Clarence Edward Foster born 1879 and his brother Otto William Foster born 1881 were both born in Selma, Wabash County, Illinois, near Lexington.
Their parents were Eli Erving Foster and Lucile Fritz who were married in 1903. Eil Erving Foster died in 1973 at age 93.
Brother - Otto William "Ottie" Foster - Memorial ID #16151580
Contributor:
Rose Stout
*******************************************************************
Biography written by his daughter Stella
Church History --- Clarence Edward Foster --- Founder
Born, November 11, 1879, Selma, Illinois. Born again, kneeling at a kitchen chair with his grandma, at age 11. Lost his father when he was 15years of age. Had one brother, Otto.
At an early age, God started dealing with him to preach the gospel. He tried to get away from it, saying, "Well, God, if it's you, show someone else." His confirmation came when an old man told him he saw a young man in a dream preaching, and that young man was him. That cinched it, he knew he was called of God to preach.
At age 19, he began preaching on the street in front of an old saloon in Emporia, Kansas, where he lived at the time.
1903 --- He married Lucile Mabel Fritz. They went to a 10-day camp-meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, took a 150 mile trip on a paddle boat to St. Louis, and opened a meeting there in an old saloon called "The Bloody Bucket". After one month there, they came to Topeka and opened a meeting at 924 North Kansas Avenue, in a place called "Smokey Bowl". All they had were orange crates, and a monkey stove. The 1903 flood washed out the basement windows.
1904 --- First son, Byron was born, six more children followed: Melvin, Raymond, Stella, Clem Clifford, and Victor.
1906 --- Filled with the Holy Spirit at 924 North Kansas Avenue. Held meetings anywhere they could find an open door, such as store buildings, and tents, and even open air.
1910 to 1913 --- Held meetings in "the sheep shed" on the corner of Morse and North Kansas Avenue. This is where Melvin was run over by a doctor in a 7-passenger car. They said he was dead, but took him in the church and prayed for him. He was healed and lived to raise a family, dying at age 73. Three girls left to go to Africa as missionaries from here in 1912, Georgia and Laura Johnson, and Bertha Curry. Bertha died over there. Georgia married an Englishman, Guthrie. She only came back once or twice for a visit. She had two children who were missionaries. Laura married a Topeka man, Baldwin, and died here. Through the years, many missionaries and pastors have come from our assembly. It was during this time, that meetings were held in the basement of the old court house for a short time. This was at 5th and Quincy.
1914 --- Held meetings in a store building located on the corner of Seward and Branner streets. This is where half of the assembly got up and walked out when Papa started preaching "eternal security", when God revealed it to him. Held tent meetings until October (when it became too cold), on the corner of Seward and Freeman streets. Freeman was then called Norton. This is the present location of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
1915 --- Purchased lots and built a church building on the corner of State and Twiss streets (437 Twiss). Held a dedication service on Thanksgiving Day. During his 73 years in the ministry, he held camp-meetings in the following locations: Garfield Park - 8, Morris Grove - 1, Baughams's Grove - 1, Jones Grove - 18, Walnut Grove - 3, Forest Park - 15, Iola, Ks. - 1 (1921), 2622 E. 6th - 18 (Our own campground in Topeka, Ks. purchased in 1944)
My Papa was the most Godly man I every knew. He and mom raised seven children, and I never heard him raise his voice, only in praising the Lord. We never talked back. We knew he meant what he said. Sometimes a look was enough, but he was so kind and loving, and lots of fun.
He helped take care of us, helped cook, etc., and always took time to visit the sick and study God's word. Many times he would shut himself in his study room for 7 hours or more. He only went to the 6th grade in school, since his dad died when he was 15. My mother helped him with spelling and writing. She typed for him and played the piano. They wrote many songs together, and he wrote books and tracts.
Their early years were extremely hard, with much persecution. The police wouldn't allow children to go to the altar, saying he "hypnotized" them. They took him to jail once and stopped their camp-meeting at Garfield Park in 1915. He refused to be defeated, so they moved their meeting across the street. They tried to stop his meetings anywhere he went in Topeka, but he didn't give up. He preached 73 years, and in addition to the 65 camp-meetings, he had tent campaigns every summer, which always brought in new people. One summer, in 1921, so many new families came that our church couldn't seat them all. We had to put chairs in the aisles.
He never seemed to worry, because he had great faith. Both he and my mother had godly mothers, who were a great help to them.
