Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/793

Rh This brother served from 1863 until the close of the war in the Confederate army, first as a member of the staff of Gen. H. A. Wise, and subsequently in the signal service. He has become physically unable to perform the duties of the office of clerk and they fall entirely upon his younger brother and deputy. He is an able and popular official. On June 13, 1882, Mr. Booker was married to Fanny, only daughter of Maj. Baker P. Lee, of Hampton, and they have two children: Bessie Lee and Mary Neely. Mr. Booker cherishes the memory of the patriotic services of his father and brothers, and is an active member of the Hampton camp of Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Hunter R. Booker, a very successful business man of Hampton, Va., is the sixth and youngest son of Maj. George Booker, and not the least conspicuous of a notable family. He was born at the ancestral homestead, near Hampton, March 23, 1858, and his infancy and boyhood days were passed amid the discomforts of refugee life, largely within hearing of the uproar of battle. Shortly before the war came to an end the family made its way back to Sherwood and began to repair the ruin wrought by the military occupation. Hunter remained there until he was fourteen years of age, and then went to Baltimore and found employment as fireman in a machine shop. Soon afterward, however, he took a position in a wholesale house in New York and remained there a year. He then returned to Hampton and, after attending school a few months began his career as a druggist's clerk with the munificent salary of $5 per month. He served at this rate for three years and a half. On February 1, 1877, he bought out his employer, on credit, and speedily manifesting splendid business ability, was able to gain a good commercial standing in the first year. By strict economy and intense application to his work, he has since then built up a thriving business, now embracing, in addition to both wholesale and retail trade in drugs, a hardware department. He has a fine home and is comfortably established for life. He was married October 15, 1887. to Mattie A., daughter of Maj. Samuel R. Chisman, formerly chief quartermaster of the army under Gen. J. E. Johnston. They have two children: Dorothy Whiting and Ann Wythe.

R. S. Booker, a gallant soldier of Company I, Fifty-sixth Virginia infantry regiment, enlisted in 1861 and was with his regiment in its service as a part of Garnett's brigade of Pickett's division, army of Northern Virginia. J. E. Booker, brother of the above, was born at Hampden-Sidney, in Prince Edward county, Va., the son of Frederick A. and Sarah (Johns) Booker. The latter was a daughter of John Claybrook Johns, a cousin of Bishop Johns, and connected with the Claybrook and Calhoun families of Virginia. Frederick A. Booker, a merchant, and for many years sheriff of his county, was the son of Edward Booker, a well-known attorney who represented his county seven terms in the Virginia legislature, served in the war of 1812, and was the legal representative of John Randolph, particularly during the latter's service as minister to France. George Booker, the father of Edward, held the office of sheriff many years, and was a soldier of the Revolution. The family is one of the oldest in America, and is traced back to the Rochettes, of French-Huguenot lineage. Mr. Booker studied at Hampden-Sidney college, and during the war was at Charlotte Court House.