Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-09
Passed Away at Springfield,
Ohio Today.
AT GEN. KdEFER'S HOME
HE WAS On HIS WAY TO coLuM-
BUS.
Hemorrhage the Immediate Cause OF
Death-He Had Distinguish
ed Public Career.


rison. died az the residenee OF Gen. War
rem Kiefer. in this city this morning ut
1880 O'Clock, from the effects OF cerebral
hemorrhages. He was ssventy-six years
old. and IL survived by his wife and q
daughter.
He was attacked last night while sitting
in the library Of Gen Kiefer talking and
never resained consciousness and did not
recognize his daughter when she arrived
from her home at. Fostoria, Ohio. this
morning. He had intended to go to the in
auguration Of Governor elect Herrick at Co
lumbus next Monday. No arrangements for
the funeral have been made.
Sketch Of His Life.
Charles Foster was born near Tifin. Ohio.
April IL. 1928 His paternal ancestors were
early New England residents of Scotch
Irish origin. His mothers family. tile
Crockers Of English ancestry. were also
early settlers Of New England.
The family went to northwestern Ohio in
1882, to what was then known as the
Black Swamp" and located at Rome. now
the city of Fostoria, occupying double log
cabin. The family lived In one end of II.
and In the other the father kept a general
store The father also engaged in the real
estate business.
Charles may be said to have grown up in
country store. He began to attend the
the age OF twelve years he entered the
academy at Norwalk. Ohio, where he re-
manned two years, when, owing to sickness
IN his fathers family, he left to take up the
management OF his fathers store. At the
age OF eighteen he became partner In his
fathers business. and never returned to
any institution of learning.
During the civil war he was active In
encouraging enlistments. but was prevailed
upon to foreRo accepting q colonelcy be-
cause OF his being the only child. He car
ried on successful business for period Of
ffty-six years.
Mr. Foster was always an ardsnt repub-
Hcan In 1870 the republicans Of the demo-
cratic district IN which he lived nomInated
him by exclamation for Congress-
He carried the district by q majority Of
128. overcoming a democratic majority OF
l,SOO. the districttat the same time giving
q majority Tor the state democratic ticket.
In 1877 hea was renominated for Congress
by reclamation and triumphantly re-elect-
ed His participation In the exciting con-
troyersies over The Louisiana legislative
troubles won him distinction, and he was
reelected to Congress in 1874 by good
majority. go g
Reelected in 1873.
In 1876 he was reelected. In 1877 the
democratic Legislature redistricted him
with a democratic majority that pre-
cluded theyelecticn Of any republican. In
1879 he was nominated and subsequently
elected governor. over Gen. Ewing by
majority Of n geo votes. It was in this
campaign that tie democrats dubbed him
Calico Charlie because he was simply
dry goods merchant.
The. application of the epithet proved to
be boomerang to the opposition and
tended to Increase his majority. In 1881
he was reelected. governor by 5000 ma
jority. Us H 70
In 1889 President Harrison appointed him
chairman OF q commission to, negotiate q
treaty with the Sioux Indians, which was
successful
In 1890 he received the votes of the re-
publican members of the legislature for
United States senator, and the same year
became candidate for Congress He lack
ed only 1914 votes of success in strongly
democratic district.
In 1891 he was appointed by President
Harrison Secretary OF the Treasury, where
he distinguished himself in a very success
full adjustment of the ~ per cent loan
which matured September 1 Of that year.
1t Is recorded that no other finance ofiicer
had ever negotiated a public loan at 80 low
a rate Of interest as 2 per cent.