The History of Foster Ed. by R.M. Bayles

History of Providence County, Vol I & II  Ed. by Richard M. Bayles; W.W. Preston & Co., NY.  1891
CHAPTER XV (pages 626 – 636) 

THE TOWN OF FOSTER. 

Description. — Interesting Localities. — Early Town Meetings. — Statistics. — Town Asylum. — Town Clerks. — Town Officers in 1890. — Mount Hygeia. — First Church in Foster. — Early Business Interests. — Foster Centre. — The Hammond Church. — Hopkins Mills. — Union Chapel. — Creameries. — Moosup Valley. — Foster.

The town of Foster is situated on the extreme western border of the county, some 15 miles from the city of Providence.  It was incorporated with Scituate in 1780, forming the western section of that township up to 1781, when it was set off as a distinct and separate township.  It is bounded on the north by Glocester, on the  east by Scituate, on the south by Coventry and on the west by the towns of Killingly and Sterling in Connecticut.  The town comprises about 50 square miles, having an average breadth from east to west of  about six miles and an average length from north to south of about eight miles.  The greater part of the town is very rugged, being hilly, rocky and broken. In the western section extensive forests abound,  furnishing large supplies of wood.  The land is a gravelly loam and better adapted to grazing than to the production of grain.  The agricultural products consist of corn, rye, oats, hay, potatoes, butter and  cheese. 

The principal stream in the town is the Ponaganset river, which has its source in a pond of the same name, situated in the town of Glocester.  This stream is the principal branch of the Pawtuxet river, which enters into the Providence river, about five miles below the city of Providence. Hemlock brook, a branch of the Ponaganset river, rises in the interior of this township and after many windings, runs easterly into the border of the town of Scituate, where it unites with the Ponaganset. Moosup river, a branch of the Quinebaug, runs  through the western part of the town, passing into Coventry and from thence into Connecticut.  Upon these streams are good sites for factories, mills, etc., but little use has been made of the water power they  furnish.  The town took its name from Theodore Foster, who gave it in consideration a good library, a book case, a record book for the town clerk and a record book for the town treasurer.

The principal places of interest are as follows:

Villages. — Hemlock, Hopkins, Mills, Moosup, Clayville (Foster side). Cook's Store, South Foster, Foster Centre.
Brooks. — Meadow, Bear Tree, Shippee, Hemlock. Rivers. — Moosup (so named from a sachem who was the brother of Miantinomi, sometimes called Pessicus, Ponaganset, Westconnaug, or Westquodnoid, Reservoir.
Hills. — Mt. Hygeia (noted as the residence of Doctor Solomon Drowne), Bennett's, Howard's, Dolly Cole's, Sand, Cranberry, Biscuit. Mills. — Ram Tail Factory (haunted), Major Sam's Grist Mill, now Searles, Yell Mill (Spear's Saw Mill), Olney Walker's Saw Mill. Miscellaneous. — Round's Tavern, Hemlock Swamp, Fenner Woods, Carter Plain, The Money Hole, Witch Hollow, Witch Rocks, Bill Wood's Furnace, Quaker Meeting House. 

The first town meeting in Foster was held November 19th, 1781, at the house of Thomas Hammond. The meeting was organized by the choice of the following officers: John Williams, moderator; John Westcott, town clerk; John Williams, chosen first deputy to represent the town in the next general assembly. November 23d they met pursuant to adjournment and chose the remainder of the town officers, as follows: Enoch Hopkins, town sergeant; Timothy Hopkins, Christopher Colwell, William Tyler, Daniel Cole, Stephen Colgrove and William Howard, town councilmen; Jonathan Hopkins, Jr., town treasurer; Daniel Hopkins, sealer of weights and measures; Enoch Hopkins, vendue master; Jonathan Hopkins, Jr., George Dorrance,  Jr., and Abraham Walker, assessors of rates, and to have their accounts adjusted by the town; John Cole and Josiah Harrington, Jr., collectors of taxes; John Hammond, pound keeper; Joseph Weatherhead, Peter Cook and Daniel Cole, viewers of estates; Josiah Harrington, Jr., and Levi Wade, constables; Peter Cook and Noah Miller, overseers of the poor; Peter Cook, John Davis and John Williams were chosen a committee to audit the town treasurer's report.

