Last modified 17 Dec 2008

I have to dedicate this Kinchin Boon Jr page to Zada (Mears) Sharp, my first cousin once removed, who started researching these families about the time I was born - some 50 years ago. Long before I even dreamed of compiling any type of family genealogy, Zada was carefully listening, asking questions, taking notes, writing letters and putting on paper these wonderful stories that her father (Tom Mears) and grandmother (Fanny Boon Mears) told her as a young girl.

When I started at age 16 in 1968, she was one of the first to willingly and freely 'share' her information and many picutres, collected over years, with me. For about 4 years, we worked quite closely, writing back and forth and comparing information that we would obtain from various sources. While I was busy trying to 'compile and record mainly FACTS', Zada was also getting the 'stories of their lives, their struggles, dreams, etc. I never dreamed back in 1968-1971, that some 30 years later that I would be trying to find these people on 1910-1920 and 1930 census. At this time these census records hadn't even been released.

Though Granny Boon (Mary Elizabeth Boon Foster) and Granny Mears (Fanny Boon Mears) and my grandmother (Minnie Mears Jobe) and Zada's father (Great Uncle Tom Mears) are now long gone, thanks to Zada, their 'story' is continuing to be told to our children and grandchildren. And hopefully, each of them will continue to treasure and love them as we did and a bit of 'their heritage and their lives' will continue to live in all of us.

Thank you Zada for your generosity, kindness and determination to 'preserve our family history' and for letting me be a part of this 'wonderful adventure back in time'.

Kinchin Augustus Boon was born April 28, 1818 probably in Dallas or Autauga County, Alabama. At the time of his birth, his father, Kinchin Boon Sr., was a carpenter and was moving as new areas of the country were developed. The Bible record shows his name as K. A. As a child, he lived his early life in Hancock, Coweta and Heard County, Georgia. Tradition says that he was a teacher and this is how he met his wife. However, so far, I haven't found anything to prove this. It is also said that he took up the carpentry trade from his father and even helped to build the first statehouse at Austin, Texas. Again no proof. So far we haven't found Kinchin Jr on the 1850 census and the 1860 census lists his occupation as a farmer.

At the right is a scanned copy of the marriage record for Kinchin and Mary which I copied when I went personally to LaGrange, Georgia about 1970.. Note that the name is spelled Kinchin (though other records do spell it Kinchen) and that there is NO "E" on Boon. They were married on July 19, 1845. He was 27 years and 3 months while she wasn't quite 14 1/2.

Mary Elizabeth Foster, the wife of Kinchin 'K.A.' Boon Jr, was born March 3, 1831 in LaGrange, Troup Co., GA and died September 22, 1912 in Portales, Roosevelt Co., New Mexico. She was the the third child and oldest daughter of Francis Harden FOSTER (abt 1788 Wilkes Co., GA - March 1839 LaGrange, Troup Co., GA) and Amey Harry EDWARDS (abt 1800 Lincoln Co., GA - July 1859 Troup Co., GA). When Mary was about 8 years old her father died and her grandfather, John Edwards was made her guardian and he made most of the decision regarding the family. Mary's mother did remarry on Oct 25, 1840 in Troup Co., GA to Thoms W. Oliver. I know very little about Thomas Oliver and he doesn't seem to be mentioned in too many of the records concerning the children of Francis Foster. In fact, he may not have lived very long after their marriage. Amy (Edwards) Foster and her children went to the Lebanon Primitive Baptist Church south of La Grange, GA. about two miles from Jones Cross Roads.

FOSTER and EDWARDS

Francis Harden Foster was the son of John Harden Foster and Martha 'Patsy' WINGFIELD. We know that John served in the Revolutionary War as an Ensign and Lieutenant in Captain Ballard Smith's Company from Prince Edward Co. Virginia. Several have joined the Daughters of the American Revolutin based upon his service. WE know very little about his life in VA. The Wingfield family was a very prominent family from Hanover Co., Virginia and before that England.

Amy Edwards was the daughter of John Edwards and Elizabeth Bussey. John was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War and after the war became a very successful plantation owner in Monroe County, Georgia. The Bussey family was a very prominet family from Calvert County, Maryland where they were very early settlers. They were also originally from England.

