Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.

************************************************

File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County IL, 1878

Lyman FOSTER, retired farmer; P. O. Plainfield. Non-sectarian; Democratic. Owns house 
and lot in village; was born March 30, 1793, in the town of Meriden, New Haven Co., 
Conn.; at the age of 11, his parents removed to Lewis Co., N. Y.; remained with them 
until 13 years of age, and was then apprenticed to paper-making; served until he was 
21; then went to Chenango Co, N. Y., and took charge of a paper-mill for two and 
one-half years; he then went to Cooperstown, and, in company with others, built a 
paper-mill at that place, which he conducted three years and then sold out; he then 
went to Little Falls, N. Y., and for two years took charge of the largest paper-mill 
in the State, after which he went to Esperance, N. Y.; stopped one year; then went to 
New Berlin; stopped one year; he then went to Lewis Co., N. Y., and farmed about five 
years; then to this township in 1844, where he engaged in farming until his retirement, 
about nine years ago; during the time he engaged in farming, he sold Mr. NORTON 30,000 
bushels of corn. Mr. F. has been twice married; his first union was with Esther BLOOD, 
when he was 27 years of age; she was born in Vermont, and died about fifteen years ago; 
had eight children by that marriage, six of whom are now living viz., Giles D., Fayette, 
Mercy A., Mary A., Helen and Cornelia; the names of those that died are Louisa J. and 
Isaac J.; Mr. F.'s second marriage was with Mrs. Emily PEARSONS, April 18, 1869, Mr. F. 
remembers when the death of WASHINGTON occurred, and a funeral sermon that was preached 
on that occasion, in 1799; he also remembers seeing the British fleet as it passed up 
New York Harbor, in 1813 or 1814, to attack New York City. At the age of 24, he was 
appointed Justice of the Peace for Otsego Co., N. Y., by Daniel D. TOMPKINS, then 
Governor of that State, which office he held continuously for fourteen years. Mr. F., 
during two years of his stay in Otsego Co., N. Y. supplied the Albany Arqus with paper, 
that then being the leading newspaper in the State.


Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.