John D. Foster
Goodspeed's History of Southeast Missouri
Biographies of Scott County, 1888
John D. Foster, ex-judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri, and a prominent attorney of Commerce, was born in Clark County, Ky., in 1828. His grandfather, William Foster, was born and reared in Virginia, and enlisted in the Revolutionary War, as a private soldier under Gen. Washington, but was afterward promoted to brigadier-general, and served six and one-half years. The colonial Government granted him a tract of land in Kentucky, to which he removed his family. He improved the land and made a home, at which he died at the age of eighty-two years. His son, Peyton Foster, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., but was reared in Clark County. He was a captain in the War of 1812, and after the close of the war, engaged very extensively in stock-farming at which he was successful, being regarded as one of the most practical farmers of his section of the county. He married Mary Daniel, a native of Frankfort County, who was reared in Montgomery County, Ky. She was a niece of John Daniel, the first governor of Kentucky. To her and husband were born twelve children, of whom Jeannette, William H., George W., John D., Mary and Peyton lived to maturity. Jeannette, William H., John D. and Peyton are still living. Peyton Foster, the father, died in 1872, aged eighty-one years, and his wife, in 1871, aged seventy-eight years. When but a boy, in 1846, John D. Foster went as first lieutenant to Mexico, to serve in the war against that Nation. Thirty-seven days after he started, his captain died, and he was promoted to that rank, and later was promoted to major. Remaining in the service until the close of the war, almost twenty-three months, he returned home, after which he began the study of law which, from his youth, had been his chosen profession. He read law in the office and under the direction of John L. Steward, of Springfield, Ill., and was first admitted to the bar in that city. In 1851 he removed to Missouri and located at Kirksville, Adair County, and resided until 1861, when he entered the Federal army as colonel of the Twenty-second Missouri Volunteer Infantry. After three and one-half years' service, he was mustered out at St. Louis. In 1865 he came to Commerce, Mo., where he has since practiced his profession. In 1880 he was elected circuit judge for six years on the Republican ticket with a majority of 534 in a circuit of 3,800 Democratic majority. From 1852 to 1856 Judge Foster represented Adair County in the Legislature, and from 1856 to 1860 was in the State Senate. He was also a member, from 1861 to 1864, of the State convention which formed the Provisional Government. He was first married in 1831 to Euncy Miller, and after her death, married Losetta A. Knowles, a native of Mississippi County, MO., born in 1848. Her parents were natives of Ohio and Kentucky. She died in 1875, ages twenty-seven, leaving one child Addie Earl. Judge Foster afterward married Mary A. Williams, who was born in Mississippi County in 1853. Her parents were natives of Maryland and Kentucky. Her father died when she was seven years of age, and her mother now resides in Commerce. The Judge is a member of the A.F. & A.M. and of the A.O.U.W. He, his wife and daughter, Earle, are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Besides his other interests Judge Foster is one of the large land owners of Southeast Missouri.
Submitted by Connie Perkins
Poster-#-157-
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