Foster township is the northernmost of the second tier of townships, east of
the west line of the county. Its survey numbers are town 4, range 2. This
township is drained by both the north fork and the east fork of the Kaskaskia
and many tributary creeks. The first settler in the township was Hardy Foster,
after whom the township was named. He was born in Georgia, but had moved to St.
Clair county, Illinois, in 1814, and in 1823 came to this county and settled on
section 17. In 1831 he moved to the northwest corner of the township and made
improvements on section 8. He built a stage stand about halfway between Salem
and Vandalia on the road connecting the two places and kept the stand many
years. In 1833 a post-office was established and he was made postmaster and held
the office at the time of his death in 1863, or thirty years. He was prominent
in the early affairs of the county; was a Justice of the Peace many terms and a
member of the Legislature one term. He put up the first horse mill in the
township in 1833. This mill was operated until 1850.
The next settler in
the township was a widow Jones, who with her family of four children, all about
grown, came to the township in 1826. Her sons were Eli W., Joseph A., and Samuel
B. Her daughter soon after they settled here married J. F. Holt, son of Harmon
Holt, the first settler of Patoka township. This was the first marriage in the
two townships. The Jones family was very numerous in this township many years,
but is now somewhat scattered, although a good representation still remain.
Andrew Foster located on section 21, in 1833, and lived in this township
until his death.
Moses Garrett, a Georgian, settled on section 10 in
1831, and Isaac Nichols in 1830 settled on what is now known as the Caldwell
place.
The first teacher, Thomas Moon, came from New York and settled on
section 16. The school-house stood near his cabin on the same section. He died
about thirty-five years ago, in Missouri.
In 1836 Mark Cole, Jonathan
Green and the Doolens, Jesse and Daniel, settled near the north fork. They each
improved farms and raised families and their descendants are still residents of
this and adjoining townships. Ross Jones came from Salem to this township about
1836. M. Smith settled in this township in 1831, and died on the farm he
settled, near the north fork, some years ago. John Arnold, the founder of the
numerous Arnold family, came from Georgia in 1844, and settled near the township
line, between Foster and Kinmundy. He put up a horse mill and run it many years.
He lived to be very old and died about twenty years ago.
The first death
in the township was that of Elizabeth Morris, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth
Morris. She was buried in a box made of puncheons, split out of logs and
dressed, and made into a rude coffin by the neighbors. She was buried on the old
Hardy Foster place in 1827.
The first child born in the township was
Sallie, daughter of Hardy Foster. She married William Doolen.
On March
6, 1854, Fosterburg was laid out by Hardy Foster. William Doolen built a house
and put in a stock of general merchandise the same year. The year before, Samuel
B. Jones, William Eagan and A. H. Foster had put up a saw-mill, which they run
many years. William Ritter and James Arnold afterward built another mill, near
the same place. Daniel McConnel, S. B. Jones, Thomas S. Jones and J. W. Arnold
were the store keepers. At one time Fosterburg was one of the most promising
towns in the county. It had three stores, a blacksmith and wagon shop, a mill,
Methodist Episcopal church, physician, Dr. William While, and was a post town.
Now nothing remains of this village. The town house since built is all that
exists of Fosterburg.
The following letter from our esteemed friend,
Edward J. Doolen, gives an interesting sketch of Foster township:
"Foster township was named for Hardy Foster, who was a member of the
Legislature, County Judge, and a prominent man in general. Old Fosterburg was
laid out and named for him. This old village is now but a memory, but it was
once the center of a great tract of country. Here was the "manse" of the
Methodist circuit rider; here dwelt the Justice; here was the singing school,
the spelling school, prayer meeting, preaching and all things social. On the
common, now covered by an orchard, men as raw volunteers were marched and
counter-marched by Captains Waddell and John Foster, and by William Crowder,
once a colonel of Tennessee militia. The site of Hardy Foster's house which was
a log one of a story and a half and which after being torn down and rebuilt is
now doing duty as a barn, is occupied by the residence of his son, Harmon
Foster. I have seen many men who when young hauled grain and drove turkeys to
St. Louis and Belleville from this place.
"On North Fork creek about
eighty yards from the bank and a half mile of Patoka and Foster town line can be
found the faint outlines of an old well, dug about the year 1818. Where the
house stood can yet be seen. In plowing over the spot last spring I found many
pieces of dishes of the blue flowered style. This was the residence of Mrs. Mary
Jones, grandmother of Fountain, M. L. and E. W. Jones, and from whom all of the
name of Jones in our township descended. She was born March 1, 1771. and died
Christmas day of 1847. I have seen two of her sons, and in tracing lines of
descent of different families I find that she is the ancestor of nearly all in
Foster township. She is buried at Sandy Branch I have seen her grave; it is well
kept and well marked. Within a few rods of this old house site an Indian trail
crossed the creek. It is yet very distinct in as many as three different places
in the course of a mile. It lies in a southwest direction and passed very near
the Doolen school-house. Northeast of the school-house about three-fourths of a
mile is a stone of considerable size, hollowed out basin-like, where the Indians
made meal. I have seen many persons who played around this old Indian mill. I
myself have searched for it. It is in a small tract of woodland; it is supposed
the creek (Bear creek) changed its course and buried it. It is more than likely
the trail led by this spot. The early settlers of this township were
southerners; Foster, Holt, Mrs. Jones, Arnold, all originally from Georgia.
Foster and Holt both married daughters of Mrs. Jones. At the present time no
less than nineteen grandchildren of this woman are living. Later came others
from Kentucky and Tennessee.
"EDWARD J. DOOLEN.
"Vernon, Illinois,
August 25, 1908."
We wish to thank Mr. Doolen for his letter and say if
others had done likewise, every township might have had a better representation.
Extracted 27 Mar 2020 by Norma Hass from 1909 Brinkerhoff's History of Marion County, Illinois, pages 156-158.