“Voted. That the surveyors of highways stand as chosen before the division of the town, except Abraham Wilcox, Francis Fuller and John Westcott," who had already been chosen. Peter Cook.  James Seaman and Noah Miller were chosen as fence viewers.  Joseph Davis, Peter Cook and John Cole were chosen a committee to meet a committee appointed by the general assembly, to ascertain the proportion of taxes between the towns of Scituate and Foster.

On Friday, the 27th of November, at the house of Thomas Waterman, in Coventry, "Voted that John Westcott and Jonathan Hopkins be appointed to receive in behalf of the town the case and books given  to said town by Theodore Foster, Esq., and also to return the thanks of said town to Mr. Foster for the same." Reuben Westcott, Luke Phillips, Eleazar Bowen, Peleg Fry, Benjamin Fry, David Hatch and Reuben Blanchard were propounded in order to be voted freemen of said town.  “Voted that this meeting be adjourned until the 7th day of December next, at the house of Thomas Hammond, and that notice be given by the clerk for making a town tax."

At a town meeting holden in the town of Foster, on the 4th of March, 1782, it was voted that Mr. James Seaman “be and is hereby appointed to erect a pair of stocks and whipping post for the use of this town."

The town clerk's office has been in various parts of the town, generally at the house of that officer. The town meetings have been held at Foster Centre.

The population of the town in 1782 was 1,763; in 1790, 2,268; in 1800, 2,450; in 1810, 2,613; in 1820, 2,900; in 1830, 2,672; in 1840, 2,181; in 1860, 1,932; in 1860, 1,935; in 1865, 1,873; in 1870, 1,630; in 1875, 1,543; in 1880, 1,552; in 1885, 1,397. The population at the present time is about 400 less than it was 100 years ago.

From the town treasurer's report, we find the total valuation of real and personal property in 1888 was $580,700; the assessment of 70 cents on every $100 amounting to $4,043.90, besides the delinquent  highway taxes amounting to $104.90.

The public schools receive the bulk of the taxes paid. The appropriation by the town for the year 1887-8 was $1,768.75, and the amount of orders paid was $3,528.50. The following may be of interest.  “Prices of labor on the highway are: For a good able-bodied man, 15 cents per hour; for a good yoke of oxen, 15 cents per hour; for a wagon, cart, plow, drag or ox-shovel, 5 cents per hour. The wages for labor performed in breaking out the highways when encumbered or obstructed with snow: For every good able-bodied man, 10 cents per hour; for a good yoke of oxen, 10 cents per hour."

The town of Foster has always taken good care of its poor. Originally the care of these distressed persons was committed to the lowest bidder, but in 1865 a farm of 100 acres was purchased of David Phillips and wife, and thereafter a more perfect and systematic management was had. This farm was the old Fenner estate. In times past the asylum would have at one time the care of 20 to 30 inmates.  That number has been gradually reduced until only an average of eight persons were there for the year 1888. The largest number at  the asylum for 1888 at one time was ten. Two deaths occurred, those of John Salisbury and David S. Rounds. The principal produce of the farm for the year ending April 1st, 1888, was as follows: 10 tons of hay, 3 tons of oats, 1 ton of swale hay, 2 tons of corn fodder, 100 bushels of ears of field corn, 30 bushels of ears of sweet corn, 165 bushels of potatoes, 6 bushels of shelled beans, 7 bushels of beans in the pod, 125 pounds of dried apples, 8 bushels of cucumbers, 3 bushels of pop corn, 16 barrels of apples, 14 barrels of cider, 16 bushels of French turnips, 3 bushels of beets, 153 pounds of cheese, 257 pounds of butter, 1,675 pounds of pork, 491 pounds of beef, 230 heads of cabbage, 2 loads of pumpkins. Stock on the farm, 5 cows, 2 bulls two  years old, 2 heifers two years old, 1 horse, 4 shoats, 82 hens. Expenses for the year 1888, $413.61.

John Westcott was the first town clerk of Foster, and held the office from 1781 to 1796.  He was succeeded by Nehemiah Angell in 1796, and after him came Daniel Howard in 1803; Daniel Howard, Jr., 1827; Raymond G. Place, 1852; William G. Stone, 1854; George W. Phillips, 1856; Ethan A. Jenks, 1868; George W. Phillips, 1869; Lester Howard, 1882, and Daniel Howard in 1888. Daniel Howard, St., and his son Daniel held the office 49 years.

