Augustus James Booty, judge and legislator, was born in 1840 in Monroe County, Georgia, the third child of John Locke and Helena Mercer (Beall) Booty. John and Helena, together with members of the Booty and Jordan families and twenty-three slaves, made a 700-mile journey from Georgia to Texas. In 1856, John Booty built and taught at the Booty School, east of Beckville, Texas. His sons Augustus and James also taught there. The Booty School also served as a multi-denominational community center until 1887.

In 1861, Augustus "Gus" Booty had just completed his education at McKenzie College in Clarksville, Texas when the Civil War broke out. Second Lieutenant A. J. Booty joined Company F of the Tenth Texas Cavalry on September 25, 1861. Under Captain William D. Craig, Company F was assigned to protect homes and ration war munitions. Augustus was promoted to Captain around the time that Company F fought in the battle of Pea Ridge (Elk Horn Tavern) in northern Arkansas. The regiment went on to fight in the Battle of Stone's River in Murphreesboro, Tennessee, the Battle of Atlanta, Sherman's Vickburg to Meridian Campaign, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Kennesaw Mountain, as well as dozens of other engagements throughout Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia.

In September of 1864 Captain Booty was captured in Tensas Parish, Louisiana and was committed to military prison in Natchez, Mississippi on September 30, 1864. He was then moved to New Orleans on October 15, 1864, onto Ship Island, Mississippi, and then transported to Fort Lafayette, New York Harbor on November 6, 1864. On December, 21, 1864, he was sent to Fort Warren, Massachusetts, George's Island in Boston Harbor, where he remained until his release on June 12, 1865.

Gus Booty married Elmina Chapman Maddox (or Maddux) on December 17, 1868 in Rusk County, Texas. While living in Carthage, Texas, Gus and Elmina had three children: Blanche, Augustus C., and Georgia.