Loading...
__BIOGRAPHY OF HOWELL BOONEBiographical Articles About Perley Howell Boone, Jr. Public Records Articles about Daniel Boone Howell's obituaries and tributes 7/14/2017 Ancestry - Print U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012 + ancestry U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012 Name: Perley Boone Birth Year: 1921 School: Amherst College School Location: Amherst, Massachusetts Year: 1941 Yearbook Title: Olio 1941 Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original Data: Various school yearbooks from across the United States. Description: This database is a collection of middle school, junior high, high school, and college yearbooks from across the United States. While yearbooks may not provide information about the vital events that are usually associated with genealogical research, they do provide other information about individuals' lives. This information helps place people in historical context as well as provides detail that helps turn individuals, sometimes only known by names and dates, into actual people. More... © 2017 Ancestry haps:llwww.ancestry.comr nstld iscoveries/PfRecord?collectionld=1265&record id=95005306&language=en-U S&ahsht=2017-07-14T14:36:03&ahsh=66... 111 7/14/2017 Ancestry - Print 1940 United States Federal Census -Y ancestry ...... 1940 United States Federal Census - Name: Perley Boone Age: --17---- Estimated Birth Year: 1923 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: New York Marital Status: Single Relation to Head of House: Son Map of Home in 1940: New York, Queens, New York Street: 42rd Avenue House Number: 4028 - - - - - Inferred Residence in 1935: New York, Queens, New York Residence in 1935: Same Place Sheet Number: I2A Attended School or College: Yes Highest Grade Completed: High School, 2nd year Household Members: Name Age Perley Boone 48 June Boone 45 Perley Boone 17 Olin Boone 15 Source Citation: Year: 1940; Census Place: New York, Queens, New York; Roll: T6272736; Page: i2A; Enumeration District: 41-862 Source Information: iwo United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, ITT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. ®Ancestry.com. Original Data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census ofthe United States, 1g4o. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administmfion, a94o. T627, 4,643 mlls. Description: The 1940 United States Federal Census is the largest census released to date and the most recent census available for public access. The census gives us a glimpse into the lives of Americans in 1940, with details about a household's occupants that include birthplaces, occupations, education, citizenship, and income. More... © 2017 Ancestry https://www.ancestry.comfiiinstldisoovedesIPfRecord?collectionld=2442&recordld=9993808&language=en-US&ahsht=2017-07-14TI4:19:41 &ahsh=00d... 1/1 7/14/2017 Ancestry - Print U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 ancestry U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 Name: Perley H Boone Jr Birth Year: 1922 Race: White, citizen Nativity State or Country: New York State of Residence: Texas County or City: Harris Enlistment Date: 3 Jul 1942_ _ Enlistment State: Texas Enlistment City: Houston Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA Grade: Private Grade Code: Private Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of Source: Civil Life Education: 2 years of college Civil Occupation: Actors and actresses Marital Status: Single, without dependents Height: 67 - Weight: 155 source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S. World War HArmy Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008. Original Data: National Archives and Records Administration.. Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946 [Archival Database]; ARC: 1263923. World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives at College Park. College Park, Maryland, U.S.A. Description: This database contains information on about 8.3 million men and women who enlisted in the U.S. Arany during World War II. Information contained in this database usually includes: name of enlistee, army serial number, residence (county and state), More... © 2017 Ancestry https:llwww.ancestry.com/insVdiscoveries/PfRecord?collectionld=8939&recordld=3408962&language=en-US&ahsht=2017-07-14Tl4:30:51 &ahsh=472... 1 /1 7/14/2017 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 - AncestryLibrary.com Perley Howell Boone .Jr in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007[database on-line]. Send Your Find Home! Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Enter your email address and we will Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. send you a link to your personalized Description Discovery Page where you can view and This database picks up where the SSDI leaves off, with details such as birth date and parents' download all of the great finds you names extracted from information filed with the Social Security Administration through the make while here. application or claims process. Learn more... SEND DOCUMENT We value your privacy. Read ourPrivacv Statement $ View printer -friendly Distributed By Powered Powered By <N ancestry O 1997-2017 Ancestry http://search.ancestrylibrary.comkgi-binlsse.dll?indiv--1 &db=Numident&h=42317113&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Ufl1678_phstart=successSour... 111 A Suggested Records Perley Howell Boone Jr Name: No Image [Perley H Boone Jr] ❑ North Carolina, Death Indexes, 1908 - Text -only collection SSN: 578384267 2004 Perley Howell Boone Gender: Male ❑ U.S., Social Security Death Index, Race: White 1935-2014 Birth Date: 30 Jun 1922 Perley Boone Birth Place: New York Man, New York ❑ U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Death Date: 25 Apr 1988 Records, 1938-1946 Father: Perley H Boone Perley H Boone Mother: June Hall ❑ New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 Type of Claim: Original SSN. Perley Boone Notes: : Name listed as PERLEY ❑ U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012 HOWELL BOONE JR; 11 May Perley Boone 1988: Name listed as PERLEY H ❑ 1940 United States Federal Census BOONE Perley Boone Show More v Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007[database on-line]. Send Your Find Home! Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Enter your email address and we will Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. send you a link to your personalized Description Discovery Page where you can view and This database picks up where the SSDI leaves off, with details such as birth date and parents' download all of the great finds you names extracted from information filed with the Social Security Administration through the make while here. application or claims process. Learn more... SEND DOCUMENT We value your privacy. Read ourPrivacv Statement $ View printer -friendly Distributed By Powered Powered By <N ancestry O 1997-2017 Ancestry http://search.ancestrylibrary.comkgi-binlsse.dll?indiv--1 &db=Numident&h=42317113&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=Ufl1678_phstart=successSour... 111 7/14/2017 Ancestry - Print North Carolina, Death Indexes, 1908-2004 + ancestry North Carolina, Death Indexes, igo8-2004 Name: Perley Howell Boone Jr Gender: Male Race: White Marital Status: Never Married Social Security Number: 578384267 Father's Last Name: Boone Sr Age: 65 Date of Birth: 30 Jun 1922 Residence County: Davie Residence State: North Carolina Date of Death: 25 Apr 1988 Death County: Davie Death State: North Carolina Autopsy: Yes Institution: Home Attendant: Medical Examiner Burial Location: Cremation in state Source Vendor: NC Department of Health. North Carolina Deaths, 1988-92 Source Information: Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Death Indexes, 1908-2004 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007. Original Data: North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics. North Caroline Deaths, 1997-2004. North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics, Raleigh, North Carolina. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. North Carolina Death Records, 1968-1996. North Carolina Vital Records, Raleigh, North Carolina. North Carolina Archives and Records Section. North Carolina County Records, 1908-1967. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina. Description: This database is an index to deaths that occurred in the State of North Carolina, USA, between 19o8 and 2004. The following information is included in this database: name of deceased, death date, death place (usually a county), age at time of death, gender, race. More... © 2017 Ancestry https://www.ancestry.comrinst/discoverieslPfRecord?collectionld=8908&recordld=4537852&language=en-US&ahsht=2017-07-14T14:12:38&ahsh=bl c... 111 John Boone ®f Davie County �`1 he Boone History Da vt-p_ I&u^ Howell Boone has been a history buff all his life ... and with a name like Boone, it's easy to understand why he would be Interested in researching the geaneology of Daniel Boone and the Boone clan. Howell Boone is a direct decendant of Benjamin Boone, son of John Boone, who was a first cousin to Daniel Boone. Howell Boone is researching materia[ to, write a book on John Boone who he says is "the Boone history forgot." He also feels that John Boone was even "more desirable. than Daniel". John came to Davie County along with his Uncle Squire Boone and'his.family' around 1750. According to Howell Boone, John never returned.home. He believes thatJohn was almost like a son to Squire and Sarah, who had seven children of their own. He also has "a gut feeling" that he is buried in Joppa Cemetery near Squire and Sarah Morgan Boone. In 1753 John acquired a grant of 630 acres of land near Hunting Creek, the Fo* Y'gOt" AC - 9 homesite that was later the W.J.S. .Walker place, near Godbey Road south of Center Methodist Church. He was only about a mile from Squire Boone's Bear Creek homesite. John, according to Howell Boone was born in 1727, about seven years before Daniel, and one of the major snags he has encountered in his research is the name of John's wife. He says her first name was Rebecca and feels she was possibly a Bryan, daughter of Morgan Bryan, Sr. He added that he thought she could possibly be an aunt to Daniel's wife, Rebecca, and that they were probably about the same age. He doesn't know: how old John's wife was but she died in 1820.1`' Boone says he has learned that John Boone was probably in his 20s when he got here and that he became a suc- cessful farmer with considerable land on Hunting and Bear Creeks. John became a legendary figure for his strength. Howell Boone says John Boone was "tall, sturdy and probably assembled his log cabin by hand." Walker of some of his relatives in front of the original old John Boone home. "These people lived a very perilous life and everything they had was made by hand. They did the best they could with what they had." He told the story of how John Boone presumably heard the dogs one night and investigated to find that a panther was attacking his hogs. According to the legend, John Boone killed the panther with a pine knot. "He did what he had to do", says Howell Boone..."This was probably all he had for food for his children for the winter." Boone finds all the historical legends to be most intriguing and becomes quite dramatic when telling them, one can easily detect the genuine sincerity of the task he is undertaking. "I'm more or less feeling my way through while gathering this material." Boone said, "and of course, most of it is legendary." Boone says most of the early settlers here were Quakers. "I have a gut feeling that John was born a Quaker and died a Quaker, but he probably had to keep his mouth shut." He says he also has the feeling that Daniel and most of the Bryans were Quakers. "These were very difficult times, with all the notorious Tories in all of North Carolina. After the Revolutionary War, Boone says most of the Quakers became Baptists because this was the nearest to their own