Foster, Arthur Minor 1863-1927

FOSTER, FULLER

Posted By: Geo Clinton (email)
Date: 4/20/2016 at 11:28:46

Storm Lake Register - May 19, 1927 - Postmaster A.M. Foster died suddenly in the Swallum hospital in this city on Saturday afternoon of last week, at 12:30 o'clock after an operation which had been performed the day before.

The operation was performed by the postmaster's nephew, Dr. Havens of Austin Minn., and by Dr. Swallum of this city. As late as nine o'clock of Saturday morning word came from the hospital indicating that the patient was getting along as well as could be expected, and that the highest hopes were entertained for his recovery.

At one o'clock when the business men of the city commenced returning from lunch, the first word to greet them was that Postmaster Foster had died. The news spread rapidly and it was but a little time until practically everyone in the downtown district had been appraised of the sad news.

Monday of last week Mr. Foster, although not fully recovered from an attack of flu, began the annual inspection of the rural routes out of Storm Lake. On Tuesday he continued his inspection work, but on Wednesday was unable to make the trip. Later in the week he went into the hospital and was operated upon with the sad results enumerated in the foregoing.

Mr. Foster was a Vermonter by birth, having been born in Moretown, Vermont, April 24th, 1863, and was 64 years and 20 days of age at the date of his demise. At the early age of 19 Arthur Minor Foster came west to Lone Rock, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the general merchandising business with his brother.

In April 1883 he was united in marriage to Ellen M. Fuller. Two children were born of this union, both of whom preceded the father into the realms of the Great Unknown. Lynn, the younger son, passing from this life in November 1920, while Harry died in November, 1925.

From Lone Rock the Foster family moved to LaCrosse, Wisconsin, where the deceased continued in business with his brother, L.W. Foster. Twenty-six years ago Mr Foster and family moved to Storm Lake and have made their home in this city continuously from that date to the present. True to his calling Mr. Foster again engaged in the general merchandising business, the firm being Foster & Foster. Later the firm name was changed to Foster & Sons.

On February 6th, 1925, on the expiration of the term of office of Mrs. A.C. Smith, A.M. Foster was appointed to the position of postmaster of Storm Lake, a position which he filled with credit to himself, to the satisfaction of the patrons of the office, and to the Postoffice Department at Washington, D.C. Recognizing the imperative need of a new post office building, Postmaster Foster had busied himself intelligently in gathering data and statistics relative to the growth of business at the local office, qualifying it for the building, and had he lived there is little doubt but that his fondest hopes would have been realized ere long.

That he grieved deeply the loss of his sons was known to his more intimate friends, yet he was not the man to wear his grief upon his coat sleeve, and to meet and to know him was to know a charming personality, with a smile and a cheery word for all with whom he came in contact.

Always identified with every movement which had for its object the upbuilding and development of the city and surrounding community. A.M. Foster was esteemed for his worth to the city, as he was loved for his many commendable traits of character. Deceased was a member of the Presbyterian church of this city and was for a number of years superintendent of the Sunday school. He had served as a member of the school board for a number of years and at the time of his death was a member of the Library Board and of the Chamber of Commerce.

He is survived by his widow, three grandchildren, John, Jane and Arthur Foster, one brother, E.J. Foster, who resides in Connecticut and was not physically able to come to the funeral.

Funeral services were held in the Lakeside Presbyterian church Monday afternoon of this week at 2:30 o'clock, and were conducted by Rev. T.A. Ambler, a former pastor to the deceased. The pallbearers were the post office clerks who had labored under Mr Foster during his incumbency in the office. They were Assistant Postmaster Edwin Hoch, Harry Lawrenz, Dave Hughes, Russell Edwards, Leo Lewis, and Jesse Cattermole. A quartette consisting of Mrs. Morton Hughes, Mrs. Robert Bleakly, L.O. Thomas and F.E. Tellier rendered music appropriate to the occasion. The D.A.R., of which Mrs. Foster is a member, attended in a body.

The out of town relatives attending the funeral were Dr. and Mrs. Havens of Austin, Minn., Mr. and Mrs. L.N. Haskins of Oelwein and Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Evans of Rock Valley, Iowa.