| Caring Husband, Father and Grandfather. |
Samuel Herbert Booth was born in Irving, Kandiyohi Co., MN to Jonas Glazier Booth and Justina Ida Taylor. His father was born in 1816 Napoli, Cattaraugus Co., NY, moved to Marcellus, MI in 1858, and in 1868 moved to Kandiyohi MN following his marriage to Justina Taylor. His father was a Civil War veteran, reaching the rank of Corporal while serving in Michigan's 25th Infantry unit, Company H. After farming for a number of years, Sam's father opened a grocery store first in Irving, MN (from 1875-1889), and then in Long Prairie where he until his health failed. In the 1900 census he is listed as Long Prairie's assistant postmast. Sam's mother was born of a farming family in 1852 in Orleans Co., NY, her family having immigrated just 2 years earlier from Rowston, Lincolnshire in England. Justina was about 5 when the family moved to Marcellus, MI, since her youngest sister was born in MI in 1857.
Samuel was the fifth of six children of Jonas and Justina. He likely would have helped his father in his grocary store in Long Prairie while growing up, which may explain his later long association with the grocery industry. In the 1900 census he was single and living as a boarder in Two Harbors Village, Lake Co., MN, where he was working as a telegraph operator (the family tradition that he worked for the railroad being supported by the census, since among the other boarders were several brakemen, locomotive firemen, and RR clerks). But he had not left home for very long, as there is also an entry showing him in his parent's household in Long Prairie - listed as an 'Operator'.
He married Louise Anna Kielley of Superior, WI about 1902. The couple was living in Fergus Falls, MN in 1904 when their oldest son, Richard, was born in 1904. By 1908 they had moved to Grand Forks, ND where their second son Harold was born. The couple lived the remainder of their years together in Grand Forks.
By 1910, Samuel had returned to the food business, the census showing him working as an assistant manager for a candy factory in Grand Forks (reportedly Curtis Candy Co). His WW I Draft Registration is dated Sep 12 1918, where he is listed as Asst Manager for the Congress Candy Co. He and Louise were living at 621 Chestnut St. in Grand Farks.
In 1920 he was still an assistant manager with a candy company, his two sons still at home with Louise. By 1930 he was a manager of a candy house, both boys no longer at home.
The historical record contains little about Sam and Louise after then, until their final years in Grand Forks. In 1959, Louise contracted cancer, and by the end of the year was hospitalized. Sam was with her throughout, and they shared their lifetime of memories in her final days.
Shortly after his beloved wife of 58 years died, he moved to Pinellas Co., Florida to live with his son Harold and his family. Three years after Louise died, Sam passed away.
His grandson Terry, by Sam's eldest son Richard, has added the following note about Sam :
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I never had much chance to get to know Sam very well since they were several states awayand this was before easy air travel. He was 'Grandpa' to me. The memories I have of him are of their small but nicely maintained home and garden in Grand Forks, and of his still going in to work at a downtown Grand Forks grocery store when we visited him in 1950, and then again some 8 years later.
He and Louise were a devoted couple, and quietly religious. Louise seemed to be the talker of the family, with Sam a less outgoing but diligent provider.
They were a family of the depression, and survivors of their times who made the most of what they had and enjoyed it to the fullest. Sam was also a duck hunter, and had a federal duck hunting license back to the 1930's, when they first issued duck stamps.
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Sam was also affectionately known as 'Dad', 'Grandpa', 'Granddad', and 'Uncle Sam' to his family, and is fondly remembered by those still alive who knew him.
REFERENCES :
1. Booth Family Archive of Terry and Carol Booth
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