Ezra Foot Explained

Ezra Foot
State Senate:Wisconsin
Term Start:1861
Term End:1862
State Assembly2:Wisconsin
Term Start2:1858
Term End2:1858
Birth Name:Ezra A. Foot
Birth Date:6 February 1809
Birth Place:Goshen, Connecticut, U.S.
Death Place:Footville, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting Place:Grove Cemetery
Footville, Wisconsin, U.S.
Spouse:Clarissa
Children:2
Occupation:Politician

Ezra A. Foot (February 6, 1809 – December 21, 1885) was a member of the Wisconsin Senate and the first mayor of La Cygne, Kansas. He was the founder and namesake of Footville, Wisconsin.

Early life

Ezra A. Foot was born in Goshen, Connecticut, on February 6, 1809.[1]

Career

In 1843 or 1845, Foot moved to Bachelor's Grove (later Footville) in Rock County, Wisconsin.[1] [2] In 1846, he ran for the first constitutional convention for the Constitution of Wisconsin, but lost. In 1847, he was elected to the second constitutional convention in Wisconsin.[1] Foot was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1858. He was a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing 17th district, as a Republican from 1861 to 1862.[1] [3] He was a trustee of the State Hospital for the Insane for several years.[1] He was the founder and namesake of Footville.[4] [5] He was instrumental in having a railroad built in Footville and he was president of the board of trustees of the Evansville Cemetery.[2]

During the American Civil War, Foot was chaplain of the 13th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.[6] In 1869, Foot moved to La Cygne, Kansas. He was elected the first mayor of the city in 1870 and also served as its probate judge.[1] [7] In March 1876, he returned to Footville, Wisconsin.[1] [8] He was a member of the county board of supervisors in Rock County and served as chair of the body for three years.[1] [2] In 1885 and at the time of his death, he was justice of the peace in Footville.[2]

Personal life

Foot married Clarissa.[2] He had two children, J. I. and Mrs. E. H. Egerton.[4] In 1847, his family moved into a grout house in Footville.[2]

Foot died on December 21, 1885, at his home in Footville.[1] [4] He was buried at Grove Cemetery in Footville.[2]

Notes and References

  1. News: The death of Hon. Ezra A. Foot... . 1885-12-23 . Wisconsin State Journal . 1 . . 2024-02-21.
  2. News: History Told as Footville Nears Centennial . 6 . . 2024-02-21.
  3. News: The Legislature . 1860-11-10 . Wisconsin State Journal . 1 . . 2024-02-21.
  4. News: The Madison, Wisconsin Journal says... . La Cygne Journal . 3 . . 2024-02-21.
  5. Book: A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways . Chicago and North Western Railway Company . 1908 . 71.
  6. News: E. A. Foot... . 1885-12-26 . The Wisconsin . 8 . . 2024-02-21.
  7. News: The City Election . 1870-08-27 . La Cygne Journal . 2 . . 2024-02-21.
  8. News: E. A. Foot... . 1876-04-01 . La Cygne Journal . 3 . . 2024-02-21.