Biography - Jacob Booth
1878 Biography
JACOB BOOTH, son of Isaac and Mary (Gernell) Booth, both natives of Maine; was born June 1, 1821, in Maine. His early life was passed on the farm; received his education from the common schools; learned the trade of wagon maker; also followed other business, but changed to farming, in which he has been successful; married Melinda Housh on Sept. 17, 1844, and was again married Oct. 24, 1869, to Edith Martin; moved to Illinois, then to Iowa, returning to Knox County in 1865; was School Director for five years. Is Republican. P. O., Maquon.
Contributed by Joan Achille, extracted from the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois, published by Charles C. Chapman
1886 Biography
JACOB BOOTH. The social status of any section of the country depends
largely upon those men resident within it. Knox County has grown not only
populous and pleasant to view, but she contains rare intellectual and
educational advantages, and reflects credit upon those who have figured in
her history. One of the representative citizens and wealthy and successful
farmers of Maquon Township is found living on section 15, in the person of
Jacob Booth, as one of her best and most important factors.
Mr. Booth came to Knox County in the spring of 1844, from Sangamon County,
Ill., and soon after leaving that county made a settlement at Uniontown,
Salem Township, where he carried on the joint business of blacksmith and
wagon-maker for a period of 15 years. During this time he was in Springfield
two years in the same business with his brother. His next move was made to
Iowa County, Iowa, at which place he purchased a farm and remained upon it
for seven years, at the end of which time he disposed of the same, and in
1855 returned to Knox County, and in Maquon Township made a purchase of 90
acres of land located on section 15, upon which he is living at the present
time. Previous to this he spent two years engaged in mercantile business in
the village of Maquon, in partnership with Nelson Downey. He has improved
his farm by the erection of a desirable residence and suitable out-buildings
and barns, and by additional purchase has become the owner of 200 acres of
highly improved and cultivated land. Jacob Booth was born in Maine June 1,
1821. When he had attained the age of fifteen years, he emigrated with his
parents to Licking County, Ohio, remaining their until his removal to
Sangamon County, Ill., in 1839. In the latter county he followed the trade
of wagon-maker and blacksmith. In Haw Creek Township, Oct. 29, 1844, our
subject was married to Miss Melinda Housh [the Illinois Statewide Marriage
Index lists a Jacob Booth marrying a Malinda Housh in Knox County on
September 19, 1844], the daughter of George P. and Betsie Housh. Miss Housh
was born in Washington County, Ind., and on June 9, 1859, she died in Maquon
Township.
Oct. 29, 1869, our subject was again united in marriage, this time with
Edith Martin [the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a Jacob Booth
marrying a Edith Martin in Knox County on October 24, 1869], daughter of
Martin and Lucinda (Childress) Martin, natives of Virginia. The father of
Mrs. Booth died at St. Joseph, Mo., Sept. 16, 1844. His widow still survives
him, and is residing with her daughter, Mrs. B. of this notice, at the
advanced age of 82 years; she was born in 1804. Mrs. Booth was born in Green
County, Ky., Feb. 20, 1837, and is the seventh in order of birth in a family
of ten children. Our subject and wife have adopted a child who bears the
name of Frank. Mr. B. is the incumbent of the office of School Director, and
politically advocates the principals of the Republican party.
The parents of our subject are Isaac and Mary (Grinnell) Booth, natives of
Penobscot, Me., at which place the mother died April 12, 1836. The father
afterward came to Ohio, and subsequently to Sangamon County, Ill., where his
death occurred April 30, 1852. The result of their union was the birth of 12
children, of whom Mr. Booth was the fifth in the order of birth.
A view of the comfortable home of Mr. Booth is given in this volume. [page 302]
Contributed by Todd Walter, extracted from the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, page 460.
1899 Biography
JACOB BOOTH; Maquon, Knox County, Illinois; was born in Penobscot County, Maine, June 1, 1821. He was the son of Isaac and Mary Booth. Isaac Booth was born July 7, 1792, and married Mary Grinnell December 6, 1812. Mary Grinnell was born April 30, 1795. He died April 30, 1852; and his wife, April 12, 1836. She was the daughter of Royl Grinnell, a Revolutionary soldier, under General Hull. Jacob Booth came to Sangamon County, Illinois, in 1839, and to Knox County, in 1844. He was married to Malinda Housh, daughter of George P. Housh, September 19, 1844. Malinda Booth was born March 17, 1821, and died June 9, 1869 (sic, 1859). Jacob Booth's second marriage was to Edith Martin, of Galesburg, Illinois, October 24, 1869. She was the daughter of Martin and Lucinda Martin. Mr. Martin died in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1844. Mrs. Martin died in 1898, aged nearly ninety five years. Mr. and Mrs. Booth have one adopted son, Frank Booth, of Abingdon, Illinois. Mr. Booth is a republican, and cast his first vote for Henry Clay in 1844. He and his wife are Christian Scientists, and are members of the mother church in Boston; and also members of the branch church at Maquon, Illinois, and were students of Mrs. Janet T. Colman, one of Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy's loyal students. Mr. and Mrs. Booth are faithful workers in the cause of Christian Science.
Contributed by Todd Walter, extracted from the 1899 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Knox County, Munsell Publishing Company.
