Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885
Chapman Bros.
Chicago, IL
Reproduced on CD

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Pages 633-634

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 tht 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.