The Portland daily press., 1896-12-04
UNION MUTUAL DIRECTORS
A Worthy Tribute to the Memory Of
DR.. Thomas A. Foster.

DIR. Thomas A. Foster.
Governor Henry b. Cleaves Elected to
Fill the Vacancy in the Board-Dr.
Edwin NJ. Northcott Becomes Medical
Director.
Yesterday afternoon the board Of
directors of the U uion Mutual Life In
surance company held special meeting.
at which Hon. Josiah Fl. Drummond
reported the following minute as q
tribute to the memory of the late medical
director of the company, Or. Thomas A.
Foster, and on motion of Ex-Governor
Frederick ROBBIE, 1T was voted that the
same be spread upon the records and a
copy forwarded to the family of DR..
Foster:
Death has again entered our hoard and
taken from US one of the Oldest as we'll
as most honored of our associates.
Thomas Albert Foster was born In
Montville, in this state. February 90.
1897, and died In Portland, Novem Der ~,
1896, having pearly completed his seven
tieth year. He was the son OF Thomas
Dresser and Joanna (Carterl Foster, who
part of Waldo county, and upon farm
whose ruggedness is indicated by the
| name given to the town in which 1t lay.
His father died when this son was only
eight years old, leaving widow and ten
children surviving him, 3ne an infant
two months old; two, by a former VIE,
| had married and had homes OF their
own; but the eight, among whom were
sons of sixteen, eight and two years, were
thrown upon ths mother . care for sup
| port and education. She was woman
Of a type now deemed old fashioned. OF a
strong constitution, vigorous health, de-
cided religious convictions, unusual
mental capabilities and Win Iair
education, who held it to be her duty to
bring up her children in habits of in
dustry and economy, in sobriety, self-re-
lance and integrity, and Sin the fear of
the Lord Such mother could not fail
to influence her son in the same dlreo-
tion, and DR.. Foster recognized his OBJ
| legations to her, and repaid them with
care for her comfort and happiness,
during her l,ng life, which ended only
few years before his own.
| Thrown upon his own resources at an
early age, but with a character we'll
formed even then. he appreciated the al
vantages of an education and determined
to obtain one-a purpose OF which ne
stownschool'' during the brief terms
then usual In our sparsely settled towns;
but he was soon able to secure academic
instruction, aud auch progress did he
| make that he was able to become
teacher himself, and while then, especial
ly in the country. the emolumenrs OF a
teacher were scarcely equal to those OF an
begin to make preparation for the study
of the profession upon which he had set
his heart But the struggle was long
one, and it was not until he was over
tw enty six years old that he WIS able to
commence the study of medicine, IN the
fall Of 1853, with DIR. Nathaniel Rogers
BoutelIe of WaterviIle. His teacher at
Grat doubted the wisdom of mencing
| the study of the profession 80 late in
! life, but he soon changed his mind, for
| he said: Foster has made more progress
| in three months than any other student,
whom / ever hal, has made in year.
He graduated from the department OF
, medicine of the University Of Pennsyl-
vanid in 1856. He returned to Waterv1ile
and his preceptor, desiring to make
European trip, engaged DR.. Foster to
take his practise during his absence. On
/ Dr. Boutelle's return, it became evident
| to DIR. Foster that he would hold and In
crease his practise only at the expense OF
that Of DIR. Boutells. For DR.. Foster to
/ sec GnlH, W6h u l6fu JiliI nv OACO W oOO1>
another field of labor. Having taken
COURSES OF study in New York and Phila-
| delphia. he removed to Portland early in
1859, and had his home here till his
| death.
He coon began to gain good reputa--
tion in his profession, which continued
to increase until ne was universally
recognized as holding leading position
| in the front rank.
| The elements of his success were his
thorough preparation and almost wonder
| fully correct Judgment in diagnosis,
conscientious and unremitting care OF
every case which he undertook, an In
dustry, that never tired, an unusual
power of inspiring confidence in himself,
| the study of hooks In the light of actual
cases, and his never failing courtesy to
4 his brethren of the profession and to his
patients; to the latter he was both
physician and friend, and they SO recog-
nized him; his sympathy was often more
potent than his prescription, and 1t was
truly said of him, that In the SICK
cham ber he was "as gentle as woman.
Children whom be attended, seemed to
| lose for the time their usual feeling that
doctor is their "natural enemy" he
was beloved by the poor, and deservedly,
| for no call for his services was ever
| turned aside, or case sighted because
there was no prospect OF remuneratlon.
| lie heIQ GnAG tn0 primary pun Pos0 VI ono
practise of medicine Ia vastly higher than
| the mere earning Of fees.
| AS man, DIR. Foster WAS quiet, I'm
ostentatious and unpretentious; he had
strong will and a clear sense OF right,
and. when principle was involved was
absolutely unyielains: he was man OF
few words, but when ne spoke. expressed
his views forcibly, and in manner tina,
left no room for misunderstanding; there
were scarcely any bounds to his con-
tempt for deceit of every nature and fol
shams Of every kind; he was large
hearted and benevolent and was always
ready to sacrifice himself to the calls Of
duty or for the sake of his friends; h'
had keen sense of humor. and his COM
partnership was highly enjoyable; thu
last years of his life were marked by
physical weakness, disease and suffering
but be bore them patiently, uncom
plain ingly and cheerfully, and, in accord
ance with his view of duty, continued
his Iife's work, with wonderful firm ness
of purpose, as his strength allowed, unit
the very end came; If he sometimes
wished that the end would sooner come
1t was on account of others and not OF
account of himself.
He was elected director of this com