OCCUPATION: President of the General Industries Co. of Elyria


OBIT:
WILLIAM EARL FOSTER, 85, of Key Largo, FL, and Linville Ridge, NC, died Friday, Aug. 17, 2007. Mr. Foster was born Nov. 23, 1921, in Toronto, Canada. In 1933 he moved with his family to Elyria, OH, which would become his home for much of his life. He had a very happy and active childhood, and it was during this time that he learned to bird hunt from his grandfather Claude Foster, with whom he enjoyed an especially close relationship. Mr. Foster graduated from Culver Military Academy in 1941. He credited Culver with teaching him the discipline and honor which would serve him well for the remainder of his life. In 1942 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army's field artillery. He subsequently joined the Army Air Corps where he served as a pilot and flight instructor for the remainder of the war. After his discharge, Mr. Foster took a job as a stock chaser at General Industries in Elyria, where he quickly ascended the ranks to become President in 1957. During his 15-year tenure the company flourished, increasing sales 10-fold and becoming the largest custom molder of plastics in the country. He served on the boards of many local businesses including the National City Bank of Cleveland, the Elyria Telephone Company, the Kasper Foundry Company and the Elyria Company. A major theme in Mr. Foster's life was serving his community. He was president of the Lorain County Sheriff's Advisory Council, the Elyria Country Club, the Lorain County Community Foundation, the Cleveland Chapter of the Young President's Organization and the Ocean Reef Art League. He also served as commander of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and as chairman of the Card Sound Sailing Club race committee. Mr. Foster was preceded in death by his son, William E. Foster Jr. who died serving his country in Vietnam, his wife, Mary Jo Foster and his parents, Earl and Frances Foster. He is survived by his wife, Elsie Foster, his brother, Donald Foster, his three children, and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the Key Largo Anglers Club at a later date

1. William E. FOSTER, Jr. b. 17 May 1943; d. 12 Sep 1968, Vietnam.
2. Michael FOSTER
3. Allen FOSTER
4. Judith FOSTER

OBIT: ---- FOSTER, EARL F : Husband of late Frances G (Obit.). Plain Dealer 16 Jan, 1986, pg. 07 sec. E

DEATH: Name: Earl F Foster
Gender: Male
Date of Death: 13 January 1986
Birth Date: 15 March 1895
Volume: 26340
Certificate: 006850
Autopsy: Yes - Used for certification
Social Security Number: 279095555
Marital Status: Widowed
Hispanic Origin: British, Scotch-Irish, Welsh, Scottish
Place of Death: Wooster, Wayne County
Certifier: Physician
Race: White
Birth Place: Ohio
Residence: Westlake, Cuyahoga County
Age: 90 Years


MILITARY: Name: Earl F. Foster
Serial Number: 3529040
Race: W
Residence: 1337 E. 85th St., Cleveland, O.
Enlistment Division: National Army
Enlistment Location: Cleveland, O.
Enlistment Date: 27 Jun 1918
Birth Place: Cleveland, O.
Birth Date / Age: 15 Apr 1895
Assigns Comment: Co I 336 Infantry to 5 Oct 1918; Co A 147 Machine Gun
Battalion to Discharge Private American Expeditionary Forces 23 Aug 1918
to 28 Feb 1919. Honorable discharge 18 March 1919. Volume #: 6

RESIDENCES: Lived in Westlake, Cuyahoga, Ohio

MARRIAGE: GOLD, FRANCIS C and FOSTER, E F 0115 0084


OBIT: FOSTER, FRANCES G : Wife of EARL (Obit.).Plain Dealer 20 Oct, 1982, pg. 07 sec. E

1. 1. William Earl FOSTER, Sr. b. 23 Nov 1921, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; d. 17 Aug 2007.
2. Donald R. FOSTER

BIOGRAPHY: FOSTER, CLAUD HANSCOMB (23 Dec. 1872-21 June 1965), automotive inventor, industrialist, and philanthropist, was born in the Cleveland suburb of Brooklyn to George and Julia Wells Foster. In 1891, he opened a machine shop, playing the trombone for 11 years in the Euclid Ave. Opera House orchestra to support his business. In 1896, Foster became an automobile dealer, selling the Cleveland-built General, in 1900 also acquiring Peerless and Ajax automobile agencies. Foster developed the Gabriel Horn, a multitone automobile horn powered by exhaust gases, starting the successful Gabriel Co. in 1904. Foster then patented his "Snubber" automotive shock absorber in 1914, capitalizing its production at $1 million.

