Senator Charles D. Booth View All Years

CHARLES DAVIS BOOTH

MR. PRESIDENT: Your committee, appointed to prepare suitable resolutions commemorating the life, character and public service of the late Honorable Charles Davis Booth, begs leave to submit the following:

Charles Davis Booth was born in Stockton, California, January 2, 1870, and moved with his parents to Shelby county, Iowa, when he was one year of age. He lived the balance of his life in and around Harlan in Shelby county. He graduated from the Harlan high school and attended Iowa State College and then returned to his home town of Harlan to enter business with his father. This business was carried on under the Booth name and at the time of his death he was the oldest merchant in Harlan.

On October 31, 1895, he was united in marriage with Edith B. Pickard, who survives him.

The life story of Charles Davis Booth has been one of constant activity, marked with his power and ability in carrying to completion the many things that he undertook to do. He was a man that was very decided in his views and ideals, yet he expected no more from others than he demanded of himself. His firm pioneered the automobile business in Shelby county, having sold the first automobile in Harlan. In addition to his active business life, he found time and inclination to give active support to many other worthwhile agencies. During the first world war he was the chairman of many drives and programs which aided the nation in that great effort. He was an active and potent member of the Congregational church, the Community and Kiwanis clubs and the Odd Fellows and Masonic lodges.

Mr. Booth was elected to the state Senate in 1926, and served eight years, during which time there were four regular and two special sessions of the legislature. He brought to the Senate and the legislature the policies that had made him successful in private business. He was proud of his membership in the Senate and he commanded the respect of the other members of the body and of his constituents, insisting that the high ideals and honesty of purpose that had made his private life a success should govern his actions in his services to the state.

Senator Booth is survived by his widow, a daughter, Estella May Crabtree, and grandson, Charles Richard, of Belmond, Iowa, two sisters, one brother and several nieces and nephews.

His unswerving loyalty to his country, his fidelity to duty, and his faithfulness in every public and private trust, was an inspiration to all with whom he came in contact.

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Fiftieth General Assembly of Iowa in Regular Session: That in the passing of Senator Booth the state mourns the loss of an honored citizen, a man of strong and excellent character, a public servant of the highest type and that by this resolution the Senate of Iowa extends its sympathy to his family.

Be It Further Resolved, That this memorial resolution be printed in the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary be directed to send copies of the same to the members of the family of the deceased.

DE VERE WATSON,

FRANK PELZER,

ROBT. W. HARVEY,

Committee.

The resolution was unanimously adopted.