The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-29
DR. J. H. FOSTER DIES
 AT OLD HOMESTEAD
ONE OF TuscALoosAs BEST Lov- ED CITIZENS IS NO MoRE-BY DEATH ALABAMA LOSES PRoMI- NEWT EDUCATOR.

Tuscaloosa. February 2s.-(Special )-Dr. Joshua Hill Foster one of the most prom inent and best beloved citizens of Tus- caloosa county and the state, died this morning at his home on Crescent City avenue after lingering illness of pneu- monia. Dr. Foster was born in Tusca- loosa county, nine miles south of Tus- caloosa, at Fosters, Ala, on St. Patricks day, March IT, 1S19 His parents came from Augusta, Ga., and were among the pioneers of Alabama. His early life was spent on his fathers plantation, where he received his early education. He en- tered the University of Alabama in 1885 and was graduated in 1853. He was the last survivor of his class and next to the oldest alumnus of the university, his double first cousin, Col J. Collier Foster being the oldest alumnus.
 In the death of Dr. Foster Alabama looses one of its most prominent educa- tors. He was professor of mathematics at the University of Alabama from 1S41 to 1sH and again trom 1s49 to 1850. He was professor of moral philosophy from 1873 to 1875. He was professor of natural phil osophy and astronomy from 1877 to 1892. He has been president of the board of trustees of the Alabama Central Female college since it's organization, was CO., principal of same from 1869 to 1871 and president of same from 1871 to 1872. He was pastor of the First Baptist church at Tuscaloosa from 1853 to 1854 and for great number of years has been presi- dent of the board of trustees of the church and has been a pillar of the church for more than half a century.
 He was also pastor of the Northport Baptist church and several surrounding .t... was one of the founders of the Southern Baptist convention and the Alabama state convention. He was twice married, first to Lucy B. Bllingslea in 1S43. From this union one child survives, Mrs. J. S. Dill of Bessemer. He was married to Frances Cornelia Bacon in 1853. who survives him together with the following children: Miss Ellen Foster, Judge Henry B. Eos ter Dr. Joshua H. Poster, Jr., pastor of the Baptist church at Anniston, Prof. Sumner B. Foster of Baylor university, Texas, Prof. C. c. Foster of Beaumont, Tex, Prof Edward Foster of the Univer- sity of Alabama.
 The funeral will be held tomorrow morning at Il o'clock at the First Baptist church.
  the soil of Perry county for the produc- ton of Cuban or filler tobacco. MT. Greer is the happy possessor of a beau tiful little farm just on the outskirts of Marion and here he planted three acres in this tobacco. The yield was bountiful for a beginning and he has just been noti- fled by the government that the product of his farm thus far tested assays 65 per cent of the purest Cuban tobacco.
 Cost Is Much Less.
 When we take into consideration the fact that MT. Greer's farm produces tobacco at a cost much less than the custom duty on the Cuban leaf. we can understand how strongly he has demon strated the value of this soil and climate as a field for investment and enterprise along this line.
 A letter from Marion would be in- complete without reference to her splen- did educational institutions, for this is truly an educational center. The public school system here is said to be the best in the south, organized under the Ogden plan. The county Is devided into school districts the city included, and all dis tricts are under the management of the county superintendent of education. who devotes his whole time to the work
 Each school has its principal and the system is working most successfully Perry county is very proud of her public school system, and justly so. Then Ma rion Is the seat of the famous "Judson" Alabamas great Baptist Female college with its magnificent buildings, grounds and general equipment; and an enrolment of 270 young ladies under the superb management of the Rev. Dr. P. G. Pat rick and splendid faculty.
 In Charge of Founder.
 The Marion Military institute is still under charge of it's founder, Colonel Mur- fee, and his two sons, than whom there .as. boys and young men better fitted or more in the splendid work they have chosen. They have an enrolment this session of about 13o. and the student body is one of remarkable promise. The facul- ty is large and strong.
 The Marion seminary, the fourth oldest chartered female college in the world, Is also located here, and has an enroll ment of about 80 young ladies. The sem mary is a Methodist school and is doing a splendid work.
 The churches of Marion-Baptist, Meth odist and Presbyterian. are among the largest and most prominent in the state The Episcopalians also have f1ourishing church here.
 Marion has the dispensary law in full force, and there seems to be, general sat at its workings. The writer is that it yields profit to the city of about s10,000 per annum, all of which goes to the support of the city government the improvement of streets and to the public school fund