M. M. BOON, residing on section 22,
Mr. BOON, of this review, grew to manhood on his father’s farm in Sullivan county, Indiana, and was reared to the life of a farmer, which occupation he has always followed. In that early day the free school system had not been established, and as the country was new and thinly settled with a class of people with very limited means, the only recourse for an education was in the subscription schools, taught by some wandering pedagogue, who knew but little of books and less of human nature. In such schools, in the old-fashioned log school house, with its puncheon floor and slab seats, the rudiments of an education were received by our subject. What little opportunity he had he improved as best he could, early showing an earnest purpose. But it was work, hard work, that developed in him the man.
Until reaching maturity, Mr. BOON remained
with his parents, assisting in the work of the farm. He then
started in life for himself, going out from home empty-handed,
but with a brave heart and an earnest desire to succeed in life,
making for himself a home somehow and somewhere, which he might
invite another to enjoy with him. The time soon came when he
determined to share his lot with another, and so, on the 22d of
October, 1846, he married Miss Elizabeth CARITHERS, whose birth
occurred in Sullivan county, Indiana, April 25, 1825. By this
union five children were born, all sons, of whom three are now
living: Alexander, who resides in
After his marriage, Mr. BOON rented a farm
in his native county, which he operated one season, and then
came by wagon to
After a happy married life of sixteen
years, Mrs. BOON was called to her long home, dying in 1862. Mr.
BOON again married, taking as a wife Mrs. Sarah E. BECKWITH, nee
BURGESS, a native of
The marriage of Mr. BOON and Mrs. BECKWITH
was celebrated February 25, 1864, and to them four children have
been born: Abby C., now Mrs. ADAMS, of
To each of his children Mr. BOON has given a good education, as he has often felt the need of such in his own life. In politics he is classed as a democrat, but is not a partisan. He cares nothing for official position but has served his township as road commissioner and school director in a satisfactory manner. He built the Harper bridge across Crow creek, but his life has been mainly devoted to agricultural pursuits. Mrs. BOON is a member of the Christian church at Washburn, and is a woman worthy to be the wife of the genial, generous and manly man – M. M. BOON.
Extracted March 2011 by Norma Hass from The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois , 1896.
| Bureau | Putnam | |
| Stark |
 |
La Salle |
| Peoria | Woodford |
