Mr. Booker was but four weeks old at the time of his father's death. and was but eight years of age when he lost his mother. He was sent to school in his native town, where he pursued his studies until fifteen years of age, when he began to cultivate the home farm, and soon afterward he accepted a clerkship in a store, being thus engaged until 1856, when, attracted by the business opportunities of the west, so recently opened to the civilization of other sections of the country, he made his way to California, by the isthmus route. He was in the terrible accident of that year in which two hundred and fifty emigrants lost their lives. Mr. Booker, however escaped, and, proceeding to the mining regions of California, he engaged in searching for the precious metal at Oroville and Cherokee Flat. For seven years he engaged in mining, but did not find his efforts in that direction profitable.

The month of May, 1863, witnessed the arrival of Mr. Booker in Nevada. He went to Aurora, and for thirteen years was engaged in freighting, hauling goods from Reno to Carson, Aurora, Bodie and other parts of the state. He often slept out of doors, and he never carried a weapon, his fearlessness seeming to shield him from all danger. He met with fair success in that business and later engaged in mining at Bodie. He was the discoverer of the Booker mine and also the Spaulding mine and had a third interest in each. Selling out he made considerable money in this way. He next turned his attention to merchandising in Aurora, where he continued until 1884, when he disposed of his store there and removed to San Francisco, where he conducted a store for five years. Again he sold out, and returning to Nevada settled at Sweetwater. There he was appointed to settle up the Henry Williams estate, and later was the executor of Mrs. Williams' will. He remained there for five years and on the expiration of that period he purchased a store at Sodaville. In 1900 he sold this and bought his present store in Hawthorne. Here he is dealing in dry-goods, groceries, hats, caps, shoes and notions. Already he has built up a good business, which is constantly growing, his reliable business methods having gained for him the confidence of the public and, therefore, its patronage.

Mr. Booker was married in 1853 to Miss Mary C. Cobb, also a native of Bowdoinham, Maine, and their union was blessed with three children, but two have passed away. The son, John G. Booker, is married and has a family. He is a civil engineer. Mrs. Booker died in Aurora in 1868, and Mr. Booker was married in San Francisco to Mrs. Catherine E. Dulin, who by her former marriage had a daughter, Dora, now the wife of J. C Benton, of San Francisco. Mrs. Catherine Booker passed away February 18. 1902.

Mr. Booker is a veteran member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has been a life-long Republican. In 1872 he was elected and served as county assessor of Esmeralda county, and has always taken an active part in the conventions of his party and done everything to further its success. He has always exerted a strong influence in behalf of the selection of good men for office. Viewed from a financial standpoint his life record has also been creditable and gratifying, and now in addition to the store he is associated with his son in the ownership of valuable mining and water rights at Tonopah.

Source:
A History of the State of Nevada: Its Resources and People
By Thomas Wren, Lewis Publishing Company
Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1904