religion. Squire, Jr..became a Baptist minister.. Boone says Benjamin (John's son) was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army. - "I - really don't know where he fought, but he wound up on the winning side ... a hero ... he was marvelous." .He added that "Davie County was named for a hero, "Davie", in the Revolutionary Army. Boone also feels that, in a sense, Benjamin protected his relatives who were Quakers. He says that most were birthright Quakers and added that "Sarah Morgan wore the Quaker garb till she died." The Quakers, Boone said, were not takers, but givers... thev were non- violent, they did not take arms and they did not take sides. He believes these are the reasons they 'got along so well with the Indians. He says that although Daniel was a known Indian fighter, he was also friends with the Indians. "Daniel had fair hair, blue eyes, only about 51", slight of frame, wirey... and he grinned a lot", Boone says, "and I think this could possibly be why he made friends with the Indians, who were fairly small themselves." ' Boone says he wishes it possible for him to talk to Daniel Boone ...... There's something I'd like to ask Daniel ... How come you never got bit by a snake? ... How come you never were attacked by a bear that you never killed? It is hard for Howell Boone, who is about the same size Daniel is believed to have been, to understand how Daniel Boone could have lived to be in his 80s and John, who lived to be in his 70s, in such primitive times as in 17th -and early 18th centuries. His studies show that there were many acts of violence in the days of the early settlers. There were known cases when someone would get so -annoyed at church with someone else that they would set fire to their barn. The Tories and the Revolutionaries kept things in right much of a turmoil and of course, he says the Tories were loyal to the. English Crown. It is a big thrill for Howell Boone to be in Davie County and walk the land once inhabited by his ancestors centuries ago. Born on the island of Manhatten, Boone says he moved from Long Island to Davie County in March and into his present home on June 30th. "I've known about this part of the (continued on page 2C) L/ '7 40. _T 4� $ copy of the original old Iand grant map, compiled by Andrew Lagle, has been helpful to Boone in his research. Writing.A Book On (continued from page 1-C) .world since my early teens", he said, "and I made up my mind I would never .retire to Florida ... I was not going to - 'become another Floridan". His only brother and his family live in Florida. Boone says his fattier, the late Perlay -Boone, also a history buff, took a .vacation some years before his death to 'Kitty Hawk and came here because they knew the Boones had been "in the 'Yadkin" (as in quoted in the history books). "We found Joppa Cemetery to be 'marvelous", he said with a great deal of enthusiasm," and the markers outside the courthouse... well, from that moment I have always been interested in this part of the world." Boone says he also visited Exeter Township in Berkes County, Pa. where .John's father, Benjamin Boone is buried and all John's uncles except Squire. History has always been a fascinating and exciting part of Howell Boone's life, as was.his father and grandfather before him. He recalled that his father was a cracker -jack newspaper man. "He didn't like to be called a journalist", .Boone says, "he always said I'm a newspaper man. His father began delivering papers in Tyler, Texas as a boy and became a freelancer as a teenager. Before the age of 18 Perlay Boone was the City Editor of the Fort Worth Record. He was later a correspondent for the Chicago Tribune and eventually became an Editor of the New York Times. In 1938 and 1939 he was the Publicity Director of the 1939 New York World's Fair: Boone says this was the year "they predicted air con- ditioning for houses and had an exhibit on super highways... They didn't predict a gasoline shortage," he added .'- John'- -Boone Howell Boone began his career py doing research for MGM Studios for films dealing with early American and Western background. The screenwriters used his material as a basis for their scripting. However he says -most of his life was spent on Industrial and Educational films and research for safety films. He quite casually men- tioned, after a little more probing by this reporter, that he wrote the material for live television commercials in 1949-1951. He recalled the research he did on Billy The Kid. "He was not a nice guy, Boone says. "But because my grand- father, who, by the way, was a -'Methodist minister and wrote all his_ sermons, is reputed to have confronted Billy The Kid, I felt I had to do this research. Boone says the story is that his grandfather was returning from a service in Mexican territory when someone yelled, "Hey there, who's that?" "My grandfather is reputed to .have said, Dear heart, it is I, Rev. Boone, returning from evensong." Boone says his grandfather asked the stranger why he had not attended the service and at this point the stranger identified himself as "Billy Bonney". Boone says much of his research was done in New York and not in California as most would think. He says the greatest research material in the U.S. is found in New York. Boone, himself, has a most fabulous library in his home on the Boone Farm Road (where else). Most every wall in his house is wall-to-wall bookshelves and all shelves are filled to capacity. You name it and chances are he has a book on it. The number of books he has is of - little importance to Boone, he simply says "thousands".. It's like the guy who buys the most expensive cars ... "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it." The number of books means nothing, it's the reason he buys them that is important. He says he has a good collection of books on American History, the Revolutionary War Period and added that he is also a Civil War buff. He then mentioned his Grandmother Helen Pickett, whose father's first cousin led the charge at Gettysburg ... "Maybe he