratic party, and while a resident of
New Orleans he served as a member of the City Council, as representative of Algiers, which
constitutes the Fifth Municipal District of New Orleans.  He held this position four years,
under the administration of Mayor John Fitzpatrick, and he served an unexpired term of two years
and eight months as a member of the school board of Orleans Parish, a post to which he was
appointed by Governor Murphy J. Foster.

Mr. Foster is affiliated with Baton Rouge Lodge No. 372, A. F. and A. M., and New Orleans Lodge
No. 30, B. P. 0. E.  He is the owner of a good residence property that was formerly his home at
Algiers, and also other real estate at that place.

On the 15th of July, 1920, Mr. Foster was united in marriage with Mrs. Augustine (Reynaud)
Randolph, daughter of the late and revered Doctor Reynaud, who was dean of Tulane University at
the time of his death.  Mrs. Foster received the advantages of the University of Louisiana, and
she is a popular factor in the social and cultural circles of the capital city.  Mr. and Mrs.
Foster have no children.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 85-86, by Henry E. Chambers.  Published by The American
Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.