Boone County

Boone County was named as a tribute to Daniel Boone and his son, Colonel Nathan Boone of the U.S. Dragoons. Boone was among the first white men to explore this region and to give an accurate account of the natural resources.

When Boone County was organized in 1849, there were about 400 inhabitants. Rivals for the county seat Boonsboro and Boone Station were incorporated in the 1860's. Boonsboro was the original county seat. Boone Station changed its name to Montana, then to Boone. These two towns are now merged into the modern city of Boone, which became the county seat in 1887.

A legendary incident which has been proclaimed throughout the surrounding territory has been linked with Boone County through the heroism of Kate Shelley. The 15 year old Shelley braved a raging rainstorm to warn passengers of a night express that the bridge at Honey Creek had been washed out. She crossed the Des Moines River to Moingona, where the train was to arrive, and averted a terrible catastrophe

Mamie Doud Eisenhower was born in Boone November 14, 1896. Much of the furniture for the restoration of her Victorian home was provided by the Doud family, and this is one of only two homes of First Ladies to be restored in the United States.

Boone has long been a center for activity of the Chicago and Northwestern Transportation Company, now United Pacific. Out of this railroad heritage has grown the annual Pufferbilly Days Celebration the weekend after Labor Day.

In 1996 Boone County celebrated the sesquicentennial of our county with an open house here at the court house, with tours of the building.

Source:
Sheryl Thul, Boone County Recorder, 2002

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