The 1920 census shows the Fosters' house to be along Flat Rock Road, two miles east of Monroeville, and continuing their life's occupation as farmers. Son Frank and his wife Esther and young son Clyde lived in the dwelling too. They were longtime members of St. Mark's Lutheran Church.

Writing to the Indiana Minerds in September 1929, from his home in Pittsburgh, PA, a cousin Corwin D. Tilbury asked: "How is everybody? McCormicks, Fosters, Kricks and so on down the line?" 

By 1930, Anna and Jesse had moved in to the home of son Frank and his wife and expanded brood of four sons and daughters. Living just a few doors away was Anna's married niece, Hazel (Krick) Hart and her husband and children. 

In September 1933, the 74-year-old Jesse underwent surgery for appendicitis in Adams County Memorial Hospital in Decatur. He did not survive the ordeal, and died on Sept. 16, 1933. An obituary was published in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, with funeral services conducted at St. Mark's Lutheran Church by Rev. P.W. Hanshaw. 

Anna survived for another 22 years, remaining in Monroeville. She died at the age of 92 in a Fort Wayne nursing home just five days before Christmas 1955. Burial was in Flat Rock Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, with an obituary appearing in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. Survivors included nine grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. [Find-a-Grave]

~ Son Homer W. Foster ~

Son Homer W. Foster (1888-1937) was born in about 1888 in Monroeville, IN. 

At the age of 21, in about 1909, Homer married 20-year-old Ohio native Pearl M. Shutt (1889-1967), daughter of Jacob and Mahala (Stern) Shutt. They produced one son, Ray W. Foster. 

The couple made their home in Indiana in 1915. Later, Homer obtained a job as a millwright at a pump shop in Michigan. The 1930 federal census records the family living in Three Rivers, St. Joseph County, MI. 

He died in Centreville, St. Joseph County at the age of 49 on Jan. 4, 1937. 

Pearl survived her husband by three decades and married again to widower Fred H. Peterson (1876-1945). The nuptials are said to have been held in Elkhart County, IN. She was widowed for a second time in 1945 upon Fred's death. She joined her husbands in eternity on May 28, 1967.

Son Ray W. Foster (1915- ? ) was born in about 1915 in Indiana.

~ Son Albert Foster ~

Son Albert Foster (1890-1937) was born in about 1890. 

When he was 23 years old, in about 1914, Albert was wedded to 22-year-old Mary H. (1892- ? ). 

Their known children were Jesse A. Foster, Clarence L. Foster and Dorothy Foster. 

In 1930, when the federal census enumeration was made, Albert worked as a foreman in a knitting mill in Centreville, Nottawa Township, St. Joseph County, MI. 

At the age of 46, Albert died in Centreville on Jan. 18, 1937, just two weeks after the passing of his elder brother Homer. His remains were placed into repose in Prairie River Cemetery in Centreville.

Mary only survived her husband by two years. She succumbed in 1939.

Son Jesse A. Foster (1914- ? ) was born in about 1914 in Michigan.

Son Clarence L. Foster (1916- ?) was born in about 1916 in Michigan.

Daughter Dorothy Foster (1922- ? ) was born in about 1922 in Michigan.

~ Son Frank Foster ~

Son Frank Foster (1894-1954) was born on May 4, 1894 in Monroe Township, Allen County.

He married Esther Luella Reynolds (1895-1986), daughter of Lewis Charles and Ida Edith (Brown) Reynolds.

They lived with his parents near Monroeville in 1920 and had six known children, Clyde L. Foster, John W. Foster, Donald Richard "Dick" Foster, Lois Jane Foster, Dale L. Foster and Dessie Foster. Sadly, daughter Dessie died in infancy.

The 1930 shows the family together in Monroeville, with Frank's aged father and mother living under their farmhouse roof that year. They were members of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. They remained there through the decade of the 1930s into 1940.

Sadly, Frank died at the age of 61 on Nov. 9, 1954. Interment was in Monroeville Memorial Park. [Find-a-Grave]

Esther lived in widowhood for another 32 years. Death occurred on July 24, 1986.

Son Clyde Lewis Foster (1919-1993) was born on Dec. 30, 1919 in Monroeville. During World War II, Clyde served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was united in marriage with Elaine Eleanor Rogers (1923-2002), daughter of John Ralph and Pauline Beatrice (Gehringer) Rogers. They produced four children -- including Jeanie A. Crates, David L. Foster, Daniel B. Foster and one other daughter, name not known. Clyde passed away at the age of 73 in Fort Wayne's Parkview Memorial Hospital on Dec. 18, 1993. An obituary in the Decatur Daily Democrat noted that he was "a life-time Monroeville resident." Following funeral services held at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, burial was in Monroeville Memorial Park. [Find-a-Grave] Elaine survived her husband by nine years. She succumbed on May 21, 2002.

• Granddaughter Jeanie A. Foster married Jonathan "Jon" Crates. In 1993, they lived in Monroeville.