Be sure and see my Foster site at

Georgia (before 1849)

• 1820 - Hancock Co.,Georgia Census (age 2 with parents)

• 1830 - Coweta Co., GA (age 12 with parents)

• 1834 - Heard Co., GA, Bethel Baptist Church Minutes, page 46 (age 16)

  "Monday, the 13th day of Oct 1834, received by experience was Kinchin Boon Jr, Alfred C. Boon, and Council Jones ..."

• 1836 - Family tradition says that Kinchin entered a school at Atlanta, GA where he became a teacher.

• 1840 - Kinchin's parents appear on Heard Co., GA census, but Kinchin doesn't appear to be listed with them.

• 1845 - July 19, Troup Co., GA, married Mary Elizabeth Foster (age 27)

• 1845 - Heard Co., GA, Bethel Baptist Church Minutes, page 131 (age 27)

  "Sat, Aug 9, 1845, Item 7:
  The church charges Bro Kinchin Boon Jr of denying the faith of the church & the church believing it to be most for the Glory of God and the good of his church to exclude him from the fellowship of the church"

• 1847 - February 3, son William Augustus Boon born in Troup Co.,GA

• 1847 - His mother, Margaret 'Peggy' (Jones) Boon died in Coweta Co., GA

• 1848 - Heard Co., GA, Bethel Baptist Church Minutes, page 159 (age 30)

  "Aug 14, 1848, opened a door for reception of members and received by experience Thomas G. Ballow, Aug 15th by restoration Kinchin Boon Sr, August 17th by experience for Baptism, Mary Boon by restoration Kinchin Boon Jr and by experience Susan Davis (& others)"

• 1849 - November 26, Daughter Frances Ann Boon is born

Texas and Arkansas (abt 1850-1863)

• 1848/1851 - Moved his family to Texas (exact time is unknown, but he has not been found on 1850 census)

• 1850 - July 26, Daughter Frances Ann Boon died

  The following was written by Zada (Mears) Sharp in April 1976:

  "Kinchen and Mary did stay in the Troup and Heard County Georgia areas until about 1850. Their first and second children were born in Troup Co. Do not know where the second child is buried as she lived only 8 months. According to the birthdate of their third child, they came to Texas during the period between 1850 and 1851. Kinchen, along with the Negro slave men, helped build the first state capitol of Texas. Kinchen was 'head' stone mason, at the time. During the period of the next six years, the Boon's trekked from Austin to the Sulphur Springs, Hopkins Co., Texas area. During this six year period, the fouth and fifth children were born. The next move was to Bowie Co., Texas where the sixth child was born. Kinchen and some of Mary's brothers (two) helped dredge along the Trinity River."

• 1850's - supposedly helped build 1st statehouse in Austin, Texas

• 1851 - May 5, Son Thomas Monroe Boon is born in Austin, Travis Co., TX

• 1854 - July 24, Son Benjamin Franklin Boon is born in Texas, location unknown

• 1857 - January 2, Daughter Frances Ann Theodocia 'Fanny' Boon is born in Sulphur Springs, Hopkins Co., TX

• 1859 - January 2, Son Sam Houston Boon is born Old Boston, Bowie Co., Texas

• 1860 - Bowie Co., Texas Census, page 15a, #148-153

  Continuing with narrative written by Zada (Mears) Sharp in April 1976:

  "Sometime between 1859 and 1863, Kinchen and Mary moved to just over the State line in Arkansas near Texkarkanna. They bought 1/2 section of land with the house sitting on a creek or near a creek. Their seventh and last child was born there. When the Civil War broke out, Kinchen was too old (45) to go into service; so he was in what was called the Home Guard and helped the family members of other Confederate States Army soldiers. When the seventh child was six months old, Kinchen took a load of corn for someone to have ground into corn meal. The corn mill was some distance from their home. Kinchen was killed while on this trip and his wagon, gun, horses, corn, etc. were taken. Jayhawkers who raided people's houses and property unde the disguise of helping the Union Army, killed Kinchen. The Jayhawkers even ransacked Mary's (Granny Boon) house and barn. They took everything valuable to them - they even looked in the feather mattresses and emptied out the feathers. Kinchen's remain were found about one year after the war was over, approximately 1/2 mile up the creek from their home. He was identified by his hair and a foot and/or shoe. After their father was killed and the home raided, the two oldest boys, Gussie and Tom served in the Confederate States Army; as they were scared the Jayhawkers would kill them since they were Southern Sympathizers. The story goes that one winder all Granny had to eat was blackeyed peas. Granny picked cotton from the seed to weave cloth to sell for food and supplies. Granny also taught school (tutored) to those who needed her, as she became educated by her school teacher husband. She also made her own clothes and the children's from the cloth she wove. She nursed and helped women who had babies; tanned hides for a percentage; sewed clothing for other people, knitted and probably with Ben's help, plowed a garden and tobacco patch, using the milk cow to pull the plow. Granny was a small woman and smoked a corn cob pipe. When the Jayhawkers raided the house, they either took the slaves or the slaves got scared and ran off. So Granny had to learn to do her own hair, as the maid had done it all her life for her. Granny did all the jobs and chores to have something to eat and acquire another wagon while waiting on the two boys to get back from the War. Kinchenn had told Granny to go back to Texas where her brothers were if anything happened to him."

