William M. "Bill" Foshier 1867-1961

FOSHIER, STOCKDALE, STEWART

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 3/9/2011 at 22:43:36

Veteran Autioneer Dies at Age of 93
William M. (Bill) Foshier, 93, well-known and respected auctioneer throughout this area since 1902, died today at 4:30 a.m. at the Balmer Rest Home. Death was attributed to a heart condition. Mr. Foshier had been in failing health for the past few years, seriously so for the past several months.

When 91 years of age, Mr. Foshier told a Daily News reporter that he had cried 2,200 sales alone and had auctioneered at a monumental number of more than 6,000 sales in his lifetime.

Born May, 1868 [cemetery records say 1867] at Pleasantville, Mr. Foshier began his career as an auctioneer 61 years ago on Feb. 17, 1900 when there were no auctioneer schools. A farmer at that time he heard that an auctioneer was needed and volunteered his services. He came to northern Iowa in 1902 and after living in Superior for a year and a half moved to Estherville where he has continued to live since that time.

Mr. Foshier said that he moved to Estherville because of the train service, saying that 10 trains went through here daily at that time. Most of Mr. Foshier’s traveling was done by train during those years. He purchased his first car in 1914. His territory covered eight Iowa counties and four in Minnesota.

He was fond of saying that he had remained in Estherville because he never had to look for business here because, he stated, he was always honest with his bidders and “honesty always prevails.” Such was his philosophy and he was firm in the statement that he “had never been in a barn lot to sell for anybody who didn’t want him.”

Mr. Foshier is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Marjorie Stewart of Topeka, Kan., and one grandson, William Stockdale of Minneapolis. Both are expected to arrive here as soon as weather permits.

Further biographical details and funeral arrangements for Mr. Foshier will be published in Monday’s Daily News. Sternborg-Reese Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, February 18, 1961)

Foshier Rites Set for Tuesday
Funeral services for William M. Foshier, 93, well-known area auctioneer who died Saturday morning, will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Sternborg-Reese Chapel, the Rev. Paul Goodland officiating. Interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at the Sternborg-Reese Funeral Home from this afternoon until the time of services.

Foshier’s daughter, Mrs. Marjorie Stewart of Topeka, Kans., and grandson, William Stockdale of Minneapolis, Minn., are expected to arrive here tonight. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, February 20, 1961)