Mary Alpha Balch was born on 26. Jul. 1857 at Pleasant Grove, Coles County, Illinois. She married
Grandison Foote, son of
Robert Foote and
Louisa Jane Chapman, on 4. Jul. 1871 at Charleston, Coles County, Illinois. Mary Alpha Balch died on 3. Aug. 1930 at Janesville, Cumberland County, Illinois, at age 73. She was buried on 4. Aug. 1930 at Shilo Cemetery, Pleasant Grove, Coles County, Illinois. Mary Alpha Balch, Mrs. Mary Alpha Foote, 79 years of age, widow of the late Grandison Foote, and one of the oldest settlers in Pleasant Grove township, died in the Oakwood hospital, Sunday morning, at 11:30 o'clock after a long illness. She had been a patient at the hospital a week. Funeral services were conducted at 3:00 on Monday afternoon at Shilo Church, Re. Catey, Westfield. Burialwas in Shilo Cemetery. Mr. Foote died in 1890. She was born in Pleasant Grovetownship on July 26, 1851, a daughter of Wallace and Permelia (McCann) Balch. Her father entered his land from the United States government. On July 4, 1871, on the old Lincoln Farm at a Fourth of July celebration and picnic, she married Grandison Foote. They resided on a farm in Pleasant Grove until 23 years ago when they moved to Janesville. She was a member of the Farmington Methodist Church. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Foote, three of whom are dead. The living children are Bert Foote, Matton, Mrs. W.A.Price, Matton, Mrs. George Benson, Osceloa, Iowa, and Hugh Foote, Janesville. She leaves 29 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Several from here (Lerna) attended thefuneral of Mrs. Alpha Foote, Shilo, Monday afternoon.