Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 815
SAMUEL BOONE

Samuel BOONE, a farmer of section 22, of Boyer Township, and a descendant of Old Daniel BOONE, "The Hunter of Kentucky," will form the subject of this sketch. He was born in Putnam County, Indiana, in 1845 and when a small boy, his parents removed to Vigo County, IN, where they remained until the autumn of 1856, then they emigrated to Harrison County, Iowa, and settled on Willow Creek, where he died December 5, 1857, and the next year his mother sold the place, and then rented first one place and then another.

Our subject was married in Boyer Township, in 1865, to Mrs. Margaret MC HENRY by whom five children were born: Milton A., Rosalia, Samuel A., Robert E., and Daniel O. Mrs. BOONE's maiden name was Margaret BURNETT, who was born and raised in Berwickshire, Scotland, coming to America in 1857, and soon after married Francis MC HENRY, and they were the parts of three children, all deceased: Charles C., William, and John.

When Mrs. MC HENRY married Mr. BOONE, she had one hundred and twenty acres of land partly improved on section 22, Boyer Township, to which they have added until their farm now consists of four hundred and fifty-five acres of well-improved land. When starting out for himself, our subject only possessed one horse and a harness, and a two-year-old colt, but by hard work, frugality, and remaining in one place, he has become comfortably situated having his farm well stocked, also good buildings, and four acres of a fine bearing orchard, together with small fruit.

Mr. BOONE, in relating about the hard winter of 1856-57, when their people were very poor, said that they had to go to mill with hand-sleds, their yoke of oxen, mare and colt and two cows being drifted under the snow (on account of their hay and sheds being burned that fall), they were found dead in the spring; this left them without a team, or any thing else to live on, except the deer meat which in the spring time was not good, on account of the severe winter causing deer to become very poor. During that long and never to be forgotten winter, they drew a hand-sled a half mile for their firewood and ten miles to mill.

Only those, who lived in Iowa at that date, can in any way appreciate the perilous position in which these people were. The raging storms without, the same appetites for something good to eat and a change of diet, obtained amoung those early settler, as in these days of plenty. Families had sickness as well then, as now and the hearthstones of many a Harrison County pioneer was any thing but the scene of joy and happiness; and perhaps the warm sunshine of the very late spring of 1857 ws more gladly welcomed than anybefore or since.

Mrs. BOONE is Presbyterian, in her church choice and profession.

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