Nathan Boone

Local History

Nathan Boone

Published October 1, 2014 Submitted by: Renee

DAR Chapter honors Boone

Springfield Leader & Press, May 11, 1942, page 10

Honor to the memory of a hero whose name is important in the pioneer history of the southwest and whose grave has been almost unmarked in Greene County for 86 years was given yesterday afternoon.

A memorial was unveiled at the grave of Nathan Boone by the Rachel Donelson chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The stone was furnished by the United States government in recognition of Boone’s service in the war of 1812 when he was in charge of one of the three companies of rangers organized in what is now the state of Missouri.

A small group of members of the Rachel Donelson chapter and of descendants of Nathan Boone gathered at the little family burial plot on the Boone homestead, one and a half miles north of Ash Grove. Although it had rained much of the day, the skies cleared somewhat during the services, a cardinal sang loudly from the top of a nearby tree and now and then sunlight slanted across the white blossoms of a nearby hawthorn bush.

The farm on which the Boone burial ground and the old home are situated is owned by Mrs. Grace Buckner. She gave permission for the group to cross her fields to reach the little unfenced cemetery. Her tenant, Joe Keck, who lives in the house built by Nathan Boone in 1837, and his son gave assistance to the crowd by opening gates and directing the visitors.

Nathan Boone, youngest son of Daniel Boone, died at his Greene County home in 1856 at the age of 75. He had retired the year before from army service with the rank of major. He spent many years in frontier duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and Fort Gibson, Oklahoma.

The graves of Nathan Boone and of his wife were decorated yesterday with flags and flowers. Miss Janie Hubble, chairman of the committee of the Rachel Donelson chapter which obtained the memorial, presided and spoke briefly. Mrs. Kirk Baxter, historian of the chapter, led in the salute to the flag. Mrs. Harry Flansburg, regent, spoke of the patriotic work done by the organization.

The flag-draped monument was unveiled by Miss Mary Lee Hosman, great granddaughter of Nathan Boone, and Miss Laura Nell Cawlfield, great great granddaughter. Miss Hosman wore a pin which had been presented years ago to her grandmother, Mrs. Mary Boone Hosman, honoring her as a real daughter of the War of 1812.

Elmer G. Wadlow of Ash Grove, who long has been interested in obtaining state recognition of the Nathan Boone home site, praised the thrift and industry of the pioneer. He pointed out that we today may well imitate these virtues.

Talks also were made by Mrs. Eugene V. Upton of Springfield and by R. L. Hosman, grandson of Nathan Boone, whose farm is a part of the 1,200 acres homesteaded by Boone.

One other grandson of Nathan Boone was present at the ceremony. He was T. A. Hosman, also of Ash Grove. Great grandchildren present were Mary Lee Hosman, Robert Norman, Chris Cawlfield, Edgar Cawlfield and Charles Hosman, all of Ash Grove, and Jack Cawlfield of Kansas City. Great great-grandchildren were Letha May Cawlfield, Laura Nell Cawlfield and Leroy Hosman all of Ash Grove. Miss Hubble, who has worked for many months completing details for the government marking at the Nathan Boone grave, said today that the Rachel Donelson chapter now will head a movement to obtain suitable marking for the grave of Mrs. Boone.

Color photograph provided by the Nathan Boone Homestead State Historic Site. The black and white image from the newspaper article identify left to right, Mrs. Kirk Baxter, historian of Springfield's Rachel Donalson Chapter of the DAR, Mary Lee Hosman, great-granddaughter of Nathan Boone, Laura Nell Cawlfield, great-great-granddaughter of Nathan Boone and Miss Janie Hubble, former DAR historian. There are several biographies of Nathan Boone in the library system.

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