San Joaquin County
Biographies
BENJAMIN F. FOSTER
The pioneers of a community, the
founders of a town, or the organization of an enterprise that contributes to
the substantial upbuilding and development of a region, are worthy of public
gratitude. They perform an arduous task
often without a reward at all commensurate with their efforts; but as long as
the town of Paloma exists it will be a monument to the labors, enterprise and
progressive spirit of Benjamin F. Foster, its founder. From the far-off Pine Tree state Mr. Foster
came to California.
He was born in Calais, Washington
County, Maine, on the 25th of March, 1842, and was therefore but
eleven years of age when in 1853 he came to the Pacific coast with his father. He is of English lineage and is the son of
Edwin and Abigail (Scott) Foster, both of whom were natives of Maine. They had nine children born in New England. In 1849 Edwin Foster came to California by
way of the Nicaragua route. Many of the
passengers had the Panama fever and were buried in the sea. A place on the deck was set apart for those
who were dangerously ill and when death came to them they were thrown overboard
into a watery grave. Mr. Foster saw this
done, and when he was taken ill and laid with the others he became so angry at
the outrage that he crawled away out of sight and ultimately recovered.
Upon his arrival in San Francisco he
was engaged in teaming, running drays and lighters in that then new and
enterprising town. In 1853 he purchased
a ranch on the Mokelumne River, in San Joaquin County, and renting a place he
also operated a ferry. By the Homestead
Act he secured one hundred and sixty acres of land, and in the year 1853 he
sent for his wife and children to join him.
So with her little ones Mrs. Foster came to California. The children are Clymena,
Josephine, Benjamin F. and Edwin. The
last named, however, was born on the ranch in this state. The father continued to reside on this farm
throughout his remaining days, devoting his attention to its cultivation and
further improvement. His death occurred
when he had attained the age of sixty-two years. He was one of the organizers of the
Republican Party of Woodbridge and became one of its staunchest supporters,
doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. The cause of the Union found him loyal in its
support and he was known throughout the community as a man of the highest
probity of character and of sterling worth.
His wife survived him for several years and died on the old homestead in
the sixty-ninth year of her age. A
member of the Methodist church, she was a devoted Christian woman, and her
influence was a benediction to all who knew her. She was born on the 15th of May,
1816, and died in 1885, having performed the noble work of rearing to honorable
manhood her family of sons. The surviving
children are Benjamin F., George and Edwin.
Benjamin F. Foster was educated in
San Joaquin Valley and he hauled the first load of lumber used in erecting the
first building in Lockeford. He inherited his father’s farm and added to
it until he became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land at that
place. He also purchased one hundred and
eighty acres where the town of Paloma now stands, and with the development and
progress of Calaveras County he has been actively identified. He was called to public office and for six
years served as a deputy assessor.
In 1863 in answer to his country’s
urgent need for more volunteers to aid in crushing out the Rebellion, Mr.
Foster enlisted at Stockton as a member of Company K, First California
Cavalry. The regiment was sent to New
Mexico and he was detailed to act as a scout with Kit Carson, continuing with
that celebrated scout through the remainder of the war. They engaged in chasing Indians and traveled
three times from New Mexico to the Missouri River. They also pursued Quantrill in Kansas, but
failed to overtake him. Mr. Foster
rendered very valuable service to his country, but was never wounded, and after
the close of the war he received an honorable discharge, on the 3rd
of April, 1866 at Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
He then visited relatives in his native state and by way of the Isthmus
returned to San Francisco.
In Stockton, on the 29th
of October, 1885, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Foster and Miss Flora
Starkey. Their union has been blessed
with one daughter, Clara Belle, who is now a student in San Francisco. They removed to his property in Calaveras
County in 1895, and on it Mr. Foster platted the town of Paloma, which is now a
thriving business center with a number of stores and other commercial and
industrial concerns, a fine school house and a large hall. It is located one mile distant from the Gwipp mine, and many of the miners have their homes in
Paloma. The town is on the state route
from Valley Springs to Mokelumne Hill, about equally distant from the two
places, and is in the midst of a rich mining and fruit-growing district. Mr. Foster has sold his lots at moderate
prices and is doing all in his power to improve and upbuild the town, his
efforts resulting to the benefit of others as well as himself. He follows farming and stockraising, is the
owner of a livery stable, and he also conducts a business in real estate. His progressive spirit is manifest in the
manner in which he conducts his affairs.
A Republican in his political views,
he is unswerving in his advocacy of the party.
Socially he is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic, the
Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and its Rebekah
degrees, also with the Knight of the Maccabeus.
He has always been prominent in public affairs, and no one has been more
actively or commendably interested in the welfare and development of this
section of the state. He is a man of
enterprise, positive character, indomitable energy, strict integrity and
liberal view, and has been fully identified with the growth and prosperity of
the state of his adoption. He has
persevered in the pursuit of a persistent purpose and gained a most
satisfactory reward. His life is
exemplary in many respects and he has the esteem of his friends and the
confidence of those who have had business relations with him.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 233-235. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
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