Abram W. Foote

Abram William Foote (October 24, 1862 – May 14, 1941) was a Vermont businessman and politician. He served as Lieutenant Governor of the State of Vermont from 1921 to 1923.

Abram W. Foote
Born	October 24, 1862 Cornwall, Vermont, U.S.
Died	May 14, 1941 (aged 78) Middlebury, Vermont, U.S.
Occupation	Businessman, politician
Political party	Republican Party
Relatives	Ralph A. Foote (grandson)

Early life

Abram William Foote was born in Cornwall, Vermont on October 24, 1862.[1] He was educated in Middlebury.

Business career

Foote was a farmer and businessman, with interests in banking, insurance and other companies. He organized the Cornwall Telephone Company and built the first line from Addison County to Burlington, a venture he later sold to New England Telephone. In 1908, he organized the Rutland County Telephone Company, of which he served as General Manager.[2][3]

Political career

The "Abram Foote Farmhouse" in Cornwall, Vermont built in 1878 for Foote's father Rollin A. Foote. The Foote family bred Spanish Merino sheep on their 300 acre farm.[4]

A Republican, he served in several local offices in Cornwall and was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1900 to 1901. Foote was elected Addison County Assistant Judge in 1902, and reelected in 1904. He again won election to the Vermont House in 1914, serving one term. Foote won election to the Vermont Senate in 1916, serving from 1917 to 1919. In 1920, he was elected Lieutenant Governor and served from 1921 to 1923.[5][6][7]

In 1922, Foote ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor, losing to Redfield Proctor Jr.[8][9] Foote served in the Vermont House of Representatives again from 1931 to 1933.[10]

Death and legacy

Abram W. Foote died in Middlebury, Vermont on May 14, 1941, and was buried in West Cornwall's Evergreen Cemetery.[11] He was the grandfather of Ralph A. Foote, who served as Lieutenant Governor from 1961 to 1965.[12]

Published works

• The Foote Family, Comprising The Genealogy and History of Nathaniel Foote Of Weathersfield, Conn. And His Descendants, Marble City Press, The Tuttle Co., Volume 1, 1907

References

1. Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1917, page 507
2. Who's Who in New England, published by A. N. Marquis, Chicago, Volume 1, 1909, page 374
3. Encyclopedia of Vermont Biography, edited by Prentiss Cutler Dodge, 1912, pages 193 to 194
4. Axtell, John R. (September 10, 1980). "State Register of Historic Places" (PDF). Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development - Division for Historic Preservation.
5. Vermont: The Green Mountain State, by Walter Hill Crockett, Volume 4, 1921, page 548
6. Lieutenant Governors, Terms of Service Archived 2012-04-15 at the Wayback Machine, published by Office of the Vermont Secretary of State, Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, 2011, page 1
7. Journal of the Senate of the State of Vermont, published by Vermont General Assembly], 1905, page 476
8. 1922 Primary Election results, published by Office of the Vermont Secretary of State, Vermont State Archives, June 9, 2006, page 1
9. Newspaper article, Proctor Wins in Vermont, Indianapolis Star, September 14, 1922
10. Who's Who Among Association Executives, Institute for Research in Biography, Inc., 1935, page 174
11. Obituary, Abram W. Foote, The New York Times, May 15, 1941
12. Newspaper article, Miss Judith E. Foote Becomes Bride of William G. Hermann, Bennington Banner, July 31, 1956