The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-04-20
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
MEMORIAL OF REV. W. H. F00TE, D. D.,
Adopted by the Presbytery of Winchester

That not only while they live is their inHu-
ence and example useful and grateful, but az
ter they are gone, the sweet remembrance OF
what they were and did, is a joy and bless
ing. 1t is our privilege and duty, therefore,
to cherish and preserve these memories for
ourselves and for others, and if in any case
this obligation exists, it would seem to be
incumbent on the Presbytery of Winchester,
in regard to DR.. Foote, so long identified
with its history, the most of whose ministry
of half century, was spent in It's bounds,
and who at his death was its oldest member.
May this memorial inscribed on our pages,
which is due to him, prove blessing to us
and all who come after US.
William Henry Foote, was born in Col
cbS.ster, Connecticut, December 20th, 1894.
n 5was the son of Stephen and Hannah
Waterman Foote. The family genealogy, for
Seven generations, shows. that his ancestors
were accustomed to offices of dignity and
responsibility in times when such Offices
were given only to such as were worthy to
fill them. Of his early childhood and youth
we have no record, but from incidental allu-
sions we gather that he was stirring, active,
always doing something. He attended a
classical school in his native village till in
1918, he went with a number of other stu
dents to Yale College, and stood creditably
an examination for the Sophomore Glass;
His father not being able at once to send
him to college, he returned home, and there
successfully kept up with the class, till Sep
tember, 1914, when he regularly entered
college. During special season of reli-
gious awakening in April, 1915, he was
hopefully converted, and on profession of his
faith, was received into the college church,
on the 1st Sabbath of August of the same
year. In the spring of 1916 he came to
Virginia as tutor in the family of Mr.. James
Vass, merchant of Falmouth. He re-
turned to college in September, and received
his degree of A, B., September 18th, 1916.
Afterwards he resumed his duties as tutor,
and in October, 1917, by the advice of Rev.
S. B. Wilson, placed himself under the care
of the Presbytery of Winchester as can
didate for the gospel ministry. In connex-
ion with his studies and duties as tutor,
he began at this time to hold religious meet
ings in destitute neighborhoods, at White
Oaks in Stafford, in HARDWOOD, &c, thus
early developing spirit which never ceased
but with his life. In July, 1918, he left
Falmouth and became an assistant in the
school of the Rev. DIR. Hill, in Winchester.
Here also he was in the habit of holding
religious services, not only in the town, but
at Cedar Creek, Newtown and Opequon.
In October, 1918, he went to the Theologi-
cal Seminary at Princeton, but having in
iured his health by the excessive study Incl
dent to an effort to keep up with two classes,
he left the institution in the fall of 1S19.-
He was examined for licensure by the Pres.
bytery at meeting in Gerardstown in Octo-
Der of that year. After preaching his trial
sermon from Ephesians ii s, he was exam
iued, we are told, till midnight, by a COM
mittee consisting of Rev. James Glass and
elders Riddle aud Gray, staunch Presbyte-
riaDs and sound Calvlnists, and after fa-
vorable report, was licensed the next meet
ing, Wednesday, October 3Oth, the Rev.
John Mines officiating. He was at once
sent to perform missionary labor under the
direction of Revs. S. B. Wilson and ]. Blair
Hoge, for six months, two west of the Ridge,
the remaining time in the Northern Neck
He began preaching October 29th, in cir,
cult embracing Shenandoah county and
points of Frederick and Hampshire His
first entrance as a preacher into Hampshire,
afterwards so identified with his history
was at COL Sherrards, now known as Bloom
cry, where he preached in November, 1919
He began his missionary labors in the North
ern Neck in December of the same year.
lie preached in Norfolk from May till July
1920. Under commission of the Young
Mems Missionary Society of Richmond, h'
labored three months and a half there sup
piled the congregation at the Cove till Jan
uary, 1922. On the 21st of February
1922, he was married to Eliza Wilson Glass
eldest daughter of Rev. Joseph Glass, thel
pastor of Old Opequon church, Fredericl
county, Va. In March he made anothe
trip through the counties of Hampshire ant
Hardy, and in June, 1922, he organized an
afterwards became pastor of the church o
| Woodstock, and also the previously existing
church of Stoverstown, (now Strasburg.
While residing in Woodstock, he established
and conducted an Academy, thus early be
ginning sphere of usefulness, in which h
was so eminent, abundant and successful
afterwards.
In September, 1924, he received and &C
cepted a call from the congregations o
Mount Bethel, Springfield and Romney, an
with his family removed to Romney in Nc
vember, where the most of his after life an
ministry was to be spent. Not long afte
mis- settlement at Romney, he established
Male and Female Academy, where a larg
number of pupils, in successive years, wer
trained; among others many who were pre-
pared to enter college as candidates for tn
ministry, and now are useful ministers VIII
r;o ,,, ond coll him bloesad and hv whom