Henry A. Foster Papers

Special Collections, Texas Christian University Guide to the Henry A. Foster Papers Manuscript Group 5 Compiled by Jose Carlos de la Puente Fort Worth, Texas September 2006, March 2010

Henry A. Foster Papers (MS 5) - 2 Contents Overview of the Papers 3 Biographical Sketch 4 Description of the Papers 4 Inventory 5 Accession 2010-A-002 15

Henry A. Foster Papers (MS 5) - 3 Overview of the Papers Creator Foster, Henry A., 1814-1891. Title Henry A. Foster Papers, 1836-1904 (inclusive), 1850- (bulk). Physical description Arrangement Biographical sketch Summary 1.75 linear ft. Arranged in one series and one addition: I. Henry A. Foster Papers, 1836-1897. Accession 2010-A-002, 1836-1904. Henry Ancell Foster was born on July 18, 1814 in Tennessee. By late 1835, he had moved to Vernon, Mississippi. In 1836, he married Martha Ann Davis. During the 1830s and 1840s, Foster established a reputation as a plantation owner. The Fosters moved to Milam County, Texas, in 1852. Foster became involved with the cotton economy, trading bales for merchandise obtained from companies established along Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Henry A. Foster died on 19, 1891. The papers consist largely of personal and business correspondence to and from Henry A. Foster, roughly covering the period between 1836 and 1870. Some correspondence pertains to the Fosters and their relatives still living in Mississippi. Other letters, as well as notes, receipts, invoices, lists of purchases, and sales accounts, relate to Foster s business endeavors with trading firms operating in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana, especially during the 1850s and s. Provenance Gift of Mickey Schmid, 1995. Terms governing use Preferred citation For further Information Copyright has not been transferred to Texas Christian University. Henry A. Foster Papers. Special Collections, Mary Couts Burnett Library, Texas Christian University. Special Collections Mary Couts Burnett Library Texas Christian University TCU Box 298400 Fort Worth, TX 76129 Tel.: (817) 257-7108 Fax.: (817) 257-7282

Henry A. Foster Papers (MS 5) - 4 Biographical Sketch Henry Ancell Foster was born on July 18, 1814, in Tennessee (probably Franklin County). Very little is known about Foster s parents and early life. By late 1835, he had moved to Vernon, Madison County, Mississippi. On February 11, 1836, he married Martha Ann Davis, born 8, 1815, in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. The Davises lived in the Madison County area and, along with Foster, were involved in business enterprises such as land speculation, farming on a large scale, and commerce. During the 1830s and 1840s, Foster established a reputation as a plantation owner. The Fosters moved to Milam County, Texas, in 1852, just when local farmers had begun to grow more cotton and the number of slaves had begun to rise dramatically. Foster became involved with this cotton economy, trading bales for merchandise obtained from companies established along Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Martha Davis died before 1870. Henry A. Foster died 19, 1891. Description of the Papers The papers consist largely of personal and business correspondence to and from Henry A. Foster, roughly covering the period between 1836 and 1870. Some correspondence pertains to the Fosters and their relatives still living in Mississippi. Other letters, as well as notes, receipts, invoices, lists of purchases, and sales accounts, relate to Foster s business endeavors with trading firms operating in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana, especially during the 1850s and s. The documents have been transcribed and arranged chronologically. A previous inventory, also arranged by date and stored at the beginning of the collection, offers summaries of varying length, complemented with notes and comments. In this finding aid, documents covering a date range such as lists of purchases and sales accounts have been arranged according to the ending date, whereas in the old inventory they might appear according to the initial date.

