Carlton Foster
Order10th & 25th
TitleMayor of Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Term startApril 1886
Term endApril 1887
PredecessorAndrew Haben
SuccessorH. B. Dale
Term start 1April 1865
Term end 1April 1867
Predecessor 1Philetus Sawyer
Successor 1Joseph H. Porter
State 2Wisconsin
State assembly 2Wisconsin
District 2Winnebago 3rd
Term start 2January 1, 1883
Term end 2January 5, 1885
Predecessor 2George H. Buckstaff
Successor 2Frank Challoner
Term start 3January 6, 1873
Term end 3January 4, 1875
Predecessor 3Nelson F. Beckwith
Successor 3Leroy S. Chase
PartyRepublican
Birth dateAugust 26, 1826
Birth placeEssex County, New York, U.S.
Death dateAugust 4, 1901 (aged 74)
Death placeOshkosh Yacht Club, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, U.S.
Death causeHeart disease
Resting placeRiverside Cemetery, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
SpouseSibyl S. Storrs (m. 1854; ended 1901)

Carlton Foster (August 26, 1826 – August 4, 1901) was an American businessman, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was the 10th and 25th mayor of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and served three terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Biography

Carlton Foster was born in Essex County, New York, in August 1826. He was raised on his father's farm and educated in the public schools of Essex and Clinton counties. At age 20, he went to work as an apprentice millwright, and would remain in that profession for over a decade.[1]

He moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in September 1855, and made the city his primary residence for the rest of his life. In 1859, he entered the lumber business and soon became regarded as one of the leading lumbermen in the city. In 1870, he built a factory under the firm name Carlton Foster & Co., which became a major manufacturer for sashes, doors, and blinds. Foster remained president of this company until his death.[1]

Through his business activity, Foster became involved in local politics as a member of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. He was elected mayor of Oshkosh in 1865, and was re-elected in 1866. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1872, 1873, and 1882.[2] His last campaign for office was in 1886, when he was elected to his third and final term as mayor, defeating incumbent Democrat Andrew Haben.[1][3]

About May 1, 1901, Foster became severely ill and his health remained fragile after the acute illness passed. In June, he decided to live full-time aboard his beloved steam yacht, the Anna M., believing that the fresh air on the lake and river would improve his health. His family went to live with him on the boat, but his health continued to deteriorate. They steamed back to Oshkosh and docked at the Oshkosh Yacht Club, where medical assistance could be brought onboard. Foster died aboard his boat on August 4, 1901.[1]

Personal life and family

Carlton Foster married Sibyl S. Storrs of Vermont on June 20, 1854. They had at least three children, though one died in childhood. Their son, Charles H. Foster served on the Oshkosh city council and the city police and fire board.[1]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1872, 1873)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 5, 1872

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 4, 1873

Wisconsin Assembly (1882)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 7, 1882

Oshkosh Mayor (1886)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, April 6, 1886

See also

References

  1. ^ "Carlton Foster Dead". Oshkosh Northwestern. August 5, 1901. p. 2. Retrieved February 24, 2022. – via Newspapers.com
  2. ^ Heg, J. E. (ed.) (1883). "Biographical Sketches". The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin. State of Wisconsin. pp. 507–508. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  3. ^ "Mr. Haben Holed". Oshkosh Northwestern. April 7, 1886. p. 3. Retrieved February 24, 2022. – via Newspapers.com