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Old Chester, PA: Biographical Sketches

William Booth


William Booth

(A biographical sketch taken from One Hundred Years, The Delaware County National Bank Chester, PA 1814-1914)

Years in parentheses are years of service as a Director of The Bank of Delaware County and/or The Delaware County National Bank

William Booth (1864), son of Joseph and Martha (Hoskins) Booth, was born in Upper Chichester, May 27, 1812. He was educated at the schools in the neighborhood of his parents' residence, excepting one year at Gummere's School, at Burlington, N. J. He was a farmer in early life, and until his death cultivated the ancestral plantation. Although never a politician, in 1834, he was inspector of schools in Chichester; in 1839 a director of the schools in that township, and after his removal to Chester was elected, in 1853, Chief Burgess. In the Anti-Mason movement of 1834, he took a prominent part in the campaign.

In 1848, with John Larkin, Jr., he acquired the well-established coal, lumber and packet business founded by J. P. and William Eyre. In January, 1850, Mr. Larkin's purchase of the Cochran farm induced him to withdraw from the firm. Mr. Booth continued the business successfully until 1858, when he devoted his entire energies to the conducting of the steam saw and planing mill on the river front at the foot of Concord avenue. In 1852, he was one of the organizers of the Delaware County Mutual Insurance Company.

In 1867, he retired from active business. He had been one of the first purchasers of lots in the Larkin tract, and in 1850 erected the residence at the northeast corner of Broad [9th] and Madison streets, which many years later was converted into two dwellings. The westernmost one has recently been purchased by St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church for a rectory. William Booth died November 1, 1871, aged 59 years. 

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