Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Booth, O J 1824 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 20, 2006, 11:35 pm Author: History of Grundy Co IL 1882 O. J. Booth, retired farmer, P. O. Gardner. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this history, was born in Trumball County, Ohio, April 8, 1824; his father and mother were natives of Connecticut, the former born in 1794; followed farming for a livelihood; died in June, 1842. The latter was born March 16, 1794; is still living but feeble with age. Their names were Truman and Rebecca (Percey) Booth; to them were born nine children, eight of whom grew to maturity. O. J. received such education as the common school of his native town afforded. In the spring of 1840, when in his sixteenth year, he visited Illinois; then railroads were not built, and young Booth took stage from Warren to Wellsville, and then a boat down from the Ohio and up the Mississippi to St. Louis, where he arrived in eight days; his finances were now reduced to $1 good money, and a $2 bill that he had received unsuspectingly on a broken bank; he invested his $1 in crackers and cheese and reshipped for Peru, offering all he had left, the poor note, to the Captain in payment of fare; his note was refused, and he was threatened with being "put ashore" but was finally allowed to stay aboard, nibbling sparingly the while, about five days, on his crackers and cheese; he helped a man carry his baggage from Peru to Ottawa, and for his service received dinner, supper and lodging. He started from Ottawa at 3 o'clock the following morning, and walked to his uncle's, at Georgetown, now Newark, twenty-five miles, before breakfast. This line from life's record shows something of the push and courage that have ever characterized the man, and given him in business more than ordinary success. Returning to Ohio upon the death of his father, he took charge of the farm and looked after the interests of the family. Mr. Booth was married, January 4, 1844, to Miss Sarah Hulse, native of the same county, born May 5, 1824, dying August, 1876. He came with his family to Illinois in the spring of 1846, and located in Mazon Township, buying forty acres of Government land. By industry and economy, he added to this from time to time, until he owned over 500 acres. His fields were well cultivated, and his thoroughbred stock of cattle and hogs were admired by all who saw them. In the spring of the present year, he sold his farm and moved to Gardner, where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Booth had nine children, three of whom, viz., Rocelia, Wesley and Amelia, are dead; the latter grew into womanhood, and was engaged in teaching when she contracted her fatal disease. Permilia, Judson and Frank are in Kansas, the former two being married. Emma, Adora and Minnie are at home. Mr. Booth, while he has looked carefully to his finances, has been given to hospitality, not turning the worthy poor empty away. Mrs. Booth was a careful, devoted wife and mother, and to her the family are indebted largely for its success. Mr. Booth has been a Republican since the organization of the party, and was delighted with the overthrow of American slavery; he has watched over his children with zealous care, in every way guarding them from temptation and wrong, and has them from temptation and wrong, and has the satisfaction of seeing them grown up, esteemed for their virtues by all, and to him a solace in his declining years. Additional Comments: Source: History of Grundy County, Illinois. (1882) Chicago: O.L. Baskin & Co. Historical Publishers, p83 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/booth256nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.0 Kb