JAMES D. FOSTER , born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1824. His father, David Foster, was born in Maryland, 1776, died in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, September 10, 1840. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life, and had five children, viz: Mary, William, Alexander, Johnston, James D. and Wilson. James D. is the only one residing in Illinois. He emigrated to Illinois in 1857, and settled in Sangamon county, near Mechanicsburg, and remained there nine years, and then removed to Illiopolis township in 1863. He was married to Miss Malinda Haskett of Guernsey county, Ohio, January 1, 1855, to whom have been born nine children, of whom seven are living viz: David L., married, and living in Illiopolis township; Rebecca R., married to Webster Burch, and living in Wheatfield township; James W., married and living in Illiopolis township; Grant, Jane, Benjamin, Johnston and Sarah are single, and living at home. Mr. Foster was married to his first wife, Miss Catharine Kerrh, of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1842, to whom were born five children; of these three are living, viz: Mary, married to Robert Donaldson, and living in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania; Wm. A., married, and living in Decatur, Illinois, and is a conductor on the I., D. & S. Railroad; George M., not married, and is living in Decatur, and is a conductor on the same road. Mr. James D. Foster is a blacksmith by trade. Carried on the trade extensively in former years in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. Built the first blacksmith shop in Buffalo, Sangamon county. He now owns a very fine tract of land in Illiopolis township of four hundred and forty acres, equal to any in the county, and under a high state of improvement. Mr. Foster is now farming very successfully.