Foster, Fred

Waterford - The news of the sudden death of Fred Foster of Clarkston, last Sunday morning, was received by his numerous friends here with feelings of genuine sorrow. Although Mr. Foster was in extremely poor health, and had been suffering at intervals for the past two or three years with most alarming attacks that threatened to end his existence, yet his strong constitution enabled him to rally and pull through. He seemed stronger and in better health recently than for some months previous. It may be conscientiously said of Mr. Foster that he was one of the most honest, upright and honorable of men, and his whole life was marked with innumerable good deeds and ostentatious charity. No man had a kinder heart of possessed warmer sympathies for these in dietress, and no one in want or trouble was ever known to apply to Mr Foster for assistance or advice and was turned away without relief. Many instances could be given of Mr. Foster's great kindness of heart, benevolence and fine sense of honor. The father of the writer in 1858, wishing to purchase a horse, learned that the brothers, Messrs. Samuel and Fred Foster, then living on their large farms in part of Springfield or Independence, had one that they would sell, and accordingly he went up to see the man and found precisely what he wanted, a fine, young, large dapple gray horse, which they had raised and broken to harness. A bargain for the animal was quickly consummated at the consideration of $200, when the Fosters said to my father "Mr. Williams, if you should ant any time you wish to part with the horse, let us know or bring him back and if he is all right, we will take him back at the same price." Although the horse was found to be perfectly satisfactory and fully s good as had been represented, after having him two or three years, my father he had no use for him, and one day thought he would go over and see if the Fosters wanted him, little expecting that he would be able to sell him back at the same price or perhaps at any price, as horses were lower and the Fosters always had plenty of them. However, when he got there and made the object of his visit known to Fred Foster, what was his surprise to hear that gentleman say, after he had looked the horse over. "Mr. Williams, you may remember what we told you at that time you bought the horse of us, and while we are in no use of another horse and have all we require, we always stand ready to redeem our promises, and we will take the horse back at the price you paid for him," and the transfer in ownership as made and money paid without any words or haggling. And my father returned home after a pleasant visit with the honesty and high sense of honor, these gentlemen possessed and had shown, and he often alluded to it afterwards as something remarkable and pleasing experience in his dealings with people, who usually sought to take advantage of him. Mr Foster was 47 years of age. The funeral was held from home Wednesday afternoon, and the remains were interred in Lakeville cemetery.