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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Hempstead County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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W. Y. Foster, president of Hempstead County Bank, Hope, Ark. Among the monetary institutions of Hope, the Hempstead County Bank merits a prominent place, and the prosperity and financial standing of this bank place it among the most substantial institutions of Southwest Arkansas. Mr. Foster, the president of the bank, is a native of Columbia County, Ark., his birth occurring in July, 1851, and he was reared in Union and Columbia Counties, Ark., receiving his education in Mount Holly of the former county. On account of the war and reconstruction interfering, his education was rather limited, and being just old enough for farm work, assisted his father on the farm until twenty-one years of age. In September, 1873, he came to Hope, Ark., this being the year Hope began, and in December of that year embarked in the mercantile business with his father, the firm, being known as W. B. Foster & Co. This continued for three years, and was one of the first mercantile firms of Hope. In 1876 he embarked in the hardware business with a capital of $400, and continued until 1887, when he sold out and started in the banking business, and continued it as a private bank for two years, doing the largest business of the kind in this part of Arkansas. He then, finding the business increasing so fast, organized and became president of the Hempstead County Bank. Mr. Foster was married in 1875, to Miss Zora Crowson, a most estimable lady of Magnolia, Ark. They have three bright children: Lillie, Charles and Young. Mr. Foster is very enterprising, and has been foremost in every move for the development of his town. He is the owner of considerable real estate in Hope, among which are some of the best buildings of the city, and he also is the owner of valuable real estate in Hot Springs and nice farming lands near Hope. He is one of the prominent men of the county, and has been successful in his business career. His parents, Dr. W. B. and C. A. (McRae) Foster, were natives of North Carolina and Alabama, respectively. They moved to Arkansas in 1844, settling in Union County, where the father practiced his profession for some time, and went from there to Columbia County, Ark. There his father cultivated the farm and practiced his profession until 1875, and at the opening of the Civil War owned a nice land and negro property. In 1875 he came to Hope, Hempstead County, Ark., where he still resides. He graduated at the University of New Orleans, and is a physician of much experience and merit. Mr. Foster is very proud of his native State, and is a dear lover of the South.

 

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This family biography is one of 131 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Hempstead County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Hempstead County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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