Wm. Foster

The History of Spartabunburg Coutny
BY Dr. J.B.O. Landrum

Descendents of William Foster and Thomas James

William (Major Billie) Foster, married Mary Ann Jones James (widow of Thomas James, who died 1779 in the Revolutionary War).

CHAPTER XXI
THE FOSTER FAMILY
Decendants of William Foster and Thomas James.
William Foster (or Major Billie, as he was called) moved from Amelia County, Va., to South Carolina in 1791 and settled a mile or so east of the Mount Zion Church (near Fort Prince) in Spartanburg District. The plantation on which he settled has never departed from the Foster family; it is now owned by Mr. Ed Foster.

He acquired the title major by reason of the fact that he held that title in the American army during the Revolutionary War. He married before the close of the Revolution to Mrs. Mary Ann James, relict of Thomas James, who fills a soldier's grave on the battlefield of Stono, S. C., fought in 1779. Her maiden name was Jones, a sister of Harrison Jones, who lost a leg at the battle of Guilford Courthouse, N. C. She had one son, John James, by her first husband, and James, Elijah, Moses, Garland and Calvin by the second husband. She had three daughters, viz.: Annie Young, Maiden Smith and Sallie Chapman (wife of Beverly Chapman). These have long since passed "over the river."

James Foster was the only one of the sons that acquired a superior English education, and was for many years the best teacher of the section of country in which he lived; he was proverbial as the best arithmetician of the county. He studied the classics one year under Mr. Gilliland, in which time he read Virgil, Ovid and other authors; but he never taught them, as there was but little demand in those days for higher education.

James Foster taught school in Abbeville County, SC, on the Saluda River, for the period of three years, and at the breaking out of the war of 1812 he volunteered and went to Charleston, where he remained until the close of the war. After this he married Ann Turner in the year 1814 and settled on the waters of the Pacolet River, where he died in 1863, in the 77th year of his age. By his marriage with Ann Turner he raised a family of seven children, viz: Jane H., with of _____ Turner; Hannah M. wife of Rev. Bryant Bonner; Thomas Foster, William M. Foster (Major), James T. Foster, Jones W. Foster, and Mary H., wife of W. J. McDowell, Esq. Five of these still live.

Rev. William M. Foster, one of the sons above mentioned (familiarly known as Major Bill), is a native of Spartanburg County. He was born July 28th, 1825. His father being an educated man and an excellent instructor in the schoolroom, he obtained a fair English and classical education, and was himself a successful teacher for a number of years.

Being a young man of bright promise and more than ordinary intelligence, his name was announced by his friends in 1858 as a candidate for the legislature to represent his native district. Being a captivating speaker and well posted on all the issues of the day, his popularity soon spread abroad and he was elected along with other popular candidates of that period. His colleagues were O. E. Edwards, B. F. Kilgore, J. W. Miller and James Farrow. He was again elected in 1860 and 1862, which terms covered almost the entire period of the civil war.

But in a few months after the outbreak of the civil war between the States he raised a company of young men for the Confederate service and was chosen as its captain. This company became Co. C, 9th Regt., S.C.V., commanded by Col. J. D. Blanding. At the reorganization of the South Carolina troops in Virginia, Captain Foster was elected major of the 5th Regt., S.C.V., which office he held unitl the end of the war.

After he had reached the age of fifty years an over-ruling Providence opened the eyes of his understanding. He began to work for the Master from the day of his conversion, and connected himself with the Baptist church at Cherokee Springs. Having impressions to preach he was soon afterwards ordained to the Gospel ministry, and has to the present time been a faithful worker in the Master's cause.

In the year 1887 he was chosen to take charge of the People's High School at West's Springs, Union County, S.C., and later he was elected commissioner for said county, and served with efficiency for two years.

Returning to his native county he was again honored with a seat in the State legislature in 1890, and served in this capacity for one or two terms. He has now retired from public life, being well advanced in years, though well preserved. He is now devoting much of his time to writing and publishing, through the county press, poetry in verse, which in course of time will be collected and compiled and which will reflect additional credit to his excellent character and intellectual abilities which he has so well sustained throughout his entire life.

Besides James Foster (son of Major Billie), whose character we have already reviewed, the other brothers to whom we have referred, viz.: Jones, Elijah, Moses, Garland and Calvin, also claim our attention.

Of these, Elijah removed to Tennessee. Calvin, a very promising young man, died in the city of Philadelphia, where he was attending medical lectures. Jones and Moses (called Pacolet Moses) resided on the Pacolets (rivers). William H. Foster on the South Pacolet, and Mrs. Polly Younger, at New Prospect, are the surviving children of Jones Foster. Among the children of Moses Foster were William H. Sr., John and Mrs. Hunter. Garland Foster resided on the plantation where his father settled, which is as stated, the present home of Mr. Ed Foster. He married Miss Moss, by whom he raised a large and respectable family of sons and daughters, all of whom have either died or emigrated to Texas, except Mr. Calvin Foster, near Campton, S.C., Mrs. J. W. Simpson of Pendleton, S. C., and Mrs. Mary Foster, who married James Foster.

These brothers were all good and substantial citizens, "whose word was their bond." Garland Foster was for a long number of years a deacon of Mount Zion church, and was exemplary in his walk as a Christian throughout his life.

John James, only son of Mrs Mary Ann Jones by her first marriage, and stepson of Major Billie Foster, was born in Appomattox County, Va. He came with his father to South Carolina when a boy only ten years old. When he reached his majority he returned to Virginia and farmed on his lands there, but eventually sold his possessions there and returned to South Carolina and settled near his mother. He was a prosperous and successful farmer and accumulated property. He married Miss Jane Anderson Turner, a niece of Major Billie Foster, who was born in Clarke County, Ga. Her parents were Virginians. The bride was only seventeen years old at the time of the marriage, and the husband only lived two weeks afterwards.

As a result of this marriage a daughter, Mary Turner James, was born November 28th, 1805, a bright and beautiful girl, who subsequently became the wife of Dr.Thomas Austin, a highly respected citizen of Greenville County, S. C., a physician of eminence in his day and a soldier of the war of 1812. The present surviving children of Dr. Austin, including Hon. Thomas W. Austin of Greenville, and sister, Mrs. Mary R. Smith and family, near Roebuck, S.C., are the descendants of John and Jane A. James.

The writer, in his boyhood, lived a near neighbor and enjoyed a pleasant acquaintance with Mrs. James. He was oftentimes the recipient of her kind hospitality, and had an opportunity to become acquainted with her excellent traits of character. Bereft of her husband in two weeks after her marriage, and only at the age of seventeen years, with the great battle of life before her, she proved herself to be equal to the emergency. Owning at the time a valuable negro property, she possessed an indomitable will, was excellent in management, possessing, as she did, splendid judgment. Being of a superior mind, she was fond of reading, and had a remarkable memory. She was kind and hospitable in her home, and enjoyed having young people visit her. She was good to the poor and devoted to the church and loved to have the ministers of the Gospel visit her. At the time of her death she was a member of Mount Zion church, and sleeps in the cemetery near by. She died at the age of seventy-three years.