(06-23-2019 04:54 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(06-20-2019 04:52 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  There are many other indications which show David E. George was a man with serious mental issues, and not John Wilkes Booth.

I agree with you 100%. In reading Bates' book it's obvious John St. Helen/David E. George says things that show he didn't know the specifics of what really went down on April 14, 1865. He tells Bates things that the real Booth would not say, IMO. For example, John St. Helen/David E. George tells Bates that it was Andrew Johnson who arranged for the Grants not to attend the theater with the Lincolns. This is totally false; Johnson had nothing to do with the Grants leaving Washington that evening. John St. Helen/David E. George said he stopped at the Kirkwood House and met with VP Johnson at 3 PM. False. Johnson was at the White House meeting with Abraham Lincoln at that time. Booth didn't meet Johnson at all; rather he left a note that said, "Don't wish to disturb you. Are you at home? J. Wilkes Booth." I feel the real Booth, in trying to convince people he was indeed JWB, would not create stories that were patently false. Rather his stories show he wasn't Booth.

Roger,

There are also some timing issues with John W. Booth in TN getting married 25 Feb 1872 and staying a few months. John St. Helen is supposed to be in TX in 1872 with Finis Bates as well, but not certain of dates. I also think Finis Bates had a hand in convincing Laura Ida Booth that David E. George was her father, because she believed the story he was selling/telling.

While I don't believe David E. George was John Wilkes Booth, I also don't think he was the John W. Booth that married Louisa J. (Price) Payne.

What I'm hoping to do here is resolve several supposed children of John Wilkes Booth, and the stories which followed.

The current effort to exhume Edwin Booth and compare his dna to Lois Fellows (White) Rathbun-Trebisacci will only prove she is his descendant, and does nothing to prove who is buried in the grave of John Wilkes Booth. It could be significant to have Edwin's dna results on hand if a future check for the man buried in John Wilkes Booth's grave yields a match to Edwin.

By showing Lois to have no autosomal match to descendants of Izola Forrester, Sarah Scott (dtr of Kate Scott), and Laura Ida Booth (if she has a living descendant) the most prevalent theories of John Wilkes Booth's escape can have dna evidence to the contrary. Unlike mtdna and Y-dna autosomal dna gets weaker with succeeding generations. Even now it's a little iffy. Lois should provide the dna. Her daughter, Kristen Booth Rathbun will be less of a match.

Thank you to everyone that I'm not getting the vitriol of some other threads. If this is another red herring I may soon have enough for a fish fry, and occasionally other fish get caught. If not for this search I wouldn't know the irony of a cousin of Maj. Henry Reed Rathbone marrying a Booth descendant, albeit the Booth line of Edwin Booth.

Roger, thank you for your patience!!

I just wanted to give everyone (especially Steve W.) a quick update on an interesting twist on the who is the father of Laura Ida Booth question. It turns out that her father was indeed John Wilkes Booth, just a different John Wilkes Booth who was born about 10 years later than the assassin. Here's a link to his Find a grave page:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1316...lkes-booth

According to the 1910 census this JWB was also a cabinetmaker, the same profession which newspaper accounts claim Laura Ida Booth's father had. It seems as though after he left Ida's pregnant mother this JWB took up with another woman, either marrying her or living together as if they were married, eventually settling in Leadville Colorado. According to the census records this JWB was born in Massachusetts.

(06-23-2019 07:46 PM)Steve Wrote:  I just wanted to give everyone (especially Steve W.) a quick update on an interesting twist on the who is the father of Laura Ida Booth question. It turns out that her father was indeed John Wilkes Booth, just a different John Wilkes Booth who was born about 10 years later than the assassin. Here's a link to his Find a grave page:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1316...lkes-booth

According to the 1910 census this JWB was also a cabinetmaker, the same profession which newspaper accounts claim Laura Ida Booth's father had. It seems as though after he left Ida's pregnant mother this JWB took up with another woman, either marrying her or living together as if they were married, eventually settling in Leadville Colorado. According to the census records this JWB was born in Massachusetts.

Great work, FM Steve. Can it be that we at the Lincoln Discussion Symposium may be on the verge of solving in just a few days a mystery over 100 years old?

