Foster Furniture Company

FOSTER, MCNAUGHT, FINUF, ALLINGTON, CURTIS, RODNEY, DEMING

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 4/4/2011 at 21:26:34

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, vol. II, 1912, by J.W. Lee, p. 184.

The Foster Furniture Company conducts one of the oldest furniture and undertaking enterprises in Webster City, Iowa. The firm is composed of Arch, and William A. Foster, who are entirely responsible for the present flourishing condition of the concern and who have directed its growth along progressive lines of expansion until their partnership has become a significant force in the business development of the city. The senior member of the firm is Arch. Foster, whose
birth occurred in Fayette county, Iowa, February 15, 1882. His parents were John Allen and Jessie (McNaught) Foster, both natives of Scotland. The father left his native country for the United States in 1852 and settled in Pennsylvania with his parents when he was twelve years of age. In this state he was reared and educated, and subsequently married in 1865. In the following year he and his wife removed to Iowa, settling in Fayette county, and in this section they are now residing. The father is in the seventy-first year of his age and the mother has already passed her sixty-sixth birthday, being still active and energetic in the performance of her many duties. John Allen Foster has been a prominent agriculturist all during his life with the exception of his four years' service in the Federal army during the Civil war. From 1861 to 1865 he was a member of the Fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and was present at many of the principal engagements of the rebellion. He was wounded in service but did not allow it to permanently interrupt his military career, and was mustered out with his honorable discharge at the close of the war. To Mr. Foster and his wife were born ten children: Allen, now residing in Fayette county, Iowa; John, whose home is in Clayton county, this state; Bessie, who became the wife of O. E. Finuf and who died March 9, 1902; Thomas, residing in Clayton county; Lizzie, who died in infancy; Belle, who married O. E. Finuf of Buchanan county, Iowa ; Robert, who passed away at the age of twelve years; Arch, and William A., whose business enterprise forms the subject of the present review ; and Jesse W., now a practicing physician at Lake Preston, South Dakota.

Arch. Foster was educated in the public schools of Arlington, Fayette county, Iowa, and as a boy was active in the work of his father's farm. He remained at home until 1900 and then spent a year in the lumber business in Elkader, Clinton county, Iowa. In 1901 he went to Independence, Iowa, and worked as a clerk in a furniture store in that city for six years. In 1908 he came to Webster City with the intention of establishing himself in business here. He bought out the furniture concern of J. W. Allington and in partnership with T. S. Curtis started in active life for himself, establishing the business under the firm name of Foster & Curtis. In 1909 his brother, William A. Foster, bought out the stock belonging to Mr. Curtis and the firm was reorganized. It has since operated under the present title of the Foster Furniture Company. The firm carries a complete line of modern house furnishings and conducts also an undertaking department, in which the services of Arch Foster have been very valuable.

On August 29, 1907, Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Miss Evelyn Frances Rodney, a daughter of Mathew Rodney, who was for many years a prominent agriculturist in Buchanan county, Iowa, but who had retired from active life some years previous to his death, November 12, 1902. The mother is still living in Webster City. Mr. Foster and his family reside in a pleasant home at No. 817 First street. In his political affiliations he is a consistent republican and has been county coroner of Hamilton county since January 1, 1911. His fraternal affiliations include his connection with Acacia Lodge, No. 176, F. & A. M., and with Webster City Lodge, No. 302, B. P. O. E. He is also prominent in Webster City Camp, No. 416, M. W. A. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and his exemplary life has gained him many friends in Webster City.

The business enterprise with which he is connected is located at Nos. 633-635 Second street, and is one of the oldest and most prosperous mercantile concerns in the city. He is actively aided in its operation by his brother and partner, William A. Foster, whose birth occurred in Fayette county, February 15, 1884. William Foster's childhood was spent in the same surroundings as that of his brother. He was educated in the schools of Arlington and worked upon his father's farm until 1904. In that year he entered commercial life as an employee of a local grocery house and for five years kept up his connection with this occupation. When he came to Webster City he bought out the interest of T. S. Curtis in his brother's enterprise and became a member of the firm known as the Foster Furniture Company. On August 18, 1909, Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Miss Fern Deming, a daughter of George Deming, a retired farmer of Fayette county, now a resident of Arlington. Mr. and Mrs. Foster reside at No. 633 1/2 Second street and are well known in social circles of Webster City. Mr. Foster has always been a distinct aid in the conduct of the prosperous enterprise with which he is connected. The Foster Furniture Company owes its success to the harmonious relationship existing between the partners in the concern, who are in agreement on all vital questions of business ethics and morality. They have no complex standard of commercial honor, believing in the efficacy of simple honesty and good- will.