- JOHN R. BOOTH, the very efficient police justice of the city
of Beloit, Rock County, has become
- widely known as a man of ability and decided judicial temper.
He is active and influential in public affairs, and enjoys a
personal reputation that is beyond reproach.
- Mr. BOOTH was born in Montgomery County, N.Y., June 30, 1827,
a son of John and Ellen
- (ROBERTSON) BOOTH, natives of England and Scotland, respectively.
They had seven children born to them, two now living, John R.
and Belle, the latter a resident of Fonda, N.Y. The father was
a woolen manufacturer, and was in business at Fonda, N.Y., the
last years of his life. He died there when aged about sixty-five.
The mother long survived him, and reached the age of eighty-three.
They were members of the Reformed Church, in which he held official
position. His father was a woolen manufacturer in England, where
he lived and died; he had his business in Yorkshire, and was
a man of affairs. John ROBERTSON, the father of Mrs. Ellen BOOTH,
was born in Scotland, and came to this country to locate in Fulton
County, N.Y., where he died between fifty and sixty years ago
at a good old age. He had five or six children.
- John R. BOOTH lived at home until he attained his majority.
He obtained a good education,
- attending the public school and the local academy, a school
of high grade. During his vacation seasons he worked in the
woolen mills until, by the time he was a man, he had a thorough
understanding of every detail of the business. He owned and
operated a woolen mill on his own account for some years, and
in 1854, coming West to Jo Daviess County, Ill., became the agent
of the railroad company at Warren, a position that he held for
some half dozen years. He was living in Galena at the outbreak
of the Civil war, and he secured transportation for the first
company of soldiers sent out from the county to aid in the suppression
of the Rebellion. He lived in Galena until 1865, then spent
a year in Warren, and in 1866 came to Beloit, and has made that
city his home to the present time, with the exception of some
five or six years when he was in Iowa. In Beloit Mr. BOOTH was
in the sash and door business for several years, and then became
a senior partner in the firm of BOOTH, HINMAN & Co., proprietors
of a large paper house. The firm did an extensive business,
and Mr. BOOTH continued therewith until 1880, when he sold out
and removed to Iowa, remaining there several years. In 1889
he returned to Beloit, and that city has been his home to the
present time.
- In 1890 Mr. BOOTH was elected police justice, and he has
filled that position to the present time,
- with the exception of a part of one term, to the very great
satisfaction of the general public. He is a man of broad views,
and while he is sympathetic toward the unfortunate and criminal
who come before him, he remembers the violated law, and knows
well how to temper justice with mercy. He has occupied his present
office quarters since 1892.
- Mr. BOOTH and Miss Sarah HICKS were married Oct. 23, 1854.
Mrs. BOOTH was a
- daughter of Isaac and Isabel (ROBINSON) HICKS, and became
the mother of four children: Isaac, who died when twenty-six
years of age; and three who died in early childhood. The mother
died in 1873. She was a Congregationalist, and a lady of fine
character. In 1874, Mr. BOOTH married Miss Minerva LEONARD,
a daughter of H. K. and Minerva (JOCELYN) LEONARD. They have
one daughter, Mary J. Mrs. BOOTH is a member of the Second Congregational
Church, as is her daughter, who is a graduate of Beloit College.
Judge BOOTH, as he is familiarly called, is a member of Morning
Star Lodge, No. 10, A.F. & A.M.; Beloit Chapter, No. 9, R.A.M.;
and Beloit Commandery, No. 6, K.T., being recorder of the commandery,
and secretary of the other two Masonic bodies. He is a Republican,
was alderman from the Third ward for three years, and has been
on the county board. He has a pleasant home at No. 623 Bluff
street. Our subject is held in the utmost respect by all who
know him.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c) 1901, p. 239.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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