Hypothesis of his parentage.
James Foster was married to Semirames in the 1850 census, with a 1 year old named William (Bledsoe County, TN).301
She never appears in any other census. I know from his life insurance application that his mother died at age 30. 297She would have died in 1857. James Foster married the widow Julia Ann Crenshaw Morris in Gallatin, IL on April 5, 1858.302
The 1860 Equality, Gallatin, IL census shows them together with her son John C. Morris, His sons William, Jesse C. and Thomas, as well as an 8 month old infant son James. The birth years of his sons match the life insurance application.303
The 1870 Equality, Gallatin, IL census shows that William Foster has left, infant James probably died, and there is a 4 year old Edward and an 8 month old infant Margaret.304
The 1870 Pikeville, Bledsoe, TN census shows William & Rody Foster (the suspected grandparents) hosting several grandchildren attending school, a 21 year old William B. is one. Their son, William, would have been 32, so this is not him.305
The 1880 District 78, Marion, TN census shows Jesse Carroll married to Esther, with Carrie (3) and James A. (1). Esther’s mother is living with them.296
Meanwhile, the 1880 Equality, Gallatin, IL census shows Julia to be a widow, Edward R. (14) at home, her son John working as a farmer, and her mother, Sina Crenshaw (81) living with them.306