had no brains, but he had tremendous guts and strength", Boone said. As a boy, Boone says he and his father walked the Pickett Charge in Get- tysburg." ettysburg." Boone says the only family he has is the one brother and family in Florida and two first cousins. There was only the two children in his immediate family. "My father always felt he only got what he worked for." Boone, who acts much younger than his years, is apparently in excellent physical condition. He jogs regularly and prefers a bicycle to a car. He can be seen miles from his home pedaling his bike. He appears to be one who keeps busy. He very recently flew to Texas, to gather additional material for his book.. Boone says he has been trying to decide just how he wants to write his book on John Boone. There are some facts, but back to far into history much of the information he says is legendary. "I can do the geneological part standing on my head, but I'm still trying to put a handle on how I'm going to do this book." He says he was rereading one of , Trustram's books recently and had about decided that legends are "the best route to take." The home in which Howell Boone lives was originally built by the Rev. William Joel Sanford Walker (also a decendant of the Boones) in the early 1930s by his own hands as a retirement cottage for himself and his wife. The house has been reworked by his son, Lawrence, who lives near Boone on the Boone Farm Road in northern Davie County. He enjoys walking the land where his ancestors once settled. Part of the chimney of the old John Boone house is still visible just down the road. He and his Shetland Sheep dog, "Bunty" roam the area quite frequently. He has no regrets of selling his home in New York. He says there are 12 units nowv hem he was living before making his move to Davie County. As to when his book will be ready for publication, Boone could not say. "I've lived with deadlines all my life and I'm in no great hurry." He did say, however, once he begins the actual writing, he writes quite rapidly and it -wouldn't take him long to complete it. He is very content living in Davie County. "I can think of nothing that I'd rather do than live here the- rest of my life and soak up all I can about the Boones." 1. .41 1. tombstones on the Lawrence Walker property which is mostly Dwiggins and Penrys, but who were descendants of the Boones. DAVIS COUNTY IYE tU E Featurel-C November1,1979 Story by Marlene Benson Photos by James Barringer N 'i I O 5 R: :4 5 10 a i X' �u� gram— +i 7 MOO" err 5 r W.r' r� � f r • S 53 t. t0 ti . .z• Numerous Activities To' Commemorate Daniel Boone's 250th Birthdati Daniel Boone probably came to direct descendant of Daniel, the the area now known as Davie Boone family helped turn this area County around the fall of 1750. At into a place where livestock far - that time the area was a "hunter's ming was possible. By ridding the paradise" filled with all kinds of area of the bears, wolves, panthers, wild game that could be taken for and other wild animals that roamed their hides and -or for their meat. the woods in those days, the farmers According _to Howell Boone. a _ were able to begin cultivating the rune m noone rarm Road relates scores at have been passed down through the ye Daniel Boone family. One of the worst misc about Daniel's size ... he stood about 5'6" tall. fields without their crops being! destroyed by the creatures: Howell Boone and other membersi of the Boone family will join with! Davie County citizens on the up-:. coming weekend to celebrate Daniell Boone's 250th birthday. This year is also the 200th anniversary of the publishing of a book that made Daniel Boone immortal. The book,. "Discovery, Settlement of Ken-' tucke" was written by John Filson m 1784 about the great fron-' tiersman. Daniel Boone and his wife, Rebecca were the parents of 10 children, two of which were born in Davie County. His son, James, was born May 3, 1757. He was murdered by Indians at the young age of 16 while he was in River Valley, Virginia. The Boones' son, Israel, also born in Davie County, lived from January 25, 1759, until August 19, 1762, at which time he was killed in a battle with the Indians in Blue Licks, Kentucky. He was only 23 years old at the time. Daniel Boone lived to be 86 years old and Rebecca died at the age of 74. John Boone, Daniel's first cousin, came to Davie County along with his Uncle Squire Boone and family. In 1753, John acquired a grant of 630 acres of land near Hunting Creek, the homesite that was later the, W.J.S. Walker place. He was only+_ about a mile from Squire Boone's' Bear Creek homesite. John was born in 1727, about 7 years before Daniel. He arrived in this area when he was around 20 and became a successful farmer with con- siderable land on Hunting and Bear DAVIE COUNTY Story by Doris Short Howell Boone is a direct descendant of Daniel Boone. He has been planning the celebration of Daniel's 250th birthday anniversary for almost a year now. Creeks, before he died at the age of 70. Events to commemorate the anniversary will begin Friday with Boy Scouts setting up camp near Center Community and Bar- neycastle Softball Field. Saturday's events include an old timey turkey shoot at 10 a.m.; the Boone Family gathering at 1 p.m.; Daniel Boone in Davie," a play with music performed by Davie County School children (The play is under the direction of Freda Ramsey, Ellen Alexander and Jayne Randall ); and a meeting of the Northwest Environmental 'Feature I B October 18., 1984 Photos by Jim Barringer Preservation Committee at 2 p.m. All these events will take place at Center. Sunday afternoon the "Daniel Boone Ramble" will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Center Community parking lot. The tours will be in two sections. The first will visit the homesites of Squire Boone, Daniel Boone, John Boone and Jonathan Boone. The second leg of the tour will go to a site along Hunting Creek to see a giant poplar tree and a giant oak tree which were alive and growing in the days that the Boone family was first