J W Booth

in the 1910 United States Federal Census

Name: J W Booth
Age in 1910: 61
Birth Year: abt 1849
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Home in 1910: Leadville Ward 3, Lake, Colorado
Street: West Ninth Street
House Number: 144
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital status: Married [2nd marriage for both J.W. and Dolly]
Spouse's name: Dolly A Booth
Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts
Native Tongue: English
Occupation: Cabinet Maker
Employer, Employee or Other: Own Account
Home Owned or Rented: Own
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Farm or House: House
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Years Married: 37
Neighbors:
Household Members:
Name Age
J W Booth 61 [They’ve been married 37 years, so m: 1873]
Dolly A Booth 63 [Says she hasn’t had any children]
*********************************************

The 1910 census reveals that both J.W. Booth and his wife, Dolly A. (Baker) Hendrick-Booth are on 2nd marriages, and have been married 37 years, putting the marriage (I haven't found that yet) circa 1873. Dolly is the daughter of Achilles Baker and Agnes Smith. John Wilkes Booth 1848-1916, according to the Find-a-grave memorial, was born abt 1848 in Massachusetts, as were his parents, as shown by census records. According to the 1910 census Dolly has never had any children.

A key to his wife is the 1920 census which has her living with her sister, actually half-sister due to different mothers.

Dolly A Booth

in the 1920 United States Federal Census

Name: Dolly A Booth
[Dally A Booth]
Age: 73
Birth Year: abt 1847
Birthplace: Michigan
Home in 1920: Precinct 67, El Paso, Colorado
Residence Date: 1920
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Sister
Marital status: Married
Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Able to Speak English: Yes
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors:
Household Members:
Name Age
Elvira Martin 54 [Elvira (Baker) Martin]
Dolly A Booth 73 [Dolly A. (Baker) Booth]
***********************************
Note that Dolly was b: in MI, her father was born in PA and mother in NY.

Dolly Baker

in the 1850 United States Federal Census

Name: Dolly Baker
Age: 4
Birth Year: abt 1846
Birthplace: Michigan
Home in 1850: Fairfield, Lenawee, Michigan, USA
Gender: Female
Family Number: 1082
Household Members:
Name Age
Achilles Baker 24 [b: PA]
Agnes Baker 21 [b:NY]
Dolly Baker 4
Adam Baker 2
William Baker 0
******************
Agnes Baker

in the 1860 United States Federal Census

Name: Agnes Baker
Age: 30
Birth Year: abt 1830
Gender: Female
Birth Place: New York
Home in 1860: Maple Grove, Barry, Michigan
Post Office: Maple Grove
Dwelling Number: 913
Family Number: 840
Household Members:
Name Age
Achelles Baker 33
Agnes Baker 30 [d: 7 Mar 1861]
Dolly Baker 13
Adam Baker 11
William Baker 9
Phelena Baker 5
Fanny Baker 1
*************************
Adam C Baker

in the 1870 United States Federal Census

Name: Adam C Baker
Age in 1870: 21
Birth Year: abt 1849
Birthplace: Michigan
Dwelling Number: 21
Home in 1870: Baltimore, Barry, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Male
Occupation: Works in Copper Shop
Male Citizen over 21: Y
Household Members:
Name Age
Philene Baker 15
Adam C Baker 21
[NOTE: J.T. and Dolly A. (Baker) Hendrick should be included in this census, as it is on the image.]
****************************
Dolly A Hendrick

in the 1870 United States Federal Census

Name: Dolly A Hendrick
Age in 1870: 23
Birth Year: abt 1847
Birthplace: Michigan
Dwelling Number: 21
Home in 1870: Baltimore, Barry, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Female
Occupation: Keeping House
Inferred Spouse: J T Hendrick
Household Members:
Name Age
J T Hendrick 29 [b: 1841 NY, occupation: cooper]
Dolly A Hendrick 23
[Philene baker age 15 with J.T. and Dolly Hendrick in census image]
[Adam C. Baker age 21 with J.T. and Dolly Hendrick in census image]
************************************************
Achille Baker

in the 1870 United States Federal Census

Name: Achille Baker
Age in 1870: 48
Birth Year: abt 1822
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Dwelling Number: 136
Home in 1870: Nashville, Barry, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Male
Occupation: Teamster
Personal Estate Value: 500
Inferred Children: Rebecca Baker
Fanny Baker
Byron Baker
Saul Baker
Elvira Baker
Household Members:
Name Age
Achille Baker 48
Rebecca Baker 28
Fanny Baker 11 [Her mother is Agnes (Smith) Baker in 1860 census]
Byron Baker 8
Saul Baker 5
Elvira Baker 4 [m: William Martin]
**********************************
Achilles Baker
Birth 1 Nov 1826
Bradford County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death 3 Jan 1905 (aged 78)
Cass County, Nebraska, USA
Burial
Oakwood Cemetery
Weeping Water, Cass County, Nebraska, USA
Memorial ID 142702625 · View Source

