Lafayette L. Foster

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This article is about the Texas politician and journalist. For the U.S. Senator, see Lafayette S. Foster.

L. L. Foster
George Cassety Pendleton
Member of the
Texas House of Representatives
In office
January 9, 1883 – January 11, 1887
Preceded byRobert A. Kerr
Succeeded byAlbert Collins Prendergast
Constituency62nd district
In office
January 11, 1881 – January 9, 1883
Preceded byJames Petty Brown
Succeeded byJohn Marks Moore
(Redistricting)
Constituency42nd district
Personal details
Born
Lafayette Lumpkin Foster

(1851-11-27)November 27, 1851
Waco University
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Laura Pender
​
(m. 1875)​
Children7

Lafayette Lumpkin Foster (November 27, 1851 – December 2, 1901) was an American journalist and politician. A bureaucrat that held various positions in the state government of Texas, Foster was a member of the boards of both Baylor University and the

Waco
.

Early life

Lafayette Lumpkin Foster was born on November 27, 1851, in

Waco University.[6][7] At Waco, Foster specialized his studies in Mathematics and Latin, but did not graduate. He began attending the university in 1872 and in 1873 he listed the town of Groesbeck as his home.[8] He attended the university before it merged with Baylor University, then located in Independence, in 1886.[9] Foster was one of the leaders in the negotiation for the merger of the two universities into Baylor University in Waco.[10]

Journalism career

Foster moved to Groesbeck in November 1873, starting a newspaper, the Limestone New-Era,[11] on November 19, 1876. He was the papers editor, proprietor, and publisher. He soon after entered politics, leaving the paper in 1890,[12] when it began to consume too much of his time.[6] He was a founding member and the seventh president of the Texas Press Association in Austin from 1886 to 1887.[12] During his term as president of the press association, Foster and Charles E. Gilbert purchased the Dallas Herald on June 7, 1886.[13] Foster sold his interest in the paper to Gilbert later the same year.

Political career

He ran for the

President of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas by the Board of Directors of the college. He served in this position for three years, until his death in 1901.[4][12]

Baptist and Baylor University activities

Foster became an unordained minister

Galveston, October 3 to October 6, 1874.[3]: 24–25  Foster was appointed president of the Baptist General Association of Texas convention on July 24, 1885.[25] He was also present during the meeting between the "board of trustees of Waco University, Baylor University and Baylor Female College with the committees appointed by the Texas Baptist State Convention and the Baptist General Association of Texas" at the "Baptist House of Worship, Temple, on December 9, 1885." At this meeting, he was also appointed "to present a basis for the consolidation of the schools." This committee decided

1. That Waco University and Baylor Universities be consolidated.
2. The name of the school would be Baylor University.
3. That Baylor University be located in Waco, and we further agree that the female department be continued there now as it exists…[10]

He was president of the Baptist General Association of Texas convention in 1890.[26]

He was listed as the secretary from Austin for the Baptist General Association of Texas convention of 1894.[27] Foster was a member of the Board of Trustees of Baylor University between 1890 and 1896.[28]

President of the A&M College of Texas

Foster helped plan the college.[7] As president, he was an early advocate for the admission of women into the college.[29] While president, Foster permitted the first female students to enroll. Twin sisters Mary and Sophie Hutson, and Emma Watkins Fountain, the daughters of professors, were the first females to enroll at the college nearly half a century before it became coeducational.[11] Foster Hall, a building located at the A&M College from 1899 to 1951,[30] and L. L. Foster Hall, a men's dormitory at Prairie View A&M built in 1909 and demolished in 1980,[31] were named in his honor.

