My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. JOHN L. FOSTER, a representative citizen of Bullitt County, was born in Jefferson County, January 13, 1837. His father was James Foster, a native of Nelson County, Ky., was born May 5, 1796, and was a member of one of the early and prominent families of the State. His wife, mother of this sketch, was Nancy Jones. Her parents were from Pennsylvania, and settled early in Kentucky. Her marriage to James Foster occurred October 26, 1822. To this marriage were born fifteen children. The subject of this sketch, John L., was the eleventh born, reared to manhood on the farm, and received a liberal education in the public schools of Bullitt County. The civil war coming on he took sides with the Union, and in 1801 joined the Fifteen Kentucky Infantry, as a private in Company D, but for his gallantry and meritorious conduct as a soldier, he was soon promoted to the captaincy of the company. This position he filled with honor to his country and himself till January, 1865, when he was mustered out by expiration of contract. At the battle of Perryville he was severely wounded, being shot through the lungs, and on four other occasions he received severe wounds from the enemy’s guns. At the close of the war he returned to his native county, and was married April 4, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Russell, of Indiana. He was soon after appointed to an important position in the Internal Revenue Service, which he held for eleven years, being forced to resign through the illness of his family. He now superintends his farm, owning a large tract of land in Bullitt County and another valuable farm in Jefferson County and tracts elsewhere. He has had nine children in his family: Barbara D., James K., born April 24, 1868, died April 16, 1885; Nancy E., Bettie E. (deceased), Bessie May, Hattie Belle, Ruby Pearle, Sarah L. and Anna Victoria. Captain Foster resides about two and a half miles southwest of Brook’s Station, and is an exemplary citizen who stands high among his fellows.