Monton H. Foss

Mont Foss and helper oiling Mains St. Culver .

It hasn't been intentional, but we seem to be running to native sons in these sketches and today we have with us another citizen born in this community - Mont Foss, superintendent of streets.

Not first saw the light of day at Maxinkuckee and moved into town in 1891. For 14 years he was associated with his father in the firm of William A. Foss & Son, a harness and shop shop. Then for four years he operated the boat house which was situated where the beach resot now stands. After six years with the Palmer House boat house he took over, in 1928, the dutied for the town he so conscienciously handles today. Any day that Mont puts in less than 14 housr for the town her feels as though he had been loafing.

He also acts as a deputy town marshall.

Mont organized the Culver Fire Deaprtment and has been a member ever since, its only active charter member. During the years he has served as secretary, treasurer, and assitant chief.

Few have been [seen] the the fires that Mont has missed in all those years - Culver Citizen Profile



Monton H. Foss Birth 9 Dec 1880 Marshall County, Indiana Death 26 Feb 1955 Culver, Marshall County, Indiana cremated 2 Mar 1955 Burial Washington Cemetery Union Township, Marshall County, Indiana son of William Adney Foss amd Lovina Delphine “Dell” Young. Foss Family

He was born in December of 1880 to William and Dell Foss. Before his birth Aunt May had written to his mother telling her that if the baby were named Morton Henry she would gift him with three baby dresses. Mrs. Foss misread the name as Monton. She didn't like the name Henry so she named him Monton H. The baby received one dress

In 1891, Monton’s family moved to Culver proper where William Foss had his harness and shoe shop. He learned the leather trade and worked for his father until the shop was sold. He and wife Harriet, who also worked in the shop, had four children. Soon after the fourth child was born, she died. He and his second wife, Ada Cox Gill, had one son.

Monton operated the boat and bathhouse in Vandalia Park for a period of time. He built boats for a Mr. Shorb, manager of the Palmer House. He was well known through his work as the superintendent of streets and as the deputy town marshal, the only paid deputy at the time.

Monton had some interesting happenings in his life. In June 1909 he bought a restaurant. The payment was his car. He had no intention of serving meals as he immediately sold the restaurant to his father, who traded it to Milo Pryer for the right to sell patented screen windows in the county. Monton was definitely a trader. His daughter wrote, "We moved quite often as he traded houses as most people trade horses. All of his five children were born in different homes

1953 - May 6 - MONT FOSS TO RECEIVE 50-YEAR FIREMEN'S BADGE
Mont Foss, veteran member of the Culver Volunteer Fire Department, will be honored at the regular meeting of the firemen next Monday evening when he will be presented with a 50-year badge.

The honor badge is inscribed "Mont Foss, Culver Fire Department. 50 years service." He joined the fire department in 1903.

Fire Chief Dave Burns will make the presentation.


1953 - My 13 - Monton Foss Honored
At the regular meeting of Culver Fire Department Monday evening at the town hall, a gold 50 year firemen's badge was pesented to Monton H. Foss.

Burns, fire chief, presenter Burns, fire chief, presented honored member with a with five candles, each representing ten years of in the department.

Mr. Foss is the only charter member of the department which was organized 1903 by him with headquarters in the Harness Shop of father, William A. Foss.

The department has grown from bucket brigade to the present three modernly equipped trucks.


Monton H. Foss, Pioneer Fireman, Dies Saturday
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Grace Evangelical and Reformed Church for Monton H. Foss, age 74, who died Saturday evening at his home on Lakeview Street after an illness of several months.

Dr. Meredith J. Sprunger, pastor of the church, officiated and interment was at the Washington Cemetery east of Culver.

Born in Marshall County in the Washington community on Dec. 9, 1880, Mr. Foss lived his entire life in this vicinity.

For a number of years he was employed by the Town of Culver.

In 1902 he was one of a group who organized the Culver Fire Department. He was the last surviving charter member of that fine volunteer organization and continued to serve it as long as his health permitted.