On Tuesday afternnon 3 January 1905 death removed from our midst Archilles Baker at the advanced age of 78 years 2 months and 2 days, the cause of his death was Brights disease, and for more than a year past his health had been quite poor, Mr Baker was born in Bradford Pennsylvania Nov 1, 1826 and moved with his parents at the age of 17 to Michigan, In 1845 he was united in marriage to Agnes Smith to this union were born 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls, in 1861 he was again married to Rebecca Dillon to them were born 2 boys and 1 girl. In 1881 the family moved to Cheyenne Wyoming and in 1886 to Howard County, NE coming to Weeping Water in 1895 where he has since resided. the funeral occurred at the residence Friday at 1:00 PM interment made in Oakwood Cemetery, He was a member of the Old School Baptists and considered a good neighbor, friend kind husband and father. beside his widow, he leaves 9 children.
Family Members
Spouse

Rebecca Jane Dillon Bolich

1842–1924

Children

Photo
William H. Baker

1850–1925
Photo
Philena C Baker Eastabrooks

1855–1918
Photo
Byron Amos Baker

1862–1936
Photo
Samuel J. Baker

1864–1950
**********************

Family Trees show Dolly Agnes Baker having 2 children with J.T. Hedrick because there is a Joseph T. Hedrick in OH in 1880 with wife Agnes. The 1870 J. T. Hedrick was born abt 1841 in NY. Joseph T. Hedrick was born in Prussia, is slightly older and has a different profession. Also, Dolly (D.A. Booth) is with J.W. Booth in 1880.

D. A. Booth

in the 1880 United States Federal Census

Name: D. A. Booth
Age: 34
Birth Date: Abt 1846
Birthplace: Michigan
Home in 1880: Cheyenne, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
Street: 17th
House Number: 318
Dwelling Number: 368
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital status: Married
Spouse's name: J. W. Booth
Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Occupation: Keeping House
Neighbors:
Household Members:
Name Age
J. W. Booth 32
D. A. Booth 34
********************
I wasn't able to find them in the 1900 census, which could verify that marriage date and whether she had children. Also, where was he in census records prior to 1880? There are really only 2 John Booth candidates born circa 1848 in MA, but that would require bigamy as both were married, one living in OH and still there in 1920, and one, a widower, carpenter, in MA for 1910, but his parents were born in England.

So, who was he really, and where is he 1850-1870?

To mention something about David E. George, it should be noted his name may actually be David Elias George per a 1931 newspaper article involving George Rainey a former Enid, OK postmaster that claimed to have communicated with David E. George's granddtr, who said he had abandoned his wife and gone to TX where he killed a man. It also brings a George E. Smith, possible half-brother, into the mix. George E. Smith also brought another will with him for David E. George. Because names for the supposed wife of David E. George and the granddaughter weren't included I couldn't verify any of the story, but some of that influences my belief that David E. George wasn't the John W. Booth who married Louisa J. Payne 25 Feb 1872 in Franklin Co.,TN.

I also sent a message early this morning with this information in response to a request shown at the Find A Grave memorials for John Wilkes Booth and Dorothy B. "Dollie" Booth.

John Wilkes Booth
Birth 1848
Death 1916 (aged 67–68)
Burial
Evergreen Cemetery
Leadville, Lake County, Colorado, USA
Plot Lt 178, Sec MA
Memorial ID 131692050 · View Source

Please contact me if you have information on him or his wife please contact me at leadvillelady@msn.com
Family Members
Spouse

Photo
Dorothy B Booth

1847–1925
***************************
Dorothy B “Dollie” Booth
Birth 2 Oct 1847
Death 3 Jan 1925 (aged 77)
Burial
Evergreen Cemetery
Leadville, Lake County, Colorado, USA
Plot Lt 174, Sec MA
Memorial ID 131691941 · View Source

If anyone has information on her or her husband please contact me at leadvillelady@msn.com
Family Members
Spouse

Photo
John Wilkes Booth

1848–1916
****************************
Thanks for the help FM Steve. We haven't proven he married Louis J. Payne yet, nor who his parents are, but it's a step in that direction for this journey.

---

(06-23-2019 07:46 PM)Steve Wrote:  I just wanted to give everyone (especially Steve W.) a quick update on an interesting twist on the who is the father of Laura Ida Booth question. It turns out that her father was indeed John Wilkes Booth, just a different John Wilkes Booth who was born about 10 years later than the assassin. Here's a link to his Find a grave page:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1316...lkes-booth

According to the 1910 census this JWB was also a cabinetmaker, the same profession which newspaper accounts claim Laura Ida Booth's father had. It seems as though after he left Ida's pregnant mother this JWB took up with another woman, either marrying her or living together as if they were married, eventually settling in Leadville Colorado. According to the census records this JWB was born in Massachusetts.

