The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-30
FOSTER, SECRETARY OF STATE.
Another Indiana Man in the Cabinet
Suryeyor-General shaw Confirmed.

WASHINGTON CITY, June 29.-The president
today sent the name OF John w.. Foster, of In
diana, to the Senate 10 be secretary o. state. The
Senate, in executive session, confirmed the
nomination. The president then signed the
commission OF Foster as secretary of state. The
appointment meets with general favor. The
confirmation OF Foster without reference to the
foreign affairs is an unusual COM
pliment.
The Senate made other combinations as fol-
lows: Alonzo C.. Dodge, of Kansas, professor of
mathematics in the navy; James Lotan, collector
OF customs for the Willamette district, Oregon;
A. F. shaw surveyor general OF Washington.
John Watson Foster was born in Pike county,
Indiana. March 2, 1886. He was graduated at
the Indiana state university in 1855, and, after
one year at Harvard law school, was admitted
to the bar and began practice at Evansville. He
entered the national service in 1861 as major of
the Twenty-ffth Indiana infantry. After the
capture OF Fort Donelson he was promoted to
lieutenant colonel, aud subsequently was made
colonel OF the SiXty-tfth Indiana mounted in
fantry. Later he WAS appointed colonel OF the
One Hundred and Thirtysixth Indiana regi-
ment. Daring his entire service he was con-
nected with the Western armies OF Grant and
sherman. He was commander OF the advance
brigade OF cavalry in Burnside's expedition to
East Tennessee, and was the first TO occupy
Knoxville in 1868. After the war he became ed
itor OF the Evansville Daily Journal, and in 1863
was appointed postmaster OF that city. He was
sent as United States minister to Mexico by
flS>Iuent dI3ut III 1915, anu reappDlnlSu Dy
President Hayes in 1880. In March OF that year
he was transferred to Russia, and held that
mission until November, 1851, when he resigned
to attend to private business. On his return TO
this country, Colonel Foster established him
self IN practice in international cases in
Washington CITY, acting as counsel for
foreign LEGATIONS before courts OF commissions,
in arbitrations, etc. President Arthur ap-
pointed him minister to Spain, and he served
from February, 1883, till March, 1885, when ne
resigned and returned TO the United states,
h usn~ an r, nnnaD ~,
treaty with the Spanish government. This
treaty elected general discussion and was
strongly opposed In the senate. That body
failed TO confirm it, and 1t was alterward,
Withdrawn by President Cleveland for recon
sIderation. Some weeks later Colonel Foster
was instructed to return to Spain 10 reopen
negotiat ons for 3 notified treaty. The mission,
however, was unsuccs ssful. and Mr. Foster re-
NAMED abroad but a few months. For the past
two years Mr.. Foster has been special AGENT of
the state department in the negotiation OF
reciprocity treaties, and the treaty with Spain,
by which the Cuban market was opened to
American farmers, was negotiated by him. Mr..
Fostei s relations with Blaine were unpleasant,
and his interference in state department affairs,
sanctioned by the president, is believed to have
been the last straw that con PEELED the great
secretary to resign
lature Of The state of Washington. He was born
January IA, 1859. i'll franklin, n. H., and brought
up on a farm. In 1889 he emigrated 70 the then
unorganlzed territory OF Dakota. ana was elected
a member OF the provisional leg 8 allure that met
at sioux Falls in the winter OF Is596o. In Jauu-
AIRY, 1867, he enlisted in Company A, First
Dakota volunteer cavalry, and served three and
one-half years. He was sheriff o: Clay county,
Dakota, from 1866 to 1862; was a member
OF the House OF Representatives in the
sessions of ISL and 1873, aud of the
Council in the session of ISL He came to
Vancouver in the fall OF ISL, bought and cleared
land and planted a nruue orchard: remained
until the spring of 1854. when business interests
called him to Sioux Falls. He was appointed
warden OF the Dakota penltentiary at Sioux
Falls in the spring of 1SS5, serving two years,
ana returned to Vancouver in July, lso1. lie
was a member OF the House OF Representatives
o. the first legislature, and speaker of the second
House. He is senior member OF the firm of
shaw Bros, prune-growers and packers.
jim Lo.an Is a Portland boss, controlling the
fire department. 1t was against him that the
citizens erected a non-partisan ticket a few
weeks ago