Henry A. Foster Papers (MS 5) - 5 Henry A. Foster Papers, 1836-1897 Foster-Davis Family Papers inventory and research notes undated 1 Power of attorney, Alexander M. Austin to Drummer Mitchell January 13, 1836 Deed, John W. Leggitt to Henry Ancell Foster [photocopy] April 14, 1836 1 2 Deed of trust, H.A. Foster to Charles C. Garner & Lewis M. Garrett. Buckman, Madison [transcript only] Deed, H.A. Foster & Lewis M. Garrett to Charles C. Garner. Madison, Mississippi Promissory notes (3), Martha A. Foster to William Gartley & Robert V. Davis. Vernon, Mississippi Writ of attachment issued to Sheriff of Madison County, in the case of Susan Roland vs. Robert Martin. Madison, Mississippi H.A. Foster s account with Brander Williams & Co. New Orleans, Louisiana Brander, Williams & Co., invoice of articles shipped to H.A. Foster. New Orleans, Louisiana 5, 1839 June 14, 1841 27, 1843 January 18, 1847 January 26, 1847 February 23, 1847 3 4 5 6 7 8 Brander, Williams & Co., invoice of articles shipped by order and for H.A. Foster. New Orleans, Louisiana Letter, Brander, Williams & Co. to H.A. Foster. New Orleans, Louisiana April 5, 1850 9 April 6, 1850 10 H.A. Foster s current account with Brander, Williams & Co. April 24, 1850 11 Combined letter and invoice, Taylor & McCutchen to H.A. Foster. Vicksburg, Mississippi H.A. Foster s account with Taylor & McCutchen. Vicksburg, Mississippi October 1, 1850 May 22, 1851 12 13 Letter, William McCutchen to H.A. Foster. Vicksburg, Mississippi May 26, 1851 14 Brander, Williams & Co., invoice of merchandise shipped to H.A. Foster. New Orleans, Louisiana October 31, 1851 15

Henry A. Foster Papers (MS 5) - 6 Promissory note, H.A. Foster to Robert J. Davis. Vernon, Mississippi Letter, Brander, Williams & Co. to H.A. Foster. New Orleans, Louisiana Letter, Brander, Williams & Co. to H.A. Foster. New Orleans, Louisiana Letter, Brander, Williams & Co. to H.A. Foster. New Orleans, Louisiana Letter, Brander, Williams & Co. to H.A. Foster. New Orleans, Louisiana Letter, Brander, Williams & Co. to H.A. Foster. New Orleans, Louisiana Letter, P.A. Orrin & Co. to H.A. Foster. New Orleans, Louisiana [poor condition] Note, John T. Cameron to H.A. Foster. Canton, Mississippi [incomplete] 28, 1851 6, 1851 13, 1851 27, 1851 February 23, 1852 May 27, 1852 October 26, 1852 14, 1852 1 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Letter, Oscar Dawson Kearney to H.A. Foster. Vernon, Mississippi January 22, 1853 24 H.A. Foster s account with S.W. Kellogg of Wheelock, Texas. Wheelock January 22, 1853 25 Receipt, H.A. Foster to Jackson & Arick. Port Sullivan, Texas April 22, 1853 26 Letter, James P. Thomas to H.A. Foster. Bellevue, Canton, Mississippi Letter, James P. Thomas to Martha A. Foster. Bellevue, Canton, Mississippi 16, 1853 19, 1853 27 28 Note, Wm. H. Foster to B.F. Jameson January 9, 1854 H.A. Foster s account with Whitten & Foster. Port Sullivan, Texas March 1, 1854 Letter, J.W. Phillips to H.A. Foster. Jackson, Mississippi June 24, 1854 29 30 31 Letter, Van Alstyne & Taylor to H.A. Foster. Houston, Texas July 6, 1854 32

Henry A. Foster Papers (MS 5) - 7 Letter, J. Wilson and Mary Lane to H.A. and Martha Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi Jul 25, 1854 1 33 Letter, Van Alstyne & Taylor to H.A. Foster. Houston, Texas October 13, 1854 34 H.A. Foster s receipt from Van Alstyne & Taylor. Houston, Texas Letter, O.D. Kearney to H.A. Foster. Vernon, Mississippi 24, 1854 1854 35 36 Letter, J. William Lane to H.A. Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi January 6, Letter, O.D. Kearney to H.A. Foster. Vernon, Mississippi January 16, Note, H.A. Foster to J.P. Thomas February 20, Letter, L. Peel to H.A. Foster. Chappell Hill, Texas February 26, 37 38 39 2 40 Letter, Van Alstyne & Taylor to H.A. Foster. Houston, Texas [not included in inventory] July 31, 41 Letter, Rhodes Forrest & Co. to H.A. Foster. Factory Springs, Texas August 9, Note, J.J. Hodge to H.A. Foster [poor condition] September 4, H.A. Foster s account with E. Harlaw October 23, H.A. Foster s receipt from F.M. Hall 3, 42 43 44 45 Letter, B.L. Peel to H.A. Foster. Chappell Hill, Texas 28, 46 Letter, Susan Davis to Martha A. Foster. Madison County, Mississippi [photocopy, not included in inventory] January 47 Letter, J.P. Thomas to H.A. Foster. Vernon, Mississippi [poor condition, no transcript, not included in inventory] January 5, 48

