Alphonso Boone 1796-1850 by Arlene Curry Buschert, Gggrandaughter Alphonso Boone was the third child of Judge Jesse Bryan Boone and Chloe Van Bibber. Named for an old Spanish friend of his grandfather Daniel Boone, he was born on Nov.7, 1796 in Mason County, Ky.

With his family Alphonso settled in 1818 in Montgomery County, MO and helped build the first road in the county in 1820.

February 21,1822, Alphonso married his second cousin Nancy Linville Boon who was the daughter of John Linville Boon, granddaughter of George Boone (Daniel's brother). They settled in the vicinity of Loutre Lick (MO). Six children were born to them by the time the 1830 census was taken, and in that year he acquired 80 acres of land, probably by relinquishment from his father. All the children, including four more two of which died, were born in Montgomery County except for the last one Alphonso Jr. He was born in Cole County in 1837 where his mother Nancy Linville Boone died June 9, 1838.

In 1841 Alphonso moved to Independence where he engaged in outfitting caravans and trading. His brother Albert was already on this new frontier trading with the Indians. The lure of the West was too much for the Boone blood and Alphonso began making plans to cross the Plains.

After a long and arduous journey to Oregon, Alphonso established the Boone's Ferry north of Salem on the "Boone Ferry Road"which continued to run for 107 years [It was taken out of service in 1954 when a bridge was built across the Willamette]. Alphonso and his sons located on adjoining tracts of 1000 acres of land. On a big Fir tree he chipped his name, and a triple log cabin was built facing the river. Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens could be seen on a cloudless day.

In March of 1849, Alphonso set out for California and the gold fields with his sons. Less than a year later, February 27, 1850, he died of fever at a trading post known as Long's Bar on the Feather River.

Boone's Ferry in 1900

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Editor's Note: More information is available about our noteworthy Alphonso by checking the following web page but don't be confused by the difference in photos. The correct picture of Arlene's ancestor is shown here.

http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/piofam/boone.html 

While looking at "The End of the Trail", you might want to check out other historical sites in the area. It appears that Oregon holds much to be seen when we visit there next August for the Boone Reunion