Personal life

Foster was a member of the Masonic fraternity from 1873 until his death.[3]: 20, 203 

Foster wed Laura Lucretia Pender (December 11, 1856 – January 27, 1929) originally of Orange, Texas,[3]: 69  on January 2, 1875, and they had five sons and two daughters.[6]

In 1887, he was described as standing "about six feet tall, straight and slight in person, with a finely chisled face, the lower part of which is hidden by a thick, black beard, worn at moderate length. He has a commanding presence and address, and is graceful and dignified in manner."[32] Foster became an elected member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1901.[33]

Death

He died on December 2, 1901, at the St. George Hotel in Dallas, where he died of pneumonia. His son Joseph Lumpkin Foster was with him at the time.[4][12]

He was initially buried on the grounds of Texas A&M, the only president to have been so,[29] where his funeral was attended by Governor Sayers[34] and Oscar H. Cooper, among others.[3]: 238  Foster was originally interred in the area between Duncan Dining Hall and Dorm 9.[29] In 1939, his grave was moved to the historic Texas A&M Cemetery that was once located on the corner of Luther Street and Marion Pugh Drive in order to make room for the Duncan Dining Hall.[35] In 2010, it was reported that Texas A&M were in the process of getting approval from the Texas Historical Commission to move his remains for a second time.[36] His grave has since been relocated to the newer Memorial Cemetery in College Station.[35]

Legacy

A plaque about Foster was erected near the courthouse in Groesbeck, Texas, by the

Texas State Historical Survey Committee in 1966, dedicated to his service as a member of the First Railroad Commission of Texas.[39]

Electoral history

1880 election

Texas's 42nd House of Representatives district election, 1880 primary     Source:[3]: 38 
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lafayette Lumpkin Foster 524 63.52
Democratic Marion McDonald Gibson 301 36.48
Total votes 825 100

Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives

January 13, 1885 election for speaker (1st through 3rd ballots)[40]
Party Candidate (district) 1st ballot 2nd ballot 3rd ballot
Votes % Votes % Votes %
Democratic Lafayette Lumpkin Foster (62nd) 45 42.86% 49 47.12% 56 53.33%
Democratic William Felton Upton (70th) 36 34.28% 41 39.42% 49 46.67%
Democratic Andrew Todd McKinney (54th) 24 22.86% 14 13.46% —
Total votes 105 100% 104 100% 105 100%
Votes needed to win 53 >50% 52 >50% 53 >50%