• 1861 - Moved his family across the Red River into Miller Co., AR

  Around the time of the civil war, a law was passed which would not permit slaves, so Kinchin took his family and moved across the border from Bowie Co, Texas where he had been living to Texkarkana, Arkansas. He did one cotton crop here.

• 1863 - May 30, Daughter Mary Eugenia Boon born Texkarkana, Miller Co, Arkansas

• 1863 - December 11, Kinchin (age 45) is killed by Jayhawkers, leaving his wife a widow at age 32 with 6 children between the ages of 6 1/2 months and just under 17.

Mary Elizabeth (Foster) Boon - Widowhood (1863-1912)

Continuing with narrative written by Zada (Mears) Sharp in April 1976:

"So in approx. 1866 or 1867, Granny and the children hitched up the old mare that had come back after being stolen, and the milk cow to the wagon they had acquired. (The mare came home after the Jayhawkers took her, and she had saddle sores on her and had been treated badly). They went to Cass Co., Texas where two of Granny's brothers, Jack and Ace, settled.

Before leaving Arkansas, two of Granny's slaves came back to her and the wet nurse system was used on the youngest child. When Granny would go to the corn mill or town for supplies, Jennie would have to nurse a Negro Mammy. Of the four slaves, two were women, and were named Mammy and Mary. It was assumed that the men were their husbands. With Jennie having to nurse the Mammy, it would seem that the corn mill was some distance from their house.

Granny and her children stayed awhile in Cass Co., where William (Gussie) married and settled. Gussie did not go any further West as the rest of the family did. Granny and the other children moved to Hill Co., Texas where there was free range - no one had filed or settled on it. They were picking cotton in Hill Co., when Fanny and G. W. Mears met. G. W. was working for a Adam File on his ranch at the time. When Fanny and G. W. moved to Hardeman and Wilbarger Counties, Texas in 1879, G. W. told Granny he would help them if they wanted to move with them. Tom, Ben, and Jennie are the only kids to have moved to Antelope Springs with Granny. Sam went back to Cass Co., and married a sister to brother, Gussie's wife. (Sam later moved to Margaret in Hardeman Co. - which later became Foard Co., Then he moved to Lodge (Memphis), Hall Co., Texas. Tom, Ben and Jennie met and married their spouses in the Antelope Springs - Rayland area."

• 1868 - Febraury 13, Cass Co., Texas, Son William A. Boon married

• 1870 - July 13, Kaufman Co., Texas, page 30, #173-183

  Mary BOONE 	              39 GA
  Thomas 		              19 TX      at home
  Ben F. 		              16 TX
  Fannie 		              13 TX
  Sam H. 		              11 TX
  Mary E. 		       7 AR
  Asa MARSHALL	              34 GA  male, white  laborer
  
  *Son William A. Boon had married and is listed in Davis Co., Texas
  

• 1874 - May 22, Daughter Fanny Boon married in Hill Co., Texas

• 1879 - December 10, Son Benjamin Franklin Boon married in Throckmorton Co., Texas

• 1880 - Mary (age 49), son Sam (age 21) and daughter Mary Eugenia 'Jennie' (age 17) has NOT BEEN FOUND on this census

  • Son William is married and in Cass Co., Texas
  • Son Thomas Boon is with brother Ben and his wife in Throckmorton Co., TX
  • Daughter Fanny is married and with her husband in Throckmorton Co., TX
  • Brother John Edwards 'Jack' Foster is in Kaufman Co., Texas
  • Brother Asa (listed as Acy M) Foster is in Bowie Co. Texas with the E. D. Jackson Family