I was so thrilled to have him live with me the last 4 years and 3 months of his life, at 542 Grattan, Topeka, Kansas. He wasn't sick in bed, but knew that he was going home to be with the Lord. Since he didn't want to die in my home, he asked his sons, Clem and Victor, to take him to the hospital. He was admitted on Wednesday evening, lapsed into a coma Thursday evening, and went home to be with the Lord, Friday afternoon, February 23, 1973, at age 93. His last words were "It will be glory".
He was preaching on 6 radio stations at the time of his death.
Twenty-five ministers were on the church platform, and spoke at his funeral.
1987 --- Clem and Douglas Crook, my grandson, are co-pastors. We have just done a complete remodeling job on the 72-year old church, including a new addition. Eph.3:20 "Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." During the remodeling, two signs were found which were put there in 1921 when the church was raised to put the basement under it. "Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me", was the first one which was overhead at the east end of the church. At the west end over the platform was "My house shall be called the house of prayer."
Written by Stella, his only daughter. There were 3 sons older, and 3 sons younger than Stella. Two are ministers, Clem and Victor.
Contributor: Rose Stout (49419337)
Their parents were Eli Erving Foster and Lucile Fritz who were married in 1903. Eil Erving Foster died in 1973 at age 93.
Brother - Otto William "Ottie" Foster - Memorial ID #16151580
Contributor:
Rose Stout
*******************************************************************
Biography written by his daughter Stella
Church History --- Clarence Edward Foster --- Founder
Born, November 11, 1879, Selma, Illinois. Born again, kneeling at a kitchen chair with his grandma, at age 11. Lost his father when he was 15years of age. Had one brother, Otto.
At an early age, God started dealing with him to preach the gospel. He tried to get away from it, saying, "Well, God, if it's you, show someone else." His confirmation came when an old man told him he saw a young man in a dream preaching, and that young man was him. That cinched it, he knew he was called of God to preach.
At age 19, he began preaching on the street in front of an old saloon in Emporia, Kansas, where he lived at the time.
1903 --- He married Lucile Mabel Fritz. They went to a 10-day camp-meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, took a 150 mile trip on a paddle boat to St. Louis, and opened a meeting there in an old saloon called "The Bloody Bucket". After one month there, they came to Topeka and opened a meeting at 924 North Kansas Avenue, in a place called "Smokey Bowl". All they had were orange crates, and a monkey stove. The 1903 flood washed out the basement windows.
1904 --- First son, Byron was born, six more children followed: Melvin, Raymond, Stella, Clem Clifford, and Victor.
1906 --- Filled with the Holy Spirit at 924 North Kansas Avenue. Held meetings anywhere they could find an open door, such as store buildings, and tents, and even open air.
1910 to 1913 --- Held meetings in "the sheep shed" on the corner of Morse and North Kansas Avenue. This is where Melvin was run over by a doctor in a 7-passenger car. They said he was dead, but took him in the church and prayed for him. He was healed and lived to raise a family, dying at age 73. Three girls left to go to Africa as missionaries from here in 1912, Georgia and Laura Johnson, and Bertha Curry. Bertha died over there. Georgia married an Englishman, Guthrie. She only came back once or twice for a visit. She had two children who were missionaries. Laura married a Topeka man, Baldwin, and died here. Through the years, many missionaries and pastors have come from our assembly. It was during this time, that meetings were held in the basement of the old court house for a short time. This was at 5th and Quincy.
1914 --- Held meetings in a store building located on the corner of Seward and Branner streets. This is where half of the assembly got up and walked out when Papa started preaching "eternal security", when God revealed it to him. Held tent meetings until October (when it became too cold), on the corner of Seward and Freeman streets. Freeman was then called Norton. This is the present location of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
1915 --- Purchased lots and built a church building on the corner of State and Twiss streets (437 Twiss). Held a dedication service on Thanksgiving Day. During his 73 years in the ministry, he held camp-meetings in the following locations: Garfield Park - 8, Morris Grove - 1, Baughams's Grove - 1, Jones Grove - 18, Walnut Grove - 3, Forest Park - 15, Iola, Ks. - 1 (1921), 2622 E. 6th - 18 (Our own campground in Topeka, Ks. purchased in 1944)
My Papa was the most Godly man I every knew. He and mom raised seven children, and I never heard him raise his voice, only in praising the Lord. We never talked back. We knew he meant what he said. Sometimes a look was enough, but he was so kind and loving, and lots of fun.
