Plaque honors pioneers

The Shasta County Historical Society on Saturday mounted the plaques of two pioneering couples considered the founders of Cottonwood. One plaque belonged to Jacob Forster and Adeline Forster, and another to their son John Henry Foster and his wife Anna Philipina Reiser Foster.

The plaques joined more than 100 others, each representing a distinct pioneer family in Shasta County.

Foster family members came from as far away as Massachusetts, Arizona, and Missouri for the occasion.

"We feel very proud - we're a pioneer family," Mary Foster-Abrot, said the 84-year-old great-granddaughter of John Foster, Jacob's brother, as an estimated 60 descendants of both Fosters took their seats in front of a display of pioneer artifacts.

Included in the display is a copy of the "1861 U.S. land grant issued to Jacob Foster for 40 acres on which Cottonwood stands," said Paul Foster, who organized the genealogical reunion and is the great-great-grandson of Jacob Foster.

Paul Foster also included in the display a sword owned by Jacob Foster's son, John Henry Foster, as well as the Foster brand on a piece of cow hide.

"My family has been in the area for four or five generations and I'm still meeting family I didn't know I had," said Frank Heffelfinger, 56, a great-great-grandson of John Foster. "There are so many we didn't know existed. I've enjoyed meeting all of them."

"It's all about connecting with family members and learning about family history," said David Foster, who journeyed from Massachusetts. "It's easy in our society to be like an island."

The Foster family artifacts will be on display for six months at the Shasta County Historical Society, 1449 Market St. in Redding, according to Pioneer Plaque chairwoman Nola Shoup.