Newton Booth (December 30, 1825July 14, 1892) was an American entrepreneur and politician who served as the 11th governor of California from 1871 to 1875 and as U.S. Senator from California from 1875 to 1881. He was the only member of the Anti-Monopoly Party elected to the U.S. Senate.

Early life

Born to Hannah (née Pitts) of North Carolina of Connecticut, Quakers, Booth worked in his father's Terre Haute store, then studied law in the office of attorney William Dickson Griswold (1815–1896). He was admitted to the bar in 1849 and became a partner in Griswold's law firm.

Business career

In 1850, Booth traveled to Panama, continuing by ship to San Francisco. Lucius Anson Booth (1820–1906), a cousin and New York native, and Thomas Morton Lindley Sr. (1819–1896), in 1849, began the firm of Lindley & Booth. When Newton Booth arrived in Sacramento, the first cholera epidemic was spreading, and he went to Amador County, where he was sick for some time. In December 1871, business was established in San Francisco in connection with W. W. Dodge.

thumb|left|275px|An early political caricature poster mocking [[California Republican Party|California Republicans' support of a local option for alcohol, 1870s]]

In 1873, Booth helped to organize the Dolly Vardens, a new, independent, republican, anti-monopoly political party. The "Dolly Vardens" was named for a calico pattern composed of many different colors and figures, alluding to a political party made up of "sore heads from any party or by any name". his business partner, Octavine C. Glover (1833–1907) on 9 February 1892, in Sacramento, where he died, in July 1892. His wife, Octavine C. Booth (1833–1907), Glover's mother-in-law, Eliza Payne (1810–1873); his sister-in-law, Julia E. Dunn (1839–1923); and his brother-in-law, William Henry Payne (1848–1919) are interred in the Newton Booth plot

He was the uncle of author Booth Tarkington, son of his sister Elizabeth Booth, who was raised in Terre Haute.

Recognition

  • Sacramento's Newton Booth neighborhood was named for him.
  • Native Sons of the Golden West historical plaque in front of the Booth Company wholesale grocery Building 1017 Front Street in Old Sacramento.

<gallery>

File:Newton Booth, oval portrait.jpg|Booth in an undated portrait

File:Newton Booth by Bradley & Rulofson.jpg|Booth in an undated portrait

File:Governor Elect Newton Booth.jpg|Engraving of Booth in Harper's Weekly, 1871

File:NewtonBooth.jpg|Booth's official gubernatorial portrait

</gallery>

Further reading

  • Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Vol. 1. Westport, CT: Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.
  • Melendy, H. Brett; Gilbert, Benjamin F. The Governors of California: From Peter H. Burnett to Edmund G. Brown. Georgetown, CA: Talisman Press, 1965.
  • Governors of California 1849-2002 California State Assembly
  • Schaechtele, Molly Shoemaker. The Governors of California and their Portraits. California State Capitol Museum Volunteer Association, 1995.
  • Tinkham, George H. California Men and Events: Time 1769 – 1890. Record Publishing, 1915.
  • FLASHES FROM THE WIRES. Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb 1892.

References

  • Newton Booth < California Governors < Social Studies Fact Cards < Califa library consortium
  • Newton Booth Biography at californiagovernors.ca.gov
  • Newton Booth Biography at the California State Library

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