JOHN B. FORESMAN, JR. This venerable man, now in his eighty-fourth year, who with firm step and unclouded mind still walks the streets of his home Village of Brook, and during a long and useful life in this section of Indiana witnessed almost its entire development and has borne a share in the course of its progress. His life has been replete with experience and achievement, and the persistent honor paid to a character of rigid honesty and integrity. For more than forty years he has been a resident of Newton County. He was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, September 28, 1832, a son of Robert and Sarah (Baer) Foresman. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and of Irish descent and the mother was a native of Ohio. The latter died in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, while Robert Foresman died in Kansas and is buried at Mound Valley in Labette County. The mother was laid to rest at Dayton in Tippecanoe County. In November 1833, the Foresman family arrived in Tippecanoe County, first locating in Lafayette, but in the following year moving to Wild Cat Prairie. John B. Foresman grew to manhood in Tippecanoe County and he attended some of the most primitive of the pioneer schools in that section of the state. The first notable event and achievements of his career was in 1840, when he was eight years of age. He had been given a pig by his father, and raised it carefully; and he exhibited the grown animal at the first agricultural show ever held in Tippecanoe County. The hog was awarded first prize and Mr. Foresman still cherishes the cup, which was given as a symbol of the award. On April 5, 1915, Mr. and Mrs. Foresman celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding. At that time they were one of the oldest married couples living in the state, and hundreds of friends and well wishers are ready to congratulate them upon their sixty-first wedding anniversary. Mr. Foresman was married at Attica, Indiana, to Minerva C. Davis. The Davis family came from Vermont. To their union were born twelve children. William D., who lives in Oklahoma, married Ella Royal, and their two sons are Ray and Ivan. The second son, Frederick R., is now deceased. Sallie, the oldest daughter, died in childhood. Alice lives at home with her parents. Ida is the wife of E. E. Hess of Brook. Mary is Mrs. John Gwaltney and lives in California. Matilda is Mrs. Clarence Sunderland. Jeanette is the wife of John O. Sunderland. Fannie M. and Jessie both died young. John B. Foresman, Jr., has for years been in active business at Foresman, and by his marriage to May Lowe has two daughters named Leona and Grace. Frank, who lives in Oklahoma, married Mabel Welden, and their son is named John B. III. When Mr. and Mrs. Foresman started housekeeping they looked into the future with courage and were not daunted by their present poverty. Mr. Foresman bought everything on credit, which he needed to begin housekeeping, and the subsequent accomplishment in material accumulations and in the rearing of a fine family of children entirely justifies the start he and his loyal wife made so many years ago. In 1872, Mr. Foresman moved from Tippecanqe County to Iroquois Township in Newton County and has since had his home in that township. In 1903 he retired from active business and he and his wife have since lived quietly retired in Brook. As a business he followed general farming and stock raising and at one time he had about 700 acres of land, but since has sold or given to his children considerable quantities and has now about 380 acres besides some town property. In 1880, Mr. Foresman established the first tile factory in Newton County. The factory was on his farm, and he used most of the product at first, for tiling his own land. He was a pioneer in tiling and his efforts in that line at first excited considerable ridicule. During the years 1883 and 1885, he was unable to sell enough tile to justify the operation of his plant, and then a few years later his plant could not make enough to supply the demand. He continued manufacturing tile for some ten or twelve years. The little Village of Foresman, a station on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Branch Railroad to La Crosse, was named in his honor, and he gave the right of way through his land. This road was originally built under the name Chicago & Great Southern. Mr. Foresman is one of the few original Republicans still living. He cast his first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont back in 1856. His father was a Whig. Mr. Foresman served as township trustee four years, from 1876 to 1880, inclusive, and during that time he made the first large levy for school purposes, the largest ever made in the county up to that time. During his term he increased the school year in his township from three to seven months, its present standard, erected three new schoolhouses, and reseated eight others. Mr. And Mrs. Foresman are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he helped toward building the church and at one time served as steward. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Brook, is a past master, and is said to be one of the oldest Masons in Indiana, having taken his first degree in the lodge at Dayton more than half a century ago. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. 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