Biography - WILLIAM F. FOSTER
A prominent member of the bar of Edwards county, was born in Clark county, Indiana, May 3, 1840. His father, William Foster, was a native of Yorkshire, England. He was educated at Ackworth in an institution under the auspices of the Quakers, or Friends. He came to America in 1821, located in Indiana, where he was married to Lucy Shirley, of the Kentucky family of that name. Her father was Charles and her grandfather Michael Shirley. Michael came from Virginia to Kentucky with Daniel Boone, on his second trip to the then western wilds, and was scalped by the Indians near the site of Harrodsburg. To William and Susan Foster were born six sons, Charles, Blashel, John and Wm. F. are living. The daughters are all dead. William followed the avocations of teacher and farmer. He died August 19, 1868. His wife survives him. The subject of this sketch received a common school education, nine months' attendance all told. In 1861 he entered the army, enlisting in Company I, 66th Illinois Volunteers, generally known as "Burge's Western Sharp Shooters." With this command he was at Forts Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Chickamauga and Resaca. When General Dodge was wounded he left Foster in charge of two darkies and four horses - his rank was never determined nor commission ever made out. At the end of three years' service he was discharged. On the 20th of June, 1865, he was united in marriage to Lucy Y. Denny, of Charleston, Indiana, by whom he has six children. In 1876, he commenced the study of law, having determined on it as a profession. His first reading was Walken's American Law. Soon after he read regularly in the office of F. A. Sampson, Sedalia, Missouri, where he was admitted to practice. In 1878, he opened an office in Albion, and in the following year he was admitted to practice in the Illinois courts. He is a member of the Masonic order, also of the Christian church. In the furtherance of church matters he takes a deep and abiding interest. As a soldier Mr. Foster did his duty, and served his country faithfully; as a lawyer he is possessed of great forensic power and excellent knowledge; as a citizen he is respected. Whatever he has to do he does with enthusiasm and earnestness.
Extracted 12 Aug 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 A Combined History of Edwards, Lawrence, and Wabash Counties, Illinois, page 224.
