Per Centennial History of Ballston Spa, N. Y, by Edward Gross 1907 portion of article page 9
Lebbeus Booth, father of John Chester Booth [a lawyer died 25 July 1860], was the founder of the Ballston Spa Female Seminary, in its day one of the most celebrated institutions in the State. He was a man of marked ability, and after the closing of his school became largely interested in manufacturing another business pursuits in the villa. He was a member and vestryman of Christ Church; loan commissioner of the County in 1840; County superintendent of the poor in 1844-5-6; director and vice president of the Ballston Spa Bank [now Ballston Spa National Bank-still independent] from its organization in 1838 until his death; president of the Saratoga County Bible Society in 1850; and a village trustee in 1839. He died in 1859 aged 70 years.
His sons inherited the intellectual characteristics of their father in an unusual degree. Moss Kent Booth, elder brother of John Chester, graduated at Union College [Schenectady, NY] at the age of nineteen, with the first honors of his class; was admitted to the Bar at twenty-two, and began the practice of the law in Boston. In 1852, he was a member of the Massachusetts legislature. He died October 18, 1853.
Of the family of Lebbeus Booth three daughters still survive; Mrs. Martha Seelye of New York City, Mrs. Lucretia Dean of Annandale, N. Y., and Mrs. Susan E. Robinson of Riverdale-on-Hudson, N. Y.
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Commercial Advertiser, N. Y. N. Y. Monday 19 Dec 1859
At Ballston, Dec. 16, LEBBEUS BOOTH, Esq., aged about 70 years. Mr. Booth was a graduate of Union College [Schenectady, NY], and educated for the ministry at Princeton; but his health failing, he did not complete his theological studies and turned his attention to the higher branches of teaching. He was the second principal of the Albany Female Academy [forerunner to Albany Academy for Girls] for several years. In 1824 he established at Ballston [Spa] a Seminary for young ladies, which he conducted with eminent success for many years, and where a large number of the most intelligent ladies; now in middle life, were educated. Mr. Booth was a well educated, upright, high-minded and honorable man. He commanded the universal respect of the community in which he lived, and exemplified in his life and deportment all the virtues of the true and devout Christian.
Researched and transcribed by Bill Preston #47695598