His death certificate records Bob Foster, age 76, born 10 Jan 1842 in Rowan Co., Ky, died 10 Feb 1918 in Rowan Co., Ky, married, occupation farmer, general nature of industry business or establishment in which employed “good”, father Elihue Foser, mother’s maiden name Liza Black, both born in Rowan Co., Ky, cause of death “this Man never Had any Doctor Sled turned over with Him one year ago Cripled Him in his left Leg and Died as a result”, informant Lee Foster, Hilda, Ky, burial in Lick Fork.

Robert and Mary Ellen’s gravestones have no dates. I also can’t find Mary Ellen in the Kentucky Death Index.

Unless otherwise indicated, my main source for this family is a profile in Past Images of Rowan County.

Of the 10 children of Bob and Mary Ellen Foster, 2 married Jones (their cousins), 2 married Riddles, and one married a Hall.

1870 census of Rowan Co., Kentucky, Pearce prec., taken 15 June, lists on p. 3/123, family #19:
Foster, Robert, 30; Mary, 17; Joshua, 1; Jones, Samuel, 10. All born in Kentucky. (I have not identified the parents of Samuel Jones. I can’t find him in the 1860 census, so he might really be slightly under 10.)

1880 census of Rowan Co., Kentucky, Pearce precinct, lists as family #234:
Foster, Robert, 39; Ellen, 29; William, 11; Sarah, 8; Effie, 6; Robert L., 3; Lou E., 1. All born in Kentucky.

1900 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pearce precinct, p. 210A, lists as family #98:
Foster, Robert L. (or S.), 59, b. Apr 1851, married 32 years; Mary E., wife, 59, b. Apr 1841, married 32 years, mother of 10 children, 9 living; Willie, son, 30, b. Dec 1869; Lou E., dau, 20, b. Jan 1880; Thomas, son, 19, b. Jan 1881; Charley, son, 14 b. Jan 1886; Alice, dau, 10, b. July 1889; Luther, son, 5, b. Jan 1895. All born Ky Ky Ky.

(Note that the birthdate for Robert is inconsistent with his listed age, and the age and birthdate for Mary Ellen are inconsistent with other records. They should be 59 & 1841 for Robert, and 49 and 1851 for Mary Ellen. I’m skeptical of there being so many births listed in January, but they seem to all say that - this census taker added an ‘e’ to June. The middle initial for Robert looks more like an S than an L - this census taker usually put a bigger loop at the top of L’s - but Robert Lee sounds more likely than Robert S-something.)

1910 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pearcy precinct, p. 231B, enumerated 20 Apr, lists as family #47/50:
Foster, Robert C., 69, married 42 years; Mary E., wife, 59, married 42 years, 10 children, 8 living; Bowman, Alice, dau, 20, widowed, 1 child, 1 living; Foster, Luther, son, 15; Bowman, Clifford, son, 8/12. All born Ky Ky Ky. (Clifford should be marked as a grandson.)

1920 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pearcy precinct, enumerated Jan 19, lists on p. 5A as family #89/96:
Foster, Mary E., 67, widowed; Bowman, Clifford, grandson, 10. Both born Ky Ky Ky.