Background
Foster, son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Foster, was born in Lansingburgh, Rensselaer County, New York, September 2, 1823.
Foster, son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Foster, was born in Lansingburgh, Rensselaer County, New York, September 2, 1823.
He graduated from Yale College in 1844. He studied law successively with Honorary
Victor Birdseye, of Pompey, Honorary B. Doctorate. Noxon, of Syracuse, and Honorary John Van Buren, of Albany.
In October, 1847, he was admitted to the bar, but on account of health was advised to try a more active life, and occupied himself in the cattle-trade, until January, 1853, when he began practice as a lawyer in Cortland, New York, where he remained until his death.
He had been for some years subject to pulmonary difficulties, and spent the three succeeding winters in Washington, but without any marked improvement. From November, 1875, to February, 1877, he was employed as an examiner in the United States Patent Office.
He died, of consumption, in Cortland, May 23, 1877, aged 53 years. They had no children.
Besides local offices of trust and honor, the only public position which he filled was that of member of the New York State Assembly in 1870.