C.H. Booth 1814 - 1898

BOOTH

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/5/2020 at 09:40:06

Source: Decorah Republican June 30, 1898 P 1 C 6

DEATH OF AN IOWA PIONEER.
State Register:—In the death of Gen. C. H. Booth, of Dubuque, the state loses one of its earliest settlers, and most prominent and respected citizens. Gen. Booth arrived in Dubuque on July 3, 1836, and for 62 years made that city his home, and gave the best years of his manhood to laboring in its interests. He was the first mayor of Dubuque, a member of the first Iowa legislature, and a member of the state commission which established Iowa's first bank: he brought the first steam engine to Du¬, erected the first steam saw mill, and the first flouring mill in that city, and led in all the business enterprises for which Dubuque was noted in that day. General Booth was one of the first to suggest a railroad to cross the state from Dubuque, and was a big stockholder in the Dubuque & Pacific, now the Dubuque & Sioux City, controlled by the Illinois Central. In 1849 he was appointed Surveyor General for Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin by President Polk, and he also served in that same position under President Taylor. In 1872 he was sent to the legislature again, and his election on the Republican ticket in a county at that time overwhelmingly Democratic, shows how great was the popularity of the man. In business he was interested in a number of different enterprises, most of which succeeds, through his untiring energy. General Booth was a lover and student of science, and during his busy life he found time to make several important and valuable inventions, among which was the modern method of making shot, and a steam dredge. Gen. Booth was known in his home city as “The grand old man of Dubuque,” and no one over commanded greater respect and love of the people of that city.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he was born December 26, 1814 and died June 19, 1898. He is buried in the Linwood Cemetery.