OH-FOOTSTEPS-L Archives

From: LeaAnn <>
Subject: JOSEPH FOOS
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 00:55:13 -0600

History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties, Ohio
Pub by Williams Bros, 1880

JOSEPH FOOS,

was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1767. He moved
with his parents, first to Tennessee and then to Kentucky, where in
1797, he married Lydia Nelson, and where their first son, Nelson Foos
was born. In 1798 he came, with his wife and infant son, to
Franklinton, where he became proprietor of a ferry across the Scioto
river. He also established, and for several years carried on, the
first hotel at that place. His early opportunities for securing an
education were very limited, and his principle schooling was obtained
from an Irish schoolmaster who came to his tavern in want, and spent
several months with him. But with such advantages as these, by his own
persistent efforts, he obtained a wide knowledge of men and things,
taking an active interest in all public affairs, and corresponding with
such men as Clay, Ewing, Corwin and Harrison. He was a member of the
first Ohio Legislature, serving in all, during twenty-five sessions in
the house and senate. He became and effective speaker and writer. The
State capital having been secured to Columbus largely by his efforts,
the original proprietors of the town presented him with a square in an
eligible part of the city.

He served with distinction in the war of 1812, being promoted, for
meritorious conduct, from the rank of captain to that of
brigadier-general. His ferry and hotel, in those stirring times, were
extensively patronized, and brought him in "a mint o' money,"
although he was too liberal to acquire a very extensive fortune. His
house was the headquarters of all the politicians, who came not only
"hungry for office," but also for the meals which were furnished at his
table without stint or charge. To them, his latch string was always
out, and his purse always open. He ran for congress, after his career
in the legislature was over, but in that campaign he met with
unaccustomed defeat. Soon after this, he removed to Madison County,
and commenced the business of farming. In 1825 he was made
major-general of militia, an office which he held till his death, in
1832.

>From the interest which he felt in the canal system of Ohio, his
attention was directed to the feasibility of a ship canal across the
Isthmus of Darien. His views upon this subject, embodied in a
pamphlet, achieved the distinction of being called "Foos Folly." But
the project, as the public are aware, has recently been taken hold of
again, by parties who may yet show that the original conception was
nobody's folly.

General Foos first wife died in 1810, leaving two sons and two
daughters, the eldest of whom, Nelson Foos, still lives, in a hale
and ripe old age, in the city of Columbus, where he has accumulated a
comfortable property as a contractor in the erection of public and
private buildings.

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• JOSEPH FOOS by LeaAnn <>