Biographical Sketches
NAPOLEON BOONE
Is an honored representative of a family of pioneers. His grandparents located in this state when it was under Spanish rule and he traces his ancestry in direct line back to Daniel Boone, who was his great-grandfather. This honored pioneer, who opened the way to civilization in Kentucky, was born October 22, 1734, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Squire and Sarah (Morgan) Boone. When 14 years of age he accompanied his father to North Carolina, the family locating within a short distancer of the mouth of Kanawha river. In that colony he was married, on the 14th of August, 1756, to Rebecca Bryan, who was born January 9, 1739. Soon afterward he made a settlement in southwestern Virginia, on the bank of the Holston river. He loved pioneer life with the freedom and experiences of the frontier, and took great pleasure in making his way into unexplored regions. In 1760 he hunted through Tennessee, where he left a record on a beech tree, as follows:
D Boone
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The following year he formed a party that started for Kentucky, but near the present site of the city of Abingdon the expedition disbanded. In 1764 he penetrated into the interior of the �dark and bloody� ground as far as Rock Castle branch of the Cumberland river. In 1769, in company with Findlay Stewart and others, he again started to explore Kentucky and lived the wild life of a hunter and pioneer in that state from 1769 until 1784. The record of his career there has largely become a matter of history, as it deals with the development and settlement of the state. He was connected with many stirring events, including a number of encounters with the Indians. Wild animals roamed through the forest and made it dangerous for one to venture out without firearms. Daniel Boone was frequently called upon for some prominent service. He was sent to negotiate a treaty with the Indians at Watauga and when the new state of Transylvania seemed on the eve of establishment he was chosen a delegate from one of the districts to the legislature at Boonesboro, where one of his first acts - characteristic of the thoughtfulness and kindness to man - was to offer a bill for the protection of game.
When the effort to establish the new state fell through and Virginia divided Kentucky into the three counties of Fayette, Jefferson and Lincoln, he was appointed lieutenant colonel of Fayette county, and was also elected to represent that county at the legislature at Richmond, Virginia. When Boonesboro was organized as a town he was made one of its trustees. In 1774 Lord Dunmore, an organizing his Shawnee campaign, placed Daniel Boone in command of three garrisons, -- one at Fort Union - now called Louisburg - and Donnelly's fort and Stewart's fort in Greenbrier county, Kentucky, to protect citizens in the rear of General Lewis' army. He removed his family to Kanawha, and was appointed lieutenant colonel and elected to the legislature at that place. About 1790 he settled in West Virginia, where he made his home until 1795, when he came to Missouri, taking up his residence in the territory that was then under Spanish rule. He died September 26, 1820, and his wife passed away March 18, 1813.
In their family were 9 children. This included Daniel Morgan Boone, grandfather of our subject, who was born in 1769, and was reared in Kentucky. He was married March 3, 1800, to Sarah Lewis, who was born January 29, 1786. They settled in St. Charles, Missouri, and subsequently removed to Kansas, where Mr. Boone was engaged in farming among the Kaw Indians for 5 years. He then returned to this state, locating first in Westport township, and then in Washington township, Jackson county, on Section 4, and later removing to Section 20. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and held the rank of colonel. His death occurred on the home farm in Washington township, July 13, 1837, and his wife passed away June 19, 1850. They had a family of 9 children: John W., Nathan, Daniel, Lindsey and Edward - all now deceased; Elizabeth Levice, who married Mr. White; and Alonzo, James and Morgan, who also have passed away.
Daniel Boone, father of our subject, was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, March 27, 1809, and came with his parents to Jackson county. He was married in January, 1832, to Marie Constance Philibert, a native of Canada and a daughter of Gabriel Philibert, of French descent. Her parents started from Canada to St. Louis, Missouri, and while on the way the wagon in which they were traveling was overturned, falling upon them, and both parents died from the effects of the injury! Their children were as follows: Gabriel, Mary Ann, John, Joseph, Jean Baptiste, Marie Constance and Peter. All are now deceased. Mrs. Boone was born March 13, 1812, and was therefore very young at the time of her parents' deaths. She was taken to St. Louis and was reared by a family who lived on the river bank at the foot of Washington street. Her brother Gabriel was a gunsmith with the Kaw Indian agency in Kansas, and while visiting him she became the wife of Daniel Boone, the marriage ceremony being performed by Rev. Thomas Johnson. They took up their residence on Section 4, Westport township, Jackson county, where Mr. Boone purchased a tract of land. This he afterward sold to Boone Hays, and removed to Section 20, Washington township, where he made his home for 60 years. His chief occupation was farming, but he was identified with many of the events that go to make up the history of the early development of Jackson county. He was also one of the California Argonauts of '49, who crossed the plains to the Pacific slope. Again during the war he visited California and Idaho. His death occurred February 22, 1880, but his widow yet survives. She can relate many interesting incidents of life on the frontier, for she has lived in Jackson county for 63 years, -- a record that is equaled by few.
