Ann Elizabeth Foster (1913 - 1993)

Born 4 Mar 1913 in Crab Orchard, Cumberland, Tennessee, USA

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 14 Apr 1993 at age 80 in Cordell, Washita, Oklahoma, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: John Weathers [send private message]

Biography

Ann Elizabeth Foster who also went by Ann Eliza Foster, Liza Ann Foster^[1] and Liza Anna Foster^[2] was the second child and eldest daughter of Isaac Jonah and Dora Alice Foster. She was born in Crab Orchard, Cumberland, Tennessee.^[3]

Her family moved to Oklahoma when she was around 12^[4] as her father Jonah's health was suffering from coal mining work, and he wished to find a place to farm.^[5] Jonah's mother Melinda Clementine Foster and several of his siblings had also moved from Tennessee to Oklahoma as well.^[6]

Liza had a cousin named Iza Reba Foster who was of a similar age and who was married to a man named Charlie Brooks Carlton. While attending school at a rural Kiowa county school, Liza met Charlie's younger brother Joe "Clyde" Carlton whose family lived on another farm in Kiowa closer to Hobart. The two dated on and off while attending school, but it never turned into anything serious.

In 1936, perhaps at a family gathering for Charlie and Reba that brought Carltons and Fosters together or perhaps through a chance encounter at a honky-tonk, Clyde and Liza briefly rekindled their relationship resulting in Liza becoming pregnant with a son Fred Weathers. By the time that Liza found out that she was pregnant, she and Clyde were no longer together, and Clyde had met and fallen in love with his future wife Ethel English. Rather than ruin their happiness, Liza decided to not tell Clyde about her pregnancy and under pressure from her parents and the social norms of the era decided to give their child up for adoption.

Liza's son was born on April 16, 1937. She named him Lawrence Harold Foster^[2] - possibly after her younger brother Floyd Lawrence "Bill" Foster. She gave him up for adoption on May 28, 1937.^[2] Fred's adoptive mother Veda Juanita Weathers told Fred's wife Shirley once that she had made a photo of Fred at age 1 and sent it as a special favor that was requested by Liza. It is unknown if this photo found its way to her or how long she kept it.

Liza later went on to marry her husband James Oliver Smith. They had two children together.

Liza was 105 pounds and 5 ft. 2 in. with brown eyes and brown hair. She described herself as Irish with a little Native American.^[7]

She lived the rest of her life in Cordell where many of the Foster family lived and live still today. She died in 1993.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; Draft Registration Cards for Oklahoma, 1940 - 1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 468
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Petition to Make Lawrence Harold Foster a Ward of the Oklahoma County Court House, Personal copy in the files of John Weathers
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
4. ↑ The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; Draft Registration Cards for Oklahoma, 1940 - 1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 165
5. ↑ Brence, Pearl. Personal recollection as told to Marshall Brence who then told Weathers, John.
6. ↑ Year: 1910; Census Place: Dill, Kiowa, Oklahoma; Roll: T624_1257; Page: 17A; Enumeration District: 0164; FHL microfilm: 1375270
7. ↑ Non-Identifying Medical Information for Fred Weathers' Parents, Deaconess Home Pregnancy & Adoption Services, Personal copy in the files of John Weathers