
atlif Boon, who became Governor
of Indiana upon the resignation of Jonathan Jennings, September 12, 1822,
was born in the state of Georgia on January 18, 1781. When he was young,
his father immigrated to Kentucky, settling in Warren County. Ratliff Boon
learned the gunsmith trade in Danville, Kentucky, and in 1809 came to Indiana
and settled on the present site of Boonville, in what is now Warrick County.
In the organization of the county, he took a prominent part, was elected
its first member of the House of Representatives and in 1818 was elected
to the Indiana Senate. In 1819, he was elected Lieutenant Governor on the
ticket with Jonathan Jennings, whom he succeed, as stated above. He was
re-elected (to the Indiana Legislature) in 1829-1831-1833-1835 and 1837,
serving most of the time as Chairman of the Committee of Public Lands. In
1836, he was a candidate for United States Senator, but was defeated by Oliver
H. Smith. His congressional career ended March 1839, and a few months afterward
he removed to Missouri, settling in Pike County. In that, state Gov. Boon
became active in public affairs, and was one of the leading men of the state.
Placing himself in antagonism to Col. Thomas H. Benton, who then controlled
the politics of Missouri, he incurred the latter's deadly enmity. He again
became a candidate for congress in 1844, but his death on November 20 that
year put an end to his earthly career. Mr. Boon was a pioneer of two states
and left the impress of his character upon both.
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