FOSTER REUNION NAMES OFFICERS
Seymour Daily Republican - September 13, 1915, Page 4
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Permanent Organization Effected by 175 Members Present at Beech Grove
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CONGRESSMAN DIXON SPEAKS
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Hiram Foster of Deputy, Traces History of the Family Back in England
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The first reunion of the descendants of Hiram Foster was held at Beech Grove eight miles southwest of Seymour on Saturday, September eleventh. The relatives began gathering soon after
9 a. m. and by noon 175 people were on the ground. Fourteen came from Louisville in autos and other autos from Terre Haute, Vincennes, North Vernon, Deputy and surrounding county, also many in buggies and surreys.
A most elaborate dinner was served requiring about one hundred feet of table which was filled to its capacity. After enjoying the feast to its fullest measure the crowd moved in front
of the rostrum from which the afternoon program was delivered.
Hiram Foster of Deputy gave the ancestral history of the Foster family tracing back to the sixteenth century, before the family came to America from England. It was a very interesting
paper and will probably be put in pamphlet form for the benefit of the relatives.
This was followed by a history of the descendants of each of the sons and daughter's history was given by a direct descendant. The secretary at this time is unable to give the whole
number but they are numerous and settled over several states of the union.
Congressman Lincoln Dixon made an excellent address commending the many virtues of the ancestors, Hiram and Polly Trumbo Foster. He impressed noon the audience the importance in building
a strong personality and character by observing the three cardinal virtues, namely, industry, honesty and frugality. The speaker vividly recalled the many visits and talks in his father's home of his grandfather and of his
persistent advice that the children should all learn to work, that they tell the truth at all times and that they spend their earning economically
He favored these reunions, which afforded an opportunity for better acquaintance and closer ties of relationship among the families. He believed in a wholesome pride in one's family and
family name, and urged the present generation to maintain the high standard of manhood and womanhood of their ancestors that the following descendants might still copy the precepts and example of their fathers. It was a
profitable and interesting talk and was listened to attentively by both relatives and visitors.
At the close of Congressman Dixon's address it was decided to effect an organization, elect officers and hold these reunions annually.
O. M. Foster of Seymour, was chosen chairman and F. C. Foster of Brownstown, secretary.
Immediately after adjournment the large crowd was arranged in a three line semicircle and a picture taken.
The following is a history of the family as read by Hiram Foster, of Deputy:
My Relatives and Friends:
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We have assembled at this our first meeting as the descendants of Hiram and Polly (Trumbo) Foster.
The duty having been assigned me to present the family genealogy, while realizing inability, to give it as thorough as I would like, yet we can only be held responsible so far as our ability
will permit, hence with this brief apology, I will try to discharge my duty assigned.
From history it appears the origin of surnames is not very clear, and it was not until about the eleventh century, that the family surname began to be commonly introduced. The name Foster
was originally Forrester then Forester and later Foster, having evidently originated from the keeper of the forest yet this is only conjecture.
There appears no question but the Fosters are pure English stock and one of the earliest of this name who migrated to America was Reginald Foster who was born in Brunton England, and came
to this country in about the 1638 and settled at Ipswick, Mass. Near the now great city of Boston. The genealogy of Reginald is said to be traced with accuracy back to the year 1837 and his descendants are noted and numerous
in our country.
The direct line of our ancestry takes us back to one Christopher Foster, who was born in England in 1603 and on June 17, 1635 sailed for this country in the ship "Abigail" with his wife and
three children, John their youngest at that time (one year old) being in our direct ancestral line. Christopher was known as a Farmer in the embarking shipping permit, he settled on Long Island, raised a family of six children
and died in 1670.
I am unable to associate Christopher with any of the Foster name prior to 1603. I am unable to state whether Christopher had any brothers or sisters come to this country.
As noted above it appears that Christopher was 32 years of age when he arrived at this country, and his wife Frances was 25 years of age, the names of Christopher's children were viz:
Rebecca born 1630.
Nathanial born 1633.
John born 1634.
George
Benjamin
Hannah who married Dan Sayre. Thos. Sayre, Daniel'f father left Bedfordshire England for America in the year 1640.
Joseph born 1638 and married Sarah.
John born in England 1634. John Foster, son of Christopher as noted above resided at Southampton, Long Island. I am unable to give the date of John's marriage,
but the following are his children and dates of birth.
John born February 7, 1662, married Hannah Abbott.