FM Steve, something to think about is that he was telling his wife to be that he was the John Wilkes Booth that assassinated President Lincoln. He would have only been 17 in 1865, if really born 1848, and hardly a noted stage actor. How does he do that? He's only 23-24 in 1872. McCager Payne in an error filled newspaper article, attached, claims that his JWB gave performances at the Univ. of TN using sleight of hand and readings from plays. That's some low profile for a man on the run. Also, one would suppose that McCager, age 7-8 in 1872 is old enough to remember what John W. Booth looked like, especially someone who threatened to kill him. Surely he would have known that David E. George wasn't the same man. A possible big payday may have influenced his memories.

I found a copy of this John Wilkes Booth (d. 1916) obituary. It says that he was the son of Junius Brutus Booth Jr., the assassin John Wilkes Booth's older brother. Now I checked and Junius Jr. had no son born in 1848 to his first wife Clementina and there is no son named John living with Clementina in the 1850 census in Massachusetts. Junius Jr. would a few years later abandon his wife and daughter to go west with his mistress, Harriet Mace out in California where they would go on living with Harriet as if they were married. So I guess it's possible that Junius could have had another mistress and baby before meeting Harriet?

Laura Ida Booth was six when her mother died, if her mother told Laura, as she was dying, that her father was named John Wilkes Booth and that he was the son of actor Junius Brutus Booth it's pretty easy to see how Laura could've become confused about what she meant trying to remember it years later. Of course, that doesn't actually prove this John Wilkes Booth is actually the son of Junius Brutus Booth Jr.

I'm going to email the articles/obituary to Roger for him to post images to the forum.

(06-24-2019 08:39 AM)Steve Wrote:  I found a copy of this John Wilkes Booth (d. 1916) obituary. It says that he was the son of Junius Brutus Booth Jr., the assassin John Wilkes Booth's older brother. Now I checked and Junius Jr. had no son born in 1848 to his first wife Clementina and there is no son named John living with Clementina in the 1850 census in Massachusetts. Junius Jr. would a few years later abandon his wife and daughter to go west with his mistress, Harriet Mace out in California where they would go on living with Harriet as if they were married. So I guess it's possible that Junius could have had another mistress and baby before meeting Harriet?

Laura Ida Booth was six when her mother died, if her mother told Laura, as she was dying, that her father was named John Wilkes Booth and that he was the son of actor Junius Brutus Booth it's pretty easy to see how Laura could've become confused about what she meant trying to remember it years later. Of course, that doesn't actually prove this John Wilkes Booth is actually the son of Junius Brutus Booth Jr.


I'm going to email the articles/obituary to Roger for him to post images to the forum.

31 December 1916 Herald Democrat of Leadville, CO

01 January 1917 Herald Democrat of Leadville, CO

29 September 1847 advertisement of Junius Brutus Booth Jr. performance in the Boston Daily Bee, proving that Junius, at least, was in the right area to be John Wilkes Booth (c1848-1916)'s father if he really was born in Salem, Mass.

FM Steve, Here we go again with another mystery:

Exploring Evergreen Cemetery – John W. Booth

Gerry Adler, Herald Correspondent Oct 13, 2017 0


John W. Booth

What’s in a name? According to his 1916 obituary in the Herald Democrat, for John W. Booth of Leadville his name was a family link to the infamous John Wilkes Booth, assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.

Leadville’s Booth was born in 1848. He claimed to be the nephew of John Wilkes Booth. His obituary details the Booth family history and claims that Booth was the son of Junius Brutus Booth Jr., the brother of John Wilkes Booth.

Many members of the Booth family from Massachusetts were noted actors, starting with Junius Brutus Booth Sr. The Booth buried in Evergreen Cemetery also followed a theatrical career for 24 years. He stayed in that profession until 1873 with his last performance in Helena, Mont.

After abandoning the stage, Booth lived for several years in Wyoming where he worked as an undertaker. It was there that he met and married Dolly Baker. In 1879, they moved to Leadville where Mrs. Booth persuaded him to learn the trade of cabinet maker.

Gretchen Scanlon, a Leadville historian, has thoroughly researched the Booth genealogy. While she found documented evidence in the 1880 Wyoming census that Booth did indeed reside there, she found no evidence of his purported relationship to John Wilkes Booth. In fact, Scanlon found no evidence of a birth certificate for Booth as son to Junius Brutus Booth Jr.

