Joseph Watson Foster

Leaf River Mirror, Leaf River, IL
Friday, May 4, 1923
Page 8 Column 8

Local New Notes

J. W. FOSTER DIES.
Joseph W. Foster, who several weeks ago was taken very sick, died at his home at 1 a. m. Wednesday, May 2. Thus has another good man gone from amongst us, one who in many avenues of his life was very useful in our little city.
Funeral services will be held at the home at 1 pm. today, Friday. Burial will be at Kirkland where Mr. Foster formerly resided. A full obituary will be published next week.

Leaf River Mirror, Leaf River, IL
Friday, May 11, 1923
Page 1 Column 2

JOSEPH W. FOSTER
Joseph W. Foster was born at Belvidere January 25, 1858, and died May 2, 1923, at his home in Leaf River, aged 65 years, 3 months and 7 days.
He was united in marriage to Miss Ollie Austin at Kirkland, Ill., on March 20, 1881. For a number of years they made their home at Kirkland, but more than thirty years ago they came to Leaf River to make their home with our people.
During these years of his life he has followed numerous avocations. For a number of years he was the helper at the Leaf River station, filling this position very satisfactorily. He next operated the mill, grinding feed. He gave a place at his home for the headquarters of the Leaf River - Egan Telephone company, which was there for many years.
The deceased was identified with many of the improvements in our village, always putting forth a willing hand.
"Joe", as he was so commonly known, was one of the most accomodating men we have ever met. Always ready to do a kind act, and so well versed in many things, that he seemed the helper of the people of the village. He was a member of the Leaf River band for many years so also was he a member of the village board, serving as president a number of terms, being one of the trustees, at the time of his death.
He belonged to the order of the Modern Woodmen of America, joining in Kirkland in 1881 and was a trustee of the Leaf River camp, and being a member of the I. O. O. F. held the office of Trustee in that fraternity. He also was a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Mt. Morris lodge.
The funeral was held at his home on Friday, May 4th, the Rev. A. M. Krahl preaching, and the ladies' trio, Mrs. S. E. Sprecher, Mrs. J. M. Schelling and Mrs. L. L. Motter, singing. Each order of which he was a member gave many beautiful flowers in honer of his memory.
He was taken to the cemetery at Kirkland, where burial was made. The Masonic rites were given most beautifully by his lodge, there being sixty-five present.
He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife, one brother and two sisters of his immediate family, with many other relatives and friends.
His pallbearers were members of the Masonic order, J. G. Blanchard, P. W. Milhaven, W. F. Light, Jas. F. Harrison, Frank E. Fairlamb and A. R. Mize.

Note: Joseph and his wife, Olive "Ollie" L. Austin, had no children.
Joseph Watson Foster was the son of Thomas Polk Foster and Mary Ann Rowan.
His brother was Wallace Franklin Foster [married: Rebecca Gertrude Austin - a sister of Ollie ]
One of his sisters was Betsey Ann Foster [married: 1st George Washington Kirk, 2nd Willis Wilbur Witter, 3rd William Marshall "Marsh" Chamberlain ]
The other sister was Harriet "Hattie" Alida Grout (daughter of Henry P. Grout and Mary Ann Rowan) [married: Russell Thomas "R. T." Smith ]

Submitted by Myron F. Foster
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