Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of Mason County, Michigan H. R. Page & Co., Chicago; 1882 -21- PIONEERS OF 1866 LUTHER H. FOSTER. - Probably no event has ever occurred in Ludington which produced such a profound sensation as did the assassination of LUTHER H. FOSTER, by a burglar, on the morn- ing of the 20th of June, 1876. The burglar had effected an entrance to Mr. FOSTER'S house, and awakened that gentleman, who pursued him to the street, when the burglar shot him dead. LUTHER HALL FOSTER descended from parentage who, like him- self, possessed great moral worth. He was born at East Machias, Washington Co., Me., May 31, 1827. At the early age of three years his practical education was begun, in a kindergarten school of great excellence. In the course of time he attended the public schools and academy until the age of seventeen years. In mathematical and mechanical studies he was especially dis- tinguished. His father was an accomplished musician, and LUTHER early commenced the study of music. When about eighteen years of age, he purchased a reed instrument called a seraphine, which is still preserved in the home of his family. He was successful in his musical studies, and attained a high degree of proficiency. He early developed a taste for select reading, and to the end of his life was a great reader of standard works. In 1851 he went to Ridgeway, Pa., with his brother EDWARD, to engage in lumbering interests, which business he followed to the time of his death. In 1854 he removed to Oshkosh, Wis., and for three years was chief manager of extensive lumbering interests. On the 25th of May, 1855, he was married to Miss LUCY SCHRAM, in Camden, Oneida Co., N.Y. They went at once to Oshkosh. While at that place he became a member of the Presbyterian Church, and at once took a prominent part in religious affairs. From Osh- kosh he went to Stiles, Wis., where he was foreman of the exten- sive lumber mills of Eldred & Baloom. In 1864 he removed to Muskegon, Mich., where he was employed in the lumbering interests of Eldred & Farr. In November, 1866, he came to Ludington, then Pere Marquette. His journey here was made in a small sail vessel. This place was then a wilderness, except a small area about the mill. Mr. FOSTER came here to superintend the lumber interests of JAMES LUDINGTON. Mr. FOSTER'S keen business sagacity and busy brain soon formu- lated a plan for the development of the vast lumber and real es- tate interests here, and when his plans were matured, he laid them before Mr. D. L. FILER, and the ultimate result was the organization, in 1869, of the Pere Marquette Lumber Company, with a capital of $500,000. Mr. FOSTER was secretary of the company until his death, and his energy and clear brain had much to do with the early prosperity of the company and growth of the village. Mr. and Mrs. FOSTER, with their two children and three others, organized the first Sabbath-school in Ludington, and until his death he was a leading worker in the Sabbath schools. In 1870 he assisted to organize a Congregational Church, and was active in its support until 1874, when the Presbyterian Church was organized, and he united with that society. He was a man of great courage, which never faltered through all the hardships of business trials, and his integrity never suffered during all his business career. He was prompt and deter- mined in his decisions, earnest and resolute in all that he did, and his liberal heart and active hands were the benefactors of every good enterprise. Stricken down by the ruthless hand of an assassin, in the full vigor of life, the bereavement was doubly severe. His death was mourned by the entire community. At a regular meeting of the City Council, held July 3, follow- ing his death, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: "WHEREAS, In the inscrutable way of Providence, LUTHER H. FOSTER, one of our oldest and most valued citizens, has been stricken down by the hand of an assassin, and WHEREAS, Heroic courage in defense of his dear ones has added its tragic weight to his many peaceful virtues at the expense of his own existence; Resolved, That is is the sense of this council that LUTHER H. FOSTER was a wise, generous, faithful, gallant, Christian gentle- man, a benfactor of individuals, and one of the greatest bene- factors of the city of Ludington, a father to make his sons proud, and to secure them the esteem of this community, a husband to secure for his widow the loving condolence of every citizen, and as a tribute to his memory, we ever stand ready to engraft these sentiments in marble over his tomb." Soon after coming to Ludington, Mr. FOSTER built an elegant residence opposite the Lumber Company's store, which his widow and two sons still continue to occupy. ===========================================================================