boothc

Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.

     CHARLES T. BOOTH, of the general merchandise firm of Laing & Booth of Washtucna, is a native of Sierra county, California, born August 8, 1858, and has lived on the Pacific coast all his life. He was the son of Thomas and Elenor (Spurr) Booth, natives of England. When young, the parents adopted the United States as their home and settled in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where they lived until coming to California via the isthmus, in 1856. In 1866 they returned to Pennsylvania where the mother died. The father later returned to California, where he had extensive mining interests, and there died in 1899. They had been parents of three children, who, besides our subject, were Abraham, deceased, and William D., a farmer of Colfax, Washington.
     Mr. Booth received a good common school education in his native state and Pennsylvania. At the age of sixteen years he went to work as clerk in a store, and three years later engaged in the vocation of the plains cowboy. Upon attaining his majority he engaged in farming in California, and in 1882 came to Palouse Junction, now Connell, Washington, and entered the employ of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company as a member of its engineering corps. He was engaged with this company for nine years, when he took a homestead which he farmed for four years. He then became interested in the Palouse Ditch Company, since which time he has been the company's superintendent and assistant manager. In 1901 he purchased the interest of J. M. Clever in the general merchandise firm of Clever & Laing, since which time Mr. Booth has been junior member of the firm now styled Laing & Booth. Other property interests of Mr. Booth are a farm of two hundred and eighty acres in Adams county, fifty acres and a home within the corporate limits of the town.
     On November 25, 1884, occurred the marriage of Charles T. Booth and Nellie G. Cullen, daughter of Joseph and Almira (Phillips) Cullen, the mother being a native of Illinois and the father of Michigan. The names of the brothers and sisters of Mrs. Booth are Kate D., Leslie E., Edith E., and Josie. Another child was born to the parents, but it died during infancy.
     The union of Mr. and Mrs. Booth has been blessed with nine children, five of whom are now living, J. M., C. N., Warren, Almira and Nellie.
     Mr. Booth is a prominent and active Republican in politics. Upon the organization of the city of Washtucna he was chosen its mayor, was elected to succeed himself and still holds the office. He is also a member of the local school board, and is postmaster. In lodge circles he is identified with the I. O. O. F. and the M. W. A. Mrs. Booth is a member of the R. N. of A. Both he and Mrs. Booth are members of the Congregational church.

BACK