Niobrara County WY Archives Biographies.....Foster, J. H. 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 19, 2009, 4:46 am

Author: Bowen & Co. (1903)

J. H. FOSTER.

   Combining in his veins the chivalric devotion, gallantry and courtesy of the
South, the vivacity, grace and geniality of France, and the rugged virtues of
the Scotch-Irish race, and having taken conspicuous part and prominence in
various realms of human activities not often the lot of man to experience, J. H.
Foster of Manville, Wyoming, is one whose life and career present unique
features. He was born on March 26, 1854, in Nicholasville, Ky., the son of
Robert and Mary (St. Clair) Foster. His paternal grandfather came to America in
the early part of the nineteenth century from the north of Ireland, and after a
residence of some time in Indiana made his permanent home in Kentucky. The
father was reared in Kentucky and in 1S61 enlisted in the Confederate service
under the famous General Zollicoffer, with great loyalty following the fortunes
and misfortunes of the Confederate forces until the close of the war which saw
their defeat. His wife was a lady of most admirable qualities, born and educated
in Paris, France, and was a mother capable of impressing her children with the
principles of right, justice and honor. When peace came Robert Foster joined his
family in Illinois, whither the sad fortune of war had driven them from
Kentucky, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, leaving
a family of ten children and surviving his wife for fifteen years. When our
subject was fourteen years old he went with an uncle, John Foster, a celebrated
clown connected with John Robinson's circus, to be his understudy and learn the
business. In this connection he made such rapid progress that in two months time
his proficiency was so great that his uncle, who was advanced in years and was
at this time taken ill, persuaded him to take his position and allow him to
retire. For four years thereafter Mr. Foster accompanied the John Robinson's
circus and as a clown was equal to any in the country, acquiring a high
reputation and a great popularity, in his life demonstrating that "a circus
man," could be a man of character and good morals, for during his life as a
clown he never used tobacco, never used intoxicants and never used profane
language. His life on the sawdust ended, Mr. Foster learned the painter's trade
and for five years was the foreman of the Chicago & Alton Railroad shops at
Bloomington, Ill., thereafter serving for three years most efficiently on the
police force of that city, then tendering his resignation to remove west to try
the benefit of the western climate on his wife's impaired health, coming at once
to Manville, Wyo., the place of his present residence, and here he has been
successfully and prominently connected with the stock industry, at present
running a fine brand of Hereford cattle, and has been an active, useful and
popular citizen, holding at this writing the office of county assessor, to which
he was first elected in 1900. He was the secretary of the McLean county (Ill.)
Agricultural Society, and the courteous secretary of the Converse county Fair
Association for six years, while in 1900 he was the U. S. census enumerator for
the Manville district. The duties of his several important official positions
have been discharged in a manner highly creditable to his ability, honor and
integrity, also exhibiting his great natural tact and power of easily acquiring
friends. He is a Republican in political creed. On September 20, 1880, Mr.
Foster and Miss Ida M. Portlock, a daughter of the genial proprietor of the
Palace Hotel at Galesburg, Ill., were married. Their children are Clyde K.,
train dispatcher at Livingston, Mont.: Capitola, now Mrs. A. F. Smith, of
Manville, Wyo.; William P., a telegrapher at Whitehall, Mont.; Milton,
cartoonist; and Bertha Grace, Ernest and Eva St. Clair, who are at the home at
Manville where the family most charmingly entertain their numerous friends and
acquaintances. Milton has demonstrated a rare talent as a cartoonist.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF THE STATE OF WYOMING

ILLUSTRATED

A people who take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors, will
never achieve anything worthy to he remembered with pride by remote
generations.—.MACAULAY.

CHICAGO, ILL.
A. W. BOWEN & CO.
PUBLISHERS AND ENGRAVERS
1903


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