MRS. MARY BOON, widow of William Boon, is a daughter of James Speer, who was a son of James, and grandson of Robert Speer. The latter was a native of Adams county, Penn., and settled in Washington county at a very early date. He and his family afterward moved to New Concord, Muskingum Co., Ohio, where he died. His son, James, was born in Adams county, Penn., and came to Ohio with his parents in early childhood, passing the most of his life near New Concord. At that time the Indians were yet numerous in the country, but were usually friendly, and often visited the Speer family. During these calls the squaws invariably left their poor little "papooses" strapped to a board outside the door. Thus, amid the scenes of pioneer days, was James Speer reared to manhood. In early life he was married to Miss Catherine Latta, and settled in Washington county, Penn., where he died November 14, 1849. Their children were born as follows: Deborah, Robert, Thomas L., James, Jane and Nancy, all of whom are now deceased. James Speer, son of James and Catherine Speer, was born in 1810, on the farm in Peters township, Washington Co., Penn., where his widow is now living. In 1839 he was united in marriage with Maria Calahan, who was born in 1814 in Peters township, this county. She is a daughter of Thomas Calahan (carpenter), a son of Joseph Calahan, a native of Ireland. Mrs. Thomas Calahan died when her daughter Maria was but five years of age, and the child passed her girlhood in the house of John Rankin, of Washington county, where she remained until her marriage. James and Maria Speer were the parents of eight children, viz.: Mary, Kate, Eliza J. (deceased), a son deceased in infancy, Adeline (wife of George Scott, of Des Moines, Iowa), Blanche (Mrs. James Emery, of Washington county, Penn.), Anna Margaret (widow of William Paden, has one son, Lloyd H.), and an infant daughter (deceased). The father died April 29, 1878. Of these children, Mary Speer was married to William Boon, grandson of John. John Boon, the grandfather, was born in Ireland, where he grew to manhood and married. This family came to America many years ago, and first settled in Dauphin county, Penn., where Mr. Boon was engaged in farming and distilling, most of the wheat being then distilled, as produce brought no profit. He finally moved to Canonsburg, Penn., where the parents died. Their children were born as follows: William, James, John, Mary, Jane, Margaret Elizabeth, Joseph and Nancy. In politics Mr. Boon was a Whig, and in religion a member of the Presbyterian Church at Miller's Run. William Boon, grandson of John Boon and son of William and Margaret Boon, was born July 10, 1831, in Cecil township, Washington Co., Penn., and passed his youth on the home farm. In 1861 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment, P. V. I., serving nine months, then returning to Cecil township, this county, was married February 9, 1865, to Miss Mary Speer. To this marriage were born four children, namely: Nettie E., James L., John A. and Blaine, all of whom are living. The father