Booth, Capt. Dr. A. R.

Submitted by Suzanne Shoemaker

Dr. A. R. Booth, physician and surgeon, Shreveport, La., is one of the popular physicians of Caddo Parish, does great credit to the profession and has a paying practice in the city and country. His parents, A. N. and Susan A. (Reeder) Booth, were natives of Louisville, Ky., and Cincinnati, Ohio, respectively. They emigrated to Louisiana in 1842, located in Baton Rouge, and here the father became a successful planter.

He was a representative citizen, was public spirited, and was at one time Secretary of the State. He held a number of offices and figured quite prominently in politics. He was one of the seven men in the parish who voted against secession. His death occurred in 1867. The mother had died in 1863. Their family consisted of ten children--two by the first union and eight by the second. The children by the first marriage were William S. (mayor of Baton Rouge, La.) and Andrew B. (who resides in New Orleans, La.). Of the eight children born to the second union there are only four besides our subject now living--Jewett and three sisters.

Dr. A. R. Booth was born in East Baton Rouge in January, 1844, and grew to manhood on his father's plantation. He was educated at the Kentucky University at Lexington, and began the study of medicine at quite an early age. In 1874 he graduated at the University of Louisville in a class of 113 graduates and took the medal for general proficiency. He obtained his position in opposition to the faculty's set views on the subject of yellow fever, which was the subject of the Doctor's thesis. In March, 1874, he began practicing at Shreveport, La., and here he has since resided. In a very short time he had built up a large and lucrative practice and is still enjoying the same. He was health officer from 1874 to 1878, and was appointed by Gov. McEnery coroner of Caddo Parish to fill an unexpired term. He is a member of the State Medical Association. also Shreveport Medical Society and American Society of Microscopists. He was married in 1874, to Miss Mattie C., daughter of Prof. Samuel G. Mullins, of Louisville, Ky., and the fruits of this union have been two living children--Mamie and Susie.

Socially the Doctor is a member of the K. of H., the A. O. U. W., K. of P. and in the latter order he is a past grand chancellor and was a supreme representative for two terms. For four years he was medical examiner-in-chief of the order. He has always taken a deep interest in his societies and has devoted a great deal of his time to them. Mr. and Mrs. Booth are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Doctor is now filling by appointment from the Hon. Secretary of the Treasury, the office of assistant army surgeon, Marine Hospital service, at the port of Shreveport.

Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890