Prosser, William Farrand. "A History of the Puget Sound Country." Vol. 2. New York: Lewis Pub. Co., 1903. p. 360-362. Louis Foss Among the capitalists of the northwest whose judicious investments in property and whose successful control of commercial interests have brought them a gratifying measure of success, is Louis Foss, now residing in Anacortes. He is a native of the land of the midnight sun, and to no country is the United States more greatly indebted for a valuable citizenship then to Norway. Her sons who have come to the new world have been law-abiding citizens, industrious and progressive, and in opportunities of the new world they have achieved success that adds to the general prosperity of their adopted land. Mr. Foss was born in Bergen, Norway, on the 10th of April, 1849, a son of Mathias and Andria (Anderson) Foss, who were also natives of Norway. The father was a farmer by occupation, and died in his native country in 1876, when seventy-seven years of age, while his wife, surviving him until 1900, passed away at the very advanced age of one hundred years. Louis Foss had four brothers and five sisters, as follows, Anders, who died at the age of twenty-four years; Andrias, who died in infancy; Edias, who died at the age of five; Larine nad Rakil, daughters, who passed away at the age of two years; Louise, the widow of Simon Knutson and a resident of Fosston, Minnesota; Rakil, Larine and Andrias, who are living in Norway. Louis Foss is the youngest member of the family. He was educated in the public schools of his native city in the academy at Vossevangen, Norway, where he spent three years, being graduated in 1868 with high honors, ranking third in his class. After his graduation he engaged in teaching school for two years, and then, with a desire to try his fortune in the new world, he bade adieu to friends and native land, and July, 1870, came to the United States. He settled first at Red Wing, Minnesota, and after working as a farm hand in the locality for a short time he went to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, being employed in the lumber business as scaling logs. He there remained until 1874, when he went to Black Hills, during the first gold excitement. He operated there until 1876, and then returning to Minnesota he engaged in merchandising as Zumbrota, in connection with H.H. Palmer, continuing business until 1881. In that year he removed to Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, where he carried on merchandising until 1883, when, disposing of his interests there, he established himself in business in Fosston, Polk county, Minnesota. He was quite successful in his mercantile ventures until selling out in 1887 with intention of coming to the northwest. Arriving in Tacoma, Mr. Foss began operating in real estate, and also conducted mercantile interests at Buckley and Mount Vernon. Appreciative of business opportunities and quick to recognize these, he extended his efforts into other lines of activity with excellent results. From 1888 until 1892 he conducted one of the largest real estate businesses in Tacoma. In 1892 he was one of the organizers of the Scandinavian American Bank, now the Lumbermanís National Bank, and served as a director until 1895. In that year he removed to Mount Vernon and took charge of the mercantile interests which he established in 1891, there residing until 1900, when he disposed of his store and removed to Anacortes. Here he also carried on merchandising until the fall of 1902, when he again sold his store, and is now giving his attention to the supervision of his property interests. Since coming to the Sound country he has invested extensively in property in Tacoma, Seattle, Anacortes and other p! laces. He has extensive mining interests in the Slate Creek country, to which he is now devoting his attention, and development of the mines is returning a good financial reward to the owners. In July, 1877, in Zumbrota, Minnesota, Mr. Foss was married to Miss Minnie Magne, a native of Sweden, and a daughter of John and Marie Magne, also born in the same country. Mr. and Mrs. Foss became the parents of six children: Marie, the wife of Dr. C. Quevli, of Tacoma; Elmer, who died at the age of twenty-one years; Lottie, who is attending Whitworth College in Tacoma; Laura, who died in 1890, at the ageof three years; Ruth and Lois, aged eleven and nine years. In his political views Mr. Foss is an independent, his study of the political issues and questions of the day leading him to believe that and independent platform contains the best elements of good government. He has taken a very active interest in the work party, both local and state, and since coming to Washington he has served as a delegate to each convention with one exception. In 1892 he was elected to represent his district in the state senate for a term of four years, and served until 1897, proving an active working member of the upper house. Attracted to the northwest with its natural resources and varied business opportunities, Mr. Foss has for sixteen years made his home in the portion of the country, and his labors have been felt as a factor in the promotion of commercial and industrial activity. He possesses judgment that in business matters is rarely, if ever, at fault, and his investments have been so wisely made that he is now numbered among the capitalists of Washington - a man whose life work is an honor alike the land of his birth and the land of his adoption. ******************* Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in September 2005 by Teressa Lenkey. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.