Zach Ralph Foster

Zach Ralph Foster

• Zach Ralph Foster was born on 21 March 1873 in Nebraska.
• He married Gertrude Mabel Mead, daughter of Merritt Isaac Mead and Sarah M. Wight, circa 1896.
• Zach Ralph Foster and Gertrude Mabel Mead appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Garfield, Brown County, Nebraska. Other members of the household included Guy Clayton Foster. Also in the household was son Earnest G. (age 3).
• He was a farmer, according to the 1900 census.
• The following appeared on 9 November 1907 in The Norfolk Weekly News-Journal: (Ainsworth, Nov. 4) There is quite a bit of activity in real estate in this vicinity of late--more so than usual. W. S. Moore has sold his half section near Meadville to Zack Foster for $11,000. Moore will come to Ainsworth to live. The county is overrun with buyers from the eastern part of the state, from Iowa and from Illinois. But why shouldn't it be? The fame of our big potato crop has gone out, and men of money are wanting to get hold of land that can produce like that. The Canadian land boomers are wont to tell this man and that man who raised enough wheat on their places this year to pay for the land. J. M. Hill raised enough oats on his land near Ainsworth this year to more than pay for his land. Many farmers have raised enough potatoes this year to buy two such farms as they cultivate. There is no use to go to Canada for such productiveness. . . .
• Zach Ralph Foster and Gertrude Mabel Mead appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Garfield, Keya Paha County, Nebraska. Other members of the household included Guy Clayton Foster. Also in the household were children Glen (age 13), Leon (6), Gladys (8) and Alta (4).
• He was a farmer, according to the 1910 census.
• Zach Ralph Foster became a widower at the 14 June 1916 death of his wife Gertrude Mabel Mead.
• Zach Ralph Foster registered for the draft on 12 September 1918 in Brown County, Nebraska, while a widower with three children living in Ainsworth, and self-employed there farming.
• The following appeared on 14 August 1919 in the Lincoln Evening State Journal: (Ainsworth, Aug. 14) Corn is looking fine. The recent rains have given it a big boost. Potato prospects are not so good. . . .
       Zach Foster has sold his 80-acre farm near this city for $150 an acre. W. H. Lines of Springview was the purchaser.
• Zach Ralph Foster appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Johnstown, Brown County, Nebraska. Also in the household was Son Leon (age 15), and also Earl Randall and his family -- he employed working on the farm, his wife as housekeeper, and their three young children.
• He was a farmer, according to the 1920 census.
• Zach Ralph Foster appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Garfield, Nebraska. Also in the household were children Leon A. (age 25) and Alta L. (23).
• He was a farmer, according to the 1930 census.
• Zach Ralph Foster appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Garfield, Nebraska. Also in the household were Earl Randall and his family, working on the farm as they were in 1930.
• He was a farmer, according to the 1940 census.
• Zach Ralph Foster died on 26 December 1944 at age 71.
• He was interred at Ainsworth Cemetery, Ainsworth, Brown County, Nebraska.

• Last Edited: 18 Nov 2016