Mrs. William Boon of Jefferson City.Written for the Sunday Republic.
Mrs. Lucy A. Boon, one of the prominent residents of the state capital, died on Sunday morning, November 6 at her home in Jefferson City. She was 81 years old. Mrs. Boon was notable in her life and influence, and being born and bred in this State, was a typical Missouri mother, devoted first to the interests of her family, then to her church, and then to her State. In politics she was a Democrat, taking a lively interest in the political movements of the times.
Mrs. Boon's father was John Daley, an Irish school teacher, who came from Dublin in the early part of this century, and settled in Fayette, Mo., where Lucy Anne Daley, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1817. At the age of 17, she was married to William C. Boon, nephew of Daniel Boon.
Nearly 80 years ago, Mrs. Boon's parents moved from Shelby County, Kentucky, to Boon County, Missouri, where they settled in 1819 on the old Rawlins' farm.
When the Civil War broke out Mr. and Mrs. Boon were living in Howard County, near Fayette. Their sympathies were with the South. The sent four sons to fight in its behalf.
Mrs. Boon was in great danger many times because of her outspoken views. Upon one occasion, while braving the perils of Bushwhackers, in order to see her sick husband, who was confined in Gratiot street prison, she fell into the hands of some Bushwhackers. They were about to take her buggy horse. She was many miles away from home. Then the remarkable courage and independent spirit which characterized all her actions saved her.
While her captors were busily engaged in robbing the mail bags which they had just taken from a passing stage, she called to them and said:
"If there is any letter there for Mrs. Lucy A. Boon hand it here, and don't you open it either. I've got four boys in the rebel army and I want to hear from them."
The leader of the gang instantly ordered one of his men to harness her horse to the buggy and she was permitted to drive away.
In 1876, Mr. Boon moved his family to Jefferson City, where they have since resided.
In 1884, Mr. and Mrs. Boon celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. They had 11 children, eight of whom are living. Dr. William C. Boon of New York, Daniel Boon of St. Louis, John T. and Howard c. Boon of Kansas City are the four sons, and Mrs. Nanny Lay of Jefferson City, Mrs. Sears of Kansas City, Mrs. Cyrus Thompson of Belleville and Mrs. S. B. Kirtley of Columbia are the four daughters.
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Blogger's note: There are some obvious errors/omissions in the above obituary. Lucy was born probably in Jessamine or Shelby County, Kentucky. The Boons are in Jefferson City as early as 1870. Also there is no mention of the death of Wm. C. Boon, Lucy's husband, who predeceased her in 1885. Her daughter, Alice, is Mrs. S. B. Kirtley and S. B. was Simeon Beauford Kirtley, my third cousin, four times removed. The picture, above was taken from her obituary.
Copyright 2010, ACK for Gene Notes
Interesting that they list her political leanings, given she wasn't allowed to vote! And, of course, as a southerner, she'd be a democrat. Damn republicans!
ReplyDeleteWell, she also lived in the state capitol so an interest in politics would not have been unusual.
ReplyDelete