Mrs. H. G. Ogden, 217 Lancaster St.,
Albany, New York

My dear Gertrude:-

I have your letter of April 5^th, and am very much pleased to receive it. It affords me much pleasure to forward to you herewith the chart for which you inquire.

I published this chart just before Christmas, and mailed a copy to every Indiana descendant of the Fosters for which I had the address, as a Christmas remembrance. I accompanied the charts sent to your sister in Chicago, with a letter asking for you address and Charlie's address, so I could mail you your copies. Doubtless she forgot it as she did not respond with the addresses.

The copy of Captain John Foster's discharge you will note on this chart. This copy was furnished me by Major James C. Foster of Higby, Ohio, who is a first cousin of your mother. It is my understanding that he has in his possession this original discharge. Any further information as to John Foster Second's service in the War of 1812, I know Mr. Foster would gladly give you if he has it.

I have had much correspondence with him for more than a year past, and he is one of the finest correspondents I ever had. He gets off some pointed remarks in every letter similar to the pointed sayings, so familiar with your Uncle Tom Moore.

My daughter Estell, Martha Morgan, Lizzie Bowyer Switzer and Mabel Westfall McFarland have all become members of the D. A. R'.s here since I completed this chart. A dozen others are preparing their applications. With the dates that you can undoubedly obtain from James C. Foster, you will have no trouble in passing the Daughters of 1812, and an application to the D. A. R.'s will be promptly granted.

I remember you well, and recall those happy days of our youth when you was with us in Old Monmorenci. Alice joins me in wishing you well. With kindest regards, I am,

Sincerely yours,

Wallace Marshall

My dear Mrs. Ogden

Was glad to get your letter, it was unexpected only. Was not surprised. The incomplete record of the Foster family, as it now stands, took me more than twenty-five years to collect. If it had been put off a few years longer, would have been almost impossible. A few years sooner would have been comparatively easy. Will answer your questions, to you the most important part of your letter, before I really get wound up.

The original discharge of Capt. John Foster is in the hand of my brothers family but I have an exact copy. The copy on Marshall's chart is correct as far as it goes. Why he would leave off the date, can't understand as without date it is almost worthless as record.

Capt. John Foster was discharged at Urbana Ohio Oct. 12^th 1812. He undoubtedly was enlisted at Chillicothe O. as that point was, at that a rendezvous for U. S. troops and the home of Colonel Sam Finly. If the date of enlistment is necessary, the Adjutant Gen's Office of Ohio or at Washington could furnish the date. Chillicothe in 1812 was one of the most prominent places in Ohio.

Chillicothe Ross Co Ohio was the capitol of the state from its organization until 1810 when it was moved to Zanesville, when it was brought back to Chillicothe - 1812 - where it remained until 1816, when Columbus became the permanent capitol. Can you tell why I am writing you a history of Chillicothe and Ohio? I can't.

I presume that it was your father [William R. Mikels] that got me started on the Foster pedigree. More than 25 yrs ago, a letter to the Postmaster Omega Pike Co, inquiring about John Foster and Edward Moore was referred to me. I well remember my answer. "Your letter to P. M. Omega inquiring John Foster and Edward Moore was handed me. Who are and what do you want" That started the correspondence with Mr. Mikels and started me to work. At that time I cared but little whether I descended from Adam or an ape. Soon became interested and never did like to acknowledge beaten. Every bit of the early Foster History came through my efforts. If that is presumptuous please look over it. Would take a volume as large as Webster's Dictionary to contain the correspondences and discribe the incidents relative thereto.

Could find but two men who remembered Edward Moore, neither knew more than that he moved west.

Edward Moore had a brother living in Pikton, [Pike Co.] O., an eccentric character, who published a volume, just one book, never saw it, but it was a kind of an Autobiography. I hunted for a year to locate that book and when succeeded, it was but a few miles from Mr. Mikels. It contained nothing of value to us. He also raised a girl (had no children) after more than a years search found her within 8 miles of me. Learned nothing there and so on. There was a son of Edward Moore, who was born on Grandfather's farm, then living in Iowa who was taken to Inda [Indiana]. When a baby, had never been back before. He attended the Phla Centennial in 1776 [1876]and on his return stopped here, was here for several days. Seemed a solid man, but to one who liked fun as well as I, rather stern. Thomas Moore (your Uncle I am sure) and John Lackey Foster came to Ohio to attend school (rode through horseback) Moore at Piketon living with the Moore mentioned before, and Foster at our house. Must have been about from 49 to 52. Remember them well although only a little chap.

When I was 12 years old I visited Inda - went by myself at a time when a boy without a chaperone was looked at as a runaway, and there must have been very stringent laws in Inda against harboring runaway boys from the trouble I had in getting a place to stay all night in Lafayette, don't like the place to this day. At this visit I saw all the relations. The Moores, Sappingtons, Lackey Fosters, Morgans (Newton Morgan lived there then) Aunt Rebeca Dolohan, Father's twin sister. She after married John Dougherty; Bowers, Mathers, Tom Dougherty, don't know how many more. Don't remember anyone of the younger tribe but Jennie and Nell Morgan. I mean individually. A boy of my age at that time, alone, such a trip would seem to require some explanation which would be easy if didn't require so much time and ink.

Rev. John Foster No.1 was buried in private cemetery in 1800. The wife of Rev. John No. 2 (my grandmother) at same place. Ground well fenced with cement blocks. Rev. John No. 2 is buried in public, well kept cemetery in [Chenoweth] Madison Co. Ohio, he having died there. While only about 50 miles away, with no Rail Roads and no means of conveying bodies except by folk [?] wagons, it was impracticable if not impossible to bring his body home for burial.

I did not know that Edward Moore fought with Gen'l Harrison, am glad of this information and will make a note of it.

I sincerely congratulate you on having three sons in the late war and am thankful they all returned. I will always regret that I had no son in that war. Have three sons, one rejected on a/c of health and the other two on a/c of family and occupation. Am proud of my civil war record (Is it immodest to say so) enlisted as a private and with no influence behind me, and without any seeking on my part fill all grades, but the first (corporal) to major and came out whole at 28 yrs of age. It always seemed to me, that I never knew anything until it was too late to do me any good. I have a daughter (more proud of her) who lived at Troy N.Y. for two years and was frequently in Albany. She likes to meet people. If we had known of each other, you could have met and loaded each other with family history. Her husband is an efficiency engineer and was with the Ike [?] factory in Troy. They are now in Chicago. I want before closing this scribble to say that Wallace Marshall deserves great credit for compiling and putting in intelligible shape the jumble of Foster stuff that came into his hands. He is a very prompt and bright correspondent. Like him very much and hope to meet him sometime. (over)

If had gumption enough to write on both sides of the paper, would have relieved Uncle Sam of quite a bundle. Shall send this off as it is. If I should read and attempt to correct, it would find the waste basket.

If you care to hear something of me and mine, here it is: Will be 80 yrs old May 3^rd, am able to do considerable farm work and do it. Have had my ups and downs as most folks do, but on the whole have nothing to complain of. Of the more than 40 boys who enlisted from this neighborhood in 1861, am the only one left. My wife is with me yet. We get along fine, as we always did. Have four college graduates in the family and three others as far as they would go. one son in Western Canada, one in Fort Worth Texas, one daughter in Los Angeles and one in Chicago, two daughters at home and one son in Pike Co. Badly scattered. Am not ashamed of any.

Am glad you wrote me, and anytime you want any information I can give, don't hesitate to write.

Hoping to meet you sometime, I am your

not so very faraway cousin

Jas C. Foster