County auditor of Jackson County, Ohio, was born on the 16th day of February, 1829, in Clarksburg,, West Virginia. He was the oldest of six children, whose parents were John Booth and Elizabeth Radcliff. His father was a native of Virginia, following through life agricultural pursuits, and is now an old settler of Vinton County. He first settled in Athens County, in 1832. The mother of the subject of this sketch was also a native of Virginia; came with her husband to Athens County in 1832, and died on the 24th of April, 1863. The early education of Jonathan was obtained at the common school, and he was early taught labor. At the age of eighteen he began life on his own resources as a teacher, and for four winters in succession he followed this honorable beneficial employment. His time during the summer of these years was employed at home on the farm. He was married on the 18th of November, 1852, to Amanda Braley, a native of Jackson County, and a daughter of Newell Braley, an early settler of Jackson County. Mr. Booth shortly after his marriage went into the mercantile pursuit with his father-in-law, at Middletown, which partnership continued for about two years. In 1854 he went into the employment of the Cincinnati Furnace, in Vinton County, which confined his attention for about two years. He now returned to Middletown and continued the grocery business for about two years. For the next four years he kept store for the Iron Valley Furnace of Jackson County. From that time to 1866 he was employed in various pursuits of a mercantile and agricultural nature. It was in this year that he moved to Jackson, and was employed by the Orange Furnace Company for about three years. He then joined the Star Furnace Company of Jackson, where he remained till 1871. In October, 1871, he was elected auditor of Jackson County, and in 1873 was re-elected. Politically, he is a democrat. Voted first for Franklin Pierce. Religiously, he is a Presbyterian.