Susan Adams Foster

FOSTER ADAMS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/7/2010 at 19:24:20

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Susan (Adams) Foster
By Florence Wood

Susan Adams Foster, 1834-1922, her daughter, Rhoda, and her sons, Dyer, Moses, Frank, Lewis and Robert moved to Woodbury County, Iowa, in 1898 from Silver City, Iowa. Her husband, Nathaniel Watson Foster, was buried in Silver City, Iowa, in 1896.

Rhoda, 1868-1941, married Henry C Foster in 1902. In 1904, they purchased their farm from Dan Corey. Their only child, Mdargaret Foster Rogers, still lives on this farm in Moville Township. Margaret married Willis Rogers, 1900-1980, in 1940 and they had four children: James, Annette, Susan and David. Her oldest son, James Rogers, lives with her and tends her farm. Her daughter, Annette, married Dick Warren and they have four children: Jay, Reuben, Anne and Garrick. Annette is an elementary teacher in Onawa, Iowa. Susan married Alan Glover. They had three children: Angela, Andrew and Jennifer. Later Susan married Kenneth Johnosn. They had no children. Susan, Kenneth, Angela, Andrew and Jennifer all live in Woodbury County. David Rogers is employed in Omaha.

Dyer Foster never married and made his home with his sister, Rhoda. He passed away in 1940.

Moses Foster farmed south of Moville on what is known as the Fred Zellmer farm. He married Kitty Elliott, 1887, and they raised three daughters: Mabel Foster Harshfield, Maude Foster Davis, and Mae Foster McCarthy. This family all moved to California. All have passed away except Maude, who lives with her husband in Sun City, California.

Frank farmed in the vicinity of Lucky Valley and Peiro which is west of Anthon, Iowa. HE married Mary Perkins. They had three chidlren: Ethel, Earl and Phil. Phil has two sons, Merle and Robert, who live in Arizona and California. Phil passed away in 1980 in Hayward, California.

Robert Foster, 1873-1962, married Cora Renneker in 1917. They had two sons, James and Ray, and a daughter, Ruth. James and Ray both live in California. James and Joan are the parents of Nicole Foster born in 1981. Ray and Jan are the parents of Robert, Richard, Victoria and Susan Foster. All of Ray’s children are married except Victoria. James is a retired dairy inspector of Los Angeles County. Ray is employed by the United States Government. Ruth is a retired home economics teacher, having taught in the Sioux City Schools for 36 years.

Robert Foster was engaged in farming for many years in Moville and Arlington Townships. He was also extremely interested in community affairs, serving nine years of the County Board of Supervisors and nine years on the Moville School Board.

As well as his interest in community affairs, he was a very loyal family member, not only taking a keen interest in the progress of his own children of his sister and brothers. Particular interest was shown in the baseball careers of his three nephews who were sons of his brother, Lewis E Foster, who passed away in 1920. It would be safe to say he seldom missed a game.

In 1912, Lew Foster married Nettie Depue. They made their home in Moville Township on the farm that has been in the Foster family since 1898.

At one time the house on this farm was an Inn where cattlemen ate and slept while yarding their cattle on their journey to and from the Sioux City Stockyards to the Anthon vicinity.

The house was originally tow houses and it was cleverly put together to make one house and remains to today.

Perhaps some of the patrons of the Inn forgot it as a private home because in the years that followed that era it was not uncommon for an inebriated citizen to stop and seek shelter from the elements.

The farm was purchased from a Mr Jordan in 1898.

Lewis E Foster lived thre form 1898 till his death in 1920. He was a prominent farmer and cattle feeder during that time. He was faithful supporter of the Methodist Church.

He and his wife, Nettie, were the parents of three sons and one daughter: Lewis E, Douglas D, Homer W and Florence. At the time of his death his children were aged 7, 5, 3, and 1. His dreams for his children were certainly not realized during his lifetime but he task he left behind him was in good hands. Nettie and her boys could farm with the best of them. They boys all handled tasks well beyond their years. When they were college age their father’s dream of college education for all fell by the wayside became these were depression years of the 30’s. Nevertheless he boys continued to farm and all three became prominent farmers and outstanding citizens of their community.

Homer Foster and wife, Elsie, still live on the farm purchased in 1898. They hadve added new siding, windows and doors to the house. They have also remodeled the barn. When 1998 rolls around the farmstead should be in readiness for its debut as a century farm.

Lewis Foster and wife, Gladys, live on the Smith place adjacent to the farm where Lewis grew to manhood. Lewis has been prominet in many community affairs and presently owns and operates Foster Seed Store in Moville, Iowa.

Descendants of Lewis E Foster, 1871-102-, can be found in the story of Annie McKeever Depue.