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MICHAEL FOUST, farmer, Scotch Grove Twp., Sec. 39; P.O. Center Junction; born in Pennsylvania in 1842; came to Jones Co. with his parents in 1851. His wife's maiden name was Mary Bailey, a native of New York; they were married in 1872; they have four children—Harriet, Ellen Maria, Johnnie and Margaret. Mr. Foust owns eighty acres of land. He is a Republican.
Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 655.
Submitted by: Lori J. Mentzel
Michael Foust, who is well known as one of the earlier settlers of Jones county, for he has resided in Scotch Grove township for fifty-nine years, was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, June 26, 1842. His parents, Michael and Maria (Hipple) Foust, started upon their journey to the west in 1843, stopping for a time at Dunleath, Illinois, across the river from Dubuque. There the father died and later the family moved into Jackson county, Iowa. During the period of their residence there Mrs. Foust married Donald Livingston and in 1850 came with her family to Jones county. They located upon the farm in Scotch Grove township which Michael Foust owns today. It remained the home of his mother and stepfather throughout the remainder of their days.
 Michael Foust was about eight years of age when his parents came to Scotch Grove township, so that it may be said that here he has passed all the years of his active life. He was reared at home and during his youth attended the common schools of his locality. He was early initiated into the work of the farm and through practical experience in its cultivation, gained an acquaintance with its peculiarities long before he purchased it from his stepfather. It is a tract of one hundred and twenty acres whose soil is well adapted for general farming which Mr. Foust has followed.
While he has kept fully abreast of the times in his methods of tilling the soil, he has been more or less conservative, for his thorough knowledge of the character of his land, his wisdom, acquired through actual experience, in regard to farming in general, has made him slow to relinquish those habits which have brought him a large measure of success in the course of years. His fields, orderly and well cared for, are representative of the best agricultural property of his township, while the condition of his fences and buildings tells its own story of the good management which has played no small part in placing Mr. Foust among the substantial men of his locality. His industry has been the means of his success and his thrift has conserved where toil could do no more.
In his young manhood Mr. Foust wedded Miss Mary Baley, of Scotch Grove township, a daughter of John Baley, who came to Jones county from New York state. Five children have been born to the couple: Hattie, who is the wife of Spencer Giles, the principal of the Springville schools; Ella, who is unmarried and lives at home; John, of Springville, Iowa; Margaret, who is the wife of Harry Withem, of Madison township, this county; and Mary Ann, who is deceased. Mrs. Foust has also passed away, her death having occurred March 9, 1883.
Since he has been of an age to exercise the franchise right of an American citizen, Mr. Foust has allied himself with the republican party, but has taken little part in the public life of his township, for he has considered that the example of his life, the lesson of its unremitting toil and its integrity of purpose were influence enough wielded in a community which regarded him as one of its honored members.
Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 263.
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