REV. LUKE J. BOOTHE. – This well-known minister of the gospel was born in Virginia in 1820. At the age of ten years he emigrated to Missouri with his parents, and received n that state a common-school education. Arriving at his majority, he married Miss Mary Ann Shaw, of Boone county, and engaged in farming and stock-raising.
About 1858, he entered the ministry, in the missionary Baptist denomination, in which he has served with but little interruption to the present time, – continuing frequently in his pastoral pursuits in connection with other necessary occupations. In 1863 he served in Captain Leadrod’s company of Missouri state militia, and was in actual service for six months. In 1865 he crossed the plains with his family, locating in Cove, Union county, Oregon, where he re-engaged in farming and stock-raising. Continuing in the ministry, he organized three churches in Union county, two in Baker county, and in 1873 was instrumental in the organization of the Grande Ronde Baptist Association. In 1884 ,he disposed of his farm and removed to Union and engaged in the hotel business, being now the proprietor of the Union City hotel. He is still engaged in stock-raising, and owns some superior horses, and is engaged to some extent in the livery business.
Of the sons born to him there are now living Wm. R. Booth, a prominent farmer and stockman of Cove; Samuel S. Booth, a stock-raiser and farmer of Inland City; and Luke J., Jr., a mail contractor of the Imnaha. He has one daughter, Mrs. Mary Ann Mitchell, of Joseph, Oregon. His twenty-two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren are among the young folk of Eastern Oregon.
