Foster, Stephen
(04 July 1826–13 January 1864)
- Deane L. Root
Extract
Foster, Stephen (04 July 1826–13 January 1864), songwriter, was born Stephen Collins Foster in Lawrenceville (now part of Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania, the son of William Barclay Foster and Eliza Clayland Tomlinson. His father, of Scots-Irish ancestry, had an early career as a merchant and trader. He owned, named, and subdivided the hillside town of Lawrenceville overlooking the Allegheny River; dedicated some of its land as a burial ground and memorial for the soldiers of the War of 1812; and with his own funds helped equip Colonel ...