• 1882 - April 4, Daughter Jennie Boon is married to Horace James Farnham in the newly-formed county of Wilbarger

• 1883/4 - After the railroad came in, Jennie and her husband moved to Wichita Falls, Texas where Horace used his team and wagon working in a lumber yard, unloading lumber from freight cars. During this time, Granny Boon and son, Tom,lived in Jennie's dughout at Antelope Springs

  Continuing with narrative written by Zada (Mears) Sharp in April 1976:

  "In 1897, Granny Boon had gone across the Pease River to visit Tom Boon and was on her way back to the Mears'. The horse she was riding came on to the Mears barn without Granny. He found her in the river bed with a broken leg. A fish jumped up and scared the horse while fording the river. He threw Granny off. Another version is that a crow flew up from behind a sand drift in the river bed, and scared the horse. Granny stayed with the Mears' about two years after the broken leg. Aunt Peggy, Sam's wife, got sick; so Granny went to live with them at Lodge, Hall Co., Texas. Uncle Sam's house burned down during this period and the fire - so the story goes - was caused by Granny's corn cob pipe. Granny went to live with Jennie in New Mexico in 1912; and had been there for six months when she died of pneumonia."

• 1900 - June 19, Hardeman Co., Texas, Ed#31 sheet #10, #162-168

  
  BOON, Thomas 	head	  May,1851  	49, farmer owns,R/W  	Tx.Ga.Ga
        Sallie 	wife,	  Mar.1868   	32  keeps house R/W  	TX.Tx.Tx
        Jack  	stepson   Dec.1893 	 6  at home  		Tx.Ind.Tx
        Curtis  	stepson   Dec.1895	 4  at home  		Tx.Ind.Tx
        Marion A. son  	  Dec.1899	 1  at home  		Tx.Tx.Tx
        Mary E.  	mother    Mar.1831  	69              R/W  	GA.Ga.Ga
  
  *Jack and Curtis are actually Sallie's children from a previous marriage
  

• 1910 - April 28, Hall Co., TX, Precint 2, ED125, page 9A, #155-159

  Sam W.  BECKHAM	  head	      25 w/m mar r/w English farmer owns TX AL TX
  Pearl   	  wife	      27 w/f mar r/w English             TX TX TX
  Lottie 		  dau. 	       3                                 TX TX TX
  M.E.  BOON	  grandmother 79 w/f wid r/w English             GA SC GA
  
  *Mary is listed with her grandaughter, Pearl, son Sam is nearby
  

• 1912 - September 22, Mary dies in Portales, Roosevelt Co., NM at home of her daughter, Eugenia

MARY'S DEATH in New Mexico

Mary's death certificate is recorded in Roosevelt County, New Mexico in Book "A" on page 2, #57. The death occurred on September 21, 1912 at Bethel, NM (Bible record has September 22, 1912) and it is signed by her son, S. H. Boon (note that there is NO "E"). Note that the record shows to be recorded on May 14, 1913 - almost 8 months after she died.

1. William Augustus 'Gus' 'Gussie' Boon, Sr.

   --b. February 3, 1847 Troup Co., Georgia
   --d. March 6, 1902 Bowie Co., Texas
   --buried Old Union Cemetery, Bowie Co., Texas
   --m/1 Patricia Ann 'Permelia' BURKHALTER
   --February 13, 1868 Cass Co., Texas
   ----b. Sept 7, 1848 TN
   ----d. March 10, 1885 Cass Co., Texas
   ----d/o William Henry Burkhalter and Mary 'Polly' Cagle
   --m/2 Prier Elvira HARRIS
   --March/Dec 1885
   ----b. abt 1857
   ----d. May 17, 1895 Bowie Co., Texas
   ----buried Old Union Cemetery, Bowie Co., Texas
   --m/3 Minnie Minerva (MOORE) BAKER
   ----September 8, 1895 Bowie Co., Texas
   ------b. June 28, 1875 Bowie Co., Texas
   

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2. Frances Ann Boon

   --b. November 26, 1849 probably Troup Co., Georgia
   --d. July 26, 1850 Georgia or enroute to Texas
   

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3. Thomas Monroe Boon

   --b. May 5, 1851 Austin, Travis Co., Texas
   --d. January 1914 Vernon, Wilbarger Co., Texas
   --buried Old East View Cemetery, Vernon, Wilbarger Co., Texas
   --m. Sally (KERBY) REAMS
   --March 27, 1898 District 3, Hardeman Co., Texas
   ----b. March 1868 Texas
   ----d. 1904/06 Antelope Springs, Wilbarger Co., TX
   

