James W. Foster was born in England January 15, 1834 and died at his home in Gray, Iowa, at 12:15 a.m., Sunday March 20. When sixteen years old he emigrated to America, residing in Mercer county Illinois, until 1870 when he moved to Iowa, and in 1880 to Audubon County where he has since lived, spending the last eight years in Gray. Mr. Foster was married about the year 1855 to Miss Sarah E. Raud.

Of fifteen children born to them, eleven are still living. Their names and addresses being as follows: Mrs. Eliza McMurrey and James W. Foster Jr., of Sioux City; William Foster of LeClaire, Iowa; Mrs. Hema Smith, of Audubon; Mrs. Emmaline Lace, Moorehead Kansas; Mrs. Nora Lambert of Rock Island; Mrs. Charlotte Estis, of South Dakota; Mrs. Minnie Probbe and Mrs. Eva Ellis of Eureka, Montana; John H. and Abraham Foster of Manning.

Having lost his companion through death in April 1892. Mr. Foster was married November 1893 to Mrs. Sarah E. Blakesley who survives him.

In September 1862 Mr. Foster responded to the call of his country enlisting in Company H. 126 Illinois, U.S.V. serving with distinction until the regiment was mustered out at the close of the war.

For many years he was an active member of the church but in later years suffered himself to become irregular in church attendance, yet always kindly welcomed the ministers to his home and encouraged his wife in Christian activities. He was a kind husband, and affectionate father, a good neighbor, and faithful friend.

The funeral services were held at the church in Gray Wednesday March 23rd at 2 p.m. Rev. Harvey preached from Matthew 24:44. Appropriate music was rendered by the choir, an honorary escort of old soldiers attended the body to its final resting place in the Cameron Center Cemetery.

There is something very pathetic about the death of these two old men, James Foster and James Crow, for many years they were intimate friends. Mr. Crow boarded with Mr. and Mrs. Foster and at the beginning of his illness Mr. Foster assisted in caring for him but was himself stricken down and preceded by a few hours, his friend to the unseen world. Of them it might be said to each other, they were pleasant in their lives, and their deaths they were not divided.