Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/719

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 62'i maker's trade. Left an orphan at the age of seven years, he was eared for by an elder brother and sisters and received his education in a log cabin school. After a short experience as clerk in a retail general store at Prompton, Pa., he went, in L853, with a brother, to engage in a similar business a1 San An- tonio, Texas. After a year or so there, his brother falling victim to a southern fever, he returned to Pennsylvania, but soon deter- mined to become a pioneer and seek his fortune westward, where the opportunities for pioneer endeavor were larger and broader than in his native state. Traveling through the middle west in the primitive fashion of those days, and at the same time paying his way by the sale of patent rights, he finally, in the summer of 1857, reached Red AVing by steamboat on the .Mississippi, and, believing that here were the opportunities for advancing his fortune and establish- ing his home, he remained and opened a small store. He later traded this for real estate, which, in turn, was exchanged for a shoe store, with which he entered into the shoe business, taking Dr. W. W. Sweney as partner, under the firm name of Foot & Sweney. In 1858 he returned t.o Pennsylvania, to be married, and there was espoused to Lyclia Lorana Park, of Montrose, Pa., July 6, 1858. He at once returned with his wife to his western home. In 1860 ill-health and the advice of physicians forced him to take a trip westward, during which he traveled over the plains and mountains as far as Walla Walla, Wash. He returned to Red Wing eighteen months later, restored to good health. After his return, he purchased the Sweney interests and the firm of Foot & Sterling was organized. In 1872 this firm started a tannery in the outskirts of the city. They soon added to their retail business, manufacturing and jobbing of shoes and shoe pacs. In 1881 it was found advisable to move the shoe factory to St. Paul, and there this business grew and developed into the large and prosperous industry now carried on under the corporate name of Foot, Schulze & Co. Mr. Foot continued at the head of the business until the time of his death, May 22, 1908. While he retained his residence in Red Wing, he traveled almost daily to and from St. Paul, to attend to his business there. The shoe pac business and tannery were continued at Red AVing under his direction and control, arid have grown to large proportions. A large, new 7, modern tannery was in course of erection when he was called from earth's activities. Of his marriage were born five sons and two daughters, the survivors of whom are Ezra P., Frederick W., Edwin H., and Bessie Park Foot. He lost -his wife January 30, 1903, after a long and happy married and family life. AVhile it was to business affairs, in which his indefatigable industry and sagacity made him pre-