Thomas Sampson Foster died at the home of his sister, Mrs. George D. Ford, 2828 Forest Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday night, October 30, 1913. In the April, 1911 issue of "Southwest" an extended article appeared descriptive of the life and work of Thomas S. Foster. At the time Mr. Foster was leaving Texas to take up his permanent abode at Kansas City, owing to the ravages of a disease which at times incapacitated him from work. Today, after a lapse of two and one half years "Southwest" is obliged to announce Mr. Foster's death after a long and steadfast battle carried on wherever science held out hope.
One by one the giant limbs of the lumber trade of the Southwest are being lopped off. Time has ravaged the ranks of those who have made illustrious history in its business world. To be obliged to record the death of Thomas S. Foster is to retrace one's steps a bit, for although this man was one of the real pioneers of the business and made a name which will long live in the lumber annals, he was nevertheless a young man, just in his prime, just at the age when he should have been able to exercise his greatest creative abilities and to enjoy the results of a life well planned and lived.
No more striking man than Tom Foster ever affiliated with the banking, manufacturing and commercial interests of the Gulf Coast country. He was a man of affairs whose aid and advice was constantly sought by the best financiers and promoters in Texas. Of a natural reticent disposition he was one to bring great thought to bear upon every detail which occupied his mind. Slow to act, he was as firm as adamant once his mind had been set. His presence on the street, in the office, at conventions, everywhere, was one of kind and quiet dignity, which was mellowed by a quiet humor, in which he delighted to indulge. His great voice was that of a man of decision and weight, its sonorous intonations were pleasing to the ear and made him in any circles, a man of force.
Aside from his well-known devotion to business and business ethics of the most far reaching character, Mr. Foster was nevertheless one of the kindest hearted of men, and was generous to a fault when called upon by those in distress.
The decease lumberman was for a number of years head of Trinity River Lumber Company, and also was the representative in Texas of the mill interests of Foster Lumber Company. Mr. Foster's illness was assigned as reason for the recent sale of his holdings in the Walker County Lumber Company at Elmira, Texas. Thomas S. Foster was vice-president of Foster Lumber Company, and devoted much of his time to the southern interests of the company. As the yellow pine industry developed he acquired extensive personal holdings in timber land and sawmills. The first mill of the company was built at Beach, Texas, on the Santa Fe Railroad, and in 1905 he built the big mill at Fostoria which was opened in 1906 and which has been a valuable property from the start.
The funeral services were conducted at the Ford residence - Dr. Arnold, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. The pallbearers were J. B. White, Charls S. Keith, George Fowler, Duval Jackson, M. M. Riner, George Hope, A. V. Alexander and J. W. Garvey.
