George Booker
History of Montana by Joaquim Miller, 1894 
  
George Booker, a Montana pioneer of 1864, and one of Helena's best known citizens, is a native of St. 
Louis, Missouri, born February 7, 1840. He is of German and French extraction. His parents, Charles and Mary 
Booker, are residents of Illinois and in his early life his father was a merchant tailor. 
When George Booker was thirteen years of age he left home to do for himself and for some time clerked and did 
whatever else he could find to do. In 1859 he went to Denver, Colorado and mined there in the placer mines and 
also learned the trade of bricklayer at which trade he worked until he came with a mule team to Virginia City 
in 1864. After this he was engaged in freighting between Virginia City and Fort Benton, a distance of 210 miles, 
freighting being then a profitable employment. He received from 25-30 cents per pound for carrying freight and 
usually handled about 2,500 pounds each trip he made with his four-mule team. This business he continued about 
two years. 

He came to Helena in 1866, his first employment here being as clerk for P.A. Ray. Then he turned his attention 
to the auction and commission business, in which he has been since engaged. He has sold at auction all kinds of 
properties, lands and pools, and has done more of that kind of business than any other man in the state of Montana 
and is in Helena the principal auctioneer of the city. During all these years, Mr. Booker has had various partners, 
his present partner being James B. Loomis, their store being located at the corner of Park Avenue and Edwards Street. 

Mr. Booker built his pleasant residence on one of the heights in the city of Helena, No. 305 Pine Street, the view 
from which of the city and surrounding country is magnificent. Here he and his family are surrounded with all the 
comforts of life. He as married in 1872 to Mattie E. Walton, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Moses E. 
Walton, Esq., her father being now a resident of Silver City, Montana, where he is engaged in mining and farmer. 

Mr. and Mrs. Booker have three children: Ethel Laticie, Clinton Talbert and Lester Harry, all natives of Helena. 
Politically Mr. Booker is a Democrat and for many years he has been a member of the Fire Department of Helena. 
In 1868 he was made a Master Mason and ever since that time has been devoted to the order. He has taken all the 
degrees in the blue lodge, chapter, council and commandry, has received the 32nd degree in the Scottish rite, 
and has the honor of having filled nearly all the chairs in all the branches of Masonry. He has been Secretary of
Helena Lodge, No 3 for twenty-two years, Helena Chapter No 2, five years, Helena Council, No 9, sixteen years, 
Helena Commandry, No 2, eighteen years, Chapter Rose Croix, two years, and Algera Temple, A.O.O.N.M.S., four years 
and is at the present time Secretary of all the branches mentioned. For two years he was Treasurer of the Grand
Commandry of the state. Few have done more in Montana to advance the interests of the order than has he, and 
from his brother Masons he has received the name "Encyclopedia of the Order." At an early day during the Indian wars, 
Mrs. Booker served as transportation master, and rendered much valuable service in forwarding supplies to the soldiers. 

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