Obituary of Miss Martha Foster

The Roberts Herald

Martha Foster, daughter of Eliab and Martha J. (Clark) Foster, was born in Salem Wisconsin November 11, 1862, and departed this life at her home in Roberts, Illinois Wednesday, January 10, 1934, aged 71 years, 1 month, and 29 days. When she was three years of age, in the fall of 1865, her parents and family moved to Illinois, settling on a farm four miles northeast of the present location of Roberts. The country was wild and unbroken, with a few settlers here and there. The railway had not been built through these parts and Ford County had only recently been organized. Lyman Township was as yet unknown and the locating of Roberts and Thawville some years in the future. The locality was part of Brenton Township and was known as south Brenton.

Martha was one of the youngest of the family of ten girls and six boys. Five girls and one boy died in infancy leaving five girls and five boys to grow to manhood and womanhood. The father died in 1872 leaving the mother ten children to care for. They remained upon the farm for eighteen years after the fathers death and then moved to Roberts.

Her mother preceded her in death several years and three brothers and one sister of those who lived to adult age have gone before. These are Robert C. Foster, Arista Foster, Sela Foster, and Mrs. Olive Kenward. She leaves surviving two brothers and three sisters. Parley J. Foster, Bela Foster, and Miss Leda Foster of Roberts, Mrs. Angeline Haling of Thawville, and Mrs. Frances Ruedger of Carson City, Michigan. She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews and numerous relatives and friends who join the family in sorrow.

As a young lady she consecrated herself to the Christian life and was baptized and united with the Congregational Church in Thawville and has been a loyal and active worker in its various organizations since that time. When she came to Roberts, her membership was transferred to this place. Those who best knew Miss Foster knew that the mere [illegible] of being a Christian never satisfied her. Her Christianity was such that it reached into her everyday life. Her whole life was devoted to increasing the comfort and happiness of others. Members of her family, her relatives, her friends, and her neighbors. And to her, anyone in need was a neighbor. Her profession, that of a nurse, gave her the opportunity to administer to the suffering which she was ever ready to do. But regardless of whether she was called professionally or merely came as in neighborly kindness her services were ever ready and her name held in reverence by several people.

Funeral services were held at the Congregational Church Friday .