VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
i6i
"before the mast" and later becoming
master, lie was a sea captain for many
years, his record is an honorable one, his
character ruggedly honest and his entire
life one that stood the test of every trial.
He married Nancy Foster, born in 1824,
died in 191 t, daughter of another John
Foster (not a relative) and his wife, Sarah
Brownley. Children : John E.. born in 1845,
died in 1896, a sea captain, unmarried ;
Littleberry Stainback, of further mention ;
Malvern Hill, born in 1863. died in 1898;
married \^irginia Hudgins.
Littleberry S. Foster, second son of Cap- tain John and Nancy (Foster) Foster, was born in Mathews county, Virginia, Febru- ary 23, 1856. He obtained his early and preparatory education in private schools, completing his classical studies at Randolph- Macon College. Breaking away from family tradition and parental example, he forswore the sea and all its allurements, deciding upon a professional career. As the years have brought him honors in that oldest of profes- sions and the future holds yet more brilliant promise, it is evident that he made no mis- take and that as a pilot to health, he pos- sesses the same clear brain, steady hand and cool courage that distinguished the many men of his race who have gained fame as pilots of ships. After leaving Randolph- Macon he entered the medical department of the University of the City of New York and there received the degree M. D., class of 1879. He added to his store of knowledge gained at the university by a post-graduate course at Edinburgh, Scotland, beginning practice in Norfolk, Virginia. After a few years spent in practice there he returned to Mathews county, in 1885, and there prac- ticed until 1899. During this period he made special study of diseases of the brain and nerves and became noted as one of the great specialists in the treating of such diseases. In 1899 he gave up private practice to ac- cept the appointment of superintendent of Eastern State Hospital for the Insane in V^irginia, and until 1907 was the head of that institution. Here he was brought in constant contact with every form of disease of the brain, and w^ith all the power of his medical skill and learning he fought to re- store to the unfortunates committed to his care, their normal condition. To this end he used not only every medicinal and sur- gical aid known to the brain specialist. viR-11
but those exterior aids, exercise, diet,
occupation and amusement, treating each
case separately after a thorough ex-
amination into cause, heredity and previous
environment. The eight years spent at the
Insane Hospital were fruitful ones for both
the institution and its honored head. He
grew in experience and knowdedge, his de-
votion to his patients arising from a double
moti^•e, professional interest of the highest
order and an intense sympathy for those
deprived of reason, often through no fault
of their own. He attained high rank among
the brain specialists of the country, and
raised the reputation of the institution over
which he presided to a par with the best of
other states. In 1907 he withdrew from
the superintendency of the hospital and re-
sumed private practice as a brain and nerve
specialist, locating in Norfolk. He is a
member of many professional societies, in-
cluding the American and \'irginia State
Medical Associations and for seven years
prior to becoming superintendent of the In-
sane Hospital was a member of the state
board, governing the insane hospitals of
Virginia. Dr. Foster is not a man of one
idea, although his devotion to his specialty
is intense. While practicing in Mathews
county he was superintendent of schools for
nine years and for ten years \vas chairman
of the Democratic county committee, filling
both positions most capably and had he
elected to remain in the county would prob-
ably have been yet in office, as his people
parted from him with regret. He is a mem-
ber, junior warden and treasurer of Burton
parish of the Protestant Episcopal church
and a master Mason of Williamsburg
Lodge, No. 6.
Dr. Foster married, in 1881, Agnes, daughter of Captain William and Mary Jane (Dent) Dixon, of Savannah, Georgia. Chil- dren: I. Mary L., born in 1883, a graduate of Virginia Female Institute, Staunton, Virginia, and of Olney College, Washing- ton, D. C. ; married Charles Rowan and has three children : Mary F., Virginia, and Wil- liam Dent. 2. Littleberry S. (2), born in 1885, educated at Locust Dale Academy, then took architectural courses and is now a draughtsman in the employ of the Gen- eral Fire Extinguisher Company, of Provi- dence, Rhode Island, at Charlotte, North Carolina. 3. Lucille, born in 1887, a gradu- ate of Chatham Female College, Chatham,
