Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Booth, George W 
************************************************
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 March 25, 2006, 7:26 pm

Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

George W. Booth, now living a retired life in Gardner, was for many years 
actively connected with the business interests of Grundy county, making a 
specialty of the breeding of fine stock. He was also connected with the 
banking business in Onaga, Kansas, for a time. His birth occurred on a farm on 
the Western Reserve in Trumbull county, Ohio. He is descended from one of the 
old colonial families of Puritan stock, his ancestors being among the first 
settlers around Massachusetts Bay, coming to this country between 1630 and 
1635. The grandfather of our subject was a farmer of Litchfield county, 
Connecticut, and was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. He participated in 
the battle of Bunker Hill. The story goes that he was plowing in the field 
with his little nine-year-old son, Moses, when news was brought to him of the 
advance of the British. He was at that time driving a yoke of oxen across the 
field, but he immediately removed the oxen from the plow, and, leaving them 
standing in the furrow, started with his little son to the scene of activity, 
expecting to place the boy in some secure spot. This he did not do, however, 
and Moses Booth accompanied his father to the field where the patriot army 
succeeded in checking the advance of the British, and although they met defeat 
it was a defeat which amounted to a victory. This story of the manner in which 
he took part in the battle of Bunker Hill was often told by Moses Booth to his 
children in his old age. One of his brothers was killed at the battle of 
Bunker Hill.

Moses Booth was a farmer and was married in Litchfield, Connecticut, to Sarah 
Judson, by whom his children were Truman, Moses, Samuel, and several others 
whose names are now forgotten. In 1825 Mr. Booth removed to the Western 
Reserve in Ohio, locating on land in Trumbull county, where he cleared a fine 
farm, upon which he spent his remaining days. His first wife died in Ohio and 
he afterward wedded Myra Hubbell, who was born in New Haven, Connecticut, 
probably at Bridgeport. Her father, Elijah Hubbell, was a soldier of the war 
of 1812, and was the father of Charles P. Hubbell, a well known carriage 
manufacturer and business man of Bridgeport. Among his other children were 
Levi; Silas Liberty, who was killed in the Seminole Indian war in Florida, 
when Colonel Dade and his command were massacred; Harriet; and a daughter, 
Lucy, who became the wife of Mr. Dorman. Elijah Hubbell, the father, followed 
the blacksmith's trade in Connecticut and died in that state at an advanced 
age. His wife lived to the venerable age of ninety years.

After his marriage, Moses Booth made his home in Trumbull county, Ohio, and he 
and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church there and were most 
highly respected citizens. He lived to be eighty-nine years of age and passed 
away on the old homestead, in February, 1856. In politics he was an old-line 
Whig and afterward became a supporter of the Free-Soil party. Straightforward 
in all his business dealings and of upright character, he was greatly 
respected as a man and a citizen. His wife long survived him and passed away 
in July, 1882. She was a lady of many virtues and enjoyed the warm regard of 
all who knew her. The children of Moses and Myra (Hubbell) Booth, were George 
W.; Terressa, the wife of Henry Waters; and Emma, the wife of Robert Brisco.

George W. Booth, whose name introduces this review, was born on the 13th of 
January, 1837, in Trumbull county, Ohio. He acquired a common-school education 
and has since added greatly to his fund of knowledge by practical experience 
in the business world and through reading and observation. He has also been a 
great reader of newspapers and of standard literature. When twenty years of 
age he left home and began farming on his own account. He soon became a cattle 
drover on the Western Reserve, in Ohio, being in the employ of F. N. Andrews, 
one of the most extensive cattle dealers in this section of the state.

As a companion and helpmeet on life's journey, Mr. Booth chose Miss Caroline 
Rainey, the wedding being celebrated in Howland, Trumbull county, Ohio. The 
lady was born in that county in 1838, and is a daughter of William Rainey, 
whose birth occurred in Ireland. He was of Scotch-Irish descent and a farmer 
by occupation. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Booth were born two children, but one died in 
infancy. The other, Mary, married Lyman Hawley, and died in 1888, leaving two 
daughters—Maud and Edith.

In April, 1863, Mr. Booth removed to LaSalle county, Illinois, where he 
conducted a stock farm owned by Elias Trumbo. He managed that farm for about 
five years, but in the latter part of 1868 removed to Braceville township, now 
Maine township. A few years later he bought the farm which is now owned and 
occupied by Lyman Hawley. That place he reclaimed from the wilderness, placing 
it under a high state of cultivation and erected a substantial dwelling 
thereon. He was extensively engaged in stock-raising, making a specialty of 
the breeding of Durham short-horn cattle and Poland China hogs. He was very 
successful in the business and became well known in Illinois and the 
surrounding states as an extensive and successful stock-raiser, feeder and 
shipper. For about nine years he was associated in business with Lyman Hawley. 
Improving the farm, he also added to it from time to time until he became the 
owner of two hundred and twenty acres of rich land, which he carefully 
cultivated and improved, making it a very valuable property. In 1886 his 
nephew, O. J. Booth, who was engaged in a private banking business, died in 
Onaga, Kansas, and Mr. Booth, of this review, was called upon to settle his 
estate, which was valued at sixty thousand dollars. Mr. Booth discharged his 
duties to the utmost satisfaction of all concerned, and, while in the west, he 
became a partner in the Onaga City Bank, in which he served as assistant 
cashier for some years. He still retains his ownership in the bank, although 
he is not now actively connected with its business management.

Mrs. Booth died December 18, 1891, in Onaga. She was a member of the Baptist 
church and a lady of many virtues, highly esteemed by her friends. On the 6th 
of September, 1893, in Joliet, Illinois, Mr. Booth was again married, his 
second union being with Harriet L. Hunt, of Montpelier, Vermont, a sister of 
Mrs. Lyman Hawley. Mr. and Mrs. Booth spent the first three years of their 
married life in Onaga, Kansas, but are now residents of Gardner. In politics 
he is a stalwart Republican, becoming one of the earliest supporters of the 
party, his first ballot being cast for Abraham Lincoln. He served as chairman 
of the board of county supervisors for many years and is still one of its 
members. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic Lodge of Gardner, and 
his wife is a member of the Episcopal church. His has been an active, useful 
and honorable career, characterized by loyalty to every manly principle and to 
those duties which go to make up good citizenship. He has steadily advanced to 
his present enviable position in social circles, but he started out in life 
empty-handed.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p692-695

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/booth56gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/

File size: 7.9 Kb