Hugh Foster, to confirm whose homestead, on Sugar Island, special congressional action had to be taken, was in the city on Tuesday and completed the last act in fulfillment in requirement necessary to give him a good title to the finest quarter section of land around Big Lake George. Mr. Foster is indeed a character. Born in the North of Scotland 68

Years ago he has yet to see a locomotive, a rail car or to be on a steamboat, marvelous as it may seem. Well preserved, with bright eyes and weather-bronzed cheek, Chippewa County possesses no sturdier nor more loyal citizen. Intelligent to, he is, and reads the newspaper for those of his neighbors who have never learned to decipher the hieroglyphics that make up the English alphabet.

By the time he got fairly into his twenties Mr. Foster was seized with a spirit of adventure. Sir John Franklin was fitting out his celebrated, but ill-fated North Pole expedition. Mr. Foster made application to sail with him, but too late, as he found the explorer fully-manned. Biding his time Foster entered the service of the Hudson Bay Company and two months after Franklin sailed, he sailed for Hudson Bay finally reaching Moose Factory, at the mouth of Moose River, on James Bay on an arm of Hudson Bay. Here he remained eight years, trading with the Indians in winter and in summer going 700 miles sea-ward to ship furs and lay in new supplies.

Becoming weary of this life he and seventeen others took three large bateaux, plenty of provisions and started up Moose River. Heavy portages they made and many a swift rapids was poled or towed over. From the head of the Moose they portaged and paddled across lakes to the head of Michipicoten River. Down this they came toward Lake Superior and in four weeks after leaving Moose Factory they reached Michipicoten. From here Foster came to the Soo in a sail vessel and soon afterwards settled on Sugar Island where he has been ever since. He is the Father of twelve children, six of which are alive, his hardy frame bears evidence that his life in the wilds has agreed with him.

Contributed by Barbara Halloran