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Thomas J. Foster

Posted 2019-04-27 by Judy Wight Branson
Weekly Journal-Miner, Prescott, Arizona
April 14, 1920

Oldest White Man In Arizona Dies

Death stepped into the pioneer home yesterday and took from it within
a quarter of an hour, two of the oldest inhabitants, one of them,
Thomas J. Foster, said to be the oldest white man in the state of
Arizona.

Mr. Foster, who remained fully conscious despite his years, died at
6:18 p.m. He was 98 years, 2 months and 8 days old.

Both the decedents were truly pioneers of Arizona. Foster drove a
team in these parts as early as 1864. In 1869 there is a record of is
having worked at old Fort Whipple in a civilian capacity. Although
his life was passed in various parts of the sate and he was widely
known, he was admitted from Maricopa county and best known in Yavapai
county. Half an hour before he passed over the great divide, he
recognized superintendent George Shea at his bedside and asked him
how he was.




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