Prospecting for Gems of Bloomington's Past #2

Robert C Foster and former slave, Notley Baker

Over two months ago, the MCPL librarian wanted me to look into a prominent citizen, Robert C Foster, to see if he had connections with the Underground Railroad, the network of abolitionists and former slaves who helped fugitive slaves as they escaped north from slave states before the Civil War. She wondered about the fact that Notley Baker, a former slave and known member of the Underground Railroad was listed in the 1850 census on the same page as Robt C Foster-indicating they may have lived on the same street. Foster’s wife, Agnes, had been raised in the Reformed Presbyterian Church where most of the abolitionists in town were members.

Here are two pages from the 1850 Federal Census of Bloomington Township. Page 1 has Notley (Nolley) at the bottom of the page with his wife.

Page 1

“Nolley” Baker, 42 (b.1808), M, B(lack), occupation-barber; born in Kentucky; over 30 and cannot read or write.

“Murria” (Moreah) Baker, 38 (b. 1812), F, B, Probably also born in Kentucky. Over 30 and cannot read or write.

Page 2 continues with children of the Baker family at the top and Robt C. Foster further down the same page.

Baker children: Sarah, 20 (b. 1830), F, B; Elizabeth, 18 (B. 1832) F, B; Joseph, 13 (b. 1837), listed as F (but must have been male). They were under 30, so they may or may not have been able to read or write.

"Education was quite limited. Our school house was made of round logs, with a dirt floor” Hall, F. M. (1922). Historic treasures: true tales of deeds with interesting data in the life of Bloomington, Indiana university and Monroe County--written in simple language and about real people. Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana university press p 22.

Schools at this time were subscription schools, often meeting in homes or churches. The very first school for children in town met in the early 1820’s in the log courthouse on the square. The cost of schools may have been too much for black families, even if “colored children” had been permitted. So-called “colored schools” were formed in town around 1880.

I tried to find out as much as I could about both Robt. C Foster and Notley Baker.

Let’s start with Robt. C Foster. Here is a biographical sketch from History of Lawrence and Monroe Counties, Indiana: Their People, Industries, and Institutions. B.F. Bowen, 1914 . P 323

Robert C Foster born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1831 entered Indiana University in 1844 graduating in 1850 He went back to his native city and studied law two years and was elected deputy auditor of Monroe county under William Tarkington (his cousin’s husband) serving until 1855 He was then elected auditor and in 1859 was re elected In 1863 he went into the dry goods trade for three years and was then elected county clerk and after four years in that office practiced law for a time and was made cashier of the Blooming ton First National Bank serving until 1880 after which he practiced the legal profession For twenty five years he served faithfully and well as secretary of Indiana University In 1876 he was elected to a seat in the State Legislature and held other positions of trust in Monroe county.

Now how likely is it that Foster could have been involved in the Underground Railroad? He did come from Pennsylvania, where many Quakers lived and were active abolitionists. Some help can be found in the Monroe County History Center Church Index c. 1818-1900 by surname.(https://monroehistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Church-Index-Sorted-by-Surname-6-7-18.pdf). Here we find that on 9/29/1970, Robt. C Foster was a Trustee of the First Presbyterian Church in Bloomington. That would mean it is not very likely he was involved in helping escaped slaves, even if his wife, Agnes McCalla Foster, had grown up in the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Mainline Presbyterians were lukewarm about the fugitive slave issue as were most of inhabitants of Bloomington. Robert C Foster did fight in the Civil War on the Union side, however, so he certainly was not sympathetic to the Confederate cause.

I found Robt. C Foster to be a productive citizen, but rather uninteresting. However, his uncle, William C Foster, was more colorful and well-known as one of the earliest doctors in town.Wiliam C was a member of the Baptist Church which eventually became part of the United Church (by checking, again, the church index) He was a Trustee at IU as well as a senator in the state legislature in the mid 1840’s. He raised a dissenting voice about various issues of the day, including the government, the running of IU (he bitterly opposed Andrew Wylie, first President), and the Fugitive Slave Law issue. He did join the Union Infantry for a few months as a doctor, but was soon mustered out, probably due to his health and age.

Next time, I will be talking about ex-slave, Notley Baker and his family as well as the history of the Underground Railroad in Indiana. Surprisingly, there is a lot of information about this family…