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4. Benjamin Franklin 'Ben' Boon

   --b. July 24, 1854 Texas
   --d. October 6, 1888 believed to be Terrell, Kauffman Co., Texas
   ----buried possibly Old Margaret, Hardeman (today Foard Co), Texas
   --m. Mary Ella CAMPBELL
   --December 10, 1879 Throckmorton Co., Texas
   ----b. May 5, 1862 Missouri
   ----d. died May 8, 1921 Oklahoma
   ------d/o James Campbell and Nancy J. ?
   ----She m/2 William F. KIMBERLIN
   

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   My Great Grandmother

5. Frances Ann Theodocia 'Fanny' Boon

   
   --b. Jan 2, 1857 Sulphur Springs, Hopkins Co., Texas
   --. Feb 2, 1943 Vega, Oldham Co., Texas
   ----at home of son, Tom Mears
   --buried Old East View Cemetery, Vernon, Wilbarger Co., Texas
   --m. George Washington 'G. W.' Mears
   --May 22, 1874 Hill Co., Texas
   ----b. August 20, 1845 TN
   ----d. Aug 6, 1934 TX
   ----buried at Thalia Cemetery, Foard Co., Texas
   ----s/o William F. Mears and Frances Elizabeth YOUNG
   

   Fanny - as the grandchildren remember her in the 1930's and early 1940's.

   
   *MY DIRECT LINE through their daughter, Minnie (Mears) Jobe and grandson, Earl Fredrick Jobe

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6. Sam Houston Boon

   --b. Jan 2, 1859 Old Boston, Bowie Co., Texas
   --d. Dec 4, 1952 Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto Co., Texas
   ----buried Old Fairview Cemetery, Hall Co., Texas
   --m/1 Margaret Elizabeth BURKHALTER
   --June 9, 1881 Queen City, Cass Co., Texas
   ----b. June 1, 1853 Cass Co., TX
   ----d. April 26, 1920 Floyd Co., TX
   ------d/o William Henry Burkhalter and Mary 'Polly' CAGLE
   --------gd/o Michael Burkhalter and Jennie GRIFFIN
   --------gd/o George Washington Cagle and Martha AUSTIN
   --m/2 Myrtie Bell (Taylor) Sasser
   ----b. unknown
   ----d. January 20, 1961 Waco, McLellan Co. TX
   ------d/o J. M. 'Roe' Taylor and Martha Elizbeth KINCANNON
   

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7. Mary Eugenia 'Jennie' (Boon) Farnham

   --b. May 30, 1863 Texkarkana, Miller Co., Arkansas
   --d. March 13, 1947 Porterville, Tulare Co., California
   ----buried Home of Peace Cemetery, Porterville, Tulare Co., CA
   --m. Horace James FARNHAM
   --at April 4, 1882 Vernon, Wilbarger Co., Texas
   ----b. April 11, 1851 Pennsylvania
   ----d. Feb 13, 1935 Tulare Co., CA
   ------s/o Edmond Farnham and Eliza CRANDALL
   

Each of the children of Kinchin Jr will have their own detailed page and where possible, there will be photographs. (Click on their name). If you have any old pictures, stories, documents for any of the children or grandchildren of Kinchin Boon Jr and Mary Elizabeth Foster which you wold like to contribute for your ancestor's page in their memory, I would be more than happy to add!

Rupert Farnham - my grandmother, Minnie (Mears) Jobe - Zada (Mears) Sharp - Patsy (Boon) Branton - Gene Kerlin

Paulette Williams - Bert Boon - Most of the children of Eugenia (Boon) Farnham - several grandchildren of Sam Houston Boon - many of the children of Fanny (Boon) Mears.

Minutes of Bethel Baptist Church (Heard/Coweta Co., GA) as sent to me by Eugenia Pye

And Many other cousins and records which at this time, I fail to remember or record.
THANK YOU ALL!

Don't forget my Gedcom: Thomas BOON - Elizabeth STRICKLAND
Isle of Wight Co., VA - Franklin Co., NC - GA - TX
*Ratcliff R. Sr. and Jr - William - Kinchin Sr. and Jr.*

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Write me - Ann (Jobe) Brown

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