JOHN G. FOOTE was born at Middlebury, Vermont, April 21, 1814.  He came to 
Iowa in 1843, locating at Burlington where for thirty-three years he was 
engaged in the hardware business.  He was one of the influential promoters of 
the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad and treasurer of the company for 
several years, also serving as director of the Peoria, CArthage & Burlington 
Railroad and of the first telegraph company which built a line to Burlington. 
 Mr. Foote was one of the organizers and a director of the First National 
Bank of Burlington.  In 1861 he was elected on the Republican ticket State 
Senator, serving in the Ninth and Tenth General Assemblies.  He ranked high 
in financial legislation.  In 1872 he was chosen one of the commissioners to 
superintend the erection of the new State House and had charge of the 
finances until the building was completed in 1886.  Under his administration 
$2,876,300 were disbursed and not a dollar was misappropriated during the 
fourteen years in which the work was in progress.  He was a man of fine 
business ability and of stern integrity.  He died on the 4th of March, 1896.


Provided by Debbie Clough Gerischer
Thanks Debbie