JUDGE JOHN BOOKER
Was born at Sherwood, Elizabeth City county, Virginia, April 14,
1849. His father, who died February 11, 1878, aged sixty-two years,
was George Booker, son of Richard Booker, son of George Booker, son
of Richard Booker, of Amelia county, Virginia. The mother of Judge
Booker lives now in Hampton, Ann Messenburg was her maiden name.
He married at Hampton, February 17, 1881, Sue C. Howard, and they
had one son, John, now dead. Mrs. Booker is the daughter of Harry
C. and Diana (Wray) Howard. Her father, born in York county, Virginia,
is of pure English lineage, his family closely descended from that
house of which the Duke of Norfolk is head. Mr. Howard was a graduate
under the famous Archibald Campbell of Bethany.
Before his studies were finished, Judge Booker served in the Confederate
States Army, entering the Signal Service, transferred to Gen. H.
A. Wise's staff as courier, later to Company F, 26th Virginia regiment,
with which he served until the close of the war. He attended school,
first in his native county, then Gordon McCabe's school in Petersburg.
In 1870-71 he was a student in Hampden-Sidney college, and in
1871-2 attended the University of Virginia. In the latter institution
he took the law course, and in 1878 he was admitted to the Bar, and
appointed Commissioner of Accounts and Deputy Sheriff, practicing in
Elizabeth City, York, Warwick and James City counties. On January
20, 1882, he took his seat on the Bench, judge of the county courts of
Elizabeth City and Warwick counties, serving until 1886. In May,
1887, he was elected clerk of the county and circuit courts of Elizabeth
City county, which position he is still filling.