The principal town officers elected in 1890 are: town clerk, Emory D. Lyon; town council, James W. Phillips, B. O. Angell, William R. Hopkins, Job D. Place, and John W. Round: town treasurer, Ray  Howard; town sergeant, S. A. Winsor; overseer of poor, Leonard Cole.  

Mount Hygeia was first settled by two of the most learned and distinguished men in the state.  Theodore Foster and Solomon Drowne are names not only intimately connected with the history of the town of Foster, but bear honorable place in the historical record of their native state.  Senator Theodore Foster came from Brookfield, Mass., while yet in his teens, and graduated at Rhode Island College in 1770.   He married a sister of the late Governor James Fenner. He was town clerk 12 years, was drawn into the exciting life of a politician, studied and practiced law in Providence, and in 1790 was made United States senator, which office he held till 1803.  In 1800 Mr. Foster, who had great interest in the town which had taken his name, proposed to his friend, Doctor Drowne, to purchase a farm then for sale adjoining his estate, and carry into practice certain cherished ideas of their youthful days.  Doctor Drowne, who had had enough of the West, lent a willing ear. The farm was surveyed, its soil was pronounced good, its situation elevated and eligible, its sylvan scenery charming, and its title was secured.  Doctor Drowne called it Mount Hygeia, after the Greek goddess of health, and wrote a letter composing some verses invoking the favor of that cherished divinity of heathen mythology, and sent it to Mr. Foster at Washington. Mr. Foster caught up the glowing  strain of his friend and penned the following poem:

THE ANTICIPATION OF MOUNT HYGEIA, IN THE TOWN OF FOSTER.

Hail Hygeia! Rhode Island's fairest seat!
Famed Fosteria's highest hill!
Where beauty, love and friendship meet
And rapture's sweetest joys distill

The noblest boast of Narragansett's groves,
In great Miantinomi's day.
Where native chieftains told their softest loves,
And cheerful passed their time away! 

Raptured here we see this wide spreading plain,
Far south o'er beauteous towns extend,
To where Atlantic joins its vast domain.
And where our views in sweet confusion blend.

Cheered by rich Ponaganset's pleasant stream.
We here behold the Muses' haunt;
Where Fosteria's matchless rock is seen,
Sequestered far from meagre want.

Winding up towards Hygeia's healthful height,
See good Browne's rich orchards smile, —
Browne, well informed and wise, here finds delight.
Cultivating the fertile soil.

Worthy Browne! known on Europe's distant shore,
Where he was taught the healing art.
Is famed for greatness here, nor wishes more, —
Wish supreme of an honest heart'.

Browne and Foster, blest friendship here enjoy,
Like Castor and Pollux of old;
Their families, too, in like sweet employ.
Live in bliss in Ganymede told.

Millard,* prudent and good, also dwells nigh,
To both the agreeable friend;
His family, worth and goodness supply.
Partaking the friendship they blend.

Thus good from each is here each from each acquired.
Each studies the other to bless;
Each always helping each, yet never tired,
Nor grows their love of goodness less.

* The Millard referred to in the last stanza but one was the father of Senator Foster's second wife. 

Doctor Solomon Drowne, the eminent botanist, was a warm personal friend of Senator Foster. He graduated three years later from the Rhode Island College, but they roomed together in the old Drowne mansion on Cheapside, Providence, worshipped together in the old First Baptist church, and sustained the most friendly and intimate relations to each other all through life. Science, philosophy and belles-lettres were their delight, and in order to indulge their tastes, they agreed to withdraw, as soon as circumstances would permit, from  places frequented by the multitude, and take up their abode on adjoining farms, where they could have each other's society and pass their days in rural retirement. This led to the settlement of Mount Hygeia by these two distinguished men. Doctor Drowne took up his residence there in 1801, and Mr. Foster at the close of his senatorial career in 1803.

While Doctor Drowne was a successful and popular physician, he cared less for the practice of his profession than for his scientific pursuits, especially for botany, which he taught successfully for many years in Brown University. Mr. Foster was more inclined to history, statistics and general literature.  They remained together till 1820, when Mr. Foster, apparently satiated with rural pleasure, and craving more social intercourse, left Mount Hygeia for a house in Providence, where he died in 1828, leaving as the fruit of his industry a voluminous collection of manuscripts, now in the archives of the State Historical Society.

