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From: "Scott Self" <>
Subject: [OHFranklin] FOSTER, Licking Cty, Ohio
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 14:05:50 -0500

ELIJAH FOSTER

is a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Moses
and Jane Foster; his mother having been Miss Jane Ferguson before marriage.
They were natives of West Virginia. Elijah was one of eight children, and
of the entire family he is the only survivor.

His father and family emigrated to Newark in 1808, and in 1809 to Monroe
Township, where he continued his residence until his death, which occur six
years later, from the effects of a forest tree falling upon him.
He was a man of culture for that time, and made himself useful in many
ways among his pioneer countrymen. He taught the first school in Monroe
Township, also many terms thereafter. He was the first Justice of the
Peace, and had the honor to join in marriage the first happy pair in said
Township.
In those early days a camp of the Wyandotte Tribe had a village about
one mile to the north of the present site of Johnstown, and with the Indian
boys Elijah and his brother spent many playful hours, racing, hunting,
fishing, etc.
The subject of our sketch gave his hand in marriage, February 17, 1825,
to Miss Letty Stymets, a younger sister of Mrs. Jeremiah Willison. She was
a comforting helpmate, faithful and true, until July 17, 1872, when death
snatched her from him.
Of their four sons and four daughters, one of each only are still
living. Rachel is now the wife of Edwin Piper, of Monroe Township, and
Harvey is yet unmarried, and lives with his father. A portrait of this
early pioneer can be seen on page 20 of this work.
He has been a very strong man, capable of performing tasks which would
be thought impossibilities by the youth of to-day.
Hard toil has supported his family and earned him his property.
Besides, he always lent an able and willing hand at the log-rollings and
cabin-raisings of early times.
Not having a team when first he began to farm, he backed rails to fence
lines, and many other similar slavish jobs, which tested his great powers of
endurance. He yet bears a gigantic frame, and, for a man of seventy-three
years, is quite hearty and hopeful.

Page#: 57
Title/Object: 1875 history of Licking County, Ohio : plus new indexes :
adapted from the 1875 atlas of Licking County by L. H. Everts.
Author: Bookmark (Firm)
Imprint: Knightstown, Ind. : Bookmark, 1975.
Description: 202 p. : ill., maps (1 fold.), ports. ; 28 cm.
Notes: Includes directories and index.
Contents: Historical section.--Township history.--Personal sketches.
Related People: Everts, L. H. (Louis H.) Combination atlas map of Licking
County, Ohio.
Other Titles: History of Licking County, Ohio.
Location: OHS Archives/Library
Shelving: Reading Room
Call#: R 912.771 L618e 1975

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• [OHFranklin] FOSTER, Licking Cty, Ohio by "Scott Self" <>