He helped take care of us, helped cook, etc., and always took time to visit the sick and study God's word. Many times he would shut himself in his study room for 7 hours or more. He only went to the 6th grade in school, since his dad died when he was 15. My mother helped him with spelling and writing. She typed for him and played the piano. They wrote many songs together, and he wrote books and tracts.
Their early years were extremely hard, with much persecution. The police wouldn't allow children to go to the altar, saying he "hypnotized" them. They took him to jail once and stopped their camp-meeting at Garfield Park in 1915. He refused to be defeated, so they moved their meeting across the street. They tried to stop his meetings anywhere he went in Topeka, but he didn't give up. He preached 73 years, and in addition to the 65 camp-meetings, he had tent campaigns every summer, which always brought in new people. One summer, in 1921, so many new families came that our church couldn't seat them all. We had to put chairs in the aisles.
He never seemed to worry, because he had great faith. Both he and my mother had godly mothers, who were a great help to them.
I was so thrilled to have him live with me the last 4 years and 3 months of his life, at 542 Grattan, Topeka, Kansas. He wasn't sick in bed, but knew that he was going home to be with the Lord. Since he didn't want to die in my home, he asked his sons, Clem and Victor, to take him to the hospital. He was admitted on Wednesday evening, lapsed into a coma Thursday evening, and went home to be with the Lord, Friday afternoon, February 23, 1973, at age 93. His last words were "It will be glory".
He was preaching on 6 radio stations at the time of his death.
Twenty-five ministers were on the church platform, and spoke at his funeral.
1987 --- Clem and Douglas Crook, my grandson, are co-pastors. We have just done a complete remodeling job on the 72-year old church, including a new addition. Eph.3:20 "Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." During the remodeling, two signs were found which were put there in 1921 when the church was raised to put the basement under it. "Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me", was the first one which was overhead at the east end of the church. At the west end over the platform was "My house shall be called the house of prayer."
Written by Stella, his only daughter. There were 3 sons older, and 3 sons younger than Stella. Two are ministers, Clem and Victor.
Contributor: Rose Stout (49419337)
Clarence Edward Foster born 1879 and his brother Otto William Foster born 1881 were both born in Selma, Wabash County, Illinois, near Lexington.
Their parents were Eli Erving Foster and Lucile Fritz who were married in 1903. Eil Erving Foster died in 1973 at age 93.
Brother - Otto William "Ottie" Foster - Memorial ID #16151580
Contributor:
Rose Stout
*******************************************************************
Biography written by his daughter Stella
Church History --- Clarence Edward Foster --- Founder
Born, November 11, 1879, Selma, Illinois. Born again, kneeling at a kitchen chair with his grandma, at age 11. Lost his father when he was 15years of age. Had one brother, Otto.
At an early age, God started dealing with him to preach the gospel. He tried to get away from it, saying, "Well, God, if it's you, show someone else." His confirmation came when an old man told him he saw a young man in a dream preaching, and that young man was him. That cinched it, he knew he was called of God to preach.
At age 19, he began preaching on the street in front of an old saloon in Emporia, Kansas, where he lived at the time.
1903 --- He married Lucile Mabel Fritz. They went to a 10-day camp-meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, took a 150 mile trip on a paddle boat to St. Louis, and opened a meeting there in an old saloon called "The Bloody Bucket". After one month there, they came to Topeka and opened a meeting at 924 North Kansas Avenue, in a place called "Smokey Bowl". All they had were orange crates, and a monkey stove. The 1903 flood washed out the basement windows.
1904 --- First son, Byron was born, six more children followed: Melvin, Raymond, Stella, Clem Clifford, and Victor.
1906 --- Filled with the Holy Spirit at 924 North Kansas Avenue. Held meetings anywhere they could find an open door, such as store buildings, and tents, and even open air.
1910 to 1913 --- Held meetings in "the sheep shed" on the corner of Morse and North Kansas Avenue. This is where Melvin was run over by a doctor in a 7-passenger car. They said he was dead, but took him in the church and prayed for him. He was healed and lived to raise a family, dying at age 73. Three girls left to go to Africa as missionaries from here in 1912, Georgia and Laura Johnson, and Bertha Curry. Bertha died over there. Georgia married an Englishman, Guthrie. She only came back once or twice for a visit. She had two children who were missionaries. Laura married a Topeka man, Baldwin, and died here. Through the years, many missionaries and pastors have come from our assembly. It was during this time, that meetings were held in the basement of the old court house for a short time. This was at 5th and Quincy.
