Fresno County, California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


ERNEST WINTERTON FOSTER.� Born in Belmont County. Ohio, 
January 19, 1875, Ernest Winterton Foster comes from sturdy Irish stock 
on the paternal side. His father. J. B. Foster, was reared on a farm in Ohio. 
He made one trip to California, remained one year, and then went back to 
Ohio and farmed until his death. He was a member of the Ohio state militia 
during the Civil War and served in the Morgan raid. He married Lydia Ann 
Gitchel, who was born in the Buckeye State. She accompanied her husband 
to California ; and after the death of her husband, she returned to the Golden 
State and made this her home until her death. Her son Winterton took 
her remains back to Ohio, and she was buried beside her husband. There 
were eleven children in the Foster family, eight of whom are living, four of 
them being in California and the others in the East. 

The youngest child of his parents' family, E. W. Foster was reared on 
a farm back in Ohio, where he attended the public school of his district to 
secure an education. He was married in Monroe County, Ohio, in June, 1896, 
when he was twenty-one to Miss Clara Mann, a daughter of Allen and Cath- 
erine (Truax) Mann, both natives of Ohio and prominent citizens and farm- 
ers there. Allen Mann served in an Ohio regiment in the Civil War. He still 
resides in the vicinity of his old home, aged seventy-six years. On February 
21, 1897, Mr. and Mrs. Foster came to California and settled in Fresno 
County. Mr. Foster secured a position with what was then the K. and G. 
Fruit Company (now the Phoenix Fruit Company). His brother, J. E. 
Foster, was foreman of this company, and the location of their place of 
business was on the ranch now owned by our subject. In August of that 
same year, on account of the death of Mrs. Foster's mother, Mr. and Mrs. 
Foster returned to Ohio, where Mr. Foster leased the Mann farm and car- 
ried on operations there for years. His thoughts often wandered back to 
California, however, and in 1903 we find them back in the land of sunshine. 
He arrived in Fresno in February, the same month as on his first arrival in 
the state. With his brother he leased the Posson ranch, east of Fresno, and 
cultivated it one year, when the brothers dissolved partnership. E. W. Fos- 
ter then became superintendent of the Phoenix Fruit Company ranch, taking 
the position in the fall of 1904. and has continued in that position ever since. 

This company now own 700 acres, all in vineyard except 160 acres, which is 
devoted to raising grain. Mr. Foster has improved several ranches for the 
company, and has brought to his work the energy and efficiency so necessary 
to the successful management of a big enterprise. He employs from thirty 
to eighty hands in his development work, the land being under ditch irriga- 
tion, while he has also installed four pumping plants on the property. 

Mr. Foster has never regretted his return to the West. He has purchased 
a ranch of his own, consisting of forty acres, all in raisins, and here has built 
his residence, besides other necessary ranch buildings. A liberal and enter- 
prising man, he has earned a place in the county, and has materially aided in 
its development. Always interested in educational advancement, he has 
been trustee of Kutner Colony school district for the greater part of the 
past nine years. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Foster, four 
of whom are living: Fay, Beulah, Donald, and Bobbie. The family attend 
the First Christian Church in Fresno, of which Mrs. Foster is a member.