Elliott K. Foster
Elliott K. Foster
Indianapolis, Indiana circa 1829-1843
One of the earliest silversmiths to locate in Indianapolis (Marion County) was Elliott K. Foster. An announcement in the Indiana Journal of October 13, 1830, stated that E. Foster was beginning a “silversmith and jeweler” business in that city. In 1833, Foster entered into a partnership with Daniel A. Webb, the business being known as D.A. Webb & Co., but that association lasted only a short time and was dissolved in October of the same year. Elliott Foster was a clock maker as well as a silversmith, and he also repaired watches. A later advertisement also indicated that Foster had taken over the room formerly occupied by Humphrey Griffith, also a clock maker. By 1835 Foster was advertising watches and jewelry. It was during that year that Foster bought out the interests of his former partner D.A. Webb, and took Washington H. Talbott as a junior partner in the firm. At one point the business was known as Foster and Talbott. A spoon owned by the Indiana State Historical Society bears the mark FOSTER & TALBOTT. It seems apparent that Talbott bought out Foster’s interest in the business perhaps as early as 1840. Elliot Foster’s name does not appear on the 1840 Federal Census for Marion County and one might assume that he had left the area by that time.
1829- 1843
Indianapolis, Indiana
ELLIOTT K. FOSTER SILVER DESCRIPTIONS COMPOSITION: COIN SILVER (1) Teaspoon, 5.75 inches (1) Teaspoon, 5.75 inches, engraved: H (1) Teaspoon, 5.5 inches, engraved: J.J. (1) Teaspoon, 6.125 inches