From 1920-25, the Gabriel Co. earned annual profits of more than $1 million, selling 75% of all shock absorbers marketed in the world. Foster developed an employee profit-sharing incentive program, between 1917-25 paying his employees more than $600,000 in addition to their salaries. He sold the Gabriel Co. in 1925 to Otis & Co. for $4 million, only half the company's evaluated price, and remaining the company's chairman 1928.

Known as the "Doctor of Car Riding," Foster was often consulted by manufacturers when new car models developed riding difficulties. Throughout his career, Foster made numerous large anonymous gifts to hospitals and charitable institutions. On 22 July 1952, he announced to the heads of 16 educational and charitable institutions that he was dividing the bulk of his wealth, almost $4 million, among them. Married to Emma Schultz on 2 May 1894, Foster had 2 sons, Earl and Daniel. Foster is buried in RIVERSIDE Cemetery.

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Gabriel Snubbers -- This consisted of a housing that contained a belt wound into a coil. It was kept under tension by a spring. The housing was fastened to the frame and the outer end of the belt was attached to the axle to limit the degree of rebound from a jolt.l Co. started operation in 1906 making accessory auto horns. The founder, Claude H. Foster, named his firm after the horn-tooting angel Gabriel. When the pushbutton horn came along in 1914, it killed the Gabriel and all other body-mounted horns. Foster looked for a product to keep his company in business and came across the Snubber.

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Claud H. Foster loved to tinker with things. He loved to put things together and take things apart. He did this well with automobiles, except for one thing: the horn. So he decided to invent a fool-proof horn using the concept of a trombone, calling it "Gabriel's Horn." He started the Gabriel Company from $1,500 he had saved up. The time came when he decided to retire. An investment firm offered him $10 million for the company. But he knew if he took their bid, a lot of stock holders in his company would lose their money. He also knew that because of some expiring patents, it wasn't worth that much money. He said this, "Over the years I have come to realize that nothing we earn, none of the things we accumulate belongs to us. While on this earth we are merely stewards or trustees for God's resources." So Mr. Foster decided to sell his company for the fairer price of $4 million. He had such joy and peace doing that, that he decided to do something else. He threw a big party with his friends who worked in an orphanage and in a hospital. Then that night he gave the $4 million dollars away. He said he has never regretted it, and has found great peace and thankfulness in his life just thinking about it. He said it was "the best party I ever had." There is a joy and peace that comes in giving to others.

---http://www.gtpres.org/Sermons%202001/011118sermon.htm

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During the 1910's and 1920's, prominent Willowick landowners included J.C. Gilchrist whose property was north of Lake Shore Boulevard between East 288th and East 293rd Streets; William Flood, who played an important role in the incorporation of Willowick as a village; Claude Foster who had property north of Lake Shore and east of Willough beach Park (he invented the Gabriel car horn and Snubbers shock absorbers); and the Lindus Cody family whose property ran north and south of Lake Shore, bordered on the east by East 317th Street and on the west by the intersection of Vine and Lake Shore.

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During the administration of Dr. Edward Hodnett, 1948-1951, Fenn constructed Foster Hall, an engineering building financed by a donation by Cleveland entrepreneur Claude Foster
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Foster, Claude H. b. December 23, 1872 d. June 21, 1965
Known as the "Doctor of Car Riding", he was the inventor of "Snubber" shock absorbers and the "Gabriel" auto horn. A pioneer in automotives, an industrialist and a philanthropist, he gave generously to hospitals and charitable institutions. He was one of the first industrialist to develop an employee profit-sharing incentive program. (Bio by: Joyce Ellsworth )

Claud Foster Park, near Case Western Reserve University's Thwing Center in University Circle.