To Daniel and Marie C. Boone were born 12 children, 11 of whom reached years of maturity. Elizabeth became the wife of John Stewart, but both are now deceased. Their children were Daniel, Jennie, Josephine and Leander. Delilah is the deceased wife of Samuel Stewart, and her children are Mary Jane, Amelia Belle, Theodore, David, William, May and Elizabeth. Mary Jane became the wife of Leonard Fuqua, and they have one son, John Bell. Alonzo Havington died unmarried. Napoleon is the gentleman whose name introduces this biographical account. Theodore W. is married and lives in Idaho, and has 11 children, namely: Ernest, Robert, Clara, James, Gertrude, Lou, May, Minnie, Grace, John and Florence. Daniel is married and resides in Washington township, and his family numbers 7 children, -- Claude, Maud, Daniel, Della, Earl, Leo and Stella. Cassandra is the wife of George Douglas, of Randolph county, Missouri and they have 6 children - Rosella, Nathan, Dollie, Elka, Rolla and Dee. Nathan resides in Washington township and is unmarried. Margaret is now the wife of Lemuel Stevenson, and by a former marriage had one son, Boone Gordon. John is married and lives in Washington township, and his family numbers 4 children - Arlie, Velma, Forest and an infant. James Harvey completes the family and resides with his mother. The father of this family was a member of the Methodist church, and a democrat in political views.
We now take up the personal history of Napoleon Boone, a well known and highly respected farmer of Westport township. He was born on the old homestead in Washington township, October 1, 1842, and remained there until 17 years of age, when he started out in life for himself. In 1859 he went to Colorado, crossing the plains with his father on a freighting expedition. He afterward drove a team from Kansas City to Fort Lyons, also from that point to Fort Union, to Albuquerque and to Santa Fe, New Mexico. He also engaged in freighting to Fort Laramie, and from Fort Atchison went to Fort Lyons, Colorado. As assistant wagon-master for Major Barr & Company, he went to Salt Lake City, thence to Virginia City, Montana, for Al Spottswood. Subsequently he returned to Salt Lake City for Mr. Jennings and had charge of the stockades there during the succeeding winter.
On the 6th of March, 1865, Mr. Boone purchased a horse and proceeded to Virginia City, Montana, where he engaged in mining during the summer. On the 28th of August he started on a return trip to Kansas City, and in the spring he went to Nebraska City, starting out as a teamster. On reaching Julesburg the train was turned over to him as wagon-master. He made three trips from the mountains to Fort Kearney, and during the winter had in charge a herd of cattle on the Bijou river, 65 miles east of Denver. The following summer he hauled grain on the stage line, then went to the Black Hills, and hauled railroad ties for the Union Pacific Railroad. In the autumn he returned home and in 1868 engaged in farming.
On the 14th of January, 1869, Mr. Boone married Miss Jennie Douglas, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of William and Emily (Dooley) Douglas, who came to Jackson county in 1850, and removed to the farm on which Mr. Boone is now living in 1851. Mr. Douglas died March 20, 1886, but his widow is now living with her daughter. They had 6 children: Albin, who is living in Washington township; Harriet Watts, deceased; George, of Randolph county, Missouri; Mrs. Boone; Joseph of Washington township; and Mrs. Lizzie Lee, of Cockrell, Missouri (named after the senator).
On their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Boone located on Section 20, Washington township, and there improved a good farm. In 1891 they removed to their present home, where he has erected a fine residence and made excellent improvements, having now one of the most valuable and desirable places in this locality. They have had 8 children, of whom 7 are now living, namely: William, who died at the age of 18 years; Benjamin F.; Flora; John Wallace; James; Albert D.; Rachel and Adlai Grover.
In his political views Mr. Boone has always been a stalwart democrat, and is unfaltering in his support of the principles of the party. He has served as a delegate to conventions, but has never been a politician in the sense of office-seeking. He served as school director for several terms, and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He is a thoroughly reliable business man, energetic and enterprising, and his possessions have largely been acquired through his own efforts. As a representative of an honored pioneer family he stands prominently before the people today, and he has himself been largely connected with frontier life, having traveled all over the west during the days of its early history.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.