Martin David Foster (September 3, 1861 – October 20, 1919) was a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

from

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

. Born near

West Salem, Illinois West Salem is a village in Edwards County, Illinois, United States. The population was 786 at the 2020 census, down from 897 at the 2010 census. History The West Salem area was settled in the 1830s and early 1840s by Moravians primarily from ...

, Foster attended the public schools and

Eureka College Eureka College is a private college in Eureka, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1855, it is related by covenant to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The college enrolled approximately 559 students in 2023. Eureka College was founde ...

(Illinois). He was graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute,

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...

, in 1882 and from the Hahnemann Medical College,

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, in 1884. He commenced the practice of medicine in

Olney, Illinois Olney ( ) is the county seat in Richland County, Illinois. The population was 9,115 at the time of the 2010 census. History Settlement of the Richland County area began around 1815 when Thaddeus Morehouse, a native of Vermont, arrived by w ...

, in 1884. He served as a member of a board of United States examining surgeons in 1885–1889, and again from 1893 to 1897. He served as mayor of

, in 1895 and 1902. Foster was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

to the Sixtieth and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1919). He served as chairman of the Committee on Mines and Mining ( Sixty-second through Sixty-fifth Congresses). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1918. He engaged in the practice of medicine until his death in

, October 20, 1919. He was interred in Haven Hill Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster, Martin David 1861 births 1919 deaths Eureka College alumni Mayors of places in Illinois People from Edwards County, Illinois People from Olney, Illinois Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives 19th-century mayors of places in Illinois