Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-22
Thomas D. Foster Dies at
Home After an Illness
Of One Year
HEAD OF WELL KNOWN
PACKING COMPANY.
Resident of OttumWa Since
1877; Funeral Will Be
Held Thursday

Thomas D. Foster died this morning
at 4:3O o'clock after an illness of about
one year, at his residence, Fifth and
Market streets, aged 81 years.
The remains will lie in state at the
Foster residence Wednesday after
noon and evening in order that the
many friends and acquaintance may
view the body.
The funeral which will be private,
will be held from the residence Thurs
day. The funeral services which thus
far have not been fully arranged for,
will be participated In by the pastors
of the East End, and First Presbyter-
ian churches, Rev. Carl A. Montanus
and Rev. c. D. Jacobs; Rev. r. Ames
Montgomery of st. Louis, former pas
tor of the First Presbyterian church,
and Rev. w. H. HORNED of Wichita,
Kan, former pastor of the East End
Presbyterian church, of which the de-
cedent was member. 1t Is requested
that no flowers be sent.
Plants to Close Thursday.
The packing plant will be closed all
day Thursday and all Of the branch
houses of the firm will also be closed
for the day. The Liverpool branch
was cabled this morning and it too,
will observe the day of the funeral
with the same mark OF respect paid by
the various interests of the company
which has packing plant IN Sioux
Falls, S. D., and branches in all of the
important cities of the country both
east, west and south.
The death of Mr. Foster while not
unexpected, was a profound shock to
his legion of friends and acquaint-
ances. His condition has been known
to be very grave for some time past
but his friends and family held out
hopes of ultimate recovery until the
end was known to be near. His i'll
ness dates from about year ago when
he was forced to give up active man
agement of the huge business that he
built up in this country and especially
in this community. Constant activity
in the direction of the company's mul-
titude of affairs with which he was
engaged early and late and every day,
often taking him on long and arduous
Journeys both in this country and
abroad, eventually told upon MS
strength making rest imperative.
When the collapse came he never fully
recovered and for many months has
fought an uphill battle against the in
evitable.
Winter In Florida.
The best of medical care and atten-
tion at home in Chicago and at
Miami. Fla, where during the winter
he had gone to recuperate, failed to
bring back the vitality that had been
spent. Since returning to OttumWa
he received every care and attention
but his condition was seen to get
graver during the past week and the
end was seen to be not far of.
Started to Work at is Years.
Thomas D. Foster was born in Brad
ford. Yorkshire, England, November
I25, 1s47. His father was William Eos
ter. mother Mary (MorrelD Foster. His
education was acquired in the public
schools of England and Ireland, leav-
ing school at the age of 16 to assist his
father then employed by the firm OF
John Morrell & Co., at Castlecomer,
in the county of Kilkenny, Ireland.
alter he was for three years In the
firms employ at Liverpool and in 1868
was transferred to the company's of11ce
in New York City. In 1872 he became
general manager of the firms business
for the United States and Canada. In
Nav 1893 he was elected Chairman OF
John Morrell & Co., Ltd, which posi-
tion he held at the time of his death.
He was active in the management OF