Biographical Sketch of

Charles B. Foss

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 807 - 808 


Charles B. Foss, one of the extensive stock-raisers of Waushara County, resides on section 23, in the town 
of Oasis.  He was born in the town of Corinth, Vt., May 3, 1828, and is one of a family of seven children, 
whose parents, Moses and Hannah (Bowen) Foss, were also natives of Corinth.  In 1832 they removed to Franklin 
County, Vt., where the family was completed by the birth of six children, our subject being the only one born 
in Corinth.  Sarah, the next younger, became the wife of James McCormic, who is now deceased, and resides in 
Eagle Lake, Minn.; Annie is deceased; Ruth is the wife of Edgar Orr, of Iowa; George is a resident farmer of 
the town of Oasis, Waushara County; and Jason is Clerk of that town.
 
Throughout his entire life, Charles B. Foss has followed farming.  He was reared to that occupation and in 
the schools of Franklin County, Vt., acquired his education.  Having attained to years of maturity, he 
celebrated Independence Day of 1851, by his marriage with Miss Zilpha Blake, a native of Bangor, N. Y., 
born May 19, 1831. She was the daughter of John and Zilpha (Basford) Blake, who were early settlers of 
Pine Grove.  In their declining years they made their home with their daughter, Mrs. Foss.  The mother 
was a devout Christian, having united with the Methodist Church when but a girl.  When called away on 
Sept. 10, 1882, she was ready to meet the God in whom she had trusted so many years.  Her husband was 
one day later in crossing the river to join his companion on the other shore, dying the 11th of the 
same month.  For four years after their marriage they resided in the Empire State, but in 1855 came 
to Wisconsin, where Mr. Foss purchased forty acres of land in Almond Township, Portage County, where 
he made his home until 1863.  In that year he bought eighty acres of land on section 22 in the town 
of Oasis, and has since made his home.  He had hardly begun the cultivation of his land, however, 
before he was called by the Government to aid in the prosecution of the war.  He was mustered into 
service Dec. 17, 1863, and participated in the battles before Petersburg, June 16, 17, and 18, 1864.  
On the last day he was wounded in the left arm and as it unfitted him for field service he was engaged 
in guard duty, being placed in charge of the patrol at City Point, Va.  After two years' service he was 
mustered out, at Madison, in 1865.
 
Returning to his home Mr. Foss resumed farming which he has carried on with excellent success since that 
time.  He now owns 104 acres of highly improved land, and as before stated, is extensively engaged in 
stock-raising.  He makes a specialty of the breeding of Norman horses, and has some of the finest specimens 
of that stock in the county.  He has met with reverses in his path to prosperity, including the loss of his 
home in 1855, it being swept away by fire, but nothing daunted by his adversities he has labored on until 
he now possesses a comfortable competency.  He has witnessed the many changes which have taken place in 
Waushara County since 1855, and is numbered among the early settlers of the community.  In political 
sentiment Mr.Foss is a Republican and socially is a member of the G. A. R. Post of Plainfield.  His 
wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and although not a member himself, Mr. Foss gives 
liberally to its support and to all other worthy institutions calculated to benefit the community.
 
The union of our subject and his worthy wife has been blessed with the following children:  Hiram is 
living in Stevens' Point; Mary, the wife of Jerome Robinson, of the same city; Moses, a resident farmer 
of the town of Oasis, Waushara County; Emma, wife of Charles Dill, a dry goods merchant and druggist of 
Bancroft, S. D.; and Frank and Wilbur, who are still with their parents.  The father and mother of Mr. 
Foss also find with them a pleasant home, where they are surrounded by loving care and attention in their 
old age.
 
Since the foregoing was written, the mother of Mr. Foss has passed away.  She was a life-long member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, a devout Christian woman.  Her last words were, "Glory, hallelujah!  My blessed 
Lord and Master!"  Saying which her spirit took its flight. 






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