Booth died Dec. 31, 1916. Whether or not he is actually the nephew of John Wilkes Booth appears to be left to opinion.

Sources: Herald Democrat obituary, December 31, 1916; Gretchen Scanlon, Leadville historian.

Friends of the Historic Evergreen Cemetery is a 501 ©(3) nonprofit formed to preserve and restore the final resting place of the people who made Leadville and Lake County. To volunteer, contact John R. Piearson at 719-293-0936 or mail donations to Friends of the Historic Evergreen Cemetery at P.O. Box 955, Leadville, CO 80461.
****************************************
The article says that John W. Booth didn't undertake cabinet making until 1879, also, nobody (so far) seems to know who his first marriage was to.

If he was born out of wedlock he may likely have his mother's surname, which makes it even harder to find him in 1850-1870 census. Also, when Jack Booth introduced himself to Louisa J. (Price) Payne he said he was a cousin, not the nephew, of John Wilkes Booth, before telling her later he was THE John Wilkes Booth.

[quote='Steve' pid='77533' dateline='1561383542']
I found a copy of this John Wilkes Booth (d. 1916) obituary. It says that he was the son of Junius Brutus Booth Jr., the assassin John Wilkes Booth's older brother. Now I checked and Junius Jr. had no son born in 1848 to his first wife Clementina and there is no son named John living with Clementina in the 1850 census in Massachusetts. Junius Jr. would a few years later abandon his wife and daughter to go west with his mistress, Harriet Mace out in California where they would go on living with Harriet as if they were married. So I guess it's possible that Junius could have had another mistress and baby before meeting Harriet?

Laura Ida Booth was six when her mother died, if her mother told Laura, as she was dying, that her father was named John Wilkes Booth and that he was the son of actor Junius Brutus Booth it's pretty easy to see how Laura could've become confused about what she meant trying to remember it years later. Of course, that doesn't actually prove this John Wilkes Booth is actually the son of Junius Brutus Booth Jr.

I hadn't seen the articles you posted when I made my last reply, enen tho they were added to my message. If the article is correct this John Wilkes Booth was first married to Ida Zeuraze who died in 1872. There are no record for an Ida Zeuraze at ancestry.com. I'm getting the feeling this is not the John W. Booth that married Louisa J. Payne. I'm also not certain how accurate the obit is for John Wilkes Booth 1848-1916.

Still, that's great work on your part getting it.

I don't know why this JWB can't be found in the 1900 census, since he was in the 1900 Leadville city directory at an address he had already lived at for a few years:

   

A manual search of census images might be needed to check out his 902 Pine address to be sure, but it looks like he was probably missed by the census taker in 1900.

I also found him in the 1883 Cheyenne, Wyoming directory:

   

The earliest I could find him in Leadville directory was in 1889, even though there are directories for that town in the database for the preceding decade. So, the article/obituary is wrong about him moving to Leadville in 1879 (maybe a misprint?, the 16 years living in Cheyenne would match a move to Leadville in 1889). Also he clearly already was a cabinetmaker in Cheyenne before moving to Leadville.

Both the Tennessee JWB and the Colorado/Wyoming JWB are cabinetmakers, have an interest in the theatre, and use the JWB name after the assassination. The Colorado/Wyoming JWB also first appears in the record right after the Tennessee JWB is last seen. The obituary story of the first wife of the Colorado/Wyoming JWB dying in 1872 coincides with when the Tennessee JWB abandoned his pregnant wife. It might be a coincidence, but the name the article gives the first wife is also "Ida". Checking newspapers from Omaha, I can't seem to find a description accident killing a horse rider similar to the one described. Also I'm pretty sure no such person was buried in the Booth family plot in Baltimore.

The information for the obituary story almost certainly came from Dolly Booth, so I can sort of see why this JWB might tell her his first wife died instead of saying that he abandoned while she was pregnant.

(06-24-2019 02:15 PM)Steve Wrote:  I don't know why this JWB can't be found in the 1900 census, since he was in the 1900 Leadville city directory at an address he had already lived at for a few years:



A manual search of census images might be needed to check out his 902 Pine address to be sure, but it looks like he was probably missed by the census taker in 1900.

I also found him in the 1883 Cheyenne, Wyoming directory:



The earliest I could find him in Leadville directory was in 1889, even though there are directories for that town in the database for the preceding decade. So, the article/obituary is wrong about him moving to Leadville in 1879 (maybe a misprint?, the 16 years living in Cheyenne would match a move to Leadville in 1889). Also he clearly already was a cabinetmaker in Cheyenne before moving to Leadville.

