Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Skip Navigation Links > >

Foster, Major J. "M.J."

House 1857-58 (District 9); House 1864 (District 14)

Party when first elected:  Not Available

Counties Served:  Fillmore

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: ??/??/1823
Birth Place: Pennsylvania
Birth County:
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: ??/??/1886
Gender: Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: M.J.
City of Residence (when first elected): Forestville
Occupation (when first elected): None Listed

EDUCATION

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Eliza J. Riddle (married in 1850)
Children: Six children: J. W., Catharine, Sarah, John, Mary, and Josephine
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He came to Minnesota in 1854.

Total Days Served: 1099

SESSIONS SERVED

6th Legislative Session (1864)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 14
Elected: 11/3/1863
Residence: Forestville
Term of Office: 1/5/1864 to 1/2/1865
Counties Represented: Fillmore
Occupation: Farmer
Party: Not Available
Committees:
  • Railroads
  • Roads and Bridges (Chair)
  • Towns and Counties

1st Legislative Session (1857-1858)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 09
Elected: 10/13/1857
Residence: Forestville
Term of Office: 12/2/1857 to 12/6/1859
Counties Represented: Fillmore
Occupation: None Listed
Party: Not Available
Committees:
  • State Prison (Chair)
Session Notes: He was sworn in on December 3, 1857. An 1858-59 session was not held due to the protracted session of 1857-58. (Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1872, p. 66) Thus, even though the first session was adjourned on August 12, 1858; the term end date for it is listed as the day before the second legislative session's start date.
Photographs
Major J. Foster of Forrestville, member of the First State Legislature (ca. 1858) From the Minnesota Historical Society's Visual Resources Database

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.