Henry A. Foster Papers (MS 5) - 8 H.A. Foster s copy of land survey made in Milam County, Texas January 31, Note, J.W. Kellogg to H.A. Foster. Houston, Texas January 31, H.A. Foster s note with Van Alstyne & Taylor. Houston, Texas March 28, H.A. Foster s account with Van Alstyne & Taylor. Houston, Texas March 28, Letter, B.L. Peel to H.A. Foster. Chappell Hill, Texas April 25, Letter, Van Alstyne & Taylor to H.A. Foster. Houston, Texas April 29, Letter, E.B. Nichols & Co. to H.A. Foster. Galveston, Texas May 29, 2 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 H.A. Foster s list of purchases from Van Alstyne & Taylor. Houston, Texas June 11, 56 Letter, Van Alstyne & Taylor to H.A. Foster. Houston, Texas June 27, 57 Letter, Wilson Lane to H.A. Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi [poor condition] H.A. Foster s sales account of cotton sold to Van Alstyne & Taylor. Houston, Texas Van Alstyne & Taylor s note to H.A. Foster. Houston, Texas Letter, Joseph J. Davis to H.A. and Martha Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi H.A. Foster s notification of cotton received by Van Alstyne & Taylor. Houston, Texas Letter, Van Alstyne & Taylor to H.A. Foster. Houston, Texas Letter, Van Alstyne & Taylor to H.A. Foster. Houston, Texas September 5, October 6, 13, 26, 27, 29, 13, 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

Henry A. Foster Papers (MS 5) - 9 Letter, M.D. Luce to H.A. Foster. Taos, Texas January 2, Letter, James P. Thomas to H.A. Foster. Vernon, Mississippi February 19, Letter, Oscar Dawson Kearney to H.A. Foster. Vernon, Mississippi March 16, H.A. Foster s note to Van Alstyne & Taylor. Houston, Texas March 20, H.A. Foster s receipt from E. Harlaw April 17, Tax receipt made out to H.A. Foster April 23, 2 65 66 67 68 69 70 Letter, Joseph J. Davis to H.A. Foster. Carroll, Mississippi June 1, 71 Letter, A.W. Hutton to H.A. Foster June 14, Letter, Simon T. Lane to H.A. Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi August 20, Letter, Mary A. Lane to Martha Foster September 3, 72 73 74 Letter, Wilson Lane to H.A. Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi H.A. Foster s note to T. Sushy. Sterling, Texas September 28, September 30, 75 76 H.A. Foster s account with Van Alstyne & Taylor. Houston, Texas 1, 77 Letter, Van Alstyne & Taylor to H.A. Foster Letter, Charles Avera to William Henry Foster. Shongalo, Mississippi [photocopy] 20, January 2, 78 79 H.A. Foster s account with C.C. Hearne [incomplete] January 9, 80

Henry A. Foster Papers (MS 5) - 10 Letter, Joseph J. Davis to H.A. Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi January 19, 2 81 Letter, Oscar Dawson Kearney to H.A. Foster. Madison County, Mississippi January 30, 82 Letter, J. Wilson Lane and wife Mary Ann to H.A. Foster and Martha A. Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi April 9, 83 Letter, E.B. Nichols & Co. to H.A. Foster. Galveston, Texas April 15, H.A. Foster s account with C.C. Hearne c. April 15, Joseph J. Davis to William Henry Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi May 10, Letter, J.A. Avera to H.A. Foster. Shongalo, Mississippi May 12, 3 84 85 86 87 Letter, Joseph J. Davis to H.A. Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi June 9, 88 H.A. Foster s account with Van Alstyne & Taylor. Houston, Texas July 1, 89 H.A. Foster s account with E.B. Nichols & Co. Galveston, Texas July 12, 90 Letter, E.B. Nichols & Co. to H.A. Foster. Galveston, Texas July 15, 91 Letter, Oscar D. Kearney to H.A. Foster. Madison County, Mississippi August 8, 92 Letter, Joseph J. Davis to H.A. Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi [not included in inventory] Letter, Wilson Lane to H.A. Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi September 9, September 24, 93 94 Letter, Oscar Dawson Kearney to H.A. Foster. Vernon, Mississippi October 29, Letter, Joseph J. Davis to H.A. Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi 8, 95 96 Invoice of merchandise purchased by Henry A. Foster from S.H. Skiff Co. Houston, Texas 16, 97