1914 --- Held meetings in a store building located on the corner of Seward and Branner streets. This is where half of the assembly got up and walked out when Papa started preaching "eternal security", when God revealed it to him. Held tent meetings until October (when it became too cold), on the corner of Seward and Freeman streets. Freeman was then called Norton. This is the present location of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
1915 --- Purchased lots and built a church building on the corner of State and Twiss streets (437 Twiss). Held a dedication service on Thanksgiving Day. During his 73 years in the ministry, he held camp-meetings in the following locations: Garfield Park - 8, Morris Grove - 1, Baughams's Grove - 1, Jones Grove - 18, Walnut Grove - 3, Forest Park - 15, Iola, Ks. - 1 (1921), 2622 E. 6th - 18 (Our own campground in Topeka, Ks. purchased in 1944)
My Papa was the most Godly man I every knew. He and mom raised seven children, and I never heard him raise his voice, only in praising the Lord. We never talked back. We knew he meant what he said. Sometimes a look was enough, but he was so kind and loving, and lots of fun.
He helped take care of us, helped cook, etc., and always took time to visit the sick and study God's word. Many times he would shut himself in his study room for 7 hours or more. He only went to the 6th grade in school, since his dad died when he was 15. My mother helped him with spelling and writing. She typed for him and played the piano. They wrote many songs together, and he wrote books and tracts.
Their early years were extremely hard, with much persecution. The police wouldn't allow children to go to the altar, saying he "hypnotized" them. They took him to jail once and stopped their camp-meeting at Garfield Park in 1915. He refused to be defeated, so they moved their meeting across the street. They tried to stop his meetings anywhere he went in Topeka, but he didn't give up. He preached 73 years, and in addition to the 65 camp-meetings, he had tent campaigns every summer, which always brought in new people. One summer, in 1921, so many new families came that our church couldn't seat them all. We had to put chairs in the aisles.
He never seemed to worry, because he had great faith. Both he and my mother had godly mothers, who were a great help to them.
I was so thrilled to have him live with me the last 4 years and 3 months of his life, at 542 Grattan, Topeka, Kansas. He wasn't sick in bed, but knew that he was going home to be with the Lord. Since he didn't want to die in my home, he asked his sons, Clem and Victor, to take him to the hospital. He was admitted on Wednesday evening, lapsed into a coma Thursday evening, and went home to be with the Lord, Friday afternoon, February 23, 1973, at age 93. His last words were "It will be glory".
He was preaching on 6 radio stations at the time of his death.
Twenty-five ministers were on the church platform, and spoke at his funeral.
1987 --- Clem and Douglas Crook, my grandson, are co-pastors. We have just done a complete remodeling job on the 72-year old church, including a new addition. Eph.3:20 "Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." During the remodeling, two signs were found which were put there in 1921 when the church was raised to put the basement under it. "Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me", was the first one which was overhead at the east end of the church. At the west end over the platform was "My house shall be called the house of prayer."
Written by Stella, his only daughter. There were 3 sons older, and 3 sons younger than Stella. Two are ministers, Clem and Victor.
Contributor: Rose Stout (49419337)
Their parents were Eli Erving Foster and Lucile Fritz who were married in 1903. Eil Erving Foster died in 1973 at age 93.
Brother - Otto William "Ottie" Foster - Memorial ID #16151580
Contributor:
Rose Stout
*******************************************************************
Biography written by his daughter Stella
Church History --- Clarence Edward Foster --- Founder
Born, November 11, 1879, Selma, Illinois. Born again, kneeling at a kitchen chair with his grandma, at age 11. Lost his father when he was 15years of age. Had one brother, Otto.
At an early age, God started dealing with him to preach the gospel. He tried to get away from it, saying, "Well, God, if it's you, show someone else." His confirmation came when an old man told him he saw a young man in a dream preaching, and that young man was him. That cinched it, he knew he was called of God to preach.
At age 19, he began preaching on the street in front of an old saloon in Emporia, Kansas, where he lived at the time.
