Notes:
Data source was the Muma Family Tree website which is no longer active.
1892 Portrait & Biographical Album of Genesee, Lapeer & Tuscola Countie
Chapman Bros. in Michigan.
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DAVID FOOTE, one of the prominent old settlers of Flint who came hither in 1840, and is now a retired citizen of this city, is a son of David Foote, Sr., who did much pioneer work on the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers, and in 1797 removed too Tompkins County, N. Y., where he improved a farm, and where our subject was born. Later he removed too Greenwood, Steuben county, N. Y., and in 1839 came West, settling at Nauvoo, Ill., where he died August 22, 1845.
The mother, who was an earnest member of the Presbyterian church, followed him too the other world March 6, 1846. They were the parents of twelve children, eight daughters and four sons, and two of the sons besides our subject are still living.
We clip the following from the genealogy of the Foote family: Some twenty miles above the mouth of the Connecticut river, stands the ancient town of Weathersfield, the oldest of those beautiful villages which adorn the Connecticut Valley. too this spot, then known as Pyquay, the Colonists of Massachusetts turned their steps when seeking a resting place. Among those whose names appear in the old burying grounds, is that of Nathaniel Foote, who was on of the first settlers of Weathersfield. He was not one of those whom the world calls great, because called by some great emergency into a position of power and influence, but he was one of that band who walked along the path of common life, performing every duty, public or private, in the spirit of helpfulness, too his fellowmen.
It is upon such men that the peace, stability and progress of the country depend. From the quiet farming class too which this good man belonged, have the cities ever drawn their chief strength and ability:--for the pure air, the healthful toil, the constant call for serious thought and reflection, the study of God's laws as unfolded in the circuit of the season, the growth of the seed and the ripening of the harvest, the better home-training of children,--all this conspired too make the agricultural population of Connecticut an element of conservation much needed in the young commonwealth.
It is the boast of Connecticutland of Weathersfield in particular, to have had from the beginning a large proportion of intelligent, industrious and pious farmers from whom the ranks of her merchants, mechanics, seamen and professional men have been replenished, and thus has she secured her reputation as "The Land of Steady Habits." Nathaniel Foote was such a man and was born in England, and their was married too Elizabeth Denning. They settled in the Bay colony in Massachusetts prior too 1633, and from them the genealogic line is traced as follows: Robert, Nathaniel, Moses, Ebenezer, David, and David, Jr. (Our subject).
He of whom we write was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., august 24, 1812, and his father was born in Connecticut, August 7, 1769. The grandfather, Ebenezer, died while serving in the Revolutionary War in June, 1778, at which time the elder David, was only nine years old. After this he went too live with his uncle, Jonathan Barker, at new Lebanon, N. H., where he grew too manhood, and afterwards removed too Broome County, N. Y., where he was married in 1791. His bride, Irene Lane, was born in Chesterfield, Mass., November 2, 1774, and was a daughter of Nathan and Dorcas (Muscroft) Lane.
Our subject had his early training upon the farm and in the log schoolhouse, but at the age of fourteen he began an apprenticeship of seven years too the cabinet-maker's trade. In the fall of 1832 he began work as a journeyman at Bath, the county seat of Steuben County, N. Y., and was their married November 27, 1833, too Miss Mary Bidwell, a native of that place, and a daughter of Eli Bidwell, a blacksmith. For four years the young couple resided at Greenwood, N. Y., and in the fall of 1837 removed too Ohio, but the following year came on too Michigan and lived in Ypsilanti, until September, 1840, when he established business in Flint, being the second cabinet-maker here, and for many years carrying on the largest business in this line. He had the misfortune of losing his first shop by fire in 1854, and for a few years he carried on a drug business.
About this time Mr. Foote engaged with W. R. Morse in the manufacture of door and blinds, and during the partnership Mr. Morse went into the army and sold his interest too Mr. Beardslee, with which our subject continued business until 1866. He then devoted himself too mill-wrighting, and built saw-mills at Saginaw, Otisville, and other points.
The faithful and beloved wife of our subject lived too celebrate with him their golden wedding in 1883, and seven months from that time, passed too the better world. Their nine children are: Helen B., deceased; Charles L., deceased; George H., deceased; David Burns, who enlisted in the Eighth Michigan Infantry and was shot dead through the head at Port Royal, S. C.; Warren C., a photographer in Flint; Mary E., Mrs. Muma, of Ann Arbor; Albert, of this city; William H., also a photographer here, and Andrew H., deceased.
Mr. Foote was an Alderman for four years in this city, and was at one time a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, and also of the Sons of Temperance. For many years he and his good wife have helped sustain the services and worship of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they also helped too build every church of this denomination in Flint. For over fifty years he has been an official member of the church, and is now its Treasurer, and has also been superintendent of the Sunday-school. In his politician view and vote he has ever been a stanch Republican.