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Nathaniel Caldwell Foster Papers, 1830-1936

 Collection
Identifier: Eau Claire Mss O

Content Description

Fragmentary records of Foster, a native of New York state who came to Wisconsin in 1854 and became a prominent lumberman and logging railroad operator headquartered at Fairchild after 1876. The collection contains political correspondence with representative James A. Frear; miscellaneous business papers including land titles, maps, mortgages, and financial records pertaining to his land and timber investments in Eau Claire and Clark counties; a few records relating to the Fairchild and Northwestern Railroad constructed by Foster in 1913; and a journal, 1908-1936, of the N.C. Foster Lumber Company. One folder contains land deeds and other business papers, 1830-1870, concerning Daniel Bread and the first Christian Party of the Oneida Nation of Indians.

Dates

  • Creation: 1830-1936

Creator

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public.

Use Restrictions

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. For more information regarding the copyright status of this collection please contact the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Biographical/Historical Note

Nathaniel C. Foster, lumberman, railroad builder, and businessman, was born at Owego, New York, on January 6, 1834. He moved to Wisconsin in 1854, where he operated a sawmill, first at Fort Howard, and after 1876 at Fairchild. Mr. Foster acquired large tracts of timberland in Eau Claire and Clark counties, and in 1891 organized the N.C. Foster Lumber Company at Fairchild. To facilitate his lumbering operations, Mr. Foster built a logging railroad from Fairchild to Mondovi in 1882. In 1913, he constructed the Fairchild and Northwestern Railroad.

Extent

1.95 Linear Feet (1/2 archives box, oversize box (contains 2 volumes))

Language of Materials

English

Summary

Fragmentary records of Foster, a native of New York state who came to Wisconsin in 1854 and became a prominent lumberman and logging railroad operator headquartered at Fairchild after 1876. The collection contains political correspondence with representative James A. Frear; miscellaneous business papers including land titles, maps, mortgages, and financial records pertaining to his land and timber investments in Eau Claire and Clark counties; a few records relating to the Fairchild and Northwestern Railroad constructed by Foster in 1913; and a journal, 1908-1936, of the N.C. Foster Lumber Company. One folder contains land deeds and other business papers, 1830-1870, concerning Daniel Bread and the first Christian Party of the Oneida Nation of Indians.

Wisconsin Historical Society Descriptive Finding Aid

A duplicate copy of the information in this finding aid is also available through the Wisconsin Historical Society: Register of the Nathaniel Caldwell Foster Papers, 1830-1936

Acquisition Information

Presented by Mrs. H. H. Thomas, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October, 1953.

Processing Note

Processed by Jack T. Ericson, January 20, 1967.

Status
Published
Author
Julie Hatfield
Date
March 5, 2024
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Eau Claire Area Research Center, McIntyre Library, UW-Eau Claire Repository

Contact:
103 Garfield Avenue
Eau Claire Wisconsin 54701 United States
715-836-2739