Defiance County Pioneer - Isaac M. Boon

 "Isaac M. Boon

Isaac M. Boon was born in Holmes County, Ohio, near Fredericksburg, July 21, 1842, and died at the home residence, Hicksville, Ohio, Sunday morning, Nov. 2, 1913, aged 71 years 3 months and 12 days.  

In 1861, he came to Hicksville and shortly after this, was employed as a salesman in the general store of J. M. Ainsworth, which was located on the corner of High and Main Streets, Hicksville.  This old, historic store building in later years was moved to its present location and is now occupied by Mr. English as a blacksmith shop.

Boon proved to be a very successful salesman and was employed in the general store of D. Stull. On the 1st day of April, 1872, the partnership of Boon & Bevington was formed.  About eighteen months after this date, the partnership of Ainsworth, Boon & Bevington was entered into. This partnership continued until March 1894, a period of about 21 years, when Mr. Ainsworth retired and the business was again in the control of Boon & Bevington.

Mr. Boon's life was one of activity, energy and vim.  Few men were more extensively or favorably known than 'Ike,' as he was familiarly called. By temperament, he was quick and impulsive, always ready to take a decided stand on all public questions; quick to reprimand and quick to forgive.

He was of sturdy business honor and always made his word as good as a bond.  He was particularly loyal in his friendships and to his business associates.  His hand and purse were always ready to help the needy and deserving.

He was so happy as to retain his youthful spirits to the end.  His smile and laugh was ready for all; steps alert, eyes bright and a warm sympathy for the young people and their doings.  When in their presence, he was one of them. In his person, he linked the pioneer past of Hicksville with its present and future a though age crept upon him, as a business man and citizen, he kept in hearty touch with each step forward.

As a Mason, he was a charter member of Hicksville Lodge No 478, Free and Accepted Masons. Was a charter member of Hicksville Chapter No. 188 of Royal Masons."

Forest Hill Cemetery, old section, Hicksville, Ohio

"I.M. BOON DIES SUDDENLY - HICKSVILLE BUSINESSMAN SUFFERS APOPLECTIC STROKE

I. M. Boon, one of Hicksville's pioneer businessmen, suffered an apoplectic stroke early Sunday morning, which resulted in his death.

Mr. Boon arose in the morning, and not feeling well, a doctor was called. After the doctor's visit, he said he felt better and returned to bed. Shortly afterward, Mrs. Boon noticed that her husband was breathing heavily, and when she tried to arouse him, discovered that he was dying. He passed away without regaining consciousness.

Mr. Boon was about seventy years of age and has been active in the business affairs of Hicksville for nearly half a century. In connection with J. L. Bevington he was a part owner in the Boon-Bevington store as upon its reorganization as a stock company, he retained interests as a stockholder.

Later he started a dry goods store of his own and has been active in connection with this until a week ago when he sold the store. At the time of his death, he was president of the Hicksville National Bank of which his former partner, Mr. Bevington, is cashier.

Mr. Boon is a member of the Masonic orders in Hicksville and of the Knights Templar Commandery in Defiance. He is survived by a wife, one son, a brother and a grandson.

The funeral will be held at Hicksville, Wednesday at one o'clock under the direction of the Blue Lodge of the Masonic Fraternity. A number of the order are planning to attend, going on Nov 11 and returning on No. 8."

W. P. A. Cemetery Survery - Forest Home Cemetery, Hicksville Village

In this series, some of the general surveys of Defiance County cemeteries will be shared, transcribed as written with a few punctuation and/or spelling changes for readability.  The surveys were probably done around 1936. 

 For more up to date information on the cemeteries, check out this chart on our website:
 http://defiancecountygenealogy.org/cemeteries.html

Forest Home Cemetery

 1. Name of cemetery:
Forest Home Cemetery, the city graveyard of Hicksville, Ohio

2. Located at the most northwest corner of Hicksville, Ohio, on state route #193, called the Auburn Road.  This route runs into the main business district of Hicksville.  The graveyard is about one mile northwest of the business district and High Street, the main thoroughfare of the town.
3. Name and address of caretaker: (unanswered)

Photo from www.findagrave.com

4. (Description):
Forest Home Cemetery of Hicksville, Ohio, is the second largest cemetery in Defiance County, Riverside at Defiance, Ohio, being the only one larger than it.  It is divided into two parts, the older part lies on the west side of the state route and the new part across the road.