Both the Tennessee JWB and the Colorado/Wyoming JWB are cabinetmakers, have an interest in the theatre, and use the JWB name after the assassination. The Colorado/Wyoming JWB also first appears in the record right after the Tennessee JWB is last seen. The obituary story of the first wife of the Colorado/Wyoming JWB dying in 1872 coincides with when the Tennessee JWB abandoned his pregnant wife. It might be a coincidence, but the name the article gives the first wife is also "Ida". Checking newspapers from Omaha, I can't seem to find a description accident killing a horse rider similar to the one described. Also I'm pretty sure no such person was buried in the Booth family plot in Baltimore.

The information for the obituary story almost certainly came from Dolly Booth, so I can sort of see why this JWB might tell her his first wife died instead of saying that he abandoned while she was pregnant.

Agreed, especially to the last paragraph! There is some serious irony here in that Junius B. Booth III was the one identifying the tintype as his uncle, John Wilkes Booth, if in fact it was his half-brother, John Wilkes Booth, that married Louisa J. Payne.

(06-24-2019 02:38 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 02:15 PM)Steve Wrote:  I don't know why this JWB can't be found in the 1900 census, since he was in the 1900 Leadville city directory at an address he had already lived at for a few years:



A manual search of census images might be needed to check out his 902 Pine address to be sure, but it looks like he was probably missed by the census taker in 1900.

I also found him in the 1883 Cheyenne, Wyoming directory:



The earliest I could find him in Leadville directory was in 1889, even though there are directories for that town in the database for the preceding decade. So, the article/obituary is wrong about him moving to Leadville in 1879 (maybe a misprint?, the 16 years living in Cheyenne would match a move to Leadville in 1889). Also he clearly already was a cabinetmaker in Cheyenne before moving to Leadville.

Both the Tennessee JWB and the Colorado/Wyoming JWB are cabinetmakers, have an interest in the theatre, and use the JWB name after the assassination. The Colorado/Wyoming JWB also first appears in the record right after the Tennessee JWB is last seen. The obituary story of the first wife of the Colorado/Wyoming JWB dying in 1872 coincides with when the Tennessee JWB abandoned his pregnant wife. It might be a coincidence, but the name the article gives the first wife is also "Ida". Checking newspapers from Omaha, I can't seem to find a description accident killing a horse rider similar to the one described. Also I'm pretty sure no such person was buried in the Booth family plot in Baltimore.

The information for the obituary story almost certainly came from Dolly Booth, so I can sort of see why this JWB might tell her his first wife died instead of saying that he abandoned while she was pregnant.

Agreed, especially to the last paragraph! There is some serious irony here in that Junius B. Booth III was the one identifying the tintype as his uncle, John Wilkes Booth, if in fact it was his half-brother, John Wilkes Booth, that married Louisa J. Payne.

FM Steve, I'm including this excerpt of an article for just a few words you may recognize:

The Season of the Spirits at Leadville’s Evergreen Cemetery
November 1, 1995 / Staff / 1995 November

Article by Lynda La Rocca

A gigantic mystery surrounds a small, metal plate bearing the name “John Wilkes Booth.” Although cemetery records indicate that this man was just 17 years old in 1865 when President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, there are those who believe that Evergreen Cemetery does, indeed, hold the remains of Lincoln’s murderer. Evergreen’s Booth, who described himself as a cousin of the assassin, was born in 1848, ten years after the birthrate attributed to Lincoln’s killer. His death, on the last day of 1916, raises such tantalizing questions as: If Evergreen’s Booth really was the assassin, how did he get away? Where and how did he live for the next half-century? And who, then, was the person identified as the assassin and subsequently killed by the authorities?
***********************************
The words are "described himself as a cousin of the assassin". Now, where have we read that before? That was his introduction to Louisa J. Payne. If really a son of Junius Booth Jr he would be a nephew, so saying cousin is a bit distinctive.

(06-24-2019 02:38 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  

(06-24-2019 02:15 PM)Steve Wrote:  I don't know why this JWB can't be found in the 1900 census, since he was in the 1900 Leadville city directory at an address he had already lived at for a few years:



A manual search of census images might be needed to check out his 902 Pine address to be sure, but it looks like he was probably missed by the census taker in 1900.

I also found him in the 1883 Cheyenne, Wyoming directory:



The earliest I could find him in Leadville directory was in 1889, even though there are directories for that town in the database for the preceding decade. So, the article/obituary is wrong about him moving to Leadville in 1879 (maybe a misprint?, the 16 years living in Cheyenne would match a move to Leadville in 1889). Also he clearly already was a cabinetmaker in Cheyenne before moving to Leadville.

