Richard H. Booth Biography

	This biography appears on pages 626-627 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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        RICHARD H. BOOTH, of Sioux Falls, one of the honored pioneers 
of the northwest, has been a resident of what is now the state of South 
Dakota for more than thirty years, and has long held precedence as one 
of the leading contractors and builders of this section. He is now 
nearing the age of four score years, but is hale and hearty and is 
still active in business and one of the well-known and highly honored 
citizens of Sioux Falls.  

        Mr. Booth was born in the city of Poughkeepsie, New York, on 
the 20th of September, 1826, being a son of Richard and Nancy (Wood) 
Booth, the former of English and the latter of Holland ancestry. The 
father, who was born in December, 1777, died in 1838, and the mother, 
born February 16, 1787, died in March, 1863, both having continued 
resident of the Empire state until the close of their lives, while the 
former was a successful and prominent manufacturer of woolen cloths, 
his factory being equipped with the most improved machinery known at 
that time.  

        The subject received his early educational discipline in the 
schools of his native state and when seventeen years of age entered 
upon an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, becoming an expert 
artisan. Upon attaining his majority he engaged in business upon his 
own responsibility, as a contractor and builder, and to this important 
vocation he has ever since continued to devote his attention, while his 
integrity of purpose and his well directed efforts have been the 
factors which have brought to him a high measure of success. In 1847 
Mr. Booth took up his residence in New York city, and his marriage was 
celebrated the following year. He passed the summer of the year 1852 in 
Minnesota, whence he returned to New York, where he continued to make 
his home until 1855, when he took up his abode in the then small town 
of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whence he removed, eight months later, to St. 
Paul, Minnesota, of which now attractive city he was likewise a 
pioneer. In April' 1861, he took up a farm in Goodhue county, that 
state, and was thereafter engaged in farming and in the work of his 
trade until 1870, when he came to Sioux Falls, Dakota, arriving in the 
embryo city on the 11th of July. He entered a homestead claim of one 
hundred and sixty acres of government land, in Sioux Falls township, 
but has continuously resided in the city and given his attention to 
contracting and building. He has erected many important buildings of 
public and private order, and among the number may be mentioned the 
original Cataract hotel, the Van Epas block, the Minnehaha county court 
house and the deaf-mute school buildings, besides other public 
buildings and many of the finest residences in the city in which he has 
so long. retained his home. Mr. Booth has the distinction of having 
erected the first church edifice in the county, the original Protestant 
Episcopal church, in Sioux Falls. He was a member of the directorate of 
the South Dakota penitentiary at the time of the erection of its 
substantial buildings, retaining his incumbency four years, and for 
several years he was building inspector of Sioux Falls. He has ever 
been recognized as a public-spirited citizen and as one of progressive 
attitude, and while he has shown a deep interest in local affairs and 
is a staunch adherent of the Democratic party he has never been a 
seeker of official preferment. His religious faith is that of the 
Baptist church and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, 
holding membership in Minnehaha Lodge, No. 5. Free and Accepted Masons.  

        In Poughkeepsie, New York, on the 17th of December, 1848, was 
solemnized the marriage of Mr. Booth to Miss Sarah C. Boulett, who was 
born in Ulster county, New York, being a daughter of John P. and 
Elizabeth Boulett. Mr. and Mrs. Booth celebrated their golden wedding 
anniversary at their home in Sioux Falls, in 1898, and the occasion was 
made a memorable one through the kindly offices of their wide circle of 
devoted friends. Of their children we enter the following brief record: 
Richard J. and Frederick M. have followed in the footsteps of their 
father and are successful contractors and builders of Sioux Falls; Ida 
May remains at the parental home; Alice L. is the wife of David B. 
Durant, of this city; and Charlotte is the wife of Charley A. Boggs, of 
Mitchell, this state.  

In conclusion it may be said that the honored and influential 
citizen with whom this sketch has to do is the owner of valuable realty 
in the state and that he has also been engaged in the real-estate 
business in Sioux Falls since 1890, his hooks ever showing desirable 
investments, while he also makes a specialty of financial loans on 
real-estate security.