Sedgwick County KS Archives Biographies.....Boone, Frank S. 1876 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 19, 2007, 11:23 am Author: O. H. Bentley (1910) Frank S. Boone, who is a worthy representative of one of the pioneer families of Sedgwick county, Kansas, is a prosperous, energetic farmer of Union township, and is highly esteemed throughout the community. He has been a typical representative of the United States soldier, and during his service in the Spanish-American War displayed such conspicuous bravery while under fire and in battle that he received the highest praise from his superior officers. He was born October 29, 1876, and is a son of Daniel E. Boone. Elroy Boone, grandfather of Frank S., was a native of Kentucky and a direct descendant of the same family of which Daniel Boone, the famous frontiersman and hunter, was a member. When a young man, Elroy went to New York State, and while in Oneida county married Catherine De Long. In 1858 they moved to Knox county, Illinois, where they spent many years carrying on farming operations. He sold out in 1872 and moved to Union township, Sedgwick county, Kansas, where he was one of the early settlers. He purchased a half section of land, upon which he made extensive improvements, and his fellow citizens recognized in him one of the leading farmers of Sedgwick county. His latter years were spent in quiet retirement, and his death, which occurred in 1899, was deeply deplored by his many friends, who knew him as an honest and upright man and a good neighbor. His wife passed from this life in 1879. Mr. Boone had been twice married and by his former wife had two children, while the following were the issue of his last marriage: Marietta, Daniel E., Emery G., James H., Maggie and Alice. Daniel E. Boone was born in Cortland county, New York, November 12, 1852, but when he was a lad of six years his parents moved to Knox county, Illinois, where he received his early schooling. He also took a course in the business college at Galesburg, and during his vacations assisted his father in operating the farm. He accompanied his parents to Kansas in 1872 and has continued to reside in Sedgwick county ever since. He pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 25, upon which he lives at present, and as a result of many prosperous years of toil he is now the owner of 640 acres of fine farming land. He raises considerable grain and live stock, and is one of the most progressive farmers in Sedgwick county. Mr. Boone was joined in wedlock, December 25, 1873, to Katie Carpenter, a native of California, who is a daughter of Horace and Mary (Emery) Carpenter—the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Vermont. Mrs. Boone was born September 1, 1853, and of her children Frank S. is the oldest. The others were Mabel and Daniel, and two who died in infancy. Mr. Boone is an influential citizen of the community and in political affairs is one of its leading Republicans. His fellow citizens have honored him by election to many minor offices and has served as county treasurer. In religious matters he is liberal in his views. Frank S. Boone has spent the greater part of his years working on his father's farm, and during his early youth entered Maize Academy, from which he was graduated two years later. He then took a business course at Wichita University, and later spent a year at Garfield University. He enlisted March 21, 1896, as a private in Company E, 16th Regiment, U. S. A. After two years in the service he was promoted to be a corporal, May 25, 1898, at Tampa, Fla.; while at Huntsville, Ala., he was advanced to a sergeancy—the latter promotion taking place October 11, 1898. He was active in the assault on San Juan Hill, on July 1, and on July 2, 3, 10 and 11 he was in the front at Santiago. In these two engagements he distinguished himself as a gallant noncommissioned officer. His valor won much praise both from his comrades and his superior officers, and his daring deeds are still fresh in the minds of many who were there engaged. Upon his discharge from service he was presented with several testimonials (with recommendations) as to his gallant conduct while in battle. From two of his superior officers he received the following: "Camp Shipp, Anniston, Alabama, December 29, 1898. To Whom It May Concern: I take great pleasure in testifying to the gallant conduct of Sergeant Frank S. Boone, Company E, 16th Reg. Infantry, while acting corporal of that company, in the attacks on the San Juan fortifications on July 1, 1898. He, with one other soldier, was at the head of the charge which resulted in the capture of the San Juan Block House and too much credit cannot be given him for his bravery on that day and throughout the entire operations before Santiago. I have been in constant observation of Sergeant Boone for over two years and believe him eminently fitted for the position of Second Lieutenant of the Regular Army, which his gallant conduct certainly merits during the operations before Santiago. I served as Lieutenant in Co. E, 16th Inf. (Signed) E. C. Carey, Captain and Assistant Adjutant General United States Volunteers." "Huntsville, Ala., October 25, 1898. "Sergeant Boone has been a member of my company for the past three years. I know him to be a young man of good moral character and intelligent and thoroughly reliable. After the battle of Santiago I recommended him for conspicuous and gallant conduct in the assault upon San Juan fort July 1, 1898. Upon this occasion he was one of the first men to ascend the hills and was far ahead of the main line. I saw him on the crest of the hill, coolly firing with effect upon the Spanish soldiers in their trenches not thirty yards away. In whatever capacity the Government may employ him, I am satisfied that he will perform his duty conscientiously with courage and intelligence. (Signed) ~W. C. McFarland, Captain 16th Inf., commanding Co. E." The following article in the Wichita papers was copied from the Lexington (Ky.) "Herald" and was told by a Kentucky officer: "Sergeant Boone, of Wichita, Kan., seemed to bear a charmed life. He was in the thickest of the fight and one of the first to reach the trenches. He helped dress his captain's wounds and carried his comrade Fleming to the rear. After the death of Lieutenant Ord, Sergeant Boone showed great bravery." These articles are only a small part of the many kind expressions made concerning Mr. Boone, as he is in possession of many other writings which relate his daring deeds on the battlefields and commend him for his intrepid action as a soldier. October 3, 1900, Mr. Boone was joined in marriage with Mollie Lawson, a daughter of Peter and Mollie (Christopher) Lawson. Mrs. Boone is a native of Sedgwick county, Kansas. Socially Mr. Boone is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Maize Lodge, No. 217, of Maize, Kan. Additional Comments: Extracted from History of Wichita and Sedgwick County: past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county Editor in chief: O. H. Bentley Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co. (1910) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/sedgwick/bios/boone231gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ksfiles/ File size: 7.7 Kb