Both the Tennessee JWB and the Colorado/Wyoming JWB are cabinetmakers, have an interest in the theatre, and use the JWB name after the assassination. The Colorado/Wyoming JWB also first appears in the record right after the Tennessee JWB is last seen. The obituary story of the first wife of the Colorado/Wyoming JWB dying in 1872 coincides with when the Tennessee JWB abandoned his pregnant wife. It might be a coincidence, but the name the article gives the first wife is also "Ida". Checking newspapers from Omaha, I can't seem to find a description accident killing a horse rider similar to the one described. Also I'm pretty sure no such person was buried in the Booth family plot in Baltimore.

The information for the obituary story almost certainly came from Dolly Booth, so I can sort of see why this JWB might tell her his first wife died instead of saying that he abandoned while she was pregnant.

Agreed, especially to the last paragraph! There is some serious irony here in that Junius B. Booth III was the one identifying the tintype as his uncle, John Wilkes Booth, if in fact it was his half-brother, John Wilkes Booth, that married Louisa J. Payne.

FM Steve, IF, say again IF, John Wilkes Booth d: 1916 CO really had a mother named Agnes and sister, Mrs Josie Barrett, as stated in the Leadville news articles you found then his birth name wasn't Booth, or he was born in another country. There is no Agnes Booth with either a son John, or daughter Josie/Josephine in the USA for 1850-1860 census records. The Marion Agnes Land Rookes Booth that was Junius Jr Brutus Booth's 3rd wife was born in 1843 and didn't marry Junius until the 1860's.

Yes, Dolly A. (Baker) Booth has to be the informant, but someone lied to her! I would think that the Mrs Josie Barrett as a sister part might have some impress of truth to it if she came to visit them, as stated in the article. But I doubt that her maiden name was Booth. The Josie/Josephine Booths I've seen don't work out. Not many married a Barrett, but one married a Charles Barrett, however, she doesn't seem to be a match.

(06-25-2019 01:34 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  FM Steve, IF, say again IF, John Wilkes Booth d: 1916 CO really had a mother named Agnes and sister, Mrs Josie Barrett, as stated in the Leadville news articles you found then his birth name wasn't Booth, or he was born in another country. There is no Agnes Booth with either a son John, or daughter Josie/Josephine in the USA for 1850-1860 census records. The Marion Agnes Land Rookes Booth that was Junius Jr Brutus Booth's 3rd wife was born in 1843 and didn't marry Junius until the 1860's.

Yes, Dolly A. (Baker) Booth has to be the informant, but someone lied to her! I would think that the Mrs Josie Barrett as a sister part might have some impress of truth to it if she came to visit them, as stated in the article. But I doubt that her maiden name was Booth. The Josie/Josephine Booths I've seen don't work out. Not many married a Barrett, but one married a Charles Barrett, however, she doesn't seem to be a match.

I think there's a good chance that the Agnes name for his mother is a confusion with the name of the later wife of Junius Jr., so it may not be that useful as a search parameter. The way the article describes it, it seems as though the father of Mrs. Josie Barrett is supposed to be somebody other than Junius Jr. Strangely the article gets the timing of this JWB's arrival in Leadville way wrong with claiming that he first arrived there in 1879 instead of 1888-89. Then seemingly contradicting that by saying he lived in Cheyenne for about 16 years. Also Junius Jr. died in 1883 before this JWB moved to Leadville.

I looked for any mention of this JWB in Helena newspapers and couldn't find any. Though, timeline-wise was that sort of makes sense if he actually came to Cheyenne after leaving Tennessee. I also checked Poughkeepsie directories prior to 1872, and I couldn't find a listing for him or his circus business.

---

Another strange bit in the article, it seems to claim that Francis E. Warren, who actually was in Cheyenne during the same time period as this JWB was a undertaker:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_E._Warren

(06-25-2019 05:48 PM)Steve Wrote:  

(06-25-2019 01:34 PM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  FM Steve, IF, say again IF, John Wilkes Booth d: 1916 CO really had a mother named Agnes and sister, Mrs Josie Barrett, as stated in the Leadville news articles you found then his birth name wasn't Booth, or he was born in another country. There is no Agnes Booth with either a son John, or daughter Josie/Josephine in the USA for 1850-1860 census records. The Marion Agnes Land Rookes Booth that was Junius Jr Brutus Booth's 3rd wife was born in 1843 and didn't marry Junius until the 1860's.

