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William C. Booth, deceased, a pioneer of Whiteside County, of 1839,
was born Nov. 28, 1821, in Randolph Co., Va. His parents, William and Deborah (Hart) Booth, were married in Beverly, in the county and State above named. A few years later they located at what was then Booth's Ferry, now Phillippi, in Barbour County. In 1835, they went to Ohio, and made a temporary location in Vinton County. In 1835 they went to Indiana, and after a stay in Cass County they came to Illinois, traveling with their own teams, as there were no methods of public transportation. They settled in Whiteside County, the father making a claim on Section 9, in Newton Township.
Mr. Booth of this sketch located on section 8, of the same township. He made his home with his parents until his marriage, in 1849, to Elizabeth Wells, a native of the State of Vermont. After that event he bought a farm in Mr. Pleasant Township, in Rock Island County, where he continued to prosecute his agricultural operations until 1856, when he returned to Whiteside County, and took possession of his claim which he had made on section 8. After a residence of one year he returned to his property in Rock Island County, and remained two years, when he came back to Newton Township. In 1877 he bought a farm on section 36, in Albany Township, of which he took possession in 1880. On this he passed the remainder of his life, dying Feb. 23, 1883. He was an able man, and contributed largely through his energetic, active life to the development of the townships in which he was a pioneer. He was the recipient of universal esteem wherever he was known.
The first wife died in 1855, leaving three children: Amanda, wife of Andrew Cessford, is the only survivor, and lives in La Mar, Barton Co., Mo. In 1856 Mr. Booth married Lydia A. Kittle. She was born in Beverley, Pa., and is the daughter of Eli and Rebecca (Weis) Kittle. Six children were born of the second marriage, of whom four are living: Dama., Mason, William Clay and Bunn. Mason and William Clay are engaged in the hardware business, at Albany. Having in April, 1885, bought the hardware store and stock formerly owned by B. H. Quick, they carry a good stock of general hardware goods
Portraits & Biographical 1885 Pg 633
"William Booth, Sr., a native of Virginia, settled with his family in Newton township in March, 1839. He drove through from Indiana the preceding winter. After leaving Virginia he remained a year in Ohio, and four years in Indiana; but the ague troubled his family so much he fled from it, thus leaving the Hoosier State and locating in the Rock River Valley. Mr. Booth settled on section nine, he being the first settler in that part of the present town of Newton. Mr. Booth was born in Randolph County, Va., Mary 4, 1783, and died upon his homestead in Newton, Dec. 7, 1854. He was married in April 1802. His wife was born Oct. 11, 1786, and died Oct. 1875. A very large number of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are left to revere the memory of Mr. & Mrs. Booth. Children: John, now a resident of Ohio; Malinda, wife of Samuel Emmons of Tampico Twp.; Houston, a resident of Virginia; Hart, a resident of Indiana; Elijah, killed at Memphis; Jane M., wife of S. J. Thompson of Missouri; Nancy A., wife of Asa F. R. Emmons of Rock Falls; Stepehn C., now in California; Isaac, a resident of Indiana; Edward D., a farmer in Newton; Wm. S., a farmer in Albany Twp.; James H., a farmer in Newton; Lucinda, Daniel and Deborah, deceased." (William Booth's lineage through his father Daniel Booth and his grandfather James Booth has been documented through Daughters of the American Revolution). William Booth was a soldier in the War of 1812.
Biography from History of Whiteside County transcribed by "Linda" at Find-A-Grave
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