Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press., 1925-09-24
ON THE PASSING OF
PERRY r. BOOKER

i'll health for some time, but he felt
that possibly a trip north would be
a help to him. They were met at
Grand Rapids by their daughter, Mrs
Horace Green, who arranged for their
entertainment and care while in
Grand Rapids. Mr.. and Mrs. Booker
had stopped few days in Sullivan
county, Indiana, and visited with a
son and his family, and upon arrival
at Grand Rapids he found himself
very weak and exhausted. He was toe
sick to attend any of the G. A. R. sea
sions, but numbers of his comrades
visited him in his hotel room and
cheered and comforted him in every
way they could. On the day of the
Grand Parade he rallied and pleaded
so hard to March with the boys" thai
a G. A. r. special car wa sproucureo
for him and he marched in the parade
with his comrades. He was so weak
that his daughters and wife thought
it best to take him home where he
could rest and be more comfortable
He was anxious to visit his daughters
and grandchildren in Detroit before
returning home, so they went over
to Detroit to spend few days. In q
couple of days he became critically
i'll and gradually grew worse until
his death on September 18th at the
home Of his daughter, Mrs. Katie
Green. At his bedside were his de-
voted wife, his daughters, Katie, Lii
lie, Pearl and his grandchildren, Eve
lyn and Earl Moody and Theodore
Hoffman also other near relatives
and friends.
During his illness and death the
G. A. r. post and the W. r. c. of De-
troit stood by day and night and rem
dered every possible help and COM
fort they could to their comrade and
his family They also held services
over the body and draped the casket
in the ag he loved so well for its last
journey. They also sent beautiful flo
raj offerings with the body. The Mac
cabees, w. o. w. Circle and Rebe-
kahs, of which the daughters are
members in Detroit, gave every aid
they could to their stricken sisters
and sent lovely flowers with the body
nome.
Mr.. Booker was born in Sullivan
county, Indiana on July 18, 1845. He
spent his early life on his fathers
farm. When the War Between the
States was declared he volunteered
as a soldier and on January 25, 1862
enlisted in Company C, 21st Regi-
ment, Indiana Infantry under Capt.
Rose. On January 29th, 1864, he was
discharged to re-enlist. On
January 80, 1854 he re-enlisted in
Company C, 1st Reg. Ind. Heavy Ar
tillery and served in this capacity un-
til mustered out on January 10, 1866,
having proven to be brave, courage
Gus and true soldier, ready for any
duty, obedient to any command. The
greater part of his army experiences
were in and around New Orleans, La.
and Mobile Alabama, and at "Old Ft.
Morgan across the bay from Mobile.
He received wounds during the war
which has caused him intense, and at
times almost unbearable suffering and
pain until his death.
He was ever true and faithful to
his Post and he loved the work, and
his comrades showed their apprecia-
ton and admiration for him by be-
slowing many honors on him. He has
held the offices of Department Com
Senior Vice-Commander, Of
ficer of the Day, and various minor
offices. Has been Representative mum
bers f times to the Grand Army En-
campments held in Portland, Oregon,
Boston, Mas, Des Moines, Iowa, Mil
waukee, Wis, Indianapolis, Ind,
Grand Rapids, Mich, and other places
Mr.. Booker was married to Miss
Margaret Ann Gott, at Carlisle, Ind,
on February 4th, 1866, and to this
happy union were born eleven child
rem, Katherine Elizabeth, John Hen
ry Booker, Bert, Cassius NJ, Lille F.,
Rosa Omega, Nancy E., Della Ann,
Jerry NJ, Pearl Ellen, and Arthur
Perry. All the children reached the
age of maturity prior to their moth
er's death in September, 1916. Two
daughters, Mrs. Nancy Graham and
Miss Rosa Booker and their mother
proceeded Mr.. Booker in death. On
May 21, 1924, Mr.. Booker married
Mrs. Marie T. DeFore, and this de-
voted wife, nine children, twenty
nine grandchildren, three great grand
children and several other relatives
survive MINI.
He has been regular member of
the Baptist church from his early
childhood days until his death. Rev.
Oliff, of the Central Methodist church
of which Mrs. Booker is member,
and Rev. CHM, of the Baptist church
officiated in the services at the home
and the G. As.R. Colony Post No. ID
held very beautiful services at the
grave, followed by "Taps" blown by
Mr.. Homer Wtaers.
His favorite songs, ooh, Think of
the Home Over There" and "There's
Land That is Fairer than Day" were
sang by Mr.. W. r. Bow