Henry A. Foster Papers (MS 5) - 11 H.A. Foster s promissory note to Verplank Ackerman. Port Sullivan, Texas January 1, 3 98 H.A. Foster s promissory note to F.M. Bolinger or Barer January 1, H.A. Foster s account with Verplank Ackerman January 28, Letter, James P. Thomas to H.A. Foster. Vernon, Mississippi February 28, 99 100 101 Martha A. Foster s receipt from William Gartley c. February 102 Letter, S.H. Skiff & Co. to H.A. Foster. Houston, Texas March 30, H.A. Foster s tax receipt. Milam County, Texas May 25, Letter, J.H. Avera to H.A. Foster. Shongalo, Mississippi June 10, H.A. Foster s receipt from E.B. Nichols and Co. Galveston, Texas June 10, 103 104 105 106 Letter from unsigned individual, possibly O.D. Kearney, to H.A. Foster. Handsboro, Mississippi July 25, 107 Letter, E.B. Nichols and Co. to H.A. Foster. Galveston July 30, 108 Letter, C.H. Avera to William Henry Foster. Shongalo, Mississippi [photocopy] August 2, 109 William Henry Foster s promissory note to D.R. Beal August 23, 110 List of merchandise delivered to H.A. Foster by J.L. Sherrill. Hockley, Texas Peel & Dumble s statement to E.B. Nichols & Co. September 7, September 24, 111 112 Davis & Perry s receipt to George Grob October 8, 113

Henry A. Foster Papers (MS 5) - 12 E.B. Nichols & Company s sales account October 10, Pence & Bacon s receipt to E.B. Nichols & Co. [poor condition] October 29, H.A. Foster s credit receipt from E.B. Nichols & C. Houston, Texas October 29, 3 114 115 116 Frank &. Co. s price current list and circular announcing the death of S.H. Skiff. Houston, Texas [photocopy] Letter, Joseph D. Davis to H.A. Foster. Ceralvo, Mississippi [photocopy] H.A. Foster s account with Ferguson & Bro. [photocopy] Letter, J.H. Avera to H.A. Foster. Shongalo, Mississippi H.A. Foster s account with Davis & Berry Co. Port Sullivan, Texas [poor condition] 11, 5, 10, 26, 31, 117 118 119 120 121 Letter, J.H. Avera to H.A. Foster. Vaiden, Mississippi February 9, Letter, E.B. Nichols & Co. to H.A. Foster. Galveston, Texas February 14, Letter, J.W. Lane to H.A. Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi February 29, Letter, J.H. Avera to H.A. Foster. Vaiden, Mississippi March 16, 122 123 124 4 125 Letter, Joseph J. Davis to H.A. Foster. Ceralvo, Mississippi [poor condition] March 22, 126 Letter, J.H. Avera to H.A. Foster. Vaiden, Mississippi April 15, 127 H.A. Foster s invoice of merchandise purchased from Frank Fabj & Co. Houston, Texas April 18, 128 Tax receipt to H.A. Foster from J. Nabours April 27, 129