Doctor Drowne was content to pass his life in the quiet of his study and the circuit of his garden. Surrounded by affectionate and devoted members of his family, he continued his residence at Mount Hygeia until his death in 1834. A portion of his time was taken up with his professional duties in Brown University.  Doctor Drowne also left considerable unpublished manuscript, which some day, together with that of his esteemed friend, may appear in book form.

The honor of establishing and superintending the first Sunday school in the town belongs to the late William Drowne, eldest son of Doctor Solomon Drowne.  William Drowne, aided by his three sisters, afterward carried on three Sunday schools at the same time in different neighborhoods. Senator Foster also took part in the first Sunday school, and has left somewhere statistics in reference to it.

Largely through the influence of Senator Foster a turnpike was projected and built from Providence to Hartford. The part that passes through his farm was made of great width and is called the “Appian  Way."

The Calvinistic Baptists organized the first church in the town of Foster.  The meeting house was built on an elevated acre lot which was given for the purpose by Mr. Barnard Haile, and is now called the “Meeting House Land,” near Hopkins' Mills. This church was soon divided and a Six Principle Baptist church was formed.

In dividing the towns a mistake was made setting off Foster without a share of the town's water privilege and putting it under those peculiar disadvantages for communication with Providence.  This isolation and deprivation of the natural sources of wealth has resulted in a lack of public and individual enterprise. At one time, however, the town exhibited a good deal of thrift and bid fair to become an important commercial center. A bank was established and a few energetic and active citizens attempted to infuse new life into the business interests, but the township was purely agricultural and but little was accomplished either in manufacturing or other pursuits.

Foster Centre is the most central village in the town. It contains a church and a store, is the seat of the town house, and is one of the historic localities of Foster. Probably one of the most noted men in the place was the well known and highly esteemed Doctor Mowry P. Arnold, who practiced medicine in this village and town for 60 years. He was school commissioner for 46 years and town treasurer for 23 years. Doctor Arnold died April 26th, 1890.

Nathaniel Stone came from Cranston and settled in this vicinity in 1786. His daughter, Marcy, mother of George W. Phillips, was about three years old when they came to Foster.  Her brothers and sisters were: Samuel, Nathaniel, Sallie, Lydia, William G., Mary, Daniel, ' Liza and Charles, all of whom, save Samuel, settled in the town.

Angell Sweet came from Glocester to Foster in 1781. He settled in the southwestern part of the town, near the line, where Cyrus Sweet now lives.  Angell Sweet bought the land of David Knight, and the deed is the second one recorded in the town books of Foster.  He married Marcy Fields, Her father lived in the city of Providence, where the Arcade now is, but he was lost at sea, having been knocked off a vessel. The children of Angell and Marcy Sweet were: Marcy, who married Peter Harrington; Lydia, who married Benjamin Harrington; Salome, who married Dean Burgess, and Augustus, who in 1802 married Mary Weaver, and subsequently married Nabby Weaver, her twin sister. By his first wife, Mary Weaver, he had 14 children,  all of whom lived to be married, Mary Ann Phillips, the wife of George W. Phillips, being one of his daughters and the twelfth child. The names of the children were: Arnold W., Waite, Marcy F., John, Angell,  Reuben, Matthew, Hannah B., Abijah B., Cyrus S., who lives on the homestead, Emery, Mary A., Augustus J. and Darius A.

George W. Phillips, above mentioned, and who was for 25 years town clerk of Foster, lives in this village also. His grandfather, Abram Phillips, who died some 60 years ago, settled north of Foster Centre. His sons were: Nathaniel, Lemuel and George A., the last of whom died November 28th, 1858, 78 years old. George A. Phillips married Marcy Stone. Their son, George W., married Mary A. Sweet, January 19th, 1843.

Among other old settlers may be mentioned Nehemiah Angell, who was town clerk from 1796 to 1803 and who kept an early tavern in the village; Ephraim Phillips, father of Thomas C. Phillips: Edward Cole, grandfather of George I. Cole; Elder John Hammond, the father of Colonel Reuben and Henry R. Hammond, whose descendants still live on the same farm; Abram Walker, and his sons Stephen and Abram; Colonel Edwin Walker, whose son Pardon owns the Walker farm now, and the Howard family before mentioned. These settled mostly in and around the village of Foster Centre.

