ALBERT WEBSTER FOSTER - Biography

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Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 627-628


ALBERT WEBSTER FOSTER, a successful locomotive engineer, who has been a 
resident of Baraboo, WI, for more than half a century, was born in Barre, 
Orleans County, NY, 11 Mar 1844, a son of Ira and Amanda (NORTON) FOSTER. 
The father was a native of OH, and when a young man went to NY. In 1844 he 
came to WI and first located on a farm at Delevan [Delavan, Walworth County, 
WI], and four years later came to Baraboo [Sauk County, WI], where he died in 
Jan 1850, at the age of 41 years. His wife, who was a native of Chatauqua 
County, NY, died in Baraboo [Sauk County, WI] in 1889 at the age of 87 years. 
Her father was of English lineage and a farmer by occupation. Three of her 
brothers were soldiers in the war of 1812. Our subject is the youngest in a 
family of six children, five sons and one daughter, the others being: Elma, 
deceased wife of O. B. HUBBARD; Elvin, who died in Baraboo [Sauk County, WI]; 
Charles, who was killed by lightning at Pikes Peak, CO, in 1867; Rollin A., a 
resident of Winona [Winona County], MN; and William, who died in Baraboo 
[Sauk County, WI] in 1864.

Albert W. FOSTER was four years old when brought by his parents to Baraboo, 
and upon the home farm near that city he made his home until 20 years of age, 
aiding in its operation and working in a saw mill a part of the time. In 
1865 he made a trip to Pikes Peak, where he spent one year in freighting to 
the mines, and on his return to Baraboo engaged in various pursuits until 
1876, when he became night baggage man at that place for the Chicago & 
Northwestern Railroad Company. Three years later he entered the train 
service as a fireman and since 1882 has had charge of a locomotive, for the 
past year running a time freight between Baraboo and Milwaukee. He has 
invested to some extent in real estate in Winona, MN, and is now quite 
well-to-do.

On 12 Sep 1889 Mr. FOSTER was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary GEESLIM, a 
native of Mohawk, Herkimer County, NY, where her parents, Timothy and Lucy 
HESS, were also [p 628] born. In 1865 the HESS family moved to MN and 
settled near Winona, where the father died in 1889, the mother in 1874.

Mr. FOSTER is a prominent member of Division No. 76, B. of L. E., at Baraboo, 
of which he has been chaplain for the past five years, and is a member of 
Baraboo Lodge, F. & A. M., and Baraboo Valley Chapter, R. A. M., while he and 
his wife both belong to the Order of the Eastern Star, and she is also a 
member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Enginners. 
Mr. FOSTER has always affiliated with the Republican party, but aside from 
voting he takes no active part in political affairs. He is widely and 
favorably known, and those who are most intimately acquainted with him are 
numbered among his warmest friends.