L[exington]. FOSTER, proprietor of the FOSTER House, and also of a harness shop, Caledonia, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, October 16, 1842, son of James and Anna (BURGESS) FOSTER. He was the second of a family of six children. When two years of age his parents removed to Holmes County, Ohio, where he was reared and educated. At fourteen he commenced work at harness-making, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then learned ornamental painting, and afterward, boot and shoe-making.

February 29, 1864, he enlisted [as a Private] in Company B, Sixtieth Ohio Infantry. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Potomac. In the engagement before Petersburg, August 17, he was wounded and taken prisoner, and was held the greater part of the time at Andersonville. He was paroled November 26, 1864, and held at Parole Camp until honorably discharged May 8, 1865, at Camp Chase, Ohio, then returned to Holmes County.

In 1872 he removed to Ringgold County, locating at Caledonia, and engaged in the manufacture of harnesses. He keeps a good assortment, and sells at reasonable prices. He also manufactures boots and shoes. The FOSTER House is truly a place where the weary traveler can find food and rest.

Mr. FOSTER is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge 293, Caledonia, and also of the Christian church.

He was married February 7, 1864, to Miss Sarah Ellen McLAIN, and they have five children - Deanna, George William C., Margaret Emma, Etta Elmina, and Orpha Adella. Mrs. FOSTER died June 5, 1880, and August 1, 1881, Mr. FOSTER was married to Loretta SMALL, of Harrison County, Missouri. Their two children are - Florence Edith and Rachel Ellen.

NOTE: James FOSTER, son of Andrew Douglas FOSTER (1788-1863) and Nancy Ann (SINCLAIR) FOSTER (1791-?), was vorn in Muskingum County, Ohio, on June 5, 1818, and died August 16, 1889, Ringgold County, Iowa. James was married in Chandlersville, Ohio, on April 23, 1840, to Anna BURGESS. Anna (BURGESS) FOSTER was born in Virginia, on July 20, 1822, and died December 27, 1888, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. James and Anna were interred at Caledonia Cemetery, Caledonia, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Lexington FOSTER died August 21, 1924, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. Sarah Ellen (McLAIN) FOSTER was born in Ohio on May 10, 1846, and died June 5, 1880, Ringgold County, Iowa. Lexington and Sarah Ellen were the parents of six children:

1) Deanna FOSTER, born 21 Feb 1866, Holmes Co. OH; died SD
    married 1885, Mount Ayr IA to Charles SMITH (ca. 1860-?)
    Children: Lea, born circa 1886; Bertha, born circa 1887; and Ray, born circa 1888

2) George William FOSTER, born 09 Oct 1868, Holmes Co. OH; died 22 Mar 1914, Hatfield MO
    married 13 Oct 1889 Nellie Alice BURGESS (1867-1953)
    Child: Otto Gram FOSTER, born 06 May 1890, Caledonia IA; died 03 Apr 1912, Atchison KS
    Child: Frank W. FOSTER, born 12 Jul 1893, Caledonia IA; died 28 Mar 1905, Chicago IL
    Child: Kyle S. FOSTER, born 31 Dec 1897, Caledonia IA; died 07 Jun 1936, Omaha NE
    Child: Lyndell C. FOSTER, born 20 Aug 1905, Hatfield MO
    Child: Neola FOSTER married Howard BURCHETT

3) Margaret Emma FOSTER, born 27 Jan 1871, Zanesville OH; died 19 May 1944, Milton IA
    married 11 Mar 1888, Caledonia IA Andrew CASADY (1868-1946)
    Child: Artie Allen CASADY, born 16 Mar 1889, Milton IA
    Child: Alvin Hazen CASADY, born 07 Nov 890, Milton IA
    Child: Charles C. CASADY, born 16 Mar 1892, Milton IA
    Child: Olin Foster CASADY, born 24 Jul 1895, Milton IA; died Nov 1896, Milton IA
    Child: Althea Marie (CASADY) ZEITLER, born 24 Feb 1897, Milton IA
    Child: Albert Preston CASADY, born 26 Sep 1898, Davis IA
    Child: August Lexington CASADY, born 06 Aug 1900, Davis IA
    Child: William Nile CASADY, born 02 Apr 1902, Troy IA
    Child: Thomas Lowell CASADY, born 09 Jan 1906, Milton IA
    Child: Helen Iola CASADY married Wendell ELDER
    Child: Walter W. CASADY
    Child: Harold CASADY

4) Etta Elmina FOSTER, born 01 Mar 1873, Caledonia IA; died 06 Nov 1915, Sedan NM
    married 01 Mar 1893, Caldeonia IA James Wesley SHAHA, born 28 May 1872, Kellerton IA
    Child: Everett Avery SHAHA, born 19 Mar 1895, Kellerton IA
    Child: Charles Lionel SHAHA, born 27 Jan 1897, Albany, Gentry Co. MO
    Child: Marvin Claud SHAHA, born 31 Aug 1899, Kellerton IA
    Child: Dolan Foster SHAHA, born 22 Jun 1901, Kelerton IA
    Child: William Noel SHAHA, born 22 Sep 1904, Kellerton IA

5) Orpha Adella FOSTER, born 03 Aug 1876, Caledonia IA; died 30 Sep 1962, San Diego CA
    interment Cypress View Cemetery, San Diego CA
    married 12 Jun 1892, Caledonia IA George Daniel STUCK, born 14 Apr 1873, Caledonia IA
    Child: Edna (STUCK) GRONER, born 05 Jan 1897, Caledonia IA
    Child: Beula (STUCK) CARD, born 20 Mar 1898, Caledonia IA
    Child: George DeForest STUCK, born 15 Oct 1900, Caledonia IA; died 11 Dec 1960, San Diego CA

6) Winfield FOSTER, born Jun 1878, Caledonia IA; died Jul 1878
    interment Caledonia Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA

Lexington FOSTER married second August 1, 1880 to Loretta SMALL, born February 14, 1866, Missouri, and died February 15, 1889. Lexington and Loretta were the parents of three children:

1) Florence Edith FOSTER, born 30 Jan 1883, Caledonia IA; died 04 Feb 1947, St. Joseph MO
    married 19 Sep 1898, Ringgold Co. IA Ollie STUCK (1873-1948)
    Child: Anna (STUCK) WHITE, born 24 Jan 1900, Kellerton IA
    Child: Raymond STUCK, born 26 Aug 1901, Kellerton IA; died 05 May 1918, St. Joseph MO
    Child: Beatrice (STUCK) DAVIS, born 28, Mar 1903, Troy IA
    Child: Ernest STUCK, born 02 Dec 1905, Mount Ayr IA
    Child: Florence STUCK married Ralph W. BEAL

2) Rachel Ellen FOSTER, born 09 Jan 1885, Caledonia IA; died Dec 1942, Carthage MO
    interment, Park Cemetery, Carthage MO
    married 10 Jun 1908, Trenton, MO Francis Marion WHITTEN, born 24 Jan 1881, Santa Claus IN
    Children: John Vilas; Marion Foster, M.D.; David Vencil

3) Randolph Avery FOSTER, born 27 Nov 1887, Caledonia IA; died 19 Aug 1929, Mitchell NE
    married 22 Dec 1909, Lamoni IA Lillian Grace SWIGGART (1890-1938)
    Children: Cleo Ferne, Cecil Doyle, Victor Wayne, Cella June, Crystal May, Mary Ruth, Lola

Lexington FOSTER married third after Feb 1889 to Hulda (HAMLIN) BAKER, born circa 1830

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Pp. 390-91, 1887.

American Civil War Soldiers Database, ancestry.com

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z