Hezekiah William Foote facts for kids

Hezekiah William Foote (also known as Henry Foote) was an important American figure. He lived from 1813 to 1899. He was a lawyer, a large farm owner, and a politician from Mississippi. He also served as a soldier during the American Civil War.

Early Life and Education

Hezekiah William Foote was born on December 17, 1813. His birthplace was Chester County, South Carolina. When he was a teenager, he moved to Macon, Mississippi, in Noxubee County, Mississippi. He studied law and became a lawyer in Mississippi.

His Career and Public Service

Foote was very active in his community and state. He started by raising cattle in Noxubee County. He was the first person in Mississippi to raise special, purebred cattle. He also started a newspaper called The Macon Intelligencer.

Hezekiah Foote held several public offices. He worked as the Chancery Clerk for Noxubee County. This job involved keeping important records. Later, he was elected as a district judge. He joined the Whig Party and then the Constitutional Union Party. In 1856, he ran for a seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives but did not win.

Civil War Service

By 1860, Foote strongly supported the idea of states leaving the United States. He joined the Confederate States of America. During the American Civil War (1861–1865), he became a colonel in the Confederate States Army. He fought in important battles like the Battle of Belmont and the Battle of Shiloh.

After the War

After the war, Foote continued his political career. He was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives. He also served in the Mississippi Senate. Beyond politics, he was the president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank in Macon, Mississippi.

Foote owned several large farms, known as plantations, in Mississippi. These included:

• the Mounds Plantation near Rolling Fork
• the Egremont Plantation
• the Hardscramble Plantation
• the Mount Holly Plantation in Foote, Mississippi, which he bought in the early 1880s.

Community and Education

Hezekiah Foote was also dedicated to his church. He was the superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School in Macon, Mississippi, for 56 years. He helped start Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. This university was founded as a Methodist school. He also served on its board of trustees, helping to guide the university. He was related to Henry S. Foote, who was the governor of Mississippi from 1852 to 1854.

Family Life

In 1836, Hezekiah Foote married Lucinda Frances Dade. She was born in 1816 and passed away in 1856. Lucinda inherited a large amount of land, about 3,000 acres, in Issaquena County, Mississippi. They had one son named Huger Lee Foote.

Death and Lasting Impact

Hezekiah William Foote passed away on January 29, 1899. He died in Macon, Mississippi, and was buried there. His great-grandson was Shelby Foote, a famous author who wrote many books about the Civil War.