Alfred M. and John A. Foster papers, 1801-1919, bulk 1840-1890

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Summary

Creator:
Foster, Alfred M., 1817-1867 and Foster, John A., 1844-1920
Abstract:
Alfred M. Foster (1817-1867) was a white farmer and merchant of Wilkes County, North Carolina. His son John A. Foster (1844-1920) was a white farmer of Wilkes County and fought in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. This collection dates from 1801-1919 and consists of the personal, legal, and financial papers of the Fosters, including records related to property in Wilkes and Ashe Counties, North Carolina, and Van Zandt County, Texas; and family correspondence describing life in Van Zandt County. The collection also contains writings related to John A. Foster's Civil War military service, including a diary, notes, and autobiographical manuscript describing military action at the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, and Cold Harbor.
Extent:
1 Linear Foot (2 boxes, 1 volume, and 1 oversize folder)
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.13099

Background

Scope and content:

This collection dates from 1801-1919 and consists of personal, legal, and financial papers of Alfred M. Foster and his son John A. Foster. Types of material include financial account books, land deeds and indentures of sale for property in Wilkes County and Ashe County, North Carolina, and Van Zandt County, Texas; warrants related to debt collection; tax receipts; Internal Revenue Service correspondence related to brandy distillers; and family letters (1870s-1890s) describing the vicinity of Van Zandt County, Texas. The collection also contains writings related to John A. Foster's Civil War military service, including a diary, notes, and autobiographical manuscript describing military action at the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Courthouse, and Cold Harbor.

Biographical / historical:

Alfred Miller Foster (1817-1867) was a white farmer and merchant of Wilkes County, North Carolina. In 1843 he married his cousin Elizabeth Foster (1822-1897). The couple had at least 7 children, including John A., Jesse M., Mary Ann, Leroy, Martha Jane (Daniel), Ellen M., and Thomas A. Foster. Alfred Foster briefly served as a member of the North Carolina House of Commons from 1850-1851, and was a member of the N.C. Home Guard during the Civil War. Sometime after Foster's death in 1867, Elizabeth Foster and several of their children relocated to Van Zandt County, Texas.

John Ambrose Foster (1844-1920) was a white farmer of Wilkes County and the oldest child of Alfred M. and Elizabeth Foster. He was a sergeant in the 52nd North Carolina Infantry of the Confederate Army during the Civil War and had a leg amputated after being wounded at Petersburg in March 1865. After his father's death, John and his wife Sarah "Sallie" (Dula) Foster (1838-1907) remained in North Carolina, where John handled Alfred's estate and other family legal and financial matters. He also acted as a distillery inspector for the Internal Revenue Service during the Cleveland administration.

Sources:

"Mr. John A. Foster Dies," Carter's Weekly (North Wilkesboro, NC), April 2, 1920, p. 1. Accessed 2025 June 6 via Newspapers.com.

Acquisition information:
The Alfred M. and John A. Foster papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library between 1940-1952.
Processing information:

Processed by library staff at an unknown date.

Collection reprocessed by Mary Mellon, August 2024.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in the following series: Correspondence, Financial and legal papers, and Writings.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Alfred M. and John A. Foster papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1h16j