He was a member of the Christian Church.

Surviving are his wife, Ada C. Foss; three daughters, Mrs. Vera Polley, Chesterton, Mrs. Helen Teschke, Michigan City, and Mrs. Veda Fitterling, Culver; two sons, Russell and Gordon, both of Hammond; and 12 grandchildren. - Citizen Mar 2 1955

married 22 Mar 1901 in Marshall Co., Indiana Etta May Hornbeck Birth 15 May 1884 Winamac, Pulaski County, Indiana Death 30 Jun 1902 Culver, Marshall County, Indiana Burial Winamac Municipal Cemetery Winamac, Pulaski County, Indiana daughter of WIlliam B (D) Hornbeck and Ida May Bennett

The Weekly Republican Plymouth, Indiana 10 Jul 1902, - Mrs. Monton Foss, of Culver died June 30, of diphtheria. She was 18 years, 1 month and 15 days old, The remains were taken to Winamac for interment.

married 18 Aug 1905 Winamac, Pulaski County, Indiana Harriet Lucinda Cox Birth 14 Nov 1887 Pulaski County, Indiana Death 19 Oct 1917 Culver, Marshall County, Indiana Burial Washington Cemetery Union Township, Marshall County, Indiana daughter of Alfred Cox and Florence Huldah Taylor.

Death of Mrs. (Harriet) Foss. Mrs. Monton Foss died on Friday of tuberculosis at her home in this place after several months’ struggle with tuberculosis. She was 29 years of age.
She leaves three little daughters and a son. They will be cared for by Mrs. Foss’ sister (Ada Cox Gill) of Winamac who will keep house for Mr. Foss. A private funeral was held at the house, Rev. Imhof of the Christian church officiating. The burial was in the Culver Cemetery. The sympathy of the community will be extended to Mr. Foss in his affliction - Citizen 14 Oct 1917

Children:

Vera August Foss (20 Aug 1908 – 26 Feb 1983, m. Ernest L. Polley
Helen Fern Foss (25 Aug 1910 – Nov 1991, m. John Schick, ? Teschke, Norman Ernest Bendix, Opl Isaiah Smith)
Russell Myrl (17 Oct 1912 – 2 Nov 1998, m. Margaret Madden
H. May Lucille Foss (23 Feb 1915-17 Mar 1915)
Veda Pearl Fodd (25 Mar 1916 – 4 Jan 1997, m. Harold Ivan Fitterling

married 12 Apr 1921 Ada Catherine (Cox) Gill Birth 12 Apr 1884 Winamac, Pulaski County, Indiana Death 10 Sep 1964 Hammond, Lake County, Indiana Cremation Sept 14, 1964 Burial Washington Cemetery Union Township, Marshall County, Indiana married 1st David Gill

Ada Foss Dies After Illness At Age Of 80
Mrs. Ada C. Foss, 80, formerly of Culver, who had been residing at the Maple Crest Nursing Home, St. John's, Ind., died at 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at St. Margaret's Hospital, Hammond, Ind., where she had been a patient for the past two weeks. She had been in failing health for the past several years.

Mrs. Foss was born April 12, 1884, at Winamac, Ind., to Alfred and Hulda (Taylor) Cox, and was married in 1920 to Monton H. Foss, who preceded her in death in 1955.

She had lived in Culver most of her life, before going to St. John's in 1961.

Surviving are two sons, Gordon E. Foss and Russell Foss, both of Hammond, Ind.; three daughters, Mrs. Helen Bendix, Michigan City, Ind., Mrs. Vera Polley, Chesterton, Ind., and Mrs. Veda Fitterling of Culver. Fourteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren also survive.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Easterday-Bonine Funeral Home, Culver, with Rev. Robert Leib, pastor of the Hessville Bible Church, Hammond, officiating.

Cremation followed. - Citizen Sep 16 1964

Child:

Gordon Euegene Foss (29 Mar 1922-13 Feb 1973) married LaVanne Beavers