Mr. Foster was born in a log cabin, on a farm in Seneca Township, near Tiffin, on April 13th,
1828, and came to Fostoria with his parents when but four years of age. The senior Mr. Foster built a double Log house at what is now Tiffin and Main Streets, occupying one part as a residence and
establishing a store in the other. The store was destined to become one of the most important of
the sort in this section of the state and this store, together with real estate investments, formed
the nucleus of the family fortune. In 1867, Foster & Co.'s bank was started, a hardware store was opened and the grain and produce business was established. The store, originally started by Mr. Foster Sr., was continued without interruption until 1888, a period of 56 years.
Like many other of this generation, Mr. Foster became a man of extensive knowledge with very
limited opportunities for schooling. He received his preliminary education in the log school house
presided over by the late Hon. Warren Noble of Tiffin, and at the age of 12 entered an academy
at Norwalk. His stay there was limited to about nine months, illness in the family necessitating his
return home to assist with work in his father's store. He assumed the duties of manager at the age of 15 and became a partner three years later.
Much has been said about the early life of this, the most illustrious citizen of
Fostoria, a worthy son of a worthy father. After his marriage to Annie Olmsted, two
daughters were born to them, Jessie and Annie. During the Civil War, Charles, Jr.
remained in Fostoria, attending to the duties of the growing store and politics, his
Democratic rivals twitted him about this, saying that while other men fought for the
country, he remained safely behind the counter selling calico to the soldiers' wives. But
his friends took up the challenge and calico neckties became the trademark of the
followers of "Calico Charlie."
Mr. Foster was Fostoria's first treasurer and held other local offices, but was first a candidate for
an important office in 1870 when he was induced to make the race for congress and defeated
Edward F. Dickinson who had previously been elected by over 1,600 votes.
He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Ninth District.
After the state was redistricted, he was re-elected for three more successive two-year terms from the 10th District, serving from 1870 to 1879. While he was in the House, he cast the only Republican vote to set up the Electoral Commission which was to decide the contested Hayes-Tilden Election of 1876.
He later served as Chairman of the Sub-committee which visited New Orleans to decide
the contest in Louisiana. Hayes was elected by one vote, although Tilden had a popular
plurality of 250,000 votes. He failed to be elected to the U.S. Senate in 1880, the election
of Senators at that time being in the hands of the General Assembly.
During his first gubernatorial race, the Democrats first dubbed him "Calico Charlie". the idea
being to ridicule the pretensions of a simple merchant, but the sobriquet proved a veritable
boomerang. Calico was used for badges towards the end of the campaign and this material was
used instead of paper in printing many Republican newspapers.
In 1880, he became the Republican candidate for Governor of Ohio, and was elected. He served with distinction and was re-elected to a second term, serving from 1880 to 1884. He was out
of office for several years, but in 1891, he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury of the
U.S. by President Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893). He also served as Chairman of a
commission appointed by President Harrison to negotiate a treaty with the Sioux Indians
of the West, which he did successfully.
A letter written by Horace Greeley to the Hon. James G.Blaine, the speaker of the house at the
time, stated that "A man who could carry his district as had Mr. Foster, must possess power and
ability entitling him to places on committees not usually accorded to new men."
Janet Kay Ebersole's relationship to Gov. Charles W. Foster
Her third cousin three times removed was Dr. Alvin Edgar Ebersole. He married Clara Jane Skinner, daughter of Morris P Skinner.
Clara Jane Skinner's step-sister Margaret Skinner was married to
Charles Olmstead, son of Judge Jesse Smith Olmsted.
Charles Olmsted's sister was Annie Maria Olmstead who married
Gov. Charles W. Foster.
1. Charles W FOSTER (b.11 Nov 1800-North Braintree,Worchester Co.,Massachusetts d.26 Apr 1883-Fostoria,Seneca Co.,Ohio)
sp: Laura CROCKER (b.8 Mar 1804-New York m.7 Jun 1827 d.17 Jan 1903-Fostoria,Ohio)
|-2. Gov. Charles W FOSTER (b.12 Apr 1828-Tiffin,Seneca Co.,Ohio d.9 Jan 1904-Fostoria,Seneca Co.,Ohio)
| sp: Annie Maria OLMSTED (b.28 Aug 1827-Ohio m.7 Nov 1853 d.18 Nov 1916-Fostoria,Ohio)
| |-3. Jesse FOSTER (b.1859-Fostoria,Seneca Co.,Ohio)
| | sp: Dr. Park L MYERS (b.28 May 1860-Fostoria,Louden Twp.,Seneca Co.,Ohio m.Aft 1880)
| +-3. Anna FOSTER (b.25 Oct 1861-Fostoria,Seneca Co.,Ohio d.27 Mar 1917-Fostoria,Seneca Co.,Ohio)
|-2. Emily FOSTER (b.3 Sep 1829 d.23 Nov 1854-Fostoria,Ohio)
|-2. John W FOSTER (b.15 Sep 1833 d.5 Nov 1854-Fostoria,Ohio)
|-2. Laura FOSTER
|-2. Lucy FOSTER (b.1839-Fostoria,Ohio d.30 Jun 1842-Fostoria,Ohio)
+-2. Mary FOSTER