BIOGRAPHIES:  Adrian R. FOSS, Maple Grove Township, Barron Co., WI

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Submitted by:  Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  24 February 2004
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Adrian R. Foss, early carpenter and farmer, who has taken his share in the
growth and development of the county, was born in Ohio, son of Nathaniel
and Abbie (Samson) Foss, who died when he was very young, after which he
was taken into the home of William Ellison. From Ohio he went to Marshall
County, Indiana, as a child, and was there reared to agricultural pursuits
and learned the carpenter trade. He came to Barron County in 1882 and
purchased some land. This he shortly afterward sold, and took a homestead
of 80 acres in section 4, west, Maple Grove Township, which he proceeded to
develop. He cleared about 30 acres, erected some good buildings, and
carried on general farming and to some extent dairying. In the meantime he
worked at his trade as a carpenter, and many of the edifices in this part
of Wisconsin testify to the fidelity with which he built. He erected
several of the earliest buildings in Barron, he helped to build the first
sawmill at Knox, this state, and also the first sawmill north of Ladysmith,
this state. He also constructed many farm buildings. He was one of those
who cleared the stumps and timber from the route marked out for the road to
Barron, now known as State Road No. 25. In other ways he also did public
service, and for many years served on the school board. He retired in 1908
and rented the place to his son, Willard. He died Aug. 24, 1921. Mr. Foss
was married March 21, 1867, to Sarah Richie, daughter of William and Susan
(Griggs) Richie, natives of Kentucky, who early settled in Indiana, and
there spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Foss had seven
children: Hannah (deceased), William, Mary (deceased), James (deceased),
Willard, Pearl and Lawrence (deceased). The family faith is that of the
Methodist Episcopal church.

--Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper,
Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 292.


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