Foster farm and Foster Coal, scanned from Titus, Simmons, and Titus Atlas of Mahoning County, Ohio
When I was in elementary school, I used to spend several weeks in the summer with my grandparents who lived on Cohasset Drive off of Glenwood. One of the fun things we used to do was go over to Fosterville, particularly to go to matinees at the Foster theater. In later years, Mr. Paul’s Bakery was the place to go for baked goods and cakes for nearly every occasion, including weddings.
When I wrote last week about coal mining in Youngstown, I discovered who the Foster was in “Fosterville.” His name was Colonel Lemuel Talcott Foster and his family moved to the Youngstown area in 1825, when he was ten months old. He grew up working in his father Jonas sawmill and on his farm. He was also a boyhood friend of William McKinley, a friendship that lasted the rest of McKinley’s life.
During the Civil War he organized the First Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Calvary and was elected Colonel. He was involved in a number of engagements including the taking of Island No. 10 at Vicksburg. He also recruited effectively for what were then called the “colored” regiments.
Returning from the war, he devoted his energies to developing the three hundred acres he had acquired located where present day Indianola Avenue and Canfield Road meet Glenwood Avenue. He raised shorthorn cattle, there are records that he was a horse breeder, and he farmed. But perhaps what he was most known for was the Foster Coal Company and the high quality coal in the two mines on his property. The coal even won a gold medal at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.
His first wife bore a name also familiar in the nearby area. He and Florence Lanterman were married in March of 1869 and had two children before she passed in 1873. He married again in 1878 to Susannah B. Alexander.
As a business and civic leader he was a friend of politicians and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1878 and 1880, and for state senator in 1891. He also served as a Justice of the Peace for nine years and for six years as a township trustee.
Foster witnessed the beginning of the transition of the area from farming and mining to a residential area. The last mine closed in 1915. In the early 1890’s, when Volney Rogers was engaged in the creation of Mill Creek Park, he donated a twenty acre tract of land to the park. In 1895 the Youngstown Park and Fall Street Railway company was formed providing trolley service from downtown to a terminus in the Fosterville area in what would become Idora Park, which was situated at the end of the trolley line.
I have not been able to find any evidence of Foster’s involvement in either the Railway or Idora Park. I wonder if he was more focused on the enterprises on his own property including his spacious home. He possessed one of the largest personal libraries in the area with over 2,500 volumes. He passed away on September 7, 1911.
And now you know how Fosterville got its name.
Bob on Books 
Good local information.
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This is most interesting. Too bad we were too busy growing up and studying to realize the rich history behind our town and how it developed.
Bob I appreciate your research and posting for us now. As a mature adult I know what a treasure I had as a child. Thank you. Alice from Cali
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Thank, Alice. “Rich” is a good word. Learning about our history reminds me of how we need to preserve the good and build on it.
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My dad was a mailman in Fosterville for probably 20 years. He absolutely loved delivering mail in that area. This was in the early ‘60s after I was born into the late 70s or so.
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I wonder if he strip mined the coal or dug a shaft , a map would be a big help , but, would probably be imposable to find .
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My article on Coal Mining has some of this information. https://wp.me/p3OG7u-9gb
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My father grew up in the fosterville area. He always talked about playing football there as a kid and what a great neighborhood it was. He went to South High and on to Notre Dame. He had great stories about himself, Cyril James, “Busty” Ashbaugh, Kenny Wakeford,Jack Cramb, etc..His name was Bob Dove and he lived on Woodford Ave.
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Thanks for adding your dad’s story to this account!
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Wow!!! This is so interesting!! I lived on the corner of Glenwood and Boston. My 2nd home was Fosterville.. so many many find memories with my neighborhood friends♥️
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Thanks for adding your memories!
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Grew up in Fosterville and still live in the same house today. It’s no longer what it was while I was growing up and that’s sad. No Mr Pauls Bakery, no Sparkle, no Parkers Frozen Custard and no Idora Park, but it’s a neighborhood that’s at least trying to make a comeback. No neighborhood in Youngstown will ever be the same as it was but we can hope, pray and work to make them the best that they can be in a new and different way. Thank you for your stories I truly enjoy reading them and have learned much. J.Lynn
P.S. By the way Col Foster had shaft mines. I remember when one collapsed under a garage on Hylda Ave late 70′ or early 80’s. I think there was another collapse as well but don’t remember when or where.
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Thank you for adding to the story. Glad the neighborhood is trying to make a comeback. Bought many cakes at Mr. Paul’s.
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I grew up on Sherwood near Vonley Rd. It was a wonderful place. Actually, there was almost no reason to leave Glenwood Ave. unless you needed new clothes. We had doctors, dentist, bowling, drugstores, grocery, Italy’s, Elsie’s and so much more.
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Thanks for adding your story to these memories of Youngdtown!
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I lived on Sherwood and work on ldora park in 1946 and47 went swimming at ldora park
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Col Lemuel Talcott Foster was my great grandfather, his daughter Lida Foster married Walter H Stulen, (my grandparents) Col L.T. Foster second wife Susanna Alexander was the granddaughter of Hugh Baird who some think might be one of the earliest settlers in the Youngstown area.
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Thank you sharing this family history!
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