It’s a difficult endeavor to write a brief history about a man, who wrote three volumes of his Journal.
Warren Foote was born Aug. 10, 1817 in the town of Dryden, Tomp-kins County, New York. He was sick as a child and would pray often. He attended school and learned the things that he was taught.
He read the Bible a great deal and was fond of reading histories. In the Spring of 1833 he borrowed a Book of Mormon from his Uncle and read it through. Two Missionaries passed through town and stopped at his father’s house and Warren listened to their conversation.
He knew the Bible quite well and he knew they spoke the truth. Only his father was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, at this time. Warren did not join, his brothers or sisters did not join, nor did his mother.
His brother George joined the Methodist Church and became very bitter toward the L.D.S. Church. Warren studied the Book of Mormon and the Bible.
His father decided to travel to Kirtland, Ohio. He wanted to gather with the saints, and meet Joseph Smith. George was headed that way too and so David Foote and his three sons. David, George and Warren traveled together, they split up when they reached Fairport Harbor in Lake Erie. Warren and his father went on to Kirtland.
The Temple was already finished and dedicated when they arrived. They went there. They met Joseph Smith Senior and they were shown the Mummies and the Papyrus, that later was translated into the Pearl of Great Price.
He followed his father through Missouri, then on to Nauvoo, witness-ing the great trials and the persecutions that the early Mormon Saints went through. On Mar. 24, 1842 he finally was baptized. Some of his sisters had previously joined the church by that time. He went through his own trials as he watched his father pass away, then his mother.
His mother was baptized shortly before she passed away. He buried both of them in the Nauvoo, Cemetery, in unmarked graves. He left Nauvoo after he and his wife went through the Nau-voo Temple to receive those Sacred Ordinances.
The path to Winter Quarters was physically and emotionally draining, he wrote, “Although my Grandfathers fought in the army of the Revo-lution and Grandfather Foote lost his life in the struggle for freedom and religious liberty, yet I am not permitted to enjoy that liberty.” The trip took a little over two months. He settled in Kanesville and cut logs to help build the Tabernacle there.
He was elected the Captain of a Wagon Train that reached Utah Sept. 17, 1850. Through out his life he did many things. He was a farmer and he kept his own bees, a stage driver, a school teacher, a miller, a Post Master, a Justice of the Peace, a Major in the Mormon Militia, a Civic Leader. He also wrote much in his journal and correspondence and he was a poet.
He settled in Union, in the SL Valley. He married a second wife, later on, this second wife caused many trials and problems and broke his heart with grief when she left him. He always loved and cared for all his children equally, no matter which wife they were born to.
He took both wives and went to the “Cotton Missions of the Church” and settled as a leader of St. Joseph in the Muddy Settlements. His son David and himself, started to plow the ground and build houses. In 1866 because of the Black Hawk War they moved to St. Thomas.
In 1870 Brigham Young and a few apostles came to visit. In 1871 due to the state boundries surveyed, Brigham Young advised them to return to Utah and they settled in Long Valley. Pres. Leithead suggested to name the place Glendale, everybody agreed.
Warren made many trips to St. George for supplies that he bought, sold, and traded. He spent many hours doing genealogical research and spent much time in the St. George Temple. He visited with his many friends that lived around the St. George area.
He helped his children get established. He served as a member of the Kanab Stake High Council and his last years were spent as a Stake Patriarch.
He passed away on July 23, 1903. He was buried in the Glendale Cemetery.
Thanks to Mike Kafton for his submission
Below are the pictures of Artemisia Sidnie Myers and Warren Foote sent by Laurel Jensen.