Works

References

  1. ^ "Former Members of the Board of Regents" (PDF). Texas A&M University System. August 28, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 4, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Loughery, E. H. (1885). "Biographical Sketches of Members of the 19th Legislature" (PDF). Personnel of the Texas State Government for 1885; Containing Biographical Sketches of the Governor, Heads of Departments and Members and Officers of the 19th Legislature. Austin, Texas: J. M. Snyder, Book and Job Printer. p. 4. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Byrns, Robert Eugene (January 1964). Lafayette Lumpkin Foster: A Biography (MA thesis). Texas A&M University.
  4. ^ a b c d e Raines, Caldwell Walton (1902). Year Book for Texas, 1901 (PDF). Austin: Gammel Book Company. pp. 156, 157. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
  5. ^ "Foster, Joseph D." Civil War Soldiers. National Park Service. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Panus, Stephanie A. "Foster, Lafayette Lumpkin (1851-1901)". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Panus, Stephanie A. "6. Lafayette L. Foster". The Texas Politics Project. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  8. ^ Catalogue of Waco University, 1873-1874. Waco, Texas: Examiner Book and Job Printing House. p. 4. Retrieved November 1, 2023 – via Baylor University Archive - University Catalogs.
  9. ^ Snoberger Balm, Erika; Friedler, Randy. "175 years of Independence". Baylor University Magazine. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  10. ^
    ISBN 9781725284371
    . Retrieved August 15, 2023 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ a b c "Lafayette L. Foster". Limestone County Historical Museum. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d "1886-87 Lafayette Lumpkin Foster Groesbeck New Era". Texas Press Association. December 17, 2008. Archived from the original on October 8, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Nall, Matthew Hayes. "Dallas Times Herald". The Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  14. ^ "Lafayette Lumpkin Foster". Texas Legislators: Past & Present. Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
  15. ^ "House Committee on Public Printing - 18th R.S. (1883)". Legislative Reference Library of Texas.
  16. ^ Department of Agriculture, Insurance, Statistics and History (September 30, 1888). Report of Commissioner of Agriculture, Insurance, Statistics and History. Austin: State Printing Office – via Google Books.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "Past Board Members and Commissioners". Texas Department of Insurance. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  18. JSTOR 30239727
    .
  19. ^ "The Forgotten Texas Census". Texas A&M University Press. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  20. ^ Panus, Stephanie A. (2005). "Foster, Lafayette Lumpkin". The Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on May 22, 2005. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  21. ^ "Hazardous Business: John H. Reagan and Early Regulation". Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  22. ^ "History of the Railroad Commission of Texas". Railroad Commission of Texas. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Home County of Lafayette Lumpkin Foster (Member of the first Railroad Commission of Texas)". Historical Marker Database. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  24. Baptist Standard Publishing
    . Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  25. ISBN 9781725284371
    . Retrieved August 15, 2023 – via Google Books.
  26. ISBN 9781725284371
    . Retrieved August 15, 2023 – via Google Books.
  27. ISBN 9781725284371
    . Retrieved August 15, 2023 – via Google Books.
  28. OCLC 228033299
    .
  29. ^ a b c "Howdy, Mr. President". Texas A&M Foundation. Spring 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  30. ^ "Foster Hall (1899-1951)". myAggieNation: powered by The Eagle. November 18, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  31. ^ "Foster Hall Men's Dormitory". Digital Commons - Prairie View A&M University. April 28, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  32. LCCN 19016834
    . He is about six feet tall, straight and slight in person, with a finely chisled face, the lower part of which is hidden by a thick, black beard, worn at moderate length. He has a commanding presence and address, and is graceful and dignified in manner. He is now in the prime of life, and gives promise of many more years of usefulness to his friends and the State of his adoption.
  33. PMID 17755760
    .
  34. ^ Research Division of the Texas Legislative Council. "Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature 1846–2016" (PDF). Legislative Reference Library of Texas. Texas Legislative Council. pp. 148–149.
  35. ^ a b Patel, Vimal (February 18, 2011). "Remains moved from historic cemetery". The Bryan-College Station Eagle. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011.
  36. ^ Patel, Vimal (June 2, 2010). "Texas A&M; makes plans to relocate century-old graves". The Bryan-College Station Eagle. Archived from the original on June 5, 2010.
  37. ^ "[Plaque about Lafayette Lumpkin Foster]". The Portal to Texas History. University of North Texas. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  38. ^ "[Plaque about Lafayette Lumpkin Foster]". Digital Public Library of America. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  39. ^ [23][37][38]
  40. ^ "Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Texas being the Regular Session, Nineteenth Legislature begun and held at the City of Austin, January 13, 1885" (PDF). Texas State Library. January 13, 1885. p. 4 – via Legislative Reference Library of Texas.

Bibliography

  • Loughery, E. H. (1885). "Biographical Sketches of Members of the 19th Legislature". Personnel of the Texas State Government for 1885; Containing Biographical Sketches of the Governor, Heads of Departments and Members and Officers of the 19th Legislature. Austin, Texas: J. M. Snyder, Book and Job Printer.
  • Daniell, Lewis E. (1887). Personnel of the Texas State Government with Sketches of Distinguished Texans, Embracing the Executive Staff, Heads of Departments, United States Senators and Representatives, Members of the XXth legislature. Austin: Press of the City Printing Company.
    LCCN 19016834
    .
  • Raines, Caldwell Walton (1902). Year Book for Texas, 1901. Austin: Gammel Book Company.
  • ISBN 9781725284371
    .

External links

Academic offices
Preceded by
President of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas

1898–1901 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Office Established
 Railroad Commission of Texas Commissioner
1891–1895 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Hamilton Prioleau Bee
 Commissioner of Agriculture, Insurance, Statistics and History
1887–1891 		Succeeded by
Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives

1885–1887 		Succeeded by
George Cassety Pendleton
Preceded by Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 62 (Groesbeeck)
1881–1883 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 42 (Groesbeeck)
1881–1883 		Succeeded by
John Marks Moore (Redistricting)
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