exploring the area. Another possible destination on the tour is the Calahaln goldmines. Monday at 10 a.m. the com- memorative plaque will be unveiled at Joppa Cemetery. The plaque details Daniel Boone's life in the forks of the Yadkin. It lists his parents, 10 brothers and sisters and his first cousin. A reception will follow at the Davie County Library. Throughout the 3 -day events souvenirs will be available. Proceeds from the sale of the T- shirts, caps, postcards and pen and ink drawings will go to help defer the cost of the plaque at Joppa. Howell Boone stressed that all area residents are invited to take Part in the activities and that comfortable clothing. and shoes should be worn, especially for the tours which will require a lot of walking. When the land in the Davie County area became overworked and the woods no longer were abundant with wild game, Daniel Boone moved on to Kentucky where most of the legends about him are supposed to originate. But he left behind his father and mother and other family members who are buried in Joppa Cemetery on Hwy. 601 north. He also left the area with a legend that Daniel Boone once lived here, hunted here and bore part of his family here. Even though Daniel Boone was only around 5'6" tall, he -...... _ was stilbig man.. �;, - :. t _ � � t.- � 4 'w � i (. �� `���- � 4 � � =;�„3 t � 't yA � S a a. G, � I 1 �' yK ; 1 ' � t d � � � i 1 1 ,y Y� �. � dj. 1 � J� i 3 . � i�11 w K � �� � �� W� `� � mow... 4 A9 'X� a. a1 � i. _ � ��. f � i � � 1� ..� _� � � � k � ? � R . { ��� � ➢ ( � t t 1 ��'�� �,:.p � � �. �. �g� � +, # 3 r. w I; - N a �a me a° 3' o '- lu my 3(D 03 3 rD 7 rD U2 y A WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL Tuesday, May 3, 1988 Tom SIEG Historian Would Want Other Boones In his years on the Boone farm, How- ell meticulously studied not only the lives of Daniel and Rebecca but those of John Boone and other members of the family, including some of the in-laws. "John ... George, Edward, Squire Jr. and Jonathan are the Boones no one has ever heard of," he told me in one of our conversations. To iome extent, he helped change that. The magazine piece looked like a chance to more fully and accurately set the Boones, including Daniel, in perspec- tive. Most of the nation, after all, still thinks of Daniel Boone as a man who was born in Pennsylvania and went west to Kentucky and then Missouri. That scenario omits almost a quarter-century in which he became a skilled hunter, married Rebec- ca, fathered his children and incurred so many unpaid debts that Kentucky probably sounded a lot better to him than it might have otherwise. Not to Be Howell wanted to do the magazine sto- ry. He also hoped to write a book on the John Boone family — his family. Sadly, neither was to be. A week ago, quite unexpectedly, he died in bed, a book still in his hand. The death jolted friends. Howell was 65, not a terribly advanced age in our mod- ern world, and he seemed in good condi- tion. In fact, he had planned one of his camping and hiking treks, this one to the Shenandoah Valley, for last week. But Howell didn't like going to doc- tors. He may have known that things weren't quite right, but there was no way friends could have suspected that before- hand "When a man can go by your house on a bicycle every day and.pull the hills from here to Mocksville," said William W. Ferebee, a close friend, "you don't worry about him.... "He sat right over here in our chair . planning to go to the Shenandoah Val- ley camping. He said, `I hope when I get back I can sit down and rest some.' Maybe he realized when he topped some of these hills, it was getting to him. But he didn't tell anybody that." See TOM SIEG, Page 11 The Story to Be Told I telephoned Howell Boone last month with good news: Our idea for an article on Daniel and the other Boones in North Carolina had been met with enthusiasm by an editor of a major magazine. "Essentially," I said, "we need to kind of walk through the story of Daniel's life from the time he came to North Caroli- na at 15 to when he left for Kentucky with his family when he was 38 or 39." O Predictably, Howell was excited. �. "That would be marvelous," he said. w "I could send you a chronology.... You know, we have located the Daniel Boone cabin sites in Wilkes County, where he moved from Davie after a bench warrant was issued against him for an unpaid debt." D We talked for several more minutes. CT Before hanging up, he promised to send the chronology soon. r,�. About a week later, it arrived: 10 pages of outline of Daniel's life from his birth in 1734 through the tragic loss of his son, James, and three other youths in 1773 in a 4Y Shawnee attack along the trail from North Carolina to Kentucky and on to Fort Boones- HOWELL BOONE borough in 1775. I was happy to receive it. Howell, after all, had spent almost 10 years researching his family history. .His great -great -great -great -great grandfather, John Boone, was Daniel's first cousin, although history had mistakenly treated him as if he and Daniel's brother Jonathan were the same person. Howell, who had moved into a small frame house on the John Boone farm after retiring as - a filmmaker in New York City, straight- ened out that historical kink and set the record straight on a good many other things. Other Boones In his years on the Boone farm, How- ell meticulously studied not only the lives of Daniel and Rebecca but those of John Boone and other members of the family, including some of the in-laws. "John ... George, Edward, Squire Jr. and Jonathan are the Boones no one has ever heard of," he told me in one of our conversations. To iome extent, he helped change that. The magazine piece looked like a chance to more fully and accurately set the Boones, including Daniel, in perspec- tive. Most of the nation, after all, still thinks of Daniel Boone as a man who was born in Pennsylvania and went west to Kentucky and then Missouri. That scenario omits almost a quarter-century in which he became a skilled hunter, married Rebec- ca, fathered his