Albert Anson Booth

Albert Anson Booth was born in 1850 at Waupon, Wisconsin. His father, Elliott Booth, participated in the California gold rush, making and losing two fortunes. Albert had read of the opportunities in the Dakota Territory and in 1878 he, two of his brothers, and W. E. Bush started for the Territory in a covered wagon. After arriving in Valley City they found land that suited them and Albert filed homestead on the Southeast of Section 24, Township 142, Range 60. After building a sod shanty and barn he went to Casselton and worked on the Dalrymple farms. He saved the money he made and in the fall returned to Wisconsin to marry Eliza Ellen Carter. Eliza was born in Tully, New York, in 1854, and moved to Waupon with her parents, two sisters and a brother.

In the spring Albert bought a carload of machinery and livestock and returned to his claim in Barnes County. In 1880 it was possible to purchase lumber to build a frame house, the material being hauled from Sanborn. As the family prospered, a large frame house was built and the smaller house was used as a kitchen.

Eight children were born to Albert and Eliza Booth. The oldest child,

  1. Edna, was born July 7, 1881. She was the first child born in the township and it was after her that Edna Township was named. In addition to Edna who married Orville Wilkinson there were

  2. Alice (Mrs. Neil McFadgen),

  3. Bessie (Mrs. Henry Halverson),

  4. Leila (Mrs. George Kelsey),

  5. Blanche (Mrs. Ronald McDonald),

  6. Albert,

  7. Frank and

  8. Roy.

The Booths were leaders in establishing a school in District 21 where the Booth children received their elementary education. "The Booth School" paid teachers a slightly higher wage than nearby districts and made a greater effort to secure educational material. The Booth School was the social center for the Community. The Booths owned an ice cream freezer, a rarity then, and proceeds from ice cream socials at the school were used to buy library books. Sunday School classes were also taught in the school. When the town of Rogers was established, Mrs. Booth was one of the leaders in raising money to build a church.

The Booth family took a prominent part in the agricultural affairs of Barnes County. AI Booth was one of the first to own a large threshing rig and he used progressive methods in its operation. Later he made a name for himself with his fine herd of Shorthorn cattle. His pure bred stock was exhibited and carried off prizes at shows not only within the state and surrounding states but as far east as Illinois and Indiana.

The Booths remained on the homestead until 1907. Albert then became manager of the large Nestor farm of seven sections on the north edge of Valley City. This made it possible for all of the children to attend high school in Valley City. They remained on the Nestor farm until 1914 when Albert died. Mrs. Booth lived a number of years in Valley City and then went to Tacoma, Washington, to make her home with her daughter, Edna. She died July 10, 1935.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 33