Albert A. Booth

Albert Booth was born in Waukau, Wisconsin, October 17, 1850, to Elliot and Phercelia (Fitch) Booth. His father was a miner during the Gold Rush of 1849. As a child, the family moved to Syracuse, New York, where he lived until 1869. After returning to Wisconsin, he took up residence in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin where he worked as a machinist and logger for the Hamilton Finley Lumber Company. His father died in Stockton, California, in 1885, and his mother died in Fond du Lac in 1876.^[2]

Booth was a member of the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Albert Booth moved to Barnes County on May 24, 1879, where he established a homestead in Section 24 of Township 142N, R60W. Even though it was far from the nearest railroad, he established a successful stock farm where he raised registered shorthorn cattle.

He married Eliza Carter of New York in Waupun, Wisconsin on December 17, 1879. They had eight children: Edna, Alice, Elizabeth, Leila, twins Albert and Blanche, Frank, and Roy. Edna (born 1881) was the first white child born in the township, and it was after her that Edna Township is named.^[3][4] Booth also established a rural post office out of his home on July 25, 1882,^[5] also originally named Edna, but ultimately named Booth. The post office was discontinued on November 14, 1884.^[5]

Booth, a Republican, was not particularly active in politics, but did serve both as a county commissioner and chairman of the township board of supervisors.^[2] He died in 1914 in Cass County, North Dakota.^[1]

This article incorporates text from the Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota (1900), a publication now in the public domain.