- CHARLES A. BOOTH, editor and publisher of the Sentinel, and
late postmaster at Monroe,
- Green county, is a veteran newspaper man, and has a high
reputation for both ability and integrity among the members of
the fraternity of the State. He is at present senior editor in
the State in active business.
- Mr. BOOTH was born in Covington, Tioga Co., Penn., Feb. 15,
1840, a son of George W. and
- Artemisia (CRANDELL) BOOTH, and lived with his parents until
1857, following their migration to Wisconsin, in 1854, when they
settled in Beloit. In 1857 the young man came to Monroe, and
entered the office of the Sentinel, with the purpose of learning
the printing business from the ground up. He began as an apprentice,
and his long career as a printer and publisher shows that he
thoroughly mastered the rudiments of his calling.
- In 1802 Mr. BOOTH entered the Union army, as a member of
Company G, 22d Wis. V.I., and
- served throughout the war, proving a brave and capable soldier.
At the battle of Thompson's Station the young soldier received
a gunshot wound in his leg, and had other slight injuries. The
fierceness of the engagement may be inferred from the fact that
his clothing was pierced by nine bullets. He was in the hospital
at Nashville six weeks on account of his wounds, had a furlough,
rejoined his regiment, and was made first lieutenant. He was
in every battle in which his regiment participated, from Wauhatchie
Valley to the grand review at Washington; was a staff officer
during the Atlanta campaign with Col. John Coburn, and during
the march to the sea, and to Washington with Brevet Brig. Gen.
Dustin, of 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 20th Army Corps. He was in
over one hundred battles and skirmishes, among the more important
ones being those at Spring Hill, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, New
Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Culp's Farm, Cassville,
and nearly all the engagements in front of Atlanta. He commanded,
as staff officer of Col. John Coburn, commanding the Brigade,
the right wing of the skirmish line that entered the city of
Atlanta. The first night after he entered that city, he slept
in the house of Mayor Calhoun, who surrendered the city to Col.
Coburn, and during the next few days of occupation this house
became the headquarters of Lieut. BOOTH's provost guard.
- When peace returned Mr. BOOTH came back to Monroe, and purchased
an interest in the
- Sentinel, in company with A. J. HIGH. GARDNER, and three
years later Mr. BOOTH leased his partner's interest, and later
bought it; becoming sole proprietor of what is and has been recognized
for fifty years as one of the most valuable printing plants in
southern Wisconsin. The Sentinel was established in 1850 by John
W. STEWART, who died in Chicago in 1899. John WALWORTH, one of
its early editors, was a Free-Soil Democrat, and one of the original
leaders in the formation of the Republican party, and was chairman
of the first Republican State Convention, since which time the
paper has always been Republican, and has never missed a weekly
issue. Mr. BOOTH has been in the printing and publishing business
forty-two years, and expects to follow it as long as he lives.
He has been a member of the State Editors and Publishers Association
since 1868.
- Mr. BOOTH and Miss Elizabeth GARDNER were united in marriage
Sept. 10, 1862. Mrs.
- BOOTH is the daughter of Elijah T. and Elizabeth (STEPHENSON)
GARDNER, the former one of the pioneers of Green county, and
an early settler in Monroe. Mr. and Mrs. BOOTH are the parents
of three sons and two daughters, all of whom have grown to maturity,
and are yet living. Their pleasant home is at No. 424 Jackson
street. Mr. BOOTH is a member of O. F. Pinney Post, No. 102,
G..R., and Monroe Lodge, No. 72, I.O.O.F., and Ivanhoe Lodge
K. of P. His political and business standing was recognized by
his appointment as postmaster at Monroe. He entered upon his
official duties Feb. 1, 1900, and proved himself a capable and
efficient postmaster, until finding the work too irksome and
severe in connection with his newspaper business, he resigned.
His assistant, Robert A. ETTER, was appointed, upon Mr. BOOTH's
recommendation, as his successor, his appointment taking effect
in February, 1901. Mr. BOOTH has attended many State and Congressional
conventions as a delegate, and at Minneapolis sat as a member
of the convention which nominated President Harrison.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; pp. 368-369.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
|