John worked in the lumber mills in Chippewa Falls.
In the spring of 1869, anxious to make a home for his family, he walked 20 miles through the wilderness with his double-bitted ax on his shoulder, to Bob Creek ( now known as Keystone ).
He located a sitable spot on which he staked his claim.
There were two or thre Canadian and French couples in the community, and he stayed with them while hewing out logs to build his first home.
He then bought a team of oxen and moved his family to the new home.
About twice a year, a few of his neighbors would pile into his wagon and go to Chippewa Falls to secure supplies for the neighborhood. It took three days to make the trip, and on the return, the load was so heavy that the men walked and pushed the wagon to assist the oxen.
The family lived in Bobs Creek for 19 years.
In 1888, he purchased the large Dumke Farm at Eagleton, which was one of the two largest farms in the area, and it became knows as Foster Farm.
Some years after his wife died in 1892 he sold the large farm and re-married and moved back to Chippewa Falls, where he died at the age of 93.