Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Books MD, Benjamin F. May 14, 1859 - ????
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Judy Banja http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000757 January 12, 2025, 1:05 pm

Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892.
Author: Samuel T. Wiley

BENJAMIN F. BOOKS, M.D.,
one of the young and successful physicians of Altoona, and a graduate of
Hahnemann Homeopathic Medical college of Philadelphia, is a son of Solomon
and Nancy Katharine (Wright) Books, and was born in Mifflintown, the county
seat of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, May 14, 1859. His paternal
great-grandfather, Michael Books, was born in France. At some time during the
last century he left the home of his childhood and came to Pennsylvania, where
he found sufficient advantages in Berks county to induce him to settle there.
He married, but whether in France or Berks county, is not know. He gave his
fortune, which he had made in Chester county, to the American cause in the
revolutionary war, and received for it Continental money, or script, which
became worthless in his hands. He then removed to York county, but in a short
time purchased a tract of land in Kiscoquilles valley, Mifflin county, to
which his family would not remove. Sometime after this he went to Dauphin
county, where he died, and where his remains were interred in a cemetery at
Harrisburg. He had six children, four sons and two daughters. The sons were:
Jacob, Peter, John and Henry. Henry Books (grandfather) removed in early life
from York to Juniata county, where he purchased a farm on Cocolamus creek. He
married Catharine Hemperly, of Dauphin county, and they reared a family of
eleven children. Solomon Books (the youngest son and father of Dr. B. F.
Books) learned the trade of chair and cabinet maker with John Schuaier, at
Mifflintown, where he has resided since 1848. He afterward bought out Mr.
Schuaier, and manufactured furniture, which he sold along the Pennsylvania
canal by boat. His health afterward failed, and he was appointed in the mail
service, in 1861, by Abraham Lincoln, and remained in the service until
September 21, 1864, when he was hurt in the big railroad wreck at
Tharpsanton; was one year before he could do anything. In 1865 he was
appointed by Mr. Lincoln to organize and run the first postal cars run in
Pennsylvania, and held that position until Andrew Johnson came into power by
the death of President Lincoln. Mr. Johnson had him removed, and in 1869 he
was appointed by President Grant as postmaster of Mifflintown, which he held
until President Garfield was assassinated, and then he was removed by
President Arthur. Since that time he has been engaged in the wholesale lumber
business. He married Miss Nancy C. Wright, daughter of David Wright, in 1855.
They had seven children: Ida J., Charlotte M., Dr. B. F., Lincoln, William,
Catharine, and Curtis, of whom the latter four died when young. Mr. Books is
a staunch republican in politics, and handles large quantities of railroad
ties and lumber of all kinds, which are brought from different parts of the
Juniata and Susquehanna valleys.
      Benjamin F. Books received his education in the public schools of
Mifflintown, and then, having selected medicine as his profession, he entered
the office of Dr. D. C. Smith as a medical student. When he had finished
reading under the preceptorship of Dr. Smith, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and
pursued his studies in the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical college for one year.
At the end of that time he entered the Hahnemann Medical college of
Philadelphia, from which institution he was graduated in the spring of 1883.
During that same year he located at Lewiston, Pennsylvania, where he
practiced until 1885, when ill-health compelled him to relinquish his
practice. He then went to Colorado, where in three years he fully regained
his health. In 1889 he returned to Pennsylvania, and on November 18th of that
year opened an office in Altoona, where he has been in successful practice
ever since.
      October 4, 1884, Dr. Books was united in marriage to Sarah Kauffman, a
daughter of Jonas Kauffman, of Mifflintown, Juniata county, this State. To
Dr. and Mrs. Books has been born a family of two children: Blanche and Edwin.
      Dr. Books is a republican in politics, yet takes no prominent part in
political affairs, and devotes his time and attention to the study of his
profession and the care of his practice.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Annie Whiteman  Annie2ws@aol.com

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