Washington

FOSTER-EDDY, E. J.

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 8-9 of 
20 unnumbered leaves (portrait p 9)

E. J. FOSTER-EDDY, of Boston [Suffolk County, Massachusetts], was born [no 
date is given] in Moretown [Washington County, Vermont], his father being one 
of the conspicuous citizens of that place. [The subject being later adopted 
may be the reason his birthdate and the name of his natural father are not 
given by the author.] As a boy he attended the public schools up to the age 
of fifteen, when he enlisted as a drummer in Company B, Tenth Vermont 
Regiment, being one of the youngest to go to the front from Vermont. Slight 
and fair and much resembling a girl, he was given the soubriquet of "Little 
Nellie, or Daughter of the Regiment," and was a great pet among the men of 
the regiment. [His portrait shows him with a large mustache and half bald.] 
At Conrad's ferry in 1863, the surgeon thought best to send the boy to the 
hospital for some slight indisposition, but his comrades gave him such a 
frightful picture of hospital life that he declined to go and he remained 
with the regiment until it was mustered out of service.

On the organization of the regimental band he joined it, and became 
proficient as a performer. He won quite a name for himself as a soloist and 
still has in his possession the alto horn given him by the regiment. 
Returning from war he resumed his studies with a few of entering the medical 
profession, was drilled to some extent in allopathy, but afterward attended 
Hahnemann Homeopathic Medical College in Philadelphia, from which he was 
graduated, receiving the title of M. D. Afterward he graduated from the 
Massachusetts Metaphysical College [founded by his adoptive mother, who 
taught spiritual healing there], receiving a degree of C. S. D. [a degree in 
Christian Science), and began the practice of his profession in Vermont.

He came to Boston in 1889. The year previous [1888?] he was legally adopted, 
under Massachusetts laws, by Rev. Mary B. G. EDDY of Boston, and Eddy was 
added to his former name. He is known in Boston as Dr. FOSTER-EDDY. He is a 
private student in the Emerson College of Oratory of Boston, is president of 
the National Christian Science Association, a member of Stetson post, Grand 
Army of the Republic, of Waterbury [Washington County, Vermont], in which he 
has held nearly all the offices, was on the staff of Department Commander P. 
T. BLODGETT of the Vermont department, G. A. R., and is a member of the 
Vermont Veteran's Association of Boston, of which he is now president. Dr. 
EDDY [FOSTER-EDDY?] lives on Commonwealth Avenue in one of the most beautiful 
homes in Boston.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly