Charles A. Foster (Latter Day Saints)

The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guideline for biographies. Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing reliable secondary sources that are independent of the topic and provide significant coverage of it beyond a mere trivial mention. If notability cannot be shown, the article is likely to be merged, redirected, or deleted.
Find sources: "Charles A. Foster" Latter Day Saints – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Charles A. Foster (1 September 1815 - 25 November 1904) was involved in the Latter Day Saint movement but was never a church member.[1] He was the brother of Robert D. Foster.[1]

## Foster-Higbee embroilment

[edit]

The History of the Church records Foster's arrest in Nauvoo, Illinois.[2]

The May 1, 1844, edition of the Nauvoo Neighbor contained a statement from Marshal Greene alleging that Foster "drew a double-barrel pistol on Mr. [Joseph] Smith".[3]

> The Mayor [Smith] ordered me to arrest these three men for refusing to assist me in the discharge of my duty; and when attempting to arrest them, they all resisted, and with horrid imprecations threatened to shoot.

> I called for help, and there not being sufficient, the Mayor laid hold on the two Fosters at the same time. At that instant Charles A. Foster drew a double-barrel pistol on Mr. Smith, but it was instantly wrenched from his hand; and afterwards he declared he would have shot the Mayor, if we had let his pistol alone, and also he would thank God for the privilege of ridding the world of a tyrant! [...] However, the three were arrested and brought before the Mayor [...] upon which evidence the court assessed a fine of one hundred dollars to each of the above-named aggressors.

According to History of the Church, Smith said that "about May 27", Foster had informed Smith of a conspiracy against his life.[4]

## Nauvoo Expositor and the death of Joseph Smith

[edit]

See also: Nauvoo Expositor and Death of Joseph Smith

In 1844, Foster became a publisher of the Nauvoo Expositor.[5]

In a letter to the Warsaw Signal published June 11, 1844, Foster wrote of the destruction of the press.[6][7]

Smith's order to destroy the newspaper's press ultimately led to Smith's arrest and death while awaiting trial.

## Later life

[edit]

During the Civil War, Foster served in key roles on the medical staff of the Union Army. He oversaw the government hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, which later became the State Hospital at Natchez, and in 1864, he managed the main hospital of the Union Army located on the Jefferson Davis plantation in Mississippi. After the war, he settled in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he gained considerable recognition. He served multiple terms as the city's mayor and was elected to the Mississippi State Legislature several times. Later, Dr. Foster moved north, practicing medicine in Auburn, New York, before eventually relocating to Canandaigua, New York.[8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Introduction to City of Nauvoo v. C. L. Higbee et al". Joseph Smith Papers. Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
2. ^ "Difficulties with the Higbees and Fosters—Conferences Appointed by the Twelve throughout the United States—Instructions to Reuben Hedlock, President of the British Mission—Preparations for Enlargement of the Work—Francis M. Higbee's Suit against President Smith—The Prophet Released". Book of the Abraham Project. Vol. 6. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
3. ^ "Gen. Joseph A. Smith" (PDF). Nauvoo Neighbor. Book of Abraham Project. 1 May 1844. p. 2. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
4. ^ "The Twelve Called from Eastern Mission—Governor Ford at Carthage—Nauvoo Delegation to Governor—Threats and Conspiracy against the Prophet's Life—Governor Ford Invited to Nauvoo to Investigate Conditions". Book of the Abraham Project. Vol. 6. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
5. ^ Institute of Religion (2003). "The Martyrdom". Church History In The Fulness Of Times Student Manual. Church Educational System, LDS Church.
6. ^ "Warsaw Signal". Uncle Dale's Readings in Early Mormon History. 11 June 1844. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
7. ^ Hampshire, Annette P. "Thomas Sharp and Anti-Mormon Sentiment in Illinois 1842-1845" (PDF). Northern Illinois University Libraries. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
8. ^ "Death of Charles A. Foster, End of an active and notable career – Neary 90 yrs old". Ontario County Times. No. 30 November 1904. Ontario County Times. 30 November 1904. Retrieved 20 January 2025.