pioneer lumberman, businessman, b. Machias, Me. He engaged in lumbering at Oshkosh (1855-1857) and at Oconto (1857-1865), before settling permanently in Wisconsin in 1885. After 1885 he resided at Wausau, except for 10 years (1887-1897) when he lived in Milwaukee. He became prominent in the lumbering industry in the Wisconsin River valley, and in 1886 organized the Merrill Lumber Co. at Merrill, and was its president (1886-1902). Foster maintained other business interests in Wisconsin, Arkansas, and Washington. His sons, George Edward Foster and Harry Howard Foster, also rose to prominence in the Wisconsin lumber industry. GEORGE EDWARD FOSTER, b. Grand Rapids, Mich., attended schools in Ludington, Mich., and moved to Wisconsin in 1885. He was employed in his father's Merrill Lumber Co. (1887-1893), and in 1893, with the financial assistance of Sigmund Heineman (q.v.), founded the George E. Foster Lumber Co. at Merrill. He was president of this firm (1893-1901). In 1901 he disposed of his interests at Merrill and began to process hemlock and hardwood at Mellen, where in 1902 he founded the Foster-Latimer Lumber Co. in partnership with Charles F. Latimer of Ashland. Foster served as president of this firm and was a director of numerous business establishments in Wisconsin and other states. HARRY HOWARD FOSTER b. Oshkosh, attended Olivet College, Mich., and joined his father in the lumber business at Ludington. In 1884 he returned to Wisconsin and purchased an interest in the McDonald Lumber Co. in Wausau. Selling this interest in 1885, he was one of the organizers of the West Shore Lumber Co. in Racine (1886). He sold this interest in 1887, acquired an interest in his father's Merrill Lumber Co., and served as its superintendent (1887- 1901). In 1901 he moved to Little Rock, Ark. He maintained extensive business interests in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arkansas, and Washington. Amer. Lumbermen (3 ser., Chicago, 1905, 1906); G. O. Jones, et aI., comps., Hist. of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Cos. (2 vols., Minneapolis, 1924); 'Wausau Pilot, Dec. 23, 1902, Mar. 16, 1915, July 28, 1938.Learn More
Dictionary of Wisconsin History
Explore more than 1,600 people, places and events in Wisconsin history.
[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]