Both cemeteries are enclosed and surrounded by a six foot high evergreen hedge which is kept trimmed in box style.  There are two gates to each cemetery and winding drives through each.

The old part contains 26 acres and is well kept and shaded by all kinds of trees, oak, elm, pine, cedar, maple and others.  Much evergreen shrubbery is also planted around the drives and in between the lanes. 

The new part contains twelve acres and is not quite so shaded although green shrubbery is in perfusion.  Both the old and new are laid out in plots and owned personally by the relatives of persons buried here.  

The graveyard is municipal, is controlled by the Hicksville Village Cemetery Board and is kept up by them.  There are two stone vaults in the old part and in the center is the Soldiers' memorial, a twenty foot high stone statue erected in memory of the Civil War dead.

Photo from www.findagrave.com

There are all sorts and kinds of markers, ranging from small, white, Mosiac slabs to magnificent granite and marble tombstones.  In the new part of the cemetery, the stones are all new and all very large and costly.  I would say that many of the stones are more costly than any in the graveyard at Defiance, Ohio.  The people, especially the old timers of Hicksville, are wealthy.  Some of the lots are fixed up at probably thousand dollars cost.

5. Name and date of first burial records:
The oldest marker to be found was that of Burton Rakestraw who died in 1850; however the graveyard was not officially started until during the Civil War.  The new part was bought and added just fifteen years ago.

6. Names of important persons buried there, for what noted:
John Swilley, 1830-1882, the founder of the first Hicksville Hotel, and father of the late Amelia Bingham, noted actress is the most noted man buried there.       
The Ainsworth are the richest; their tombstone is ten foot high, four foot thick, solid marble, marker gray in color, in the new modernistic, sweeping curve styled, faced with vines in relief.

Photo from www.findagrave.com

Photo from www.findagrave.com

 Carl Hart, 1869 - 1927, world famous Girls' Band leader, whose band traveled all over Europe and played before the crowned heads of Europe in 1925, is also buried there.

Then there is W. A. Maxwell, 1847 - 1896, one time recorder of Defiance County and grandfather of Grover C. Maxwell, Defiance County's representative to Columbus, Ohio.

Enoch Farmer, 1828 - 1902, pioneer settler and co-founder of Farmer Township, Defiance County.

Edward W. Crook, 1847 - 1932, rich manufacturer of Hicksville and owner of the Crook Factory.

Isaac Boon, 1842 - 1913, well known merchant of the firm of Boon and Bevington.


 7. Markers of unusual appearance:
The Ainsworth marker mentioned before is the outstanding one in this graveyard - a huge, gray, marble marker, ten foot high and four foot thick and wide.  It is made in the new modernistic, sweeping style effect.

Also the high pedestal marker of John Swilley stands out above all the rest.  It is old and one of the first fine monuments placed in the cemetery.  There are numerous fine ones in the new part of the cemetery, all costly, and all modern, but none outstanding.

8. Unusual epitaphs:
Again, no epitaphs of oddity or note, the people of Defiance County seems not to have believed in inscriptions on their tombstones.

9. Is cemetery used for new burials?
The older part of the cemetery is sold out as far as new lots go.  Anyone owning a lot can bury on it.  In the new part across the road, there is still much room and lots still to be sold.

C. Cadwallader and C. Gish, Reporters
Consultants:
Mrs. Mort Hartzler, High Street, Hicksville, Ohio
Elizabeth Johnson, Owner of Palm Hotel, Hicksville, Ohio       


The Works Progress Administration was formed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in reaction to the Great Depression as a means of employing Americans and stimulating the economy.  Established in 1935, one of the projects of the W.P.A. was to conduct Historical Records Surveys, one of which included finding information on cemeteries and the graves of veterans.  The W.P.A. was disbanded in 1943, but the historical information provided on these surveys continue to be of interest and are, thankfully, preserved.