Washington

FOSTER, Alonzo M.

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 143

Alonzo M. FOSTER, of Cabot [Washington County, Vermont] was born 30 January 
1830 in Calais [Washington County, Vermont], son of G. W. and Polly (KELTON) 
FOSTER [both of whom were born in Vermont]. His father was an early settler 
and when much of the town was an unbroken wilderness he cleared the land, 
built farm buildings, and set out shade trees. Not content with this 
homestead, he busied himself extensively in reducing wild lands for other 
farms in the neighborhood. At twenty years of age Alonzo M. FOSTER bought 
half of his father's estate on credit and carried on this property 
successfully for sixteen years. In 1866 he came into possession of a 
valuable property in Cabot, known as the "Old Camp Ground," or "Lyford Farm," 
where, although doing general farming, he has given his most energetic 
efforts to the manufacture of maple sugar, producing from an orchard of more 
than two thousand trees three to four tons annually, for which he finds a 
ready sale at home and abroad. The products of "Maple Grove Sugar Camp" are 
becoming known and appreciated throughout the country, and while Mr. FOSTER 
has for years led the column of Vermont producers, it is now, though 
unofficially as yet, learned that his sugar has received the highest award at 
the late World's Fair.

Mr. FOSTER acted with the Free Soil party in 1852, but since that time has 
voted the Republican ticket, and in 1864 and 1865 was sent as representative 
of the town of Cabot to the Vermont Legislature. He is a member of the 
Patrons of Husbandry; and was for years Master of Washington Grange of Cabot. 
Remote from city life, he has spent a useful and quiet existence among his 
native hills, esteemed and respected in the community in which fortune has 
cast his lot. On 20 April 1851 Mr. [Alonzo M.] FOSTER was united in marriage 
to Elsie W. [born about 1830 in Vermont], daughter of Charles [born in 
Massachusetts] and Susan (RICH) DUDLEY [born in Vermont], of Calais 
[Washington County, Vermont]. Their five children are: (1) Charles D., (2) 
Harry H., (3) Ina B. [born in Vermont about 1864], (4) Bernard M., and (5) 
Linnie D. [born about 1871 in Vermont. Additional approximate ages and 
birthplaces are from the 1880 Census enumeration of this family in Cabot, 
Washington County, Vermont. Note in the Washington County, Vermont, 
biography of Herbert Sidney FOSTER, that his parents are Sidney Herbert and 
Louisa R. (DUDLEY) FOSTER. Unknown to submitter, who is not researching this 
surname, if Louisa R. DUDLEY and Elsie W. DUDLEY were related.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly