John McCullough Foster came to Leavenworth, Kansas in 1858, less than 4 years after the town was established. Foster and his wife, Letitia, purchased Lots 8, 9, and 10 on the NorthWest corner of Fifth Avenue and Middle Street from William and Abby Marshall for $900.00. The purchase included a two story, four-room frame house with a one-story rear kitchen wing.
In December 1887 the Fosters sold the property to Edward Carroll, an officer of the Leavenworth National Bank for $20,500. The Carrol family lived in the house for seventy-seven years. Edward's daughter, Ella, donated the home to the Leavenworth County Historical Society in 1964.