228 FOSS. Fl ISS. largely from his efforts to provide a burial plai e for members of his own lodge, Siloam No. 2, of Boston. To him is due the credit of perfecting the plan for an Odd Fellows' home for the aged member, his widow, and orphan chil- dren, and he is at the present time the presi- dent of the board of trustees of the same. For many years he was the chairman of the relief committee of the order in Bos- ton, and is now the treasurer of that body. Few men have been more devoted to the charitable work of the fraternity than this tireless laborer. In other departments of charitable work he has been an active and devoted serv- ant. For many years he was a visitor in the Boston Provident Association, and in church mailers he has always been a con- sistent I niversalist. Mr. Ford is a practical man — positive in his convictions, generous in his nature, and gives himself heartily to the cause he espouses. He has filled a position in the Boston public library since it first moved to its present site on Boy-lston Street, in [848, and has won the respect of his as- sociates by his fidelity and urbanity. FOSS, James Henry, son of Joshua and Eliza (Foss) Foss, was born in Charles- ton, Penobscot county, Maine, Julv -'5, [842. Passing through the public schools of Rowley, Mass., he determined to secure a liberal education, and prepared for college at Dummer Academy, Byfield, under the tuition of Prof. Marshall Henshaw. He was graduated A. B. from Brown I niversity, Providence. R. [., in the class of 1863. While fitting for college, he taught school in Barrington, N. II., at the early age of fifteen, and at that time impressed with a belief that it was his mission. preached the gospel according to the Bap- tist faith in the pulpits of the surrounding towns. Alter graduation he made a distinguished reputation as an educator, teaching in high school, Bristol, Conn., House of Refuge, Randall's Island, N. Y., Williams Academy, StOCkbridge, Mass., lirisco si liool. P.cverly, grammar school, Winchester, and the Bigelow school, Newton. He was also superintendent of Rowley common schools, and of the Bigelow district school of Newton. Leaving his profession on account of ill health, lie was appointed by the Hon. George P. Loring, deputy commissioner of the United States Department of Agri- culture. Mr. Foss was married in Gloucester, to Mary H., daughter of Parker Burnham, of that city. Of this union were three chil- dren : Mary P., Ada and Ida Foss. Mr. Foss was married the second time in Allston, June 20, 1.S78, to Lillian A., daugh- ter of Quincy A. and Betsey C. (Wedge) Washburn. Lillian A. Washburn was an JAMES H. FOSS. elocutionist and musician of no small repute. Of this union is one child : Eliza- beth Foss. Mr. Foss has always been active in state and national politics, an ardent Republican and campaign speaker He is president of the Needham Republican club. Mr. Foss is known better to-day as a founder and builder of towns in Florida. While in the department of agriculture, he possessed opportunities for becoming acquainted with the best portions of the undeveloped lands of Florida, and upon his retirement from office, he availed him- self of what knowledge he had gained, and sometimes for himself, sometimes in com- pany with others, purchased large tracts of land in the healthful highlands of Florida, where he has founded and built two nourish- ing towns, Altamont, Orange county, and Belleview, Marion county. In the former town he built the famous Altamont Hotel. Belleview contains already one hundred
