Time, in his resistless march, bears from us the old, middle aged, and the young. Again the wife is called upon to mourn the loss of a husband; the children, a father; and King Presbytery, a faithful member--Rev. Samuel Jackson Foster. He was born in Greene county, Middle Tennessee, December 15, A.D. 1835. Of his opportunities for education in his early days, while in Tennessee, I am not informed, but suppose that they were not good. In 1853 he came to Arkansas, and settled in what was then Johnson county, now Logan. Here he lived and died. At the time he came to Arkansas the facilities for education were very poor indeed. He was not educated. On the 22nd day of July, 1855, in his twenty-first year, he was married to Miss Sarah Rogers, who survives him.

In the community where he lived there was a camp-ground, and each year, until the late war begun, there was a camp-meeting. At this old camp-ground, at a camp-meeting in 1856, he professed religion under the ministry, I think, of Rev. Anderson Cox. He soon afterward joined the Mt. Pleasant congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was elected and ordained ruling elder, in which capacity he served for a number of years, and was active and useful.

A short time before the beginning of the late war, date not known to me, he placed himself under the care of Ewing Presbytery as a candidate for the ministry. During the war there was not much ecclesiastical business done in Arkansas; but he was present at the first meeting of the Presbytery after the war, which occurred, I suppose, in 1865. Having by this time a family, being advanced in years, being poor and having been deprived of the opportunities for an education in his youth, he thought he would not be able to reach the standard of ministerial qualification, and asked to be dropped as a candidate, which was accordingly done. But still feeling impressed that it was his duty to preach, notwithstanding the embarrassing circumstances mentioned, he placed himself under the care of King Presbytery, at Charleston, Franklin county, Ark., Oct. 14, 1870. (King Presbytery having meantime been constituted of the territory of the Ewing and Arkansas Presbyteries lying south of the Arkansas river.) He was licensed to preach at Piney Fork, Yell county, Ark., October 5, 1872, and set apart to the whole work of the ministry, at the same place, on the 5th day of September, 1874.

He died suddenly at his home, in the presence of his family only, March 5, 1881, being forty-five years, two months, and twenty days old.

Having given a brief outline of his history, I will give some of my impressions of him as a man and as a preacher.

1. As a man.--He was honest and upright, securing for himself thereby, as far as I know, the good will and friendship of all his neighbors. He was of that peculiar turn of mind that whatever he believed he believed with all his powers; hence, having joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, he was, emphatically, a Cumberland Presbyterian. He had no patience with tender-footed brethren. He was sociable. He loved company, especially the company of his brethren in Christ. He was, in a proper sense, industrious. True his industry was not of that quick, impulsive order that seems disposed to want to do everything in a day; nor of that sort that causes a man to stick to his business to the utter neglect of other things, family and friends. He seemed disposed always to look on the bright side of things; he was hopeful and cheerful. He was religious. It has been my fortune to know few men more so than he; no one could associate with him long without being thus impressed. He was a good citizen, peaceable and law-abiding. He was a devoted husband, a loving and indulgent father.

2. As a preacher. --I am not as well prepared to speak of him as a preacher as I am as a man; for about the time I was thrown with him most his health began to fail. I never heard him preach much. He was not a systematic preacher. He was zealous, enthusiastic, and full of the Holy Ghost. His discourses depended for effect, not upon systematic arrangement nor rhetorical delivery, but upon the spirit of the Master that pervaded them. His course as a preacher was a short one, but no doubt many will rise up in the last day and call him blessed. He was punctual to attend the meetings of his Presbytery, never being absent, as far as I know, except when unable to get there. He passed away on the evening that his Presbytery adjourned. During the week he talked frequently about the Presbytery, showing that his spirit was with his brethren. During the three last years of his life I was with him often, having charge of the congregation in the bounds of which he lived. I shall never regret that association. I learned to love him as a brother. My presence at his home always seemed to do him good. At a meeting held in his neighborhood last September, he spoke publicly as to his hops and prospects. He said the only thing that he regretted was his children were not religious. He leaves five, three of whom are about grown. To them I will say, your father's prayers are lodged at a throne of grace. Attend to your salvation speedily. Several children had preceded him. He was for many years a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity. His remains were interred with Masonic honors. Peace to his ashes!
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, May 19, 1881, page 2]