The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-02-26
JOEL FOSTER.
Long Business and Official Career
Which Ended last week.

Montpelier was saddened on Thurs
day morning of last week by the an
nouncement that Joel Foster had
passed away during the night. Death
was the result of general breaking
down of the system, due to long suffer
ing from asthma. For three weeks
Mr. Foster had been confined to the
house, but not until the Saturday pre-
vious to his death. when he completed
some work in connection with the
water department reports, did he give
up his work. Death came about mid
night and SO quietly did he pass away
that it seemed as though he had fallen
into a quiet sleep.
Joel Foster was born in Fayston,
June 27, 1926. His early years were
spent on q farm and at the age of
twenty he entered the employ of Rod
erick Richardson of Waitsfield first on
the farm and later in the store. In
| 1849 he came to Montpelier and en-
tered the iron and hardware store of
| Hyde q Marston as clerk. Three years
later Mr.. Marston retired from the
! firm, and two years later than this Mr..
| Foster was taken into partnership and
| the firm became widely known under
the name of Hyde 81 Foster. This
partnership continued for ten years
when on the death of E. W. Hyde, his
son, E. d. Hyde, succeeded to his in
terest in the business and for fourteen
years more the firm carried on business
under the familiar name of Hyde &
Foster In 1877 Mr.. Foster retired
from the firm and since that year had
devoted his time to surveying and
public duties.
Mr.. Foster had held many public
offices of trust in Montpelier. He was
a selectman of the old town from 1860
to 1867 and again in '72-73. During
the civil war he was chairman of the
board and Montpelier's enviable rec
ord for promptness III filling her quota
of troops was, in a large measure, due
to his efficiency. He represented the
town in the Legislature of 1866,
and during the extra session of the
latter year secured a charter for rail-
road to st. Johnsbury, and exerted his
utmost efforts to promote the enter
prise, but the plan failed. La ter de-
velopments showed clearly the wisdom
of Mr.. Fosters contentious. he was
street commissioner in 186970 and
for eighteen years served as a member
of the school board. For fifteen years,
ending in 1865, he was at the head Of
the Montpelier fire department.
Failing to accomplish his desires IL
getting railroad to ST. Johnsbury
Mr. Foster became leader in the
movement which resulted in the build
ing of the Montpelier and Wells River
railroad, and since the beginning hat
been director of the road and it
cle.k and treasurer.
But it is for his connection with thu
Montpelier water system that Mr.
Foster is best known and will be long
est remembered He had been mt it
head since the inception of the pres
ent system about twenty years ag'
and it stands and will stand as a mon
ument to his professional and bushes
ability and unlimited capacity TO
hard work.
In 1855 Mr. Foster married Mis-
Mary Ware of Montpelier, who witt
two sons, G.. Hyde, of Cheyenne, Wy
! oming, and j. Ware, of kentucky, sur
vive him.
The funeral service was hell
at his late home on School street a
two O'Clock Saturday. A large compan.
of friends and associates gathered t
pay last tribute of respect to on
who had been so long and intimatel.
associated with the life of Montpelier
! The floral offerings were many an
beautiful, and during the service
Wilder's orchestra gave several selec
tons The bearers were: Fran
Abair, Humphrey Campbell, John W
, Peck, Fred w. Morse, Fred Blanch
3 ard and Albert w. Ferrin. The fu
! neral was in charge of A. d. Farwell
4 assisted by Joseph G. Brown. Sci
vices were conducted by Mr.. Foster
t pastor, Rev. DR.. J. Edward Wright.