Person:Firmer Foster (1)

Foster, Firmer P. Columbia City Post - Whitley County, Indiana Tuesday July 13, 1971

Firmer P. Foster, 73 of 332 North Elm street, who for more than 50 years was associated with the trucking business here, died at 9:02 p.m. Monday at the Whitley County Hospital. Six years ago, he suffered a stroke of apoplexy and had been in failing health since that time, his condition being complicated with diabetes and circulatory failure. He entered the hospital the last time on Wednesday, July 7. Mr. Foster was native of South Whitley, and was born on October 31, 1897, a son of Asa L. and Pearl LaVerne Souder Foster. When only a small boy he came with his parents to Columbia City where at the age of 16 he began helping his father with the dray business. At that time they owned a wagon and team of mules and the business was operated as the Foster Dray Line. They transported merchandise from the local railroad depots to the various business houses. In 1915, they purchased the first truck in Columbia City, and in 1920, he became a full partner with his father in the Foster and Son Truck Line. In 1935 they were granted a permit as a common carrier and operated the line between Columbia City and Fort Wayne. Asa Foster, senior member of the firm, died in 1950, and at that time Firmer Foster became the sole owner of the firm. When his health began to fail, he sold the business to the Columbia City Freight Line in October 1956. On September 26, 1917, he was united in marriage to the former Henrietta M. Souder. Their first home was on East Jackson street and in 1928 they moved to their present home on North Elm street. Mr. Foster was a member of the First Baptist Church. He was a former trustee of the church, and for a number of years sang in the church choir. The surviving relatives, in addition to his wife, Henrietta, include one son, Jack Lee Foster, R. 3; one daughter, Mrs. Joy I. Knisely, 1324 West Birch Street, San Bernardino, Calif.; seven grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; one sister, Mrs. Richard (Eva) Wenner, City. The body is at the Smith and Sons Funeral Home where friends may call from 7 to 9 this evening and after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. Frank Smith, pastor of the First Baptist Church, will officiate at the funeral service to be held Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at the Funeral Home. Committal services and burial will follow the funeral home rites in the Nolt cemetery.

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1. ↑ Find A Grave
   Memorial# 5134484.
2.   Robbins, Oscar Burton. History of the Jackson family of Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y., Ohio and Indiana: descendants of Robert and Agnes Washburn Jackson. (Loveland, Colo.: Robbins, 1951)
   235.
3.   Obituary.