James Foster, Superintendent of Infirmary; P. O. Troy; was born in Pennsylvania March 26, 1830; is a son of James and Sarah (Boher) Foster, who were also born and raised in Pennsylvania, but came and located in Miami County in the fall of 1854; they resided in Troy till their death; Mr. Foster dying Dec. 31, 1876, and his wife in Feb., 1878; they were parents of seven children, four of whom are now living, viz., Elizabeth, now Mrs. Miller, living in Nebraska; Susan, now Mrs. Burkholder, of Troy; John H., and James. The ancestry, on the father's side, came from the north of Ireland, and on the mother's side from Germany. Mr. Foster, the subject of this sketch, remained with his father in Pennsylvania till of age, and received a limited education in the common schools. Sept. 15, 1851, was celebrated his marriage with Rosanna Miller, daughter of John and Theresa (Obold) Miller who were also natives of Pennsylvania; by this union, they have had five children, viz., Mary E., now Mrs. H. G. Knoop, living in Casstown; Sallie, now Mrs. J. A. Sterrett, of Troy; Theresa Helen, now Mrs. James Brook, residing in Dunkirk, Indiana; Jennie and Maggie. Mr. Foster, after his marriage, remained in Pennsylvania about three years and, in the spring of 1854, came to Ohio and located at Troy; and, in the immediate vicinity of Troy; entered upon and followed agricultural pursuits for fifteen years, when, by appointment of the Board of Directors of the Miami County Infirmary, he became Superintendent of that institution, which position he still holds, having held this office now for eleven years.