Henry A. Foster Papers (MS 5) - 13 Letter, J.H. Avera to H.A. Foster. Vaiden, Mississippi May 21, 4 130 E.B. Nichols account of sales June 5, 131 E.B. Nichols printed form to H.A. Foster July 1, 132 Letter, J.J. Davis to H.A. Foster. Ceralvo, Mississippi July 3, 133 Letter, J.H. Avera to H.A. Foster. Vaiden, Mississippi July 10, 134 H.A. Foster s account with F.R. Prohl July 28, 135 H.A. Foster s invoice from E.B. Nichols & Co. Galveston, Texas August 8, 136 Letter, E.B. Nichols &. Co. to H.A. Foster. Galveston, Texas [no transcript] H.A. Foster s invoice of merchandise bought of Frank Fabj & Co. Houston, Texas August 8, September 26, 137 138 Letter, C.N. Avera to William Henry Foster October 6, 139 Letter, E.B. Nichols & Co. to H.A. Foster H.A. Foster s account with H.W. Davis & Co. H.A. Foster s account with Ferguson & Bro. [photocopy] H.A. Foster s promissory note to Ferguson & Bro. Port Sullivan, Texas 21, 28, 29, January 1, 1861 140 141 142 143 H.A. Foster s statement from Frank Fabj & Co. Houston, Texas April 9, 1861 144 H.A. Foster s promissory note to Frank Fabj & Co. Houston, Texas October 7, 1861 H.A. Foster s invoice from F.M. Bagby. Houston, Texas October 24, 1861 145 146 H.A. Foster s account with Ferguson and Bro. 31, 1861 147

Henry A. Foster Papers (MS 5) - 14 Letter, William Henry Foster to Eliza Foster Steele. Dumfries, Virginia [photocopy] January 17, 1862 4 148 Letter, D.W.C. Rain to A.H. Muncey. Fort Clark, Texas October 3, 1862 149 Letter, Joseph J. Davis to H.A. Foster. Vaiden, Mississippi [poor condition] October 17, 1862 150 Letter, Sweet & Lacoste to H.A. Foster. San Antonio, Texas January 19, 1863 Letter, H.A. Foster to Sweet & Lacoste. Port Sullivan, Texas March 16, 1863 151 152 Letter, R.J. Jones, agent for Sweet & Lacoste, to H.A. Foster. San Antonio, Texas [poor condition] May 7, 1863 153 Letter, E.F. Buckner to H.A. Foster and Woodward. San Antonio, Texas Article of agreement between H.A. Foster and W.G. Kingsbury, agent of The San Antonio Mutual Aid Association. Port Sullivan, Texas H.A. Foster s receipt from S.B. Newman Letter, J.C. Roberts, agent for The San Antonio Mutual Aid Association Letter, Susan Calhoun to William Henry Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi June 13, 1863 13, 1863 17, 1863 February 18, 1864 March 4, 1864 154 155 156 157 158 H.A. Foster s confederate tax receipt March 25, 1864 H.A. Foster s tax receipt March 30, 1864 159 160 Letter, J. Wilson Lane to H.A. Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi April 3, 1864 161 Letter, Mary Ann Lane to Martha A. Foster. Black Hawk, Mississippi c. April 3 1864 162 H.A. Foster s tax-in-kind receipt April 6, 1864 163 Letter, J.J. Davis to H.A. Foster. Vaiden, Mississippi July 5, 1864 164

Henry A. Foster Papers (MS 5) - 15 H.A. Foster s voter s registration. Milam County, Texas August 31, 1865 Letter, L.M. Kingsley to Robert V. Foster. Hammondsport, New York September 6, 1866 4 165 166 Sharecroppers agreement between H.A. Foster and R.V. Foster and Freedmen & Women. Milam County, Texas Jan 1, 1867 167 Letter, Joseph J. Davis to H.A. Foster. Winona, Mississippi February 9, 1867 168 J.H. Littlefield & Company s account of sales of Robert V. Foster s cotton. Bryan, Texas J.H. Littlefield & Company s accounts of sales of Robert H.A Foster s cotton (2). Bryan, Texas William Henry Foster s bill of merchandise purchased from E. Parr. Terminus Texas Central Railroad 3, 1868 21, 1868 April 22, 1870 169 170 171 Foster family record c. 1895 172 Letter, Office of Controller to W.P. Blackburn. Austin, Texas [attached is H.A. Foster s internal revenue tax receipt for the year 1866, dated October 15, 1866] March 16, 1897 173 Receipt for lights & sash, presumed to be to H.A. Foster undated 174 Accession 2010-A-002, 1836-1904 The accession is a CD with word processing files transcribing the letters in the inventory above as well letters from Mildred Foster, various short writings concerning Foster family history, and a photo of a repatriation oath. Transcriptions of the letters above along with letters from Mildred Foster and short writings about Foster family history 1836-1904, undated 4 175