1914 Biography - Murphy James Foster

Foster, Murphy James, is one of the most conspicuous men now living in Louisiana, having been both governor and United States senator. He was born at Franklin, La., Jan. 12, 1849, and is a son of Thomas A. and Martha P. (Murphy) Foster, both of whom were born in the same locality as was the son, where they passed their lives and there died, the father in the year of 1890 at the age of 69 years, and the mother in the year of 1909 at the age of 73 years. The father devoted his energies to the vocation of a planter throughout life. Toward the close of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate service as a member of the 1st Louisiana volunteer cavalry, and served in the quartermaster's department until the time of the surrender. The paternal grandfather, Levi Foster, was a native of the state of Mississippi, and came to Louisiana while yet a young man, devoting his abilities to agricultural pursuits in St. Mary and St. Landry parishes. His wife was a native of Louisiana, and bore the name of Zeide Demaret. After the close of the Civil war, Murphy James Foster, the subject of this sketch, attended preparatory school at White's creek, near Nashville, Tenn., during 2 years, and when he had been thoroughly prepared, entered Washington and Lee college, where he remained a student during the term of 1867-68. Later he was graduated from Cumberland university, Lebanon, Tenn., with the class of 1870, and from the law school of Tulane university, New Orleans, with the class of 1871. Following the completion of his professional education, he returned to his Louisiana home at Franklin, engaged in practice of law with Hon. Donelson Caffery and became identified with the political activities of the time. He was elected a member of the John McEnery legislature of 1872, but owing to the fact that the McEnery government was not recognized, Mr. Foster did not take this seat as a member of that legislature. Later he was elected a member of the Louisiana state senate in 1879, and was subsequently re-elected to succeed himself in that office several times, serving as state senator from 1879 to 1891-12 years. He was elected and served as president pro tem of the senate from 1888 to 1890. He led the fight in the legislature against the Louisiana state lottery in 1890. In that year he was nominated by the anti-lottery convention as a candidate for governor and was elected. At the close of his first term he was reelected and served in that office from 1892 to 1900. He was elected as a democrat to the United States senate in 1901 and reelected in 1907, serving as senator from March 4, 1901, to March 3, 1913, and on Aug. 1, 1914, was appointed collector of port of New Orleans. To Sen. and Mrs. Foster 9 children have been born, namely: Rose Ruth, Elizabeth, Mary, Prescott, Willia, Martha, Murphy, Louisiana and Sarah.

Extracted 2020 Nov 01 by Norma Hass, from Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, published in 1914, volume 3, pages 611-612.

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