Mr.  Foster  is  a  native  of  Andover,  Mass.,  where  he  graduated  from  the  cele-
brated Phillips  Academy.     In  1S43  he  located  in  Boston,  remaining  there  until  1856,


FOSTER   GENEALOGY.
405


when  he  concluded  to  make  the  city  of  Beloit  his  future  home,  arriving  here  on  the
i8th  of  March  of  that  year.  From  that  time  until  1S69  Mr.  Foster  was  actively
engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  this  city;  during  the  latter  year,  however,  he
retired  from  active  business,  and  did  not  again  enter  upon  an  active  mercantile  life
until  1880,  when  he  purchased  the  book  and  stationery  business  of  H.  F.  Hobart,
East  Bridge  street,  which  had  been  conducted  for  several  years  by  that  gentleman.
Mr.  Foster  continued
this  business  until
1 88 5,  when  he  disposed
of  it  to  his  sons,  which
enterprising  gentle-
men immediately  ad-
ded the  fine  drug  store
adjoining,  both  of
which  they  are  now
successfully  conduct-
ing,

Mr.  Foster  was
first  elected  to  the
mayorality  of  this  city
at  the  1S70  and  1871
term.  During  this
administration  M  r.
