"It has been frequently said that  'there is no more popular man in Sioux Falls than Willis Hiram Booth.'  This popularity does not depend upon any prominent public position to which he has attained, for he has never sought to figure in any public connections outside of business.  That his friends are legion is due to the fact that he has been an honorable and enterprising business man, a progressive and public-spirited citizen and one whose geniality is native and whose cordiality is unfeigned.  He was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconson, April 23, 1858, and is a son of Hiram and Sarah G. (Ordway) Booth, the former a native of New York, while the latter came from Boston, Massachusetts.

    In the public schools of his native city Wilis H. Booth pursued his education and at length put aside his textbooks in order to learn the jeweler's trade.  He began in that way at an early age in Beaver Dam and throughout his entire life has been connected with that department of commercial activity.  Thinking that the northwest offered good business opportunities, he came to Sioux Falls on the 12th of August, 1880, and here worked at his trade until 1884.  In that ear he established a jewelry store of his own and has since conducted the business.  He has enlarged his stock to meet the growing demands of the trade, occasioned by the increased population of the city, and his line of jewelry is carefully selected and his stock tastefully and attractively arranged.  His business methods are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, conforming at all times to the highest standard of commercial ethics.  He is obliging, courteous and tactful and in the management of his business displays a spirit of unfaltering energy and of unfailing enterprise.

    At Rushmore, Minnesota, in 1886, Mr. Booth was united in marriage to Miss Grace R. Wemple and to them have been born two daughters: Margeurite R., the wife of  J. Knapp Brown; and Dorothy Grace, who married Harry N. Aikens.

    The parents are members of the Espiscopal church and Mr. Booth belongs also to the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In Masonry, too, he has attained high rank, having taken the degree of the York and Scottish Rites, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert.  His political allegiance has ever been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but he has never desired nor sought office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon business affairs.  He has ever recognized the fact that intense industry must be counterbalanced by pursuits of recreation and his friendly nature has prompted his cooperation in social events which have made him widely known in his adopted city.  Everyone speaks of him in terms of high regard and all are proud to claim his friendship."

Kingsbury, George W. History of Dakota Territory. Chicago: S. J. Clarke, 1915,

      IV.  pp. 901-902.

   Mr. Booth died at the age of  74 years. He was buried on July 7th, 1932 and lies at rest along with his wife in block 14, lot 9 of the Cemetery. This is the burial lot of the Wemple family of which his wife was a member. It also contains the resting place of  another Featured Resident, Albert Gallatin Seney, whose family was also related to the Wemples by marriage.