Yes, Dolly A. (Baker) Booth has to be the informant, but someone lied to her! I would think that the Mrs Josie Barrett as a sister part might have some impress of truth to it if she came to visit them, as stated in the article. But I doubt that her maiden name was Booth. The Josie/Josephine Booths I've seen don't work out. Not many married a Barrett, but one married a Charles Barrett, however, she doesn't seem to be a match.

I think there's a good chance that the Agnes name for his mother is a confusion with the name of the later wife of Junius Jr., so it may not be that useful as a search parameter. The way the article describes it, it seems as though the father of Mrs. Josie Barrett is supposed to be somebody other than Junius Jr. Strangely the article gets the timing of this JWB's arrival in Leadville way wrong with claiming that he first arrived there in 1879 instead of 1888-89. Then seemingly contradicting that by saying he lived in Cheyenne for about 16 years. Also Junius Jr. died in 1883 before this JWB moved to Leadville.

I looked for any mention of this JWB in Helena newspapers and couldn't find any. Though, timeline-wise was that sort of makes sense if he actually came to Cheyenne after leaving Tennessee. I also checked Poughkeepsie directories prior to 1872, and I couldn't find a listing for him or his circus business.

---

Another strange bit in the article, it seems to claim that Francis E. Warren, who actually was in Cheyenne during the same time period as this JWB was a undertaker:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_E._Warren

FM Steve, I finally found the marriage of Dolly Adeline Baker and John Wilkes Booth in Cheyenne, WY, not in 1873 but in 1874.

Cheyenne Genealogical & Historical Society

Bride Groom Marriage Date Book Page

Baker, Dollie Adeline Booth, John Wilkes March 10, 1874 B 134-135
****************************************************
I can't imagine someone writing that they are John Wilkes Booth in 1874. I haven't seen the actual record, but now we know where it is, Book B, pg 134-135.

(06-30-2019 10:16 AM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  FM Steve, I finally found the marriage of Dolly Adeline Baker and John Wilkes Booth in Cheyenne, WY, not in 1873 but in 1874.

Cheyenne Genealogical & Historical Society

Bride Groom Marriage Date Book Page

Baker, Dollie Adeline Booth, John Wilkes March 10, 1874 B 134-135
****************************************************
I can't imagine someone writing that they are John Wilkes Booth in 1874. I haven't seen the actual record, but now we know where it is, Book B, pg 134-135.

That's some great work, Steve!

(06-30-2019 04:46 PM)Steve Wrote:  

(06-30-2019 10:16 AM)Steve Whitlock Wrote:  FM Steve, I finally found the marriage of Dolly Adeline Baker and John Wilkes Booth in Cheyenne, WY, not in 1873 but in 1874.

Cheyenne Genealogical & Historical Society

Bride Groom Marriage Date Book Page

Baker, Dollie Adeline Booth, John Wilkes March 10, 1874 B 134-135
****************************************************
I can't imagine someone writing that they are John Wilkes Booth in 1874. I haven't seen the actual record, but now we know where it is, Book B, pg 134-135.

That's some great work, Steve!

FM Steve,

Just to let you know I have someone who is going to get me an image of the marriage record for John Wilkes Booth and Dollie Adeline Baker next week.

One doesn't know how much to rely on in the obit for this John Wilkes Booth who d: 1916 Leadville, CO; however, it says he was a mason, as was John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Lincoln. Edwin Booth was a mason as well.

I had a friend who was a mason, but he passed away, and I'm trying to remember whether the masons would have required the name of parents for John Wilkes Booth b: 1848 MA (per census records). At any rate it's likely they would have wanted some information about him, but I don't know where to access that information, or if it's only available to masons.

The obit also gives a birth date of 2 Jun 1848. The only boy born 2 Jun 1848 in MA with the given name John that I can't account for was a John Dougherty born in a almshouse to Ann Dougherty from Ireland. No father is listed and I don't know what became of John Dougherty. Maybe he was adopted, but if adopted by Booths why isn't he in a census 1850-1870?

John Dougherty

in the Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915

Name: John Dougherty
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 2 Jun 1848
Birth Place: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Father: Dougherty
Mother: Ann Dougherty
[NOTE: John was born in a almshouse, and no father is shown]
***************************************************
I'm just adding the John Dougherty information with no expectation that it's John Wilkes Booth 1848-1916, who said both his parents were born in MA in census records (if he really knew). He and Dolly claim Junius Jr Booth is his father, but Junius Brutus Booth Jr was born in SC.

I think Junius Jr. was born in Baltimore, not South Carolina.