FOSTER-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: FOSTER, N. H. - Ontario to IL
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1998 03:55:10 EDT

Hello All,

In today's snail mail was an envelope sent to me from a researcher in Ontario.
In this packet was a page copied from a book telling about Clarke Township in
Ontario. Does anybody know anything about this N. H. FOSTER? Also, it looks
like McHenry Co. came into existence Jan. 16, 1836.

"NOT ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT SETTLED HERE EXPERIENCED THE PROSPERITY OF THE
RUDDOCKS. FAR AWAY FIELDS LOOKED GREENER AND SOME MOVED ON TO SETTLE IN THE
MIDWEST OF AMERICA. RICHARD RUDDOCK, HIMSELF WAS INTRIGUED BY FREE LAND IN
THE MIDWEST AND REQUESTED A LETTER FROM N. H. FOSTER WHO LEFT CLARKE AND
SETTLED IN TWP. 45, RANGE 5, MCHENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS. THIS LETTER DATED OCT.
4, 1838 SAYS IN PART:

"This is a new township, the first white man came in April 1837, formerly
occupied by the Indians, but none here now. It is a fine healthy part of the
country, good water and plenty of timber. The openings can be plowed without
cutting a tree and raise good wheat, corn or potatoes. I have 12 acres of
prairie ready for crop and 6 acres of openings.
The land here has been surveyed and will most likely be for sale in two or
three years. Fine chance for settlers to take up what land they want. A
blacksmith would get rich here very quick. Tell John Newton this is the place
for him - he can work at blacksmithing, shoemaking or hunt deer which are
plenty.
I do honestly believe that the land is far better there than it is in Canada.
We can sow wheat after wheat here for years and be good. Should be very glad
to have you for a neighbor again if you could make it profitable to move."

On another page, it mentions that N. H. FOSTER moved to Twp. 45, McHenry Co.
and left Clarke Twp. prior to 1838.

Thanks much,
Karen Foster Montgomery

(Hunting for Orin/Oren E. Foster's parents, siblings. Orin moved to Mason
Co., IL, about 1835-36, with his wife Rosina Rawson, and son, Judson Rawson.
Per bios he was born in VT, in 1811. He married in Upper Canada in 1832, and
died in Mason Co., 1843.)

This thread:

• FOSTER, N. H. - Ontario to IL by <>