Biographies
STEPHEN FOSTER
Genealogical records indicate that the
Foster family was identified with Great Britain back to a period where
historical accuracy becomes lost in legendary tradition. England was the native
country of Stephen Foster and August 23, 1852, the date of his birth. It was in
that country also that he received his education, which was limited to the
study of the common branches, yet sufficiently thorough to enable him to
transact all business matters with accuracy and dispatch. As he grew to manhood
he heard much concerning the opportunities offered by California and as soon as
the way became clear for him to do so he migrated to the Pacific coast country,
settling first in Sacramento. From that time until his death, which occurred December
8, 1902, at the age of fifty years, he remained a resident of the Sacramento
Valley, and was a useful, honorable and industrious citizen, belonging to that
class of men whose citizenship possesses permanent value to the community with
which they identify themselves.
The marriage of Mr. Foster was solemnized
June 17, 1886, and united him with Mrs. Kate (McKernan)
Donnelly, of Folsom, Cal., the widow of Henry Donnelly, a native of Ireland,
but for years a useful citizen of Folsom, where he died in 1877, at the age of
forty-eight years. Six children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs.
Donnelly, but only three of these survive. The eldest, James Henry Donnelly,
born November 21, 1868, received a common-school education in Folsom and is now
serving his third term as representative from the fourth district of Sacramento
county on the board of county supervisors, where he has proved most helpful in
promoting measures for the permanent upbuilding of
his district. The only surviving daughter, Mary Donnelly, is the wife of H. W.
Hall, of Sacramento. The younger son, Peter F. Donnelly, still resides in his
native village of Folsom, where he is proprietor of an
hotel and also holds the office of village constable. The marriage of Mr. and
Mrs. Foster was blessed with two children. The daughter, Pearl F., married
Albert Arnold, of Sacramento, and is the mother of one son. Reuben S., who is
unmarried, resides with his mother at No. 2125 E street, Sacramento.
The ancestry of Mrs. Foster had
headquarters on the Emerald Isle. Her father, the late James McKernan, was a native of Ireland, whence he crossed the
ocean to the United States during 1844. He was at the time a stalwart youth,
physically robust and capable of long endurance in any task, but entirely
without means or friends. After his marriage he remained in the east for some
years, but having heard much concerning the vast resources of California he
came hither in 1856 to test the opportunities of the new country. In 1858 he
was joined by his wife and children, among the latter being Kate, who was born
in Paterson, N. J. The mother died at Folsom in 1873 and the father survived
until March of 1886.
For over thirty years Mrs. Foster was
engaged in the hotel and livery business in Folsom. In 1903 she built the
Enterprise Hotel, a large brick building modern in every particular, and the
largest and best building in that city. She also built up the Donnelly Livery
stable, the largest establishment of the kind in the place. All
of this she accomplished by her own industry and business ability,
building the enterprises up from the profits of the business. She also built
many residences in Folsom and it was stated that she erected more buildings
there than any other individual. However, in June of 1910 she became a resident
of Sacramento, where she has a large circle of friends among the honored
pioneers of the city. For years Mr. Foster was an interested worker in the
Workmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and she also became prominent
in Fedora Rebekah Lodge No. 166 of Folsom, of which
she is a charter member and a past officer. She contributes liberally to its
charitable measures and also aids all movements for the helping of the needy
and the relief of the distressed.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 938-940. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.