Stephen Clark Foster

For the United States Representative from Maine, seeStephen Clark Foster (Maine politician).

Stephen Clark Foster
Portrait of Stephen Clark Foster circa 1880
5thMayor of Los Angeles
In office May 4, 1854 – January 13, 1855 & January 25, 1855 – May 9, 1855
Preceded by	Antonio F. Coronel
Succeeded by	Dr. Thomas Foster
In office May 7, 1856 – September 22, 1856
Preceded by	Dr. Thomas Foster
Succeeded by	Manuel Requena(acting)
Mayor of Los Angeles
In office 1848–1850
Preceded by	Position created
Succeeded by	Alpheus P. Hodges(post-statehood)
Personal details
Born	Stephen Clark Foster December 17, 1820 Machias, Maine
Died	28 January 1898(1898-01-28)(aged 77) California
Resting place	Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles, CA
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	María Merced Lugo
Residence(s)	Los Angeles,California
Alma mater	Yale University
Occupation	Politician

Stephen Clark Foster(December 17, 1820 – January 27, 1898) was apolitician,the first American mayor ofLos Angelesunder United States military rule. Foster served in the state constitutional convention, and was elected to the State Senate. He was elected as mayor of Los Angeles in 1856, and later elected for four terms to theLos Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Early life and education

Foster was born inMachias, Maine,December 17, 1820. He graduated fromYale Collegein 1840.

Career

He taught at a private academy in the South. In 1845 at age 25, he headed for California, like many other young single men, viaEl PasoandSanta Fe.While in Santa Fe, Foster was hired by Quartermaster Wm. M.D. McKissack to be an interpreter for theMormon Battalionof Volunteers, then on its way to California as part of theMexican–American Warforces sent to California. He acted unofficially as an additional guide.

In the stormy period when California was under US military rule after the defeat of the Mexicans, GovernorRichard Barnes Masonappointed the 26-year-old Fosteralcalde(mayor) of Los Angeles to replace the dissolvedayuntamiento(government) of the Mexicans. For this reason, Foster often has been referred to as the first American mayor of the city. He served as alcalde from January 1, 1848 to May 21, 1849. For the remainder of that year, or until the city came under United States jurisdiction in 1850, Foster served asprefect.

Mason appointedJosé del Carmen Lugo,a prominent and matureCalifornio,as mayor following Foster.

Marriage and family

During his early years in Los Angeles, Foster made a marriage important to his standing in the community. He met and married María Merced Lugo, one of the sisters of José del Carmen Lugo above. Their father was a prominent Californio landowner. The Fosters had five children together.

Foster was elected a member of the1849 California Constitutional Convention,which met inMonterey.The group framed the state Constitution and petitioned Congress for admission of California into the United States.

Political career

Foster achieved his first political office after statehood in 1850, when he was elected to theLos Angeles Common Councilfor a one-year term. In 1851 he was electedCalifornia state senatorfrom Southern California, and served two years.

In 1854, Foster was electedmayor of Los Angeles.He is credited with authorizing construction of the first public school in Los Angeles.Los Angeles was then said to be the toughest frontier town in the United States. It had a diverse population with simmering tensions after the war, as well as a "disorderly element".The surrounding territory was overrun by bandits driven from thegold minesof northern California southward into the cattle ranching counties. Numerous gamblers and criminals drifted into the city to escape thevigilantesofSan Francisco.

Mayor Foster, like most of the city's prominent citizens, was a member of the localvigilance committeeand of the Los Angeles Rangers, the mounted body of volunteer police. In early 1854, Foster resigned his official position to lead alynchingmob.After the lynching, the people held a special election and returned Foster to office for the remainder of his regular term. Foster was re-elected mayor in 1856. He resigned Sept. 22, 1856, to act as executor for the large estate of his brother-in-law,Colonel Isaac Williams.

Foster next served as a supervisor on theLos Angeles County Board of Supervisorsfor four terms. He was elected in 1856, 1858 and 1859. In 1857 he replaced Jonathan R. Scott, who resigned as county supervisor in March of that year.

Historian

Foster documented the history of California under the rule of Mexico in articles published by the Southern California Historical Society. In 1888 he wroteA Sketch of Some of the Earliest Pioneers of Los AngelesandReminiscences: My First Procession in Los Angeles March 16, 1847.

AtForefather's Daycelebrations on December 21, 1886, Foster read a paper about yankee pioneers, titledFirst New Englanders Who Came to Los Angeles,whichThe Los Angeles Timesstated was a "historically valuable paper."

Death

He died in 1898 and his funeral was held inDowney,California. Former Los Angeles mayorJames R. Tobermanwas a pall-bearer.