Booth, Judson S.

BOOTH, PUSHEL, ROSE, CONWELL, TOPPIN, GUTHRIE, WEBB, DOWNS, LANE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/27/2009 at 09:26:33

Booth, Judson S.

Jasper County can boast of no more progressive class of citizens than the large number of New Yorkers who have found homes within her borders. Many of them came here without any influential friends to assist them in getting a start and they were limited in financial resources, but, imbued with a sturdy independence and a laudable ambition to succeed, they have taken advantage of the wonderful possibilities afforded by this favored country. Gradually, step-by-step, they have risen to places of prominence in various lines of activity. Of these there can be none mentioned who deserves more favorable mention than Judson S. Booth, one of the substantial citizens of Baxter, who has lived to see and take a conspicuous growth in the development of the County, having had its interests at heart from the first. He is known to be a man of progressive ideas and an advocate of right living and is therefore eminently deserving of the high esteem and confidence in which he is universally held.

Mr. Booth was born at Napoli, Cattaraugus County, New York, June 17, 1848, and he spent his early boyhood there and in Illinois, but the major part of his life has been spent in Iowa. He is the son of Lyman and Alice (Pushel) Booth, both natives of the state of New York, where they grew up and married, the mother dying in 1851, when the subject was three years of age. The father emigrated west in an early day and his death occurred at Plainview, Nebraska, December 30, 1910, at an advanced age. Their family consisted of seven children, five sons and two daughters, namely: Albert, deceased; Mrs. Lucy Rose, of Saginaw, Michigan; Judson S., of this review; Elmer, deceased; Elton lives in Texas; Ellsworth lives in Audubon; Alice is deceased.

Judson S. Booth was brought to Whiteside County, Illinois, in 1853, and remained there until 1867, then came to Jasper County, Iowa, locating in Independence Township and has been a resident of this locality ever since. In 1882 he removed to Rhodes and engaged in the lumber business and was also interested in the same line in Baxter, building the first business in the latter and he remained at the former place ten years. When he came to Baxter he found a prairie country, undeveloped. He came to the County empty handed, but by industry and good management has accumulated a competency. He bought livestock all over northern Jasper County and southern Marshall County. He is the owner of two of the best business places in Baxter, and until recently he owned one of the best farms in this vicinity, consisting of two hundred acres in Clear Creek Township. He has been successful in whatever line he has directed his efforts and now as old age approaches he is taking life easy, being deserving of the respite and should enjoy the fruits of his former years of activity.

Judson S. Booth was married on June 11, 1871, to Charlotte A. Conwell, who was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, August 24, 1853. She is the daughter of Clark D. and Rebecca (Toppin) Conwell, both natives of Ohio, where they grew up, were educated and married, emigrating to Independence Township, Jasper County, Iowa, in the early days and here they spent the balance of their lives, the father dying in July 1887, and the mother on November 10, 1910, at an advanced age. In the Conwell family were the following children: Robert, Ed, Charlotte A., wife of Mr. Booth, of this sketch; Henry, Carlos, Clark, Mrs. Sarah Guthrie and Mrs. Webb. For a complete history of the Conwell family the reader is directed to the sketch of Carlos Conwell, which appears in another part of this work.

To Mr. and Mrs. Booth have been born two daughters and one son, namely: Mrs. Carrie Downs, born in Baxter, May 5, 1873, is the wife of Horace B. Downs, the leading druggist of Baxter; Mrs. Lulu M. Lane, born September 29, 1879, is living at Bigelow, Minnesota; Ed, born at Rhodes, Iowa, November 16, 1886, is living at Baxter. These children were reared in Jasper County, and attended the public schools at Rhodes and Baxter, receiving good common school educations.

Politically, Mr. Booth is a Democrat and he has been more or less active in local affairs for some time. He has been a member of the board of education and the town council, both in Rhodes and Baxter. He was formerly a member of the Township board of trustees for Independence Township. Fraternally, he belongs to Unit Lodge No. 520, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Baxter, also Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, at Baxter; Mrs. Booth belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star at Baxter. They have a modern and neatly furnished home in Baxter, and have all the modern conveniences, including an automobile. They are great readers and, keeping their home well supplied with the world's best literature, are well posted on current topics, and, being genial and hospitable; they number their friends only by the limit of their acquaintance. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1284.