From The Settlement of Prince Edward County by Nick and Helma Mika. Transcribed here by Linda Herman

Pioneers of Prince Edward County 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

THE FOSTER FAMILY

Removed from Dutchess Co., NY to Sophiasburgh. 

William was the first member of the Foster family to arrive in Sophiasburgh from Dutchess County in New York State. He traded a horse for one hundred and fifty acres of land on the Marsh Front, and purchased a further one hundred and fifty acres. He married Elizabeth Reid. Four years later, William's brother, Joseph, arrived in the county.

Both William and Joseph were highly regarded by the native people in the acres, to whom they had shown great kindness. Joseph stayed with William for one winter, assisting him with his farm chores. In the spring, he went to work on Daniel Way's farm, and retained his position there for approximately one year. At the close of this period of time, Joseph purchased two hundred acres on Concession 2 of Sophiasburgh. Joseph was a large and powerful man, both qualities which stood him in good stead in the rigorous activities of clearing his land and establishing a farming enterprise in a wilderness area.

By the time his three sons were grow, Joseph found himself the proud owner of nine or ten hundred acres of land. The three boys, William, Asa, and Joseph, all settled in Sophiasburgh. William did not marry. Asa married Mary A. Miller, and upon her death, Lucretia Morden. Joseph married Lydia Osborne. Their father's property was divided among them in three equal portions, and was passed down within the family. Joseph, the pioneer, lived until 1830, aged sixty-one. His wife, the former Elizabeth Giles, lived to be ninety-three years of age.