Unknown Publication-Date Unknown J. J. Foster Family Holds Reunion The second annual reunion of descendants of Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Foster, early pioneers of Wahkiakum County, was held at the Elochoman Grange hall last Sunday, 36 people attended the reunion which included 28 direct descendants, seven spouses and one visitor. The J.J. Foster family was the third family to settle in the Elochoman valley coming to this county in 1864 and their son, James, was the first white child born in the Elochoman Valley. J.J. Foster served as a legislator in the 1879 Washington Territorial Legislature representing Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties and served in the 1893-1894 Washington State Legislature representing Wahkiakum county. He also served Wahkiakum county as probate judge, treasurer, superintendent of schools and county commissioner. It is interesting that his great granddaughter, Phyllis Wika, is presently serving as county clerk. Eleven children were born to the J.J. Fosters, ten sons and one daughter. Of these, seven sons were born in Cathlamet, one son in Australia, one son in Washington Territory, now a part of Idaho, and one daughter and one son in Oregon. The daughter, Ellen, died at the age of three (diphtheria) and one son died at an early age in Cathlamet. The remaining nine sons were raised on the family farm in the Elochoman Valley which was later divided into three farms for the three youngest sons, Frank, Charles and Neil Foster. The Mitchell Doumits now own the Neil Foster farm. The other six sons settled in Grays Harbor county. J.J. Foster was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, October 29, 1824 on the family plantation. He taught school for a time in Alabama and Mississippi and then came by wagon train to California for the gold rush of 1849. From California he went to Australia to mind gold and there he met and married Margaret Boyd of Londonberry, Ireland. Descendants living in this area who attended the reunion were: Mayme Risk Foster, great granddaughter, and Lori Wise, great-great granddaughter of Portland, Ore; Elizabeth Doumit, granddaughter, and husband, Mitchell Doumitl; Phyllis Wika, great granddaughter, and husband Ozzie Wika; Mary Doumit Thomas, great granddaughter; Michael Thomas, great great grandson; Michelle Thomas, great great granddaughter. The above all live in Cathlamet and are descendants of Robert Neil Foster. Others attending the reunion were: Elsie Barker and Barbara Barker of Eugene, Ore; Ernest Foster of Florence, Ore; descendants of the eldest son, John Garland Foster. Herb Bowen, Grace Bowen Glenn and husband of Montesano, descendants of son, Henry Foster. Margaret Foster Kelly, George Foster, Hazel Foster Eaton and husband, Verda Foster Voll, Dave Voll, Karen and John Voll of Portland, Ore; descendants of Frank Foster. Orland and Mrs. Foster of Olympia, descendants of Charles Foster. Irene Foster, Elva Foster Long, James L. Fister and James M. Foster of the Seattle area, Henry and Mrs. Foster of Elma, John and Mrs. Buchanan, Jody Buchanan and Jeffrey Buchanan of North Bend, Wa., all descendants of the son, James Foster. Mrs. Art Wright, a descendant of the fourth family to settle in the Elochoman Valley, the Thomas Kent family, also attended the reunion for a short time. (As transcribed by the Wahkiakum County Historical Society in 2007.)