Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-22

the business until the summer Of 1914
when he was forced to retire owing to
failing health. He had been a resident
OF Ottumwa since 1877 at which time
the packing business was established
here.
Mr.. Foster has been married twice.
His first wife was Eliza M. Thompson,
daughter Of William s. Thompson of
Brooklyn, N. Y. The wedding occurring
October 3, 1879. Following her death
which took place in 1879 he married
August 10, 1885 at Washington, Pa,
Eliza Jane McClelland.
He Is survived by his widow, Eliza
Jane Foster and the following
children; William H. T. Foster and
George McC. Foster of Sioux Falls,
South Dakota; T. Henry Foster, Ellen
M. Foster, Florence D. Foster, John M.
Foster of Ottumwa; Mrs. d. M. Murray
of Tsu, Japan; Mrs. H. S. Huntington
of WATERFOWL, N. Y. Preceding him In
death were daughter, Mrs. John G.
Horned of Austin, MINI, and son
Robert H. Foster.
Had An Active Career.
Few men who have lived in Ottum-
wa have been SO closely identified with
the business and civic life Of the COM
munity as had T. D. Foster. Head of
the biggest industry in this section of
the state for more than third Of q
century and the largest individual em-
ployer of labor in these parts during
that time, he has become known to a
wide circle not only locally but
through his business and other activi-
ties in all parts of the state and many
parts Of the country generally. His
business connections made him wide
ly known especially among the big
packing interests of the country and
abroad, his firm being perhaps the old
est packing concern in existence today
having been founded some four score
years ago In England. No local indus
try has been more closely identified
with the growth and general life Of OF.
tumwa than has been the Morrell com.
pany at whose head he has been since
Its coming here In 1877 The growth
and expansion Of this business under
the guidance and direction of +. d.
Foster has made 1t rank with the big
ger industries of Iowa and the west
and has made the firm one of the big
gest II not the largest individual pork
packing concerns in the United States.
Despite the great demands made up
on his time and energies by his bust
ness, Mr.. Foster always found time to
take an active and often the leading
part In anything that was advanced or
promoted with the view of improving
Ottumwa In any way. No industrial,
commercial or civic improvement has
been started In Ottumwa in which Mr..
Foster did not have part until his
failing health precluded his active
work for such causes. The CONNER
cial association knew his position to-
ward all public advancement and his
active membership in the association
was noticeable by his willingness and
zeal in working on any proposition
that this body had underway.
Liberal With Aid.
Business did not take all of his time
as Is we'll known by church and educa.
tional institutions not only Of Ottum'
wa but the state generally. The Y. M
G. A., was especially favored by this
active mans work and his efforts In
behalf Of the work of this organize
ton was evidenced many times in div
CID WdyS. "A lACIDGl uuIlAS ul1 TX
existence and for twenty-five years the
president and moving spirit of the 10
cal Y. M. C. A., he was also one of Its
directors and none took more active
part in it's work. He gave to it gener
ously in financial aid and could be
found on hand at every important
meeting of the association. Local
churches and colleges in Iowa towns
have known his help in many ways.
One of these, Lenox college at Hop
kinton in 1906 honored him with the
degree of LII. d., and he was mem.
Der Of the trustees of Parsons college
of Fairfield. His philanthropies were
numerous but unostentatious.
Prominent In Y. M. c. A..
In speaking of Mr.. Fosters connec.
ton with the Y. NJ G. A., the board
of directors gathered the following
data on the deceased mans connec-
ton with the institution.
On July 10, 1887, mass meeting
was held at t. D. Fosters residence
for the purpose of discussing the advis.
ability Of having such an organization
On August %, 1887, an organization
was affected and board elected. OF
this number now, with the passing OF
Mr. Foster, only Chris Haw remains
On August 26 of that same year Mr.
Foster was elected president OF the
board of directors. The contract fol
the new building was let on March ~
1891. On December %, 1901, the land
for the new gymnasium was acquired
The DECEASED was for twenty-sever
years the president of the associa
ton, was a member of the state board
nf tho V M @ and the intArna