Welcome Rood built a tavern at Foster Centre in 1824.  The lower part of this building is now used for a store, and the upper part years ago was used as a Lodge room, but of late years it has been occupied as the town clerk's office.  In former times there was more business done in the place owing to the greater population and other causes.  The rum traffic was also better then than now, and the place was more of a center for those having bibulous appetites.  Other taverns were kept in the place. Nehemiah Angell built one in an early day.  Eli Aylsworth, now president of one of the banks in Providence, used to keep it. Colonel Reuben Hammond, son of Elder John Hammond, was an early tavern keeper.  John Williams was also engaged in the business at one time.  The old tavern stand was finally occupied by Jeremiah Sheldon and others, but has gone into disuse as a public house.

Probably the first store kept in the village was owned by Welcome Rood. Trading has been carried on in the place for many years.  The store with the tavern finally passed into the hands of Jeremiah Sheldon, and succeeding him came Thomas A. Hopkins, Horace Howard, Andrew Essex, and Thomas Applebee, who sold the property to George W. Phillips in 1874.  Francis Bennett owns the store business at the present time, and Henry W. Bennett is postmaster.

One of the most needed industries of former times was that carried on by blacksmiths and wheelwrights. Then these artisans were of absolute necessity in every village.  The business of wagon making now, the same as much other work done in iron, is accomplished by machinery and on the wholesale plan, reducing the financial feature of the old scheme to a precarious living.  In an early day Colonel Reuben Hammond had a blacksmith shop and made plows, wagons, etc. Abram Angell had a blacksmith and wheelwright shop where Ray Howard is now.  John T. Randall was owner of the premises and owned a furnace. He went away in 1868. George W. Phillips operated the furnace and the foundry, carrying on blacksmithing and carriage making, giving employment to seven or eight hands from 1867 to 1873.  Succeeding him came Orrin T. Kinne, W. A. Stone and Isaac Yaw, who sold to Ray Howard, the present owner.

Foster Centre is one of the oldest religious centers in the town.  Elder John Hammond, of the old school of Baptists, gathered a few of his religious followers together and established the Hammond church in the earlier history of the town. He was an able and zealous teacher and impressed his spirituality upon this people, which produced a lasting and salutary effect.  Elder Hammond was succeeded after several years of a remarkable ministry by Elder James Burlingame, another remarkable minister, who went to his reward  over 60 years ago. Elder Burlingame, when a young man, officiated in Pennsylvania as missionary among the Indians, by whom he was greatly beloved.  In his labors at Foster Centre and at Ashland he gathered quite a church, and during his ministry baptized hundreds of converts. He died at 90 years of age, at which time his hair was jet black. Following Elder Burlingame came Mason B. Hopkins, one of his converts, who labored for this society 40 years ago. A few of the succeeding ministers were John A. Perry, William O. Sweet, Elder Luther and Lester Howard, who was recently succeeded by Elder Bessemer, the present pastor. The present membership of the church is about 90. The deacons are Thomas Phillips and Edson P. Howard. Walter I. Stone is clerk and Daniel N. Paine Sabbath school superintendent.

The old town house was originally the old church building erected by the Baptists over a hundred years ago. It was sold to the town in 1824, but used by the society until the new organization in 1883 was instituted and the present house of worship was built.  Hopkins' Mills is a small hamlet, situated on the Providence and  Danielsonville pike, and contains a store, church, saw and grist mill and a creamery. The place was first settled by Jonathan Hopkins who located here over a hundred years ago and began a clearing in the wilderness. The saw mill and the grist mill were built by Mr. Hopkins, who operated both a number of years. The property was then sold to Esquire William Potter, who ran the mills a few years.  He also owned and operated a fulling mill. He was the father of William Potter, Jr., the grandfather of Herbert A. Potter, who died in 1882, 60 years of age, and the great-grandfather of Mrs. Catherine Baxter, of Hopkins' Mills. The mills next passed into the hands of Ira Winsor, and are now owned by his son, Stanton A. Winsor.

The store now occupied by the Messrs. Curtis at Hopkins' Mills was built by Henry A. Davis about the time of the Dorr war, in 1842.  He kept the place a number of years, and was also postmaster. It was then sold to Alvin H. Shippee, and from him it passed into the hands of Albert and Philip Curtis, the present owners, in 1883. There are two mails a day by stage from Danielsonville and Providence opened here, making this point a central one for the surrounding farmers, who furnish a good patronage to the store.

