Wallace Henry Foote 1853-1919

FOOTE, GREEN, CAIN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 8/9/2010 at 23:17:55

W. H. Foote Called By Death on November 6th
Passes Away After Weeks of Intense Suffering
Lived Here for Years
Was Identified With the Business Interests of the City for Many Years

At close of day on November the 6th, 1919, Wallace Henry Foote passed from life to rest and removes from our midst one of the men who had been identified with this place for a long series of years.

Wallace Foote was born at River Junction, Michigan, on June 29th, 1853; he was one of a family of five boys and two girls constituting the family of Horace and Lelia Foote, of whom but one brother and one sister yet survive.

As a half groan lad, he left the parental roof to win his way in the world with all the enthusiasm of a healthy boy, and engaged his services as a grocer’s clerk with an uncle at Port Henry, N.Y. From here he entered St. Mary’s College at Montreal, Canada, as a student and after graduation from this institution of learning he came to Viola, Iowa, where he obtained a position in a banking institution where he remained until his marriage to Miss Aetna Green, on June 5, 1876. After a wedding trip to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia the newly married couple removed to a farm and he engaged in the live stock and farming business until the spring of 1884 when the family came to Emmet county and settled on a farm in Center township and a short time later removed to this city where they have since made their home. Since coming to Estherville, he has been at various times engaged in the business of live stock, farm machinery, and of late years has dealt extensively in real estate and acquired a modest competency.

His family consisted of his wife, whose death preceded his, and four children, Arthur C. Foote of San Francisco, California, now in the employ of the China Mail Steamship Company; Mrs. Jack Cain of Seattle, Washington, well known here as a teacher of music; Wallace C. Foote, of Early, Iowa, a clothing merchant; and Claire Foote, who entered the profession of teaching several years ago, all of whom were able to be present at the funeral except Arthur, who was detained by sickness in his family.

Shortly after coming to Estherville Mr. Foote and his wife became members of Grace Episcopal church, and were closely identified with its affairs and activities during their lives. For many years he was an active member of the I.O.O.F., K. of P., the B.P.O.E., and in the Masonic fraternity was a member of North Star Lodge, Jeptha Chapter, Esdraelon Commandery and El Kadir Temple, and had been honored with the highest elective office in several of these bodies.

His health failed about six years ago, but after treatment at the springs his health rallied, but the failing health of Mrs. Foote and the worry and care incident to her care undermined his health and overtaxed his strength, and since her death he has gradually weakened and a few weeks’ intense suffering ended his life.

Mr. and Mrs. Foote were by nature sociable and hospitable and enjoyed the society of their friends and for many years the Foote home was the center of local social activities until failing health deprived them and their associates of these pleasures.

He was a man of positive character who always carried in social and business life the courage of his convictions. He was never afraid to take a stand for that which he believed to be right and just and was always willing to back his convictions with his time, influence, and money, even though standing alone, and always maintained the respect of his acquaintances, even his adversaries.

The funeral arrangements were in charge of M. K. Whelan, a warm personal friend of the family. The funeral service was that of the Episcopal church, conducted by Rev. Alvin Scollay Hock, who delivered a thoughtful address on the subject of the resurrection of the dead. Appropriate music was rendered by Mr. Fred Albertson with Mrs. Lloyd [unreadable] at the organ. The church was filled with masses of gorgeous [unreadable] from friends and societies of which the deceased was a member, their redolence and riot of color emblematic and prophetic of the life beyond the vale of time.

The active pall bearers were J. P. Kirby, Jay Johnston, D. R. Alexander, Hugh Greig, R. J. Ridley and C. W. Crim, all old time friends of the family. The honorary pall bearers were M. M. Knapp, N. B. Egbert, G. C. Allen, J. J. Klopp, G. A. Nichols, James Rainey, A. J. Case, G. P. Cave, F. H. Graaf, F. J. White and G. A. Lyons.

The B.P.O.E. attended in a body.

His body was buried in the family lot in the Oak hill cemetery.

“Tomorrow comes, tomorrow goes,
But yesterday returns no more;
We meet with theses, we part with those;
And eyes are dim and hearts are sore.
A blinding mist obscures my sight;
My sense with burden pall –
Time halts not in his rapid flight –
Goodnight, and joy be with you all.”

(Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, November 12, 1919)