28. James H. Foos
James H. Foos was born Nov. 29, 1826 near Radnor in Delaware Co., Ohio to John and Mary (Aye) Foos. At 5 years of age he came with his parents and 10 brothers and sisters to Scott Twp. in Marion Co., Ohio. They were one of the very first families to chance a settlement on prairie land in the southwestern part of the township. About a year later they sold this and bought land about a mile east of their first home. Later they bought land a little north and near to the Columbus - Sandusky turnpike which is now known as St. Rt. 98. James grew up on these farms and by 21 years of age had met and married Rhoda Lindsay on Dec.6, 1847.
James and Rhoda's generation was the first in more than 3 previous generations that young men did not have to shoulder a gun to protect their families from the British or the Indians or both. Theirs was not a generation of adventure and danger as had been their forefathers but rather theirs was to be a generation
of great change.They and their neighbors changed a wilderness into a civilization. Forests were cleared, prairies tamed, swamps drained, trails made into roads, bridges were built, towns sprung up, and schools erected. Back breaking hand labor was slowly replaced with horse drawn machines and this in turn was replaced with steam driven sawmills, gristmills, threshing machines and spinning mills. Railroads came into existence so that what was once weeks away was now only days away and produce could more easily be delivered and sold.
James and Rhoda lived their lives in Scott and the northern part of Claridon townships. They raised 9 out of 10 children that were born to them being fortunate enough to survive the diphtheria, typhoid, small pox, pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc., that killed so many in that day. He was a farmer and helped his sons to get set up in the same occupation.
Rhoda died Mar. 25, 1900 and James died two and one-half years later on Nov. 11 1902. Both died on Likins Road in northern Claridon Twp. and are buried in the Caledonia Cemetery at Caledonia, Ohio.
The names of their children were as follows: James C. called Curtis, John T. called Jack, Mary who married a Hinamon, Henry called Hank, Hiram called Hi, Samuel, Jennette who married a Rider, Margaret who died an infant, William called Will, and Elray called Al.
Rhoda was born Jan. 16, 1825 probably in Fairfield Co., Ohio to John and Jeanette Lindsay who came to Marion Co. about 1825. She grew up in Scott Twp. less than 5 miles from where the Foos' lived.