Joel Foster
Encyclopedia
Joel Foster was born the youngest of eleven at Meriden, Connecticut
, December 15, 1814. He was liberally educated. He came to Edwardsville, Illinois
, in 1830, and to Hudson, Wisconsin
, then known as Buena Vista, in 1848. After a careful exploration of the surrounding area he built a home in the fall of 1848, at the junction of the two branches of the Kinnickinnic River
, just upstream from its falls. His first winter was spent in a cave overlooking the river with his indentured servant, Dick.
Foster was the pioneer settler of River Falls, Wisconsin
, a city which grew at the location of the falls of the Kinnickinnic. He built the first dwelling house, raised the first crops, and helped many other pioneers getting started in that area. He filled many position of responsibility, including judge of St. Croix county. During the Mexican-American War he served as a quartermaster in Colonel William H. Bissell's Second Illinois Regiment.
He was known for his Copper Head
Democrat
political views and was often the subject of scorn by the local newspaper's Republican
editor.
Judge Foster was married at Chicago
in 1856 to Charlotte Porch.
On August 9, 1885 he died at his home in town after being gored by a dairy bull on his farm.
Hamlet H. Perkins, though elected to the office of county judge
, died before fulfilling the office. Accordingly Governor Nelson Dewey
, first governor of the state of Wisconsin, made out a commission with an appointment, and sent it at once to Mr. Foster, who had received the next largest number of votes at the previous election. His first court was held at Hudson then known as Buena Vista. Joel Foster by this means obtained the office and continued to discharge its duties until the separation of Polk and Pierce counties.
Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...
, December 15, 1814. He was liberally educated. He came to Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,293. It is the county seat of Madison County and is the third oldest city in the State of Illinois. The city was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, then Governor of the Illinois...
, in 1830, and to Hudson, Wisconsin
Hudson, Wisconsin
Hudson is a city in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 18,937, making it the principal and largest city of the Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area . The Hudson area however had a population of 39,713...
, then known as Buena Vista, in 1848. After a careful exploration of the surrounding area he built a home in the fall of 1848, at the junction of the two branches of the Kinnickinnic River
Kinnickinnic River (St. Croix River)
The Kinnickinnic River, called the Kinni for short, is a 25-mile-long river in northwestern Wisconsin in the United States. It is listed as a Class I trout stream. The Kinnickinnic River arises from springs in St. Croix County and flows in a southwesterly direction before emptying into the St....
, just upstream from its falls. His first winter was spent in a cave overlooking the river with his indentured servant, Dick.
Foster was the pioneer settler of River Falls, Wisconsin
River Falls, Wisconsin
River Falls is a city in Pierce and St. Croix counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 15,000 at the 2010 census, making it the second largest city in the Twin Cities Wisconsin suburbs, which is the eighth largest metropolitan area in the state...
, a city which grew at the location of the falls of the Kinnickinnic. He built the first dwelling house, raised the first crops, and helped many other pioneers getting started in that area. He filled many position of responsibility, including judge of St. Croix county. During the Mexican-American War he served as a quartermaster in Colonel William H. Bissell's Second Illinois Regiment.
He was known for his Copper Head
Copperheads (politics)
The Copperheads were a vocal group of Democrats in the Northern United States who opposed the American Civil War, wanting an immediate peace settlement with the Confederates. Republicans started calling anti-war Democrats "Copperheads," likening them to the venomous snake...
Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
political views and was often the subject of scorn by the local newspaper's Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
editor.
Judge Foster was married at Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1856 to Charlotte Porch.
On August 9, 1885 he died at his home in town after being gored by a dairy bull on his farm.
Election of 1849
A meeting of the county board of supervisors for St. Croix County was held at the house of Philip Aldrich, June 4, 1849. It was voted at the meeting that the treasurer proceed against the persons elected to office in the several towns, also county, who failed to qualify at a meeting of the justices and clerk of county board of supervisors, September 17, 1849, to canvass the vote for county judge at the election held September 3. Ninety-one votes were canvassed, of which Hamlet H. Perkins received 49, Joel Foster 41, and Bailey F. Baldwin 1.Hamlet H. Perkins, though elected to the office of county judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, died before fulfilling the office. Accordingly Governor Nelson Dewey
Nelson Dewey
Nelson Dewey was a politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin; he was the first Governor of Wisconsin, serving from 1848 until 1852.- Early life :...
, first governor of the state of Wisconsin, made out a commission with an appointment, and sent it at once to Mr. Foster, who had received the next largest number of votes at the previous election. His first court was held at Hudson then known as Buena Vista. Joel Foster by this means obtained the office and continued to discharge its duties until the separation of Polk and Pierce counties.