children and incurred so many unpaid debts that Kentucky probably sounded a lot better to him than it might have otherwise. Not to Be Howell wanted to do the magazine sto- ry. He also hoped to write a book on the John Boone family — his family. Sadly, neither was to be. A week ago, quite unexpectedly, he died in bed, a book still in his hand. The death jolted friends. Howell was 65, not a terribly advanced age in our mod- ern world, and he seemed in good condi- tion. In fact, he had planned one of his camping and hiking treks, this one to the Shenandoah Valley, for last week. But Howell didn't like going to doc- tors. He may have known that things weren't quite right, but there was no way friends could have suspected that before- hand "When a man can go by your house on a bicycle every day and.pull the hills from here to Mocksville," said William W. Ferebee, a close friend, "you don't worry about him.... "He sat right over here in our chair . planning to go to the Shenandoah Val- ley camping. He said, `I hope when I get back I can sit down and rest some.' Maybe he realized when he topped some of these hills, it was getting to him. But he didn't tell anybody that." See TOM SIEG, Page 11 TOM SIEG stand mute rather than risk seeming unkind. That is a rare and appealing quali- Continued From Pae 9 8 ty. Perhaps it is even more so to a journalist, who deals with so many Ferebee and his wife, Aphelia, who have never been.ezposed to cau- were neighbors who became very tion, let alone become afflicted with close to* Boone. it. They were impressed by their Many of us will miss that and oth- friend's love of the outdoors and of er characteristics of Howell, as well his work on behalf of historical pres- -as the contributions that. he made ervation, an interest that made him a through his work. habitual and hardworking volunteer But, although it is improbable that for projects of the Northwest Pied- the wished -for magazine article can mont Council of Governments. be written now, Howell Boone may "He was a delightful person, and not be finished dispelling myths and that's an understatement," said Fer- straightening some of history's ebee. "He really put his whole heart kinks. 3 into whatever he did. I can't talk The house that he lived in for 10 about him without getting emotion- yew, jammed with books and files, al.... must now be an archive laden with He enriched all our lives." treasures. , That was easy to understand. It is all in the care of a nephew = o Howell Boone was a truly gentle man, as careful in his assessment of living 3,000 miles away. Assuming that it is handled with :i people he met as he was in tracing the respect that it merits, we may be co history. treated to another chapter or two in the subject at hand, he the coming months and years. +L1 stated nothing as a fact that he was That would be the kind of tribute not certain — and then he might Howell would have appreciated most. N -Tuesday, A rll 26, 1988, The Salisbur Post Deaths Howel I Boone *4 MOCKSVILLE — Howell Boone, 65, of Route 1, died at his home on April 25, 1988. Boone, was a descendant of John Boone, who was a first cousin of Daniel Boone. Funeral arrangements are being made through Eaton's Funeral Home. Born in Texas, he was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Purly Boone. After his mother died in 1979, he retired and moved from New York to ,Davie County and lived at his ancestor's homeplace on Boone Farm Road in Davie County, the original owner of the homeplace in the 1750s being John Boone. A movie producer of short films, he came through the Davie County section a number of years ago with this father, and then when he retired came back to live here. He was a generous contributor of books, films, and other materials to the Davie County Library. He rode his bicycle almost every day to the library. An outstanding student of the relatives of the Bryan and. Boone families, he was largely respon- sible for the 250th anniversary celebration of Daniel Boone held in Davie County several years ago. BC... r MOCKSVILLE - •.1dr. Perley Howell Boone, Jr., 65, Route 1, died Monday morning at his home. He was born June 30, 1922 in Manhattan, N.Y. to the late Perley Howell Boone, Sr. and June Hall Boone. He was a retired independ- ent film producer both in commer- cial advertising and training films. He was a veteran of World War II. Mr. Boone was active in Davie County Historical Society and the Davie County Library. He retired from New York to Davie County in 1979 to do research on John Boone's descendants. The family requests that memorials be made to Davie County Library Building Fund, 371 N. Main St., Mocks- ville, N.C. 27028. Surviving are one niece, Peggy Boone Allen, Houston, Texas; two nephews, Scott W. Boone, Corte Madera, Calif., and Richard S. Boone, Tampa, Fla.; one great-niece, and two great-nephews. Eaton Funeral Home in Mocksville is in charge of arrangements. Davie County Public Ubrary Mooksvii le, NC Hoy. L, ., Bdone Dies; VT°raced " Boone Lineage sT rvoar MOCKSVILLE P. Howell Boone Jr., a native New Yorker who retired to Davie County ! nine years ago to retrace his ties to Daniel Boone, died Monday at his . home on Boone Farm Road... He was 65. Boone died, as he had lived, in the white frame house on land that was the original farm of his great -great - great -great -great grandfather, John Boone, a first cousin to Daniel Boone. Howell Boone, a squat, talkative man who sometimes wore a white beard that covered his upper chest, could most often be found in the History Room of the Davie County :- Public Library, where he labored over his genealogy. ! His home, west of Mocksville along Hunting Creek, was filled with thousands of books and documents, testament to his consuming puzzle, fitting bits of his own work andfam- ily - ily lore into the findings fothers such as the 19th -century historian, Lyman C. Draper. A visitor would find in Howell Boone an ever ready storyteller, awaiting a chance to recite a chapter from the frontier lives of Daniel. and John Boone. . A childhood trip to Mocksv9l'a-m the 1930s fueled Boone"s interesi�iu tracing his family lineage, after find- ing Joppa Cemetery, where �� and Sarah Boone, Daniee 'sem p, are buried. Passing up retire to a condominium in Florida, Howell Boone, an industrial film- maker from Manhattan, traced more ; than 100 Boones, most of whom had left the area by , the early ISM before Davie County was created from Row- an County. . I....z. By Howell Boone's accounts, Dan- . iel was about 17 when he came to the area from Pennsylvania in 1751 with his parents and cousin John, and he called North Carolina home for 20, years, perhaps more, living €n Davie, Wilkes and Ashe counties. .. Eaton Funeral Hfoarrangements. 