Benton County ArArchives Biographies.....Foster, William D. 
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Source: See Full Citation
Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

WILLIAM D. FOSTER, M. D.
     In 1900 Dr. William D. Foster retired from the active practice of medicine
and he is now serving as postmaster of the little city of Gravette, his services
in this connection being of the highest character. He is a native son of
Arkansas, his birth having occurred at Pea Ridge on the 12th of November, 1853.
His father, George R. Foster, was a prominent agriculturist who came to this
state in 1842 and resided here until 1905, when his demise occurred at the age
of eighty-five years. He was born in Bedford county, Tennessee, in 1820. and was
the son of Thomas Foster, who is also buried in Pea Ridge. A contemporary writer
says of Thomas Foster: "Thomas Foster was the head of the delegation of Fosters
who set out with ox-teams to make the journey from Bedford county to Arkansas,
coming by way of St. Louis to Arkansas and casting anchor, so to speak, at Pea
Ridge. Arkansas, afterward (in 1862) made famous as the battle ground of the
Federal and Confederate forces. The Foster settlement proved a permanent one.
and it gave Benton county a family name which has been perpetuated here during
the succeeding generations."

     George R. Foster, the father of our subject, was a veteran of the Mexican
war, having joined the service from Tennessee when a young man. Upon the
outbreak of the Civil war his sympathies were with the Union, and conditions in
Arkansas were such that he found it necessary to send his family to take refuge
in Union territory. During their absence his property was destroyed by the
invading forces. He had a son, Elias, who died in Kansas at the close of the
war, and his stepson, George Jones, wore the blue in the Sixth Kansas Cavalry,
both offering their lives as a sacrifice that the Union might be preserved. Mr.
Foster married Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, a widow. She was a daughter of George
Parsons. She had a son, George, by her former marriage. and, as before stated,
he died shortly after the war from disabilities received and is buried at Fort
Smith Mrs. Foster's demise occurred in September, 1897, when seventy-seven years
of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Foster the following children were born: Elias; Dr. J.
S., a practicing physician of Seligman, Missouri: Dr. William D., whose name
initiates this review: Jacob Allen, a retired farmer of Sparrow, Oklahoma:
Margaret Heaston, a widow residing in Miami, Oklahoma; Ellen, whose demise
occurred in 1910 in Miami, Oklahoma; Alice, deceased, who was the wife of Rev.
Charles Wade; Edgar, farming the old home place at Pea Ridge and also traveling;
and Mrs. Rettie Tatum, who married George Tatum, a prominent merchant of
Anderson, Missouri.

    In the acquirement of an education Dr. William D. Foster, whose name
initiates this review, is indebted to the public schools of Pea Ridge and to the
college at that place Upon putting his textbooks aside he engaged in teaching
school for a short time, but his choice of a career was given to the medical
profession, and he commenced study under the direction of Dr. A. Chenoweth of
Pineville, Missouri. Later he removed to Exeter, Missouri, where he subsequently
engaged in the drug business, at the same time attending lectures in the Joplin
College of Physicians and Surgeons. In 1881 he removed to Nebo, where he
established an office, and when the railroad caused the establishment of
Gravette he removed to that town. For a period of about twenty years Dr. Foster
was active in professional circles, but he retired from the practice of medicine
in 1900 upon his appointment to the office of postmaster. He was active in that
capacity until June 30, 1914, and the next seven years he followed the real
estate and brokerage business. He achieved a substantial success in that
connection and was well versed in land valuations. On the 18th of June, 1921, he
was again appointed postmaster and assumed the duties of that office, July 1.
1921. Dr. Foster's interests have been varied and for some six years he was
engaged, as a side issue, in thoroughbred horse breeding. He owns several farms
and his efforts are for the most part directed toward the development of race
stock. Dr Foster won distinction as the first importer of fine hogs in the
county, and so many have followed his example as to give Benton county a highly
improved breed of swine. The raising of swine has consequently become a great
profit-making industry for the farmer.

    On the 20th of June, 1882, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Foster and
Miss Mary Hartman, who was born in Pendleton county, West Virginia, in 1858. Her
parents were Abia and Mary (Cassell) Hartman. One daughter, Tallie, was born to
Dr. and Mrs. Foster. She married James P. Sparks and became the mother of
Florence and Clayton Foster Sparks. Mrs. Sparks died 'on the 26th of November,
1905, at Gravette, and her children are being reared in the home of their
grandparents.

    Since attaining his majority Dr. Foster has been a stanch supporter of the
republican party, and a contemporary writer says of him: "Dr. Foster has ever
been known for his political opinions and convictions, and for being a
republican he has no apology to offer, having always given an enthusiastic and
whole-hearted allegiance to the men and measures for which the 'Grand Old Party'
stands sponsor. His first political appointment was in 1891, when he was made
one of the Benton county board of pension examiners. and he was obliged to yield
his position to a democrat when Cleveland entered the White House a second time.
President McKinley restored him to rank again, and he went from examining board
to post office in 1901. He has witnessed the change from a third to a second
class office and bears a commission from President Roosevelt and another from
President Taft." Dr. Foster has been republican state committeeman from Benton
county and has been a member of the county committee, serving for ten years. He
is likewise a member of the Gravette school board, having defeated a democrat
for the place in a democratic territory. He served two years as mayor of the city.

    Socially Dr. Foster finds pleasure and profit in his lodge relations. He is
a Mason, being a member of both the chapter and commandery; an Odd Fellow and
former delegate to the Grand Lodge; and belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He is
a consistent member of the Baptist church of Gravette, and he was a dominant
factor in the organization of that congregation. Dr. Foster believes that every
public office is a public trust and he has won the esteem of the community by
reason of his faithful discharge of all matters of trust and his high standards
of citizenship.



Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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