Biography of Newel K. Foster of Oakland
Dr. Newel K. Foster, born in Canterbury, New Hampshire, in 1849, was a prominent physician and legislator. The son of David M. and Sarah (Robertson) Foster, he hailed from a family with deep roots in New England history, including military service in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Foster earned a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University in 1873 and a Doctor of Medicine from Long Island College Hospital in 1878. He practiced in New York and Wyoming before settling in Oakland, California. Foster served as a state legislator and secretary of the state board of health, significantly contributing to public health and politics.