Pueblo County, Colorado
Joseph W. Booth

Contributed by Jean Griesan.

About three miles from Pueblo lies a well-improved farm upon which fruit and general farm products, as well as stock, are raised. Here, since 1867, Mr. Booth has lived and labored, making all the valuable improvements now noticeable on the place, including the substantial two-story brick residence, the barn and extensive orchards. During the long period of his residence on this property he has seen the many wonderful improvements made in this section of the state, has witnessed the growth of Pueblo from an insignificant village to a populous city, and has aided in developing the agricultural resources of Pueblo County.

In Columbus, Ohio, near the site of the Columbus Buggy Company shops, Mr. Booth was born November 7, 1825, shortly after the death of his father, Joseph Booth. The family is descended from Sir Richard Booth of England, who came to America and remained here until his death. A man of great wealth, a portion of his fortune belongs to the branch with which our subject is identified, but the genealogical record not being complete, the money could not be secured. Joseph Booth was born in Connecticut and removed to Columbus, Ohio, where he had the contract for the erection of the first Methodist Episcopal Church, as well as contracts for other early buildings there. He followed the carpenter's trade until he died. His wife was Abigail Patterson, who was born in the western part of Berkshire County, Mass., the daughter of a farmer and a descendant of English and Scotch ancestors. In her family there were three sons, of whom Ezra is deceased, and Joseph W. and Henry are living. The latter, a resident of Columbus, Ohio, was for years a prominent carriage manufacturer there, in partnership with his brother Ezra, but he is now living retired.

When a boy, our subject accompanied his mother and step-father, Mr. Hubbard, to Pickaway County, Ohio, where he attended the public schools. When seventeen years of age he returned to Columbus, and there learned the carriage-maker's trade under his brothers, E. and H. F. Booth. Immediately after learning of the discovery of gold in California in 1849, he went to the Pacific coast, and for four years engaged in mining. Returning to Columbus in 1853, he was married on the 7th of November, the same year, to Laura Denman, a native of Erie County, Ohio. One year later he removed to Iowa and settled in Franklin County, where he engaged in farming until 1860. The discovery of gold in Colorado led him to remove to this state. In 1860 he arrived in Denver, and from there proceeded to Golden, where he engaged in gardening and agricultural pursuits, at the same time devoting considerable attention to mining.

When the Indians became troublesome in Colorado, Mr. Booth enlisted, in 1864, as a member of the Third Colorado Cavalry, Company K, under Captain Shock and Colonel Shoup, and fought the redmen on the frontier. Among the engagements in which he took part was the battle of Sand Creek, and there he was in the midst of the fight, but escaped uninjured, although the bridle was shot off his horse. In 1866 he came to Pueblo County and after spending one year on Turkey Creek he settled on the ranch where he has since made his home. For years he has been an official member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he favors Republican principles.

Mrs. Booth was a daughter of John Denman, a native of Kent County, England, and an early settler of York state. In an early day he walked the entire distance from New York to Ohio, carrying a sack of apple seed on his back. He settled upon a farm in Erie County, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, sheep-raising and fruit-growing, and was a pioneer in the latter industry in that state. He built the first house (a log structure) in the town and also set out the first fruit trees there. He was a man of good judgment and was well-to-do, for those days. His wife was Miranda Black, from near Buffalo, whose father was a captain in the war of 1812 and who witnessed the burning of Buffalo. Mrs. Booth received excellent advantages in girlhood and for several years was a student in Oberlin College, where she graduated. By her marriage one son and three daughters were born. The son, William Tell Booth, who is a prominent furniture dealer in Cripple Creek, at one time served in the state legislature, and has been president of the board of trade in his town. The daughters are: Mrs. George Myers, of Arizona; Mrs. Delia Rossbach, of Cripple Creek; and Carrie May Booth, who is cashier and bookkeeper for the Booth Furniture Company of Cripple Creek. There are ten grandchildren, of whom the grandparents are justly proud and to whose welfare they are devoted.

Among the farmers of Pueblo County Mr. Booth is one of the most successful. His success is largely due to industry and sound common sense, coupled with determination. In the possession of these sterling qualities, the problem of success is easily solved, and through them he has gained prosperity and a competence.

Extracted from "Portrait and Biographical Record of the State of Colorado," published by Chapman Publishing Company in Chicago in 1899.


Contributed by Jean Griesan.

Booth, Joseph W. (arrived in Colorado in 1860)

Joseph W. Booth was born November 7, 1825, shortly after the death of his father, Joseph Booth, in Columbus, Ohio. The family is descended from Sir Richard Booth of England, who came to America and remained until his death.

When a boy, he accompanied his mother and stepfather, Mr. Hubbard, to Pickaway County, Ohio, where he attended the public schools. When 17 years of age he returned to Columbus and there learned the carriage-maker's trade under his brothers, E. and H. F. Booth.

Immediately after learning of the discovery of gold in California in 1849 he went to the Pacific coast and for 4 years engaged in mining. Returning to Columbus in 1853, he was married November 7, 1853, to Laura Denman, a native of Erie County, Ohio. One year later he removed to Iowa and settled in Franklin County where he engaged in farming until 1860.

The discovery of gold in Colorado led him to remove to this State. In 1860 he arrived in Denver and from there proceeded to Golden where he engaged in gardening and agricultural pursuits. At the same time he devoted considerable attention to mining.

In 1864 he enlisted as a member of the 3rd Colorado Cavalry, Co. K., under Capt. Schock and Col. Shoup, and fought Red men on the frontier. He was in the battle of Sand Creek [massacre], and there he was in the midst of the fight, but escaped uninjured, although the bridle was shot off his horse.

In 1866 he went to Pueblo County and, after spending 1 year on Turkey Creek, he settled on the ranch about 3 miles from Pueblo, upon which fruit and general farm products, as well as stock, are raised.

Mrs. Booth was a daughter of John Denman, a native of Kent County, England. To Mr. and Mrs. Booth were born one son and three daughters. The son, William Tell Booth, was a prominent furniture dealer in Cripple Creek and at one time served in the State legislature and has been president of the board of trade in his town. The daughters are: Mrs. George Myers of Arizona, Mrs. Della Rossbach of Cripple Creek, and Carrie May Booth, a bookkeeper and cashier for the Booth Furniture Co. of Cripple Creek. There are 10 grandchildren, of whom the grandparents are justly proud.

Extracted from "The Real Pioneers of Colorado," by Maria Davies McGrath, published in 1934 by The Denver Museum, retyped with added notes by Jane P. Ohl, in October 2001.



to the Pueblo County Index Page.


Please e-mail comments and suggestions to Karen Mitchell.
© Karen Mitchell