Sarah born January 29, 1664
Hannah born January 2, 1667
Jeremiah born March 2, 1671
Patience born March 7, 1673, married Abraham Howell
Rachel born February 2, 1675
Jonathan born April 2, 1677
David born March 15, 1679
William born April 1, 1681
Phebe born April 1, 1683
Abigail born February 1685
John, the oldest son of John married Hannah Abbott, December 5, 1680, residence Southampton, Long Island. John's family consisted of the following:
John born 1695, married Sabyl Howell and Elizabeth Hach.
Haehalaih born 1700
Thomas born 1691, married Hannah Hildreth.
Abraham born 1702, married Elizabeth Moore.
Thomas Foster as noted above married Hannah Hildreth, and to this union were born the following:
Timothy, birth not given, married Bethiah Howell.
Thomas, birth not given who was drowned while fishing from his boat about 1700.
Phinias, birth not given, never married, died 1762 of smallpox while visiting relatives in Conn.
Timothy as noted married Bethiah Howell and their family consisted of five children viz:
Asa, birth not given, married Sarah Trowbridge.
Luke, birth not given, married Esther Hubell and Phebe Rugg.
Gabrial, birth not given, married Permelia Campbell.
Zebulon, birth not given.
Hannah, birth not given.
Gabrial the third oldest child noted above married Permelia Campbell, we are unable to learn the date of Gabrial's birth or
marriage but we find that Gabrial, Zebulon and Luke, in the fall of 1788 came to Springfield Township, Hamilton County, Ohio and in 1813 Garbrial and Zebulon moved to Indiana about 25 miles above the Falls of the Ohio.
Seventeen years later Zebulon moved to Fulton County, Ill. We infer that Gabrieal's move to Indiana was to the farm where he died and is buried about five and one half miles east of Deputy.
Gabrial's family consists of the following:
Hiram born June 21, 1797, married Polly Trumbo December 24, 1818.
Hannah born 1799, married Nicholas Smith of Vincennes.
William born 1811, married Jane Banister.
Asa born February 14, 1813, married Cora E. Wray, moved to Iowa.
Nancy, birth not given, married Everhart.
Elizabeth, birth not given, married Bassett.
You will note that Hiram our ancestor was the oldest child and about six years old when the family landed in Jefferson county, we also presume that
Gabrial was married while in Hamilton, Ohio, as he was there nine years before coming to Indiana and that Hiram was born in Hamilton County, Ohio. Hiram died Jan. 17, 1876. Polly died Nov. 21, 1872.
Hiram's family consisted of the following:
Elvira born Oct. 7, 1819, married Nov. 27, 1824 died April 9, 1872.
William born June 11, 1821, married Sept. 21, 1843, died May 6, 1870.
Jacob T. born Jan. 4. 1823, married July 18, 1844, died Aug. 9, 1865.
Henry C. born March 6, 1825, married April 15, 1847, died April 27, 1870.
Belinda born Nov. 25, 1826, married Sept. 1848, died 1914.
John T. born Oct. 16, 1829, married Aug. 18, 1853, died Jan. 12, 1912.
Oliver S. born Nov. 7, 1831, died Feb. 1, 1843.
Stephen born March 17, 1836, married Aug. 31, 1856, yet living.
Benj. F. born Nov. 13, 1838, married March 1, 1860, died July 3, 1887.
Hannah born July 7, 1841, died June 29, 1843
Edward born July 31, 1843, married Oct. 10, 1867.
It is with no small degree of pride that I have the pleasure of recalling the names of so many of our ancestors. When I say pride, I trust that you may not infer that egotistical pride that leads us to believe we are better than our
neighbors. But I refer to that pride that we are members of a family, that has been good citizens, obeying the laws of the land in which they have lived. Have fulfilled their duties as American citizens, have in all cases I trust, done some good in the world, and
left it better than they found it, having in all cases for as far as I can learn, been willing to make their own living, and I know of no cases where any of the name have not been law abiding, industrious, and frugal.
Let us take courage by this long list of good ancestry.
Let us revere the name Foster and shape our declining days, and instill in the minds of the younger generation to keep in view that duty which leads to right. Let us keep in view that philanthropic duty of right which always
brings its good rewards. May we so live and act that when future descendants meet on similar occasions to this, that they point to our achievements for good and justice with the same degree of zeal, respect and pride, that I trust we all feel today for our ancestors.
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What is not mentioned here, probably because other family members knew it, was Congressman Lincoln Dixon who spoke at this gathering, was the son of Belinda Foster one of the daughters of Hiram Foster & Mary (Trumbo) Foster. This Foster
family still has many active researchers. I am sure much more is now known about the family history.
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