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Portrait


History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon. Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon

WILLIAM WEBSTER FOSS SR. AND FAMILY          D.M.C.                   1876

     Silas Webster Foss was born in Vermont. His first wife's name was Sally Webster but there was no relationship between the two families. The children of Silas Webster Foss and Sally (Webster) Foss were: Sarah, who married Mr. Littlefield, Marie, who became Mrs. Smith, and William Webster Foss, who married Phebe Purser.
     After the death of his wife, Silas Foss married Miss Sargent, and they had one child, Ida. After the death of the husband and father Mrs. Foss with her daughter moved to California.
     William Webster Foss and family came West in the early seventies, visiting his stepmother in California. In 1875 they came to Portland, Oregon where remained about a year. Their second daughter died while residing in Portland and was buried in Lone Fir Cemetery. Another daughter, Ida, was born to them in 1875.
     Mrs. Foss's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Purser, moved to Hood River in 1876. Mr. Purser worked on the sanitarium being erected by Dr. W.L. Adams. One son, John Purser, with his family, located at White Salmon, Wm. Foss took land on the east side of Hood River in 1876.
     The family of Thomas Purser made their home in the log cabin on Indian Creek which was erected by James Benson, some twenty years previous. In this cabin Thomas Purser was taken sick and after a brief illness died.
     Wm. Foss built a small house near the road, and cultivated his land. In addition to his farm work, he worked for his neighbors, turning his hand to anything he could find to do. In December 1885, a son, William Webster, was born and in August 1887, another son, Lester. Lucy married Mr. Haskins of Newberg. Several years later she died, leaving two small sons, Dale and Frank.
     In 1898 a gravenstein orchard was planted on their place, and a year later a good substantial house was built near the orchard. Ida became a teacher and while thus employed at Trout Lake, was shot and killed by a jealous admirer.
     Mr. Foss was a devoted member of the M.E. Church, and often walked from his place on the east side to Belmont, going in the evenings after his day's work was done. As he became older he became quite deaf and often misunderstood what was said to him. While working for a neighbor, spraying apples, he was accidentally poisoned with the spray. After antidotes had been given and he was considered out of danger he died from heart failure. Lester was attacked with inflammatory rheumatism and after a protracted illness recovered but was never as well as before his illness.
     The son, William Webster attended Willamette University at Salem, and August 1912, was married to Ruth Coon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T.R. Coon of Hood River. They reside on the Foss ranch and have three children: Webster, Francis and Mildred. Mrs. Phebe Foss with her son Lester live on the old place in a cozy modern home. Thirty two acres are in bearing orchard, where Silver foxes and Chinchilla rabbits add interesting features to the farm.

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