Pabodie Cole settled in the town before the revolutionary war. He located in the vicinity of Hopkins' Mills. His children were: Ebenezer, Samuel, James, William and Daniel Cole. Daniel Cole died in 1877, aged 73 years. He lived on the place now occupied by Leander Cole. He married Mary Simmons, and their children were: Horace S., Julia, George, Asa, Olney and Mary Ann, nearly all of whom settled in the town of Foster. Horace S. Cole located at his present abode, near Hopkins' Mills, 48 years ago, and has carried on his blacksmithing and wheelwright shop since 1842.

Thomas Simmons was the next neighbor to Daniel Cole. His place is now owned by Lawton Blackmar. Royal Hopkins, Doctors Jonathan Anthony, Jonathan Anthony, 2d, and Mowry P. Arnold all lived a little south of the present residence of Horace S. Cole. Zabin Hopkins lived on the place now owned and occupied by Ora Clemence, while still further north, on the same road, resided Stephen Winsor, another early and prominent settler.

Doctor Jonathan Anthony and his son, Jonathan, Jr., were very prominent physicians in the town. The elder Doctor Anthony has been dead for over 60 years. Doctor Jonathan Anthony, Jr., practiced medicine in the town also 40 or 50 years.

The citizens of Hopkins' Mills and vicinity, feeling the need of a suitable place to worship God, joined together (friends of all denominations contributing) and erected a house in 1871. Since that time ministers of the various creeds have held services in the chapel, and religious meetings have been enjoyed every Sunday. In common with other places, a good Sabbath school is maintained here regularly, Mr. Allen W. Arnold being the present superintendent. Upon the completion of the house, Reverend H. L. Hastings, of Boston, Mass., preached the dedicatory sermon. At the present time Reverends Nelson Luther, of Rockland, Christian Baptist; Henry C. Hopkins, Adventist, of Foster; Joshua F. Hill, of Glocester, Adventist; Jonathan Eldndge, of Glocester, Adventist; also William F. Durfee, preach here at regular stated intervals.

The Ponaganset Creamery is a new enterprise at Hopkins' Mills, built in 1888, and is thoroughly equipped with all the modern appliances for butter making.  Austin C. Ball is butter maker. The company began business April 1st, 1889. They had nineteen patrons, having 100 cows, to begin with, and without difficulty found a ready market for their butter, which proves to be of a very excellent quality.  The new enterprise is meeting with favorable success, and good results are expected.

There is also a creamery at Moosup Valley. The business was established in 1888. The officers of this company are as follows: Clarke H. Johnson, president; Curtis H. Foster, manager; William O. Harrington, vice-president; Silas Griffiths, secretary and treasurer; Charles Bassett, butter maker. The company have erected a building and furnished it with every needed machinery for the successful carrying on of the enterprise, and are meeting with good success. They have a patronage from about 300 cows, and manufacture about 47,000 pounds of butter annually.

There has been trading at Moosup Valley for many years. John Tyler, one of the prominent men of the place, built the store and carried on the business for a long time. Casey B. Tyler then ran it for a long time. About this time John O. Potter opened up a trade about a half mile below and carried on business there for awhile. But the Tyler store continued to be the center, and to such an extent the place was known by the travelling public as "Tyler" instead of Moosup Valley.  George K. Tyler next took the property and owns the house  now. Since that time it has been leased to various parties. Mr. Wheaton Harrington runs the business now.

The Christian church at Moosup Valley was regularly organized in 1888. The house was built, however, about the year 1860. The society at this place formerly worshipped at Rice city, in the town of Coventry, and very frequently held meetings in their own neighborhood.  Many years before any organization took place. Elder Mason B. Hopkins and Elder Kennedy, the present pastor, and several others officiated for them at stated times. Ira S. Brown, one of the pillars of the church, George S. Tillinghast, a deacon for a long time, and Deacon S. K. Foster were among the original promoters of the new society.  The present officers are: Reverend G. W. Kennedy, pastor; J. W. Phillips, clerk; Deacon Tillinghast, treasurer; A. B. Dexter, Sabbath  school superintendent. The society is flourishing.

The hamlet of Foster, in the northern part of the town, has a post office, of which Mr. James Clarke was postmaster from 1832 or 1837 to1883, a period of time covering about half a century. In 1883 Cyrus F. Cook took the office and held the position till 1888, when it passed into the hands of his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth E. Paine.

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