Unknown Publication 229 Biographical J. J. Foster J. J. Foster, of Cathlamet, democratic representative of the Twenty- fourth district, Wahkiakum county, was born in South Carolina in 1824; living there until his 21st year; in 1845 removed to Alabama, and for four years taught school there and in Mississippi; in 1849, catching the gold fever, he joined a party under Wm McEwan at St. Joseph, Mo., and started across the plains for the new Eldorado; four years were spent in the mines of California, and then learning of the gold fields of Australia he left California in 1853, and the ensuing six years were spent in mining in Australia; he returned to California in 1859 and resumed mining there and also in Idaho until 1864, when he came to Washington; selecting a farm in the Elochomin valley near Cathlamet, on the Columbia river, and has since devoted his time to farming; has served his county as probate judge, treasurer, superintendent of schools and county commissioner; in 1879 was selected as joint representative to the territory legislature for the counties of Wahkiakum and Cowlitz. (As transcribed by the Wahkiakum County Historical Society Museum from a old copy of the publication.)