Untitled Document

ROBERT FOSTER

He is a son of Robert and Margaret (Nickson) Foster. He was born in the county Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1820, arid was reared on a farm, at the same time receiving a good education. On March 17, 1845, with his brother John and others of his father's family he left his native home for America, and about May 1 of the same Year arrived at Rock Island, Illinois.

The first summer was spent by him working in a brick-yard at Rock Island, while John worked the first season in Preemption township for John Whitsitt, Esq. Thus they made their start slow but sure." The brothers finally purchased land in section 3, in Preemption township, where Robert still lives, and where John lived till the time of his death, December 30, 1881, in the seventieth year of his age. He was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he gave liberally of his mans, making it a point to give annually fifty dollars toward the support of the church of which he was a member.

Some years before his death he gave a house and lot in Rock Island to the Methodist Episcopal Church there to be used as a parsonage, and a short time previous to his death he willed to the missionary society of Rock Island property to the value of $2,000, the proceeds of which is to be used in foreign _missionary work, and during the last year of his life he contributed in cash $100 to the missionary fund. In 1859 . Robert was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Kennedy, a native of county Fermanagh, Ireland, by whom he became the father of twelve children, seven of whom are now living : Matilda, John, William, Walter, Sarah J., Abba M., and Robert D. The oldest daughter, aged twenty years, and the third son, aged fifteen years, fell victims to that dread scourge diphtheria, as well as did some of his family in younger years. Mr. Foster and .wife are consistant members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

History of Mercer and Henderson County

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Illinois Ancestors