The Portland daily press., 1868-11-23
Newell A. Foster.

nao In 1t little that was extraordinary, put Que
which exemplifes in a marked degree the
struggles, the courageous endeayors and the
ultimate triumph that attend the career OF a
self-made man in New England. The grand
father of a N. A. Foster was the first settler of
the little town of Canterbury in New Hamp-
shire. In this town his father, Asa Foster, a
Revolutionary soldier who died six Or seven
years ago at the age of 96 reared a family of
twelve children. OF the seven sons Newell
was the youngest, having been born in
1914 The mother of this family died last
spring at the same advanced age that her hus-
band had attained. Nine of the children are
now living, and last September all with tne
deceased held an interesting family reunion a'
The old homestead in Canterbury.
Several OF the sons received college educa-
ton, but Newell being OF a self-rellant nature
declined assistance from his father and from
first to last made his way in the world by his
own efforts. He left home at the age of six
teen to learn the shoe trade in Boston, but
owing to the bad treatment he received from
his employer he was obliged to abandon him,
after which he learned the printers trade in
the publishing house OF Morrill, and Chadwick
in Concord, n. H. As a journeyman he was
employed by Luther Roby, printer and stereo-
typer, whom in company with David Allison,
he bought out in 1885. He conducted the
electrotypirg business for time successfully,
but the financial crisis of 1887 and the improve
ments in the art of electrotyping rendered it
impossible for him to continue the business.
While in Concord he married Miss Eliza Alli-
son, the sister of his partner. .H
In 1898 Mr.. Foster came to Portland and
worked at ,his trade in the Office of Sahborn
and Carter, afterwards in 1842 taking charge
of the printing office of the American, paper
of which Judge Kingsbury was editor After
the discontinuance OF that paper and another
term of service at Sanborn and Carter's he
found his health somewhat impaired and in
company With his brother, Stephen S. Foster,
he purchased farm in Worcester, Mass. The
experiment was beneficial to his health but
not to his purse, and soon after we find him
once more in Portland, the senior partner OF
the firm of Foster and Geirsh, job printers
in an Office connected with the Portland Ad-
vertiser. Subsequently, the Advertiser pass
ing into new hands, the firm established an in.
, dependent job Office over George R. Davis
MIR. Foster in company with William H. Cush-
ing, carrying on the job printing business, over
Casco Bank. ~
In 1862 the Press was established, and was
at first published by Mr.. Foster, John T. Gil.
m IN and Joseph B. Hall, under the firm name
Of N. A. Foster & Co. In 1856 Mr.. Foster be-
came the sole owner. The Press was estab.
lished at the earnest solicitation OF the leading
Republicans of the State, and since the first
year has prospered even beyond the expecta.
tions of its founders, enabling Mr.. Foster to
leave his family in comfortable circumstances
The establishment was burned in the great fire
of 1866, but before the ruins were cold the
publisher had ordered new material and the
work went on as before m91H 20 siro8 O.
In 1858 mir. Fosters first wife died, and in
1861 be married Miss Ellen French of this city.
The circumstances of his death are briefly
these:-His friends who were with him in Bos-
ton attending the Woman Suffrage Conven-
tion observed that he seemed to be suffering
physical pain, and they missed something of
his usual vivacity. The Thursday evening
session of the Convention continued till past
II o'clock, and he felt SO i'll from pain in the
region of his heart that he would have been
glad to leave the hall if its crowded condition
had not prevented. His wife finally succeed
ed with much difficulty in getting him into the
open air and on the horse car. The driver of
the car was particularly charged to stop at the
head of the street where Mr. Foster had taken
lodgings, but carelessly drove on a considera-
BILE distance beyond, SO that Mrs. Foster was
obliged to walk supporting her now rapidly
sinking companion with his head on her shoul-
der, having much trouble meanwhile to find the
way. Upon arriving at their boarding house
prompt measures were taken to relieve the
terrible agonies of the sick man, but with only
partial success. He did not seem himself to
regard his condition as dangerous, but when
Mrs. Foster returned to his room, after mo-
menps absence, about o'clock Friday after
noon, she found him breathing with difficulty,
and he almost Immediately expired
How worthy citizen, how kind a neighbor,
friend and employer he was, how warm his
sympathies in every good work of humanity
aud reform, how unselfishly he labored for the
public good, his fellow citizens do not need to
be told. His character was of the best New
England type-humane, active, progressive
He was thoughtful man who refused to ac-
eept traditional ideas, but from time to time
reached conclusions that were the result of his
own investie ations. Consequently his original
political and religious ideas were considerably
modified in the course of his life. 5....-
Early in his career he became attached to
the party with which the name of his family
Is identi1ed-the old school Abolitionists.-
That party, though for years composed of men
whose connection with it rendered them out
casts socially and politically, and subjected
them to insult, abuse, personal violence and
sometimes to death, has at last been recognized
as the noblest and most disinterested political
organization that ever existed in any country
or In any time, and the men who formed it
have gained honor for themselves and liberty
TO- their country. But at the time Mr.. Foster
Joined it, it was no triding thing to be an Abo-
htionist He himself suffered for opinions
sake, here IN Portland thank God the day is
past when such things can be!-the scorn, out.
rage and physical violence which the devilish
pro-savery spirit of those days accorded to the
devotees of freedom But these trials and
dangers were the last thing to deter him from
actins or thinking as he deemed right Having
once made up his mind as to the Justice of
measure no conceivable amount of ob,oouy
GOULD for moment restrain him from going on
in his own way. For several years he refused
TO exercise the right of suffrage, since the gov
ernment, protesting to be free, upheld slavery
BY its constitution and laws. Subsequently,.
when Abolitionists had by constant agitation
and bold advocacy of its righteous tenets, gain
ed large support from the people he Joined the
most radical and progressive party as the best
means of advancing by the use of the ballot
tne cause which so strongly enlisted his SYM
pathiss. From that time Mr.. Fosters intiu
ence In politics was felt throughout the State
de gave 70 the Republican party the same Wig
orous and efficient support that he had given
TO the Abolition party. He was never an as
pirant for Office, but was nevertheless freouent-
ly honoree by his fellow citizens with official
position He was elected to the City Council
In 1858 and 1859, and to the Legislature in 1889.
1860, 1857 and 1868 At the time of his death
ne was Chairman of the Republican City
COMMITTEE and a member of the Republican
state COMMITTEE. He was for two wears Pres.
ident of the Mechanics Association of this
city. so s .s- aaL' .a...
Mr.. Fosters religious views at the time os
his death are represented quite accurately in
the resolutions of the National Convention ~
eoiritualists, published in the Press of the 2o,b
inst. 90 eVrs .f t-l5 gg-'s.5 lIo.. l-.
As business man Mr.. Foster was model
OF integrity and fairness. Socially, he was one
OF the most genial and companionable of men.
ha "A