Goodspeed Foster Entries

“History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries and Osage Counties, Missouri.” was published by The Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  There are a few precious nuggets in there regarding our Fosters that I though I would like to share

Page 466

The first settlement on Grand River was at the Bettie Foster Ford by the Fosters and Anglins. On the Big Tebo were first Adamson Cornwall, Joshua Graham and Cabel Crews. On the Little Tebo were Elias Hughes, Judge John W. Lindsay, one of the Limas, Henry Davis, Andy Bryant, Judge William White, Davis Redd, Adam Neas.

(It is my guess thet “Bettie Foster” is in fact Elizabeth Foster (nee Anglin?), wife of William Foster

Page 469-470

Township 40, Range 23; Nathaniel G. Brown, December 16, 1839, southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 9; James Foster, December 3, 1839, northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 9; William Foster, December 4, 1839, southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 5; David Menice, January 18, 1840, southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 9; John C. and Isaac H. Lusk, November 2, 1839, northeast quarter of Section 25; William H. Huston, December 2, 1839, northwest quarter of Section 24; John Halloway, October 4, 1839, southwest quarter of Section 15; Daniel Martin, November 21, 1839, southeast quarter of Section 14; John B. Wright, in August, 1839, south half of Section 11; William Porter, November 20, 1839, southwest quarter of Section 12; John Stewart, November 20, 1839, southeast quarter of Section 12; John M. Staley, November 20,1839,west half of the north east quarter of Section 12; David L. Hamilton, November 20, 1839, northwest quarter of Section 12.

(Here we see James and William getting settled, along with Nathaniel Brown

Page 475-476

Union Township was cut off the south end of Cole Township June 2, 1840, and at first took in the northeast part of Hickory County and a part of the present Fristoe Township. The first election was at Richard Cates”, on North Prairie, the judges being John McEwin, George W. Rives and Samuel Weaver. Elections were afterward at the houses of James E. Foster, A. F. Doak and Thomas Miles.

(I believe there was another James Foster lurking about in Benton County in 1840.  This is the only reference I have found to a middle initial and I can never place my James in Union Township.  I always find my James in Tom Township

Page 478-479

Circuit Court.-The first term of this court convened at the house of Markham Fristoe-the temporary seat of justice of Benton County-September 10, 1835. Hon. C. H. Allen was the presiding judge, Thomas Jefferson Bishop was appointed clerk and Markham Fristoe, sheriff. The grand jury were impaneled as follows: Hugh M. Doneghe, Stephen A. Howser, Patterson Russell, John Roberts, Sympkin Harryman, David Nave, Meshac Willis, John Graham, Sr., David Bridgeformer, Benjamin I. Fry, Maize R. Foster, James Foster, Sr., George Trotter, John Roberts, Ephraim Rippetoe and Daniel Lynn. There is no record of there being any petit jury at this court. There was no need of one, as there was but a single case on the docket, and that not a trial case. It was the ?State, Nathan Newsome prosecuting, vs. John H. Howard; recognisance to keep the peace.? A motion was made to dismiss the order requiring bonds in this case. The motion was entered the first day and overruled the next, and the court adjourned “till court in course.” The grand jury returned one indictment, and it had reference to a similar offense to the case against Howard-bad blood between citizens. This first term of the court and the total business before it may be construed as some indication of the spirit of the times, when men would quarrel and fight upon even the most trivial provocations. Particularly is this so when the records are observed and it is seen that for the next few years the Howard-Newsome imbroglio waged and grew until the records of the court are burdened with their appeals to the law to avenge their mutual wrongs or grievances. As the records are followed one can indistinctly trace the growth of this feud, until it has gathered in its partisans or clans on the respective sides, when neighborhoods became involved. Newsome was, it seems, most successful in getting indictments against his enemies, and at the September term, 1839, it is noticeable that John H. Howard, David Rutledge, Samuel Isbell and Samuel Frost are all under indictment for acts of violence against the public peace. Then Howard was indicted for “bigamy and licentiousness.” Thus, indictments and trials and acquittals are the regular routine so far as Howard is concerned. The nature of the law cases growing out of the Newsome-Howard feud would indicate that the latter was the handiest in acts of personal violence. Many people, it is said, some of the most prominent in the county, in time were drawn into and took sides in the affair. A natural culmination to all this was many broils and fights and some bloodshed.

(My favorite entry.  No doubt about Maize being in Benton County.  But how does he fit in . .

Page 492

MEXICAN WAR.

The most noted military man in the early times of Benton ”County was Capt. John Halloway. He came in 1832 from Illinois, and had served there in the Black Hawk War. He was looked to as the leader in all the military affairs of a people not very loath to fight on occasions. When the Turk-Jones, or “° Slicker War,” was going on, Capt. Halloway commanded the militia when they were called out. When the Mexican War broke out he raised a Benton County company in the summer of 1846, and with it marched across the plains, under Gen. Sterling Price, to New Mexico. The lieutenants in his company were William Smith, James M. Alexander and R. D. Foster. Only five of this company are survivors living now in Benton County: Judge Joseph Monroe, John H. Purnell, David E. Hedgepath, Isaac Halloway and Hiram M. Fewell. In other counties survivors are known to be: Jesse Pridgeon, Henry County, and George M. Alexander, Polk County. The widows of James Smart and Charles Wickliff are living in Benton County.

(Can”t place R.D)

Page 498

In the Eighth Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, Company F, captains, Richard H. Melton, William W. Owens, C. C. Owens and John R. Foster; first lieutenant, John L. Halloway; second lieutenant, William Kidwell, were Cole Camp and Warsaw

(John R. either)