The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1914-04-10

couple crossed the mountains to Pittsburgh, a
distance of nearly three hundred miles, on horse
back. The elder Foster was substantial bust
ness man. He purchased a large tract Of land,
then outside Of Pittsburgh, but now part of the
city, which he named Lawrencevie in honor of
Captain James Lawrence of Don't give up the
ship" fame. During the War Of 1872 when
Washington had been burned by the British and
New Orleans was threatened, urgent orders came
to Pittsburgh for supplies for Jackson's band of
defenders, but no money accompanied the orders.
Foster nevertheless shipped the supplies, which
reached Jackson in the nick of time. But the
Government never settled for them, and the
judgment which Foster recovered still stands
unsatisfed on the records of the United States
Court at Pittsburgh. His patriotism, however,
undimnshed, he donated piece of ground in
Lawrenceville for a soldiers burial place.
monument marks the site.
OF William Barclay Fosters children, Nor
rison Foster died as recently as 1904. He was
man of means Another son, William Foster,
was the first vice-presdent of the Pennsylvania
Railroad; daughter married Rev. Edward
Buchanan, brother Of President Buchanan, and
her daughter is the wife Of the president of one
of the great railway systems of the United States.
Henrietta Crossman, the actress, whose full name
is Henrietta Foster Crossman, is another direct
descendant She is grandniece of Stephen Col
Inns Foster. These are all interesting facts, as
they show that Foster of gentle birth, which
explains the delicacy and refinement which give
his melodies much of their charm. Moreover,
there was no reason why he should not have
spent very happy life save that he became a
slave to drink, SO that he died in want in New
York hospital and came to burial as an
identified pauper in the potters field.
On July 4, 1926, while the semi-centennial of
American independence was being celebrated on
the Foster grounds at Lawrenceville (now part
of Pittsburgh, Stephen Collins Foster was born
1t is said that when Foster was but two years
old he used his sisters guitar a plaything and
that at the age of eight he taught himself the
flute, and later the piano. His first composition
to be publicly performed was a waltz, the
"Tioga," which he wrote for four flutes, and
played with three Of his fellow students at the
commencement Of the Athens (Pa) Academy,
where it was received with great applause. His
first published song, written and composed when
he was sixteen, was open Thy Lattice, Love-"
When he was nineteen he formed singing club
among the young men of his acquaintance, which
met twice week at his fathers house, and he
conducted He soon began composing songs
for this club, the first being "The Louisiana
Belle" A week later he wrote one of his best
known songs, Uncle Ned" and in which his
happy faculty of expression is very prominent.
Together with "Old Folks at Home" and my
Old Kentucky Home" his most familiar COM
positions are: Beautiful Dreamer" Come
Where My Love Lies Dreaming" Don't Bet
Your Money on the Shanhhai," Gentle Annie"
"Gwine to Run All Night" Hard Times Come
Again No More" 81 See Her Still in My
Dreams" Jenny June" Laura Lee" Louisiana
Belle" "Massas In De Cold Ground" NELLY
Was Lady" Nelly Bly," sold Dog Tray"
"Oh. Boys Carry Me Long" "Old Black joe"
ooh Susanna" "Under the Willow She's Sleep