Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers. "An Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties") Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1905. p. 897. JAMES FOSTER is one of the leading citizens of Lake county and is, as well, one of the earliest pioneers of the Summer Lake valley. His residence is eighteen miles northwest of Paisley on the west bank of Summer lake. He was born on July 4, 1827, in Coshocton county, Ohio. His father, Andrew Foster, who fought in the War of 1812, was a native of Virginia and a pioneer to the Willamette valley in 1845. He married Elizabeth Smith, a native of Ireland. They had a family of nine,children and our subject is the only one now living. He crossed the plains with ox teams in 1845, the train coming via the Meek's cut off with Mr. Meek as guide. They came on to the Harney valley and later went where Corvallis is now situated in Benton county, Oregon. Previous to taking this trip across the plains, our subject migrated with his parents from Ohio to Missouri, and from this latter place they started across the plains. His education was received in the various places where the family resided during his youthful days and in 1848, on November 30, he married Elizabeth Currier. She was born in Vermont, on June 18, 1832, and came to Missouri with her parents where they both died. She and her sister, Mrs. A. L. Humphrey, came across the plains to Benton county in 1846. They came via the Goose Lake valley and Rogue river and were the first white women that went through the Cow Creek canyon. They crossed the Missouri river on May 10, arriving in Benton county on December 5. Our subject was engaged in farming and stock raising in the Willamette valley until the spring of 1871, when he moved to the Summer Lake valley, his present place. This has been his home since and for over a third of a century he has been one of the prominent and leading men of Lake county. Very few settlers were in the country when he came and he has seen it grow from the wild to its present state of development, having assisted materially in this transformation. Mr. Foster has always been on the frontier. Ohio was new when he was born there. Before it was much settled he was on the frontier in Missouri. Then they came to the Willamette valley and opened that country and afterwards he was one of the first settlers in Lake county. He has done a noble work as a pioneer, adventurer and frontiersman and is deserving of the esteem and respect which has been accorded to him. To Mr. and Mrs. Foster, the following named children have been born: Lorena, and J. Manley, deceased: John A. and James A., in this valley; Angeline, William H. and Annie E., deceased; Frederick W., of this valley; Marion L., deceased; Elizabeth F. Klippel, of this valley; Luvia S., deceased; Endora Hartin, of Tonopah, Nevada: Aurora A. Walters, of Spokane; Ralph C., of this valley; and Lulu Schmink, of Lakeview. Mr. Foster has always been in the stock business since coming here and now owns a fine band of cattle. He also has one hundred and sixty acres of good hay land which is improved with a large twelve room residence, good stables, four acre orchard and everything needed in the carrying on of his business. He raises all kinds of fruit, as peaches, apricots, apples, pears, plums, prunes, berries, cherries and so forth. Formerly, he made a specialty of raising race horses and raised the noted Oregon Eclipse, which he took to various places in the west and also to Chicago. He sold him for seven thousand dollars. He owned his half brother, Hercules, who was also a well known horse. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2011 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.