, 1873-07-01
DEATH OF COL. J. II. FOSTER.

DEATH OF COL. J. W. F0aTER.
Col, John Wells Foster, LII. D., died at his
residence, Hyde Park, at II p. m. on Sunday, of
Inflammation Of tho liver. Ho was ono Of tho
most eminent citizens of Chicago. and leaves a
blank in the social aud scientific world which
will not soon bo filed. A1r. Foster Was born in
tho village Of Brimtlold, A1ass., in 1916, being
So years Of ngo at tile tmo Of his death. uav-
Ing completed Ills studies at schools in tho Vi
cinity OF his homo, he ontorod tho Wesleyan Uni
versity at A1iddlcsax, Conn.,, In 1881, aud
In duo COURSE graduated with high honors.
Aftor leaving college, ho rond law FOR yoar In
Now England, when ho removed to GAINESVILLE,
Ohio, and continued his law studies in tho Office
OF Goddard d 0onvers, and WAS admitted to tito
Bar. His education, which was bread and ILL.,
era, was the foundation on Which ho afterwards
built an enduring fame. lie choao civil ongi~
neering as his profession, and began at an early
period III hia carcor to follow the natural bent Of
hia geniuB, and examine cognate acienccs, such
as geology and netallurgy. On theso 1attor cub
jeots he soon became q recognized authority, in
whoae judgment Eastorn capitalists intending to
invest in tho mineral lands OF the Wost placed
the utmost confidence. sending linn to inspect
tho lands and report upon their resourcoB. In
this way ho explored large aroa OF tho West,
opened to him tho field OF reBoarch which le
afterwards cultivated with such brilliant euo-
cess.
The geological survey Of tho Slate Of Ohio
was instituted in 1887, under tho direction Of
Prof. Mathoa. To selected Mr. Foster, who had
boon Ills pupil in former days. as ono
Of his assistants, and tho noxt year
10 was assigned to an Independent
AiNfrfnt arnbfnrfnnr "a NJ In
State, and hia report embraces detailed section
OF the cagboniforous limestone near Columbus,
to tho uppotmbst bed Of coal near Wheeling.
This was the frat socsion oycr made through tho
Ohio coal-tlold.
In 1916, when the copper excitornont first
broke out in tho Lako Superior country, 10 yis-
itea that country in tho interest of several min
lug companies, repeating his visit the Bucceed-
Ing yoar. Tho Government instituted Il geolog-
ical survey Of tho same territory in 1847, under
the direction OF DR.. Jackson. lio was appointed
ono OF the auHistal'ts' tho labor giving him wide
GeGpe po daosep os hs in eeees IN of rhS hs p @
aequontly became famous. Prof. ]. D. Whit
ney, noted geologBt and metalurgist, OF Cali
fornla, WAS anothor assistant, aud Ills aasociate.
Two yoara subsequently, tho completion Of tho
labors was volume ontitlod "Fostor aud Whit
noy's Report on the Lake Superior Nogiop,"
which was published by direction Of Congrosa.
Tho report was thorough, and threw much light
on tho hidden treasures Of TINT territory, which
was thon mystory. The work roulaiuH
tie authority on tue subject of which 1t troata,
aud Nl8 ouo of the most valuable reports
svor made to Congress. AIessrs. FoBtor and
Whitney made corourrout report to the A1ner-
can Association for the Advancement OF HoonGo,
which met ut Cincinnati IN 1861, and Agnusiz
roHo at the close OF tho communication and de-
olarod 1t aa among tho grandoat concentrations
ever made in American geology.
In the summer Of 1854 tho Native American, or
KnowNotlliug movement, which Aad bean
secretly growing ,and gathering Atrengtll.
and the people rallied around tbs now
standard, and In the election OF the sano year
nude Horny ]. Gardner Governor Of tho Com
monwoaltll. Mr., Foster waB active md inueu-
tial In tho politics Of that day. Ifo leeane a
member OF tho Know-Nothing ordor, III which
his ability as 4 speaker and orgAnizor raised
him fran ono position to anotlor, until ho stood
on chief officer Of tho order In tho stato, and
In great measure ahapod ita dostinloa. 70
lin mora than TO any othor ono man did
Gov. Gardner owa lltA election. 1lo waa
olectod by tho Legislature ono of the Gov
ernor's Executive UuuuJil, as1 waB rocognzod
as tho power Iohind tho throne. In that day
Sheriff u al.l many other officials, now
olectod by the people, welo Heloesed By tho
Governor, and MIR. Fostor's inlilonca with tho
| Executive made him much sought nftor by aI'-
plicants for oiliuo. Had lo continued to support
tho Know-Nothing party, and had llia taBtcs in
clnod toward position, llo might haye boon
| elevated to high public position. Ilo could not
| do tt. Accompanied by tho prescus Yice~presl'