4 ville is in charge Perley Howell Boone Perley Howell Boone Jr., 65, of Route 1, Mocksville, died at his home Monday, April 25. He was born June 30, 1922, in Manhattan, N.Y., to the late Perley Howell Boone Sr. and June Hall Boone. He was a retired independent film producer both in comercial advertising and training films. He was a veteran of WWII. Mr. Boone retired from New •.. York to Davie County in 1979 to C.> do research on John Boone decen- �? dants. He was active in the Davie County Historical'Society and the Davie County Library. Survivors includg one niece, c Peggy Boone Allen of Houston, Tx.; two nephews, Scott W. Boone •� of Corte Madera, Ca. and Richard S. Boone of Tampa, Fla; one great- niece and two great-nephews. The family requests that memorials be made to the building fund of the Davie County Library, 371 N. Main Street Mocksville, N.C. 27028. Howell Boone 2 June 30, 1922 - April 25, 1988 Howell Boone was born in Texas and grew up in New York City, where his father was a well-known journalist and newspaper editor. He was a graduate of Amherst College. After serving in the Infantry with General Patton's Third Army, he, with several friends, formed a company to produce N advertising commercials and training films for industry. He was a bachelor and, after his father's death, lived with his mother in New York City. In 1979, Howell sold his interest in the company, disposed of his property in Now York, and retired to Davie County, North Carolina, to pursue his interest in history and genealogy research, especially with regard to the Boone and related families. He had visited the area and Joppa Cemetery with his father in the 1930's. Squire and Sarah Morgan Boone, and probably John Boone, are buried there. John Boone, Squire Boone's nephew and Daniel Boone's first cousin, was Howell's great, great, great, great, great-grandfather. This John Boone had come to Davie County with the other Boone families in the early 1750's. It is both ironic and most fitting that Howell was able to rent a house and live for some nine years on the same land that John Boone was granted in 1753• Howell inmediately became part of the community of Center where he lived and began spending a part of several days each week researching, writing, organising, collecting, and cataloging Boone memorabilia In the History Room at the Davie County Public Library. He thoroughly enjoyed speaking to interested school groups and other audiences and was most effective with his presentations about the Boones and the life of our forebears. A tireless worker, he soon became an integral part of the Library's operation - a volunteer staff member always willing and anxious to help in any way he could. He became involved in preservation and in environ- mental and history -related projects of the Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments such as the Living Farm Museum now being developed. An avid reader, his library contained thousands of books, records, and documents. Associates were quick to appreciate Howell's Intellect, scholarship, geniality, and enthusiasm. Energetic, he walked and talked fast as though anxious to get on with the next job, yet never too busy to help someone with their search of History Room materials. He personally bought microfilm and numerous books and genealogical reference aids for the History Room. Though much interested in Boone genealogy, he was the exceptional genealogist in that he held a wide interest in the broad scope of historical research and was keenly interested in, and well- informed on, the contemporary scene. Howell Boone will be sorely missed. The bicycle, with it's odometer showing some 8000 miles is no longer parked at the Library; the rider with his bright orange jacket and cap is no longer seen in Mocksville or on the road to Center. Though his voice is no longer heard in the Davie County Library and History Room, Howell Boone's legacy enriches us all. James W. Wall F 8C—DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1988 Howell Boone, Historian, , nles M onday At Age 65 Ky Kathy D. Chaffin Davie County Enterprise -Record Genealogist Howell Boone was found dead at his home in the Center community Monday mor- ning after suffering an apparent heart attack. Boone, a descendant of Daniel Boone's cousin, John, was 65. Dr. Franklin Tolbert, Davie County medical examiner, said an autopsy was being performed to determine the cause of death. "It had the appearance of a heart at- tack," he said. "There was no foul play suspected." Al Hudson, one of Boone's close friends, said Boone died the way he probably would have wanted. "Dying at such a young age of heart disease if it was that was quite common in his family," he said. ".His brother and father went the same way." . Hudson, who lives at Route 5, Mocksville, and his wife, were the first to realize that something was Ch wrong. _ They arrived at Boone"s house at 10:14 Monday morning to pick him up to go on a camping trip to Virginia. "His camping gear was not on the porch, and I could. not get a reply when I knocked on the door, Hudson said. "I became quite' concerned, but I thought maybe he had given up on us because we were 14 minutes late." Hudson said he and his wife drove to the Davie Public Library in Mocksville, where Boone spent much of his time. "He had not been down there and had