• Grandson David L. Foster made his home on Cherry Lane in Decatur, IN in the early 1990s.

• Grandson Daniel B. Foster resided in Monroeville.

Son John William Foster (1921-2005) was born on Oct. 28, 1921 in Monroeville. He was a longtime farmer in the Monroeville area and was twice married. His first bride was Freda Mae Gaskill (1926-1964), daughter of Charles Gaskill of Dixon, OH. Their children were Johnie Foster and Regina Miller. Freda Mae was a member of the Monroe Township Coworkers and a member of the Ladies Aid Society of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. Tragically, she was killed at the age of 38 when she and John, riding in their automobile on wet pavement, struck a propane gas truck head-on on April 27, 1964. Their vehicle was thrown for 40 feet, with the truck overturning and landing on top of their car. She died instantly from a crushed skull. John was rushed to Parkview Memorial Hospital with a compound right leg fracture, face cuts and chest bruises. Her broken remains were laid to rest in Monroeville Memorial Cemetery. John was wed a second time to Willodean (Lehman) Grace (1926-2010), daughter of Martin and Gladys (Beerbower) Lehman and widow of Richard L. Grace. She brought three sons and a daughter to the marriage -- Robert M. Grace, Richard L. Grace, Rex A. Grace and Rebecca M. Wineke. Willodean obtained a master's degree from St. Francis College in Fort Wayne. During her working career, she was an English teacher at East Allen County Schools from 1967 to 1986; in the office of International Harvester from 1944 to 1946, and in the office of Monroeville Lumber Company from 1963 to 1968. In her spare time, she was an organist at St. Mark's, and with an interest in quilting, sewing and knitting, was a member of the Quilters Guild of Auburn, IN and the Embroiders Guild of America. At the age of 84, John died in Adams Memorial Hospital on Nov. 28, 2005. His remains were lowered into repose beside Freda's after a funeral service conducted in St. Mark's Lutheran Church. An obituary in the Fort Wayne newspapers observed that he was survived by six grandchildren, 10 step-grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, 10 step-grandchildren and nine step-great-grandchildren. [Find-a-Grave] Willodean entered eternity on Nov. 1, 2010 at Fort Wayne's Hospice Home. Burial was with her first husband in Monroeville Memorial Cemetery, with Rev. William Smith officiating at her funeral service.

• Grandson Johnie L. Foster (1949-living) was born in 1949. He married Beverly Plumley (1952-living) and made their home in Monroeville. Their children were Steven Foster, Kenneth Foster, Michael Foster and Jenny Foster.

• Granddaughter Regina Foster married Robert Miller and lived in Monroe, IN.

Son Donald Richard "Dick" Foster (1924- ? ) was born on March 6, 1924 in Monroeville, where he spent his entire life. He was married and had a son and daughter -- Mark A. Foster and Cheryl L. Hull. They were members of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Monroeville, and he belonged to the Lions Club and to the American Welding Society. With an entrepreneurial bent, he owned and operated for 60 years his own business, Foster Fabricating & Design. Said a Fort Wayne newspaper:

He was well known for his skillful engineering and mechanical craftsmanship. .... He has been acknowledged on several occasions, such as being named Grand Marshal of the Monroeville Harvest Festival Parade, for his lifelong accomplishments and contributions to local business and commerce. Known for being humble, practical, and precise, Dick greatly enjoyed designing and fabricating custom machinery, playing the organ for his family and friends, taking his grandchildren to local fairs and tractor shows, creating handcrafted furniture and crafts, and helping his family and community out with projects both big and small. Dick will be remembered for his passionate, yet temperate character, and for the values and work ethic he has instilled in others.

At the age of 90, Dick died on June 10, 2014 at Grey Stone Health and Rehabilitation in Fort Wayne. Interment was in Monroeville Memorial Cemetery. A Fort Wayne newspaper said he was survived by four grandsons and two great-grandsons.

• Grandson Mark A. Foster was wedded to Carol J. (?). Their home was in Fort Wayne. Their three children were Matthew Foster, Gregory Foster and Kurtis Foster.

• Granddaughter Cheryl L. Foster married Karl Hull. They lived in Fort Wayne and had one son, Shane Hull.

Daughter Lois Jane Foster (1927- ? ) was born in about 1927 in Monroeville. She married (?) Klinker and in 1953-2014 lived in Monroeville.

Son Dale L. Foster (1931-1953) was born the day after Christmas 1931 in Monroeville. In December 1951, at the age of 19, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and underwent basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He then was transferred to Lowery Field in Denver and Langley Air Force Base in Norfolk, VA. He held the rank of airman second class and was a member of a training group operating B-26 bombers. Tragedy struck on March 12, 1953. The aircraft in which he was riding crashed, and he was one of three crewmen instantly killed in the accident. His remains were shipped to Indiana for interment in Monroeville Memorial Cemetery. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. George H. Volkmar of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, with the local post of the American Legion conducting additional graveside rites. [Find-a-Grave]

Copyright © 2009, 2010, 2016 Mark A. Miner