1903 --- He married Lucile Mabel Fritz. They went to a 10-day camp-meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, took a 150 mile trip on a paddle boat to St. Louis, and opened a meeting there in an old saloon called "The Bloody Bucket". After one month there, they came to Topeka and opened a meeting at 924 North Kansas Avenue, in a place called "Smokey Bowl". All they had were orange crates, and a monkey stove. The 1903 flood washed out the basement windows.
1904 --- First son, Byron was born, six more children followed: Melvin, Raymond, Stella, Clem Clifford, and Victor.
1906 --- Filled with the Holy Spirit at 924 North Kansas Avenue. Held meetings anywhere they could find an open door, such as store buildings, and tents, and even open air.
1910 to 1913 --- Held meetings in "the sheep shed" on the corner of Morse and North Kansas Avenue. This is where Melvin was run over by a doctor in a 7-passenger car. They said he was dead, but took him in the church and prayed for him. He was healed and lived to raise a family, dying at age 73. Three girls left to go to Africa as missionaries from here in 1912, Georgia and Laura Johnson, and Bertha Curry. Bertha died over there. Georgia married an Englishman, Guthrie. She only came back once or twice for a visit. She had two children who were missionaries. Laura married a Topeka man, Baldwin, and died here. Through the years, many missionaries and pastors have come from our assembly. It was during this time, that meetings were held in the basement of the old court house for a short time. This was at 5th and Quincy.
1914 --- Held meetings in a store building located on the corner of Seward and Branner streets. This is where half of the assembly got up and walked out when Papa started preaching "eternal security", when God revealed it to him. Held tent meetings until October (when it became too cold), on the corner of Seward and Freeman streets. Freeman was then called Norton. This is the present location of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
1915 --- Purchased lots and built a church building on the corner of State and Twiss streets (437 Twiss). Held a dedication service on Thanksgiving Day. During his 73 years in the ministry, he held camp-meetings in the following locations: Garfield Park - 8, Morris Grove - 1, Baughams's Grove - 1, Jones Grove - 18, Walnut Grove - 3, Forest Park - 15, Iola, Ks. - 1 (1921), 2622 E. 6th - 18 (Our own campground in Topeka, Ks. purchased in 1944)
My Papa was the most Godly man I every knew. He and mom raised seven children, and I never heard him raise his voice, only in praising the Lord. We never talked back. We knew he meant what he said. Sometimes a look was enough, but he was so kind and loving, and lots of fun.
He helped take care of us, helped cook, etc., and always took time to visit the sick and study God's word. Many times he would shut himself in his study room for 7 hours or more. He only went to the 6th grade in school, since his dad died when he was 15. My mother helped him with spelling and writing. She typed for him and played the piano. They wrote many songs together, and he wrote books and tracts.
Their early years were extremely hard, with much persecution. The police wouldn't allow children to go to the altar, saying he "hypnotized" them. They took him to jail once and stopped their camp-meeting at Garfield Park in 1915. He refused to be defeated, so they moved their meeting across the street. They tried to stop his meetings anywhere he went in Topeka, but he didn't give up. He preached 73 years, and in addition to the 65 camp-meetings, he had tent campaigns every summer, which always brought in new people. One summer, in 1921, so many new families came that our church couldn't seat them all. We had to put chairs in the aisles.
He never seemed to worry, because he had great faith. Both he and my mother had godly mothers, who were a great help to them.
I was so thrilled to have him live with me the last 4 years and 3 months of his life, at 542 Grattan, Topeka, Kansas. He wasn't sick in bed, but knew that he was going home to be with the Lord. Since he didn't want to die in my home, he asked his sons, Clem and Victor, to take him to the hospital. He was admitted on Wednesday evening, lapsed into a coma Thursday evening, and went home to be with the Lord, Friday afternoon, February 23, 1973, at age 93. His last words were "It will be glory".
He was preaching on 6 radio stations at the time of his death.
Twenty-five ministers were on the church platform, and spoke at his funeral.
1987 --- Clem and Douglas Crook, my grandson, are co-pastors. We have just done a complete remodeling job on the 72-year old church, including a new addition. Eph.3:20 "Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." During the remodeling, two signs were found which were put there in 1921 when the church was raised to put the basement under it. "Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me", was the first one which was overhead at the east end of the church. At the west end over the platform was "My house shall be called the house of prayer."
Written by Stella, his only daughter. There were 3 sons older, and 3 sons younger than Stella. Two are ministers, Clem and Victor.
Contributor: Rose Stout (49419337)
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