in fact, notified the library that he would not be in the whole week," he said. (Hudson and Boone had planned to stay in Virginia a week.) So Hudson and his wife drove back to Boone's house on Boone Farm Road off of U.S. 64 west, us- ing the same route Boone traveled regularly on his bicycle. "As far as I know, he never did drive," Hudson said. "I was never able to get him to drive -my car even if I got stuck up." When the Hudsons still couldn't get Boone.to the door of the white, frame house he rented, they drove up the road to Ophelia and Bill Ferebee's house, and Mrs. Ferebee rode with them back down there. When they still couldn't get an answer, Hudson broke into the house, which was built by a Boone descendant in the 1930s, through the back door, and they went in- side. Hudson's wife and Mrs. Ferebee found Boone in his bed. "He was laying on his back from what I understand," Hudson said, "and had been reading and still had his right hand with his fingers in the pages of the book." Boone, who was born in New York City, retired from his job as an industrial filmmaker and mov- ed from Long Island to Davie County in March 1979. "All of his life, he had listened to his dad talk of the Boones and Daniel Boone and so on," Hudson said. "And in the old days, back in the 30s, 40s and 50s, they used to visit Davie 'County and Mocksville." So when he got ready to retire, Boone decided to move to Davie to research his family's genealogy. "He did not plan to stay here very long," Hudson said. But Boone liked the county, and the historical community welcom- ed him with open arms. He was ac- tive in the Davie County Genealogical and Historical Socie- ty, of which he was currently presi- dent. Boone also wrote the socie- ty's quarterly newsletter. :. He was also active in several other historical organizations, in- cluding the Committee for the Preservation of the Great Philadephia Wagon Road. Boone clipped and mounted newspaper articles for preservation in the history room at Davie Public Library and helped people research their family history. "He would come in just about every day probably for about three or four hours," said Ruth Hoyle, library director. "He gave us more help than we can say, and we're going to really miss him. It's leav- ing a big gap." In. addition, Boone made numerous contributions to the . library including Lyman C. Draper's manuscripts on the Daniel Boone material, Draper's Peter Stuart Ney manuscripts and a documentary account of Lord Dunsmore's War. Flossie Martin, a Davie historian, said Boone was able to clarify some of the historical ac- counts of Daniel Boone's life through his genealogical research. Boone, who grew a long white beard for the 250th anniversary of Daniel Boone's birth a few years- back, earsback, wanted people to know the facts as much as possible, Hoyle said. He dispelled one of the most iaUwou mune, a oescenaant of the Vaniel Boone family, enjoyed researching the family tree. common legends when his research indicated that Daniel Boone never wore a coonskin cap. "He wore a derby -type hat, when he wore anything at all on his head," he was quoted as saying in a 1983 ar- ticle in The Sentinel in Winston-Salem. Hudson said Howell Boone was fascinated by history. "His hobbies were strictly history, local history, family history, but he was knowledgeable on history worldwide," Hudson said. Boone was also an avid reader. "He was in possession of enough books to build a small library," his friend said. His collection came from all over the world. "During World War 11, for instance, instead of buying cigarettes, he bought books while in Europe," Hudson said. Boone served in the infantry in Gen. George S. Patton's Third Army. Boone never married and has few living relatives. "He just had one girlfriend in World War 11, and she died in London, England," Hudson said. "She was a girlfriend from his childhood." Though he didn't attend services, Boon's friends said he was a devout Quaker. "He was one that didn't want to draw attention to himself in any way," Hudson said. "That's the way Quakers believe. "He would do anything in the world for you. He was very polite, well educated and knowledgeable, a walking encyclopedia." Mrs. Ferebee said her daughter, Judy Whitaker, summed up best how her family felt about Boone. "When I told her what had happen- ed, she said, 'He enlightened all of our lives,' " she said. Boone's friends were all shock- ed by his unexpected death. Hoyle said she saw him in the library Fri- day and heard that he was back there working on Saturday. Hudson said he talked with Boone on Saturday night to con- firm plans for their trip. "And he indicated no problems," he said. "He said he would be ready to go Monday morning." Boone, however, had mention- ed earlier that he had been unusual- ly tired over the past few weeks. "He had told me that he would not be able to do things as often such as walking in the woods and canoe trips," Hudson said. "All this was for historic research purposes." Boone, the son of a nationally - known newspaper editor, was educated in schools up and down the East Coast. He began his career doing research for MGM Studios for films with early American and Western background. Screen- writers used his material as a basis for their script. Boone, though he rarely talked about his accomplishments, also wrote the material for live televi- sion commercials in 1949-1951. He was an active man who jogg- ed and rode his bike regularly. He was a familiar sight heading down U.S. 64 in an orange fluorescent shirt. "We're going to miss that orange shirt going by, Hoyle said. HOWELLBOONS 1922 _ 1988 IN MEMORY OF AND WITH GRATEFUL APPRECIATION FOR- HOWELL BOONE - SCHOLAR, HISTORIAN, GENEALOGIST, AND DEDICATED VOLUNTEER. HIS ENTHUSIASM, GENIALITY, KNOWLEDGE, AND GENEROSITY ENRICHED US ALL. ERECTED BY TRUSTEES AND STAFF, DAVIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY; DAVIE COUNTY HISTORICAL AND ' GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, DAVIE COUNTY; AND FRIENDS AND.. ASSOCIATES.