BURIAL: Riverside Cemetery, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA Plot: Section 22

RESIDENCES:
1900 - 309 Jennings Road, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio (city directory and 1900 Census) Mgr Foster Cycle Co. Living with in-laws.
1910 - 1561 E108th Street

OBIT: Name: Foster, Claude H.
Date: Jun 24 1965
Source: Plain Dealer; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #109.
Notes: Foster. Claude H. Foster, father of Earl F., grandfather of William E. of Elyria, O., and Donald R. of Fullerton, Calif., great-grandfather of eight, June 21. Friends may call at The Fairhill Home of The Millard Son & Raper Co., Fairhill at East Blvd. Funeral service at The Old Stone Church, Public Square, Thursday, June 24, at 2 p. m. It is suggested contributions be made to The Crippled Children's Hospital of American Cancer Fund.

MARRIAGE: SCHULTZ, EMMA and FOSTER, CLAUD H 0040 0421 ?

1. 2. Earl Frank FOSTER b. 15 Apr 1895, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio; d. 13 Jan 1986, Wooster,, Ohio.

BIRTH: Headstone in Riverside Cemetery has 1845 for year of birth.

RESIDENCES:
1875 - new home built on what would become known as Denison Ave.
1900 - 284 Denison Ave.
1910 - 1412 Denison Ave.

Voter Registration for 1907 - FOSTER, George 1214 Denison 10/10/07 reg. no. 160 ward 6 prec. D (Is this address correct, or should it be 1412 Denison?)

CENSUS:
Year: 1880; Census Place: Brooklyn, Cuyahoga, Ohio; Roll: T9_1009; Family History Film: 1255009; Page: 58D; Enumeration District: 58; Image: 0262.
Year: 1900; Census Place: Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio; Enumeration District: 208; Sheet: 18B, Ward 42; 284 Denison. [Note - first son listed has a birth date of Aug 1870 but his name is unreadable.]
Birth Year <1848> Birthplace OH Age 32 Occupation Gardener Marital Status M Race W Head of Household George FOSTER Relation Self Father's Birthplace CT Mother's Birthplace CT

DEATH: FOSTER GEORGE N County Name: CUYAHOGA Date of Death: 1/19/1919 Volume Number: 2862 Certificate Number: 1805

OBIT: Name: Foster, George N.
Date: January 20, 1919
Source: Source unknown; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #026.
Notes: Foster-George N., age 73 years, husband of Julia A., father of Eugene, Claude, Frank and the late Lloyd Foster, Sunday p. m. at his residence, 3865 W. 18th street. Funeral Tuesday, Jan. 21, from late residence at 3 p. m. Burial Riverside cemetery.

VARIATIONS: Prior to finding a reference to Julia's surname being Schaefer in "Claud Foster, A Biography" by Wayman Thomasson, her surname was listed here as WELLS. I'm not sure where that name came from. I've also seen a tree that lists her as Julia ABBOTT. See: Rowlee, Willard Winfield, "Lieut. Heman Rowlee (1746-1818) and his descendants" Ithaca, N.Y.: Andrus & Church, 1907, 145 pgs. (page 70).
BIRTH: Headstone in Riverside Cemetery has 1852 as year of birth.

RESIDENCES:
1920 - 3865 W.18th (6th ward) (next door to her son, Frank)
1939 - 1723 Schaaf Rd.

MARRIAGE: SHAFER, JULIA and FOSTER, GEORGE vol.0013 pg.0148

OBIT: Name: Foster, Julia
Date: May 9 1939
Source: Source unknown; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #026.
Notes: Foster: Julia, age 88 years, 1723 Schaaf rd.; wife of the late George N., mother of Eugene H., Claud H., Frank G. and the late Lloyd A., grandmother and great-grandmother, March 18. Services and burial Riverside Cemetery Chapel, Wednesday, May 10, at 2:30 p. m.

1. Eugene H. FOSTER b. 1868, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio; d. 1954, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio.
2. 4. Claud Hanscomb FOSTER b. 23 Dec 1872, Brooklyn, Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA; d. 21 Jun 1965, Bellevue, Sandusky, Ohio.
3. Frank George FOSTER b. 10 Aug 1875, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio; d. 19 Nov 1948, Miami, Dade, Florida, USA.
4. Lloyd Alden FOSTER b. 4 Oct 1889, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio; d. 15 Jan 1919, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio.

MARRIAGE: FAIRCHILD, CARRIE L and SCHULTZ, FREDERICK 0012 0229

1. 5. Emma SCHULTZ b. Dec 1873; d. Bef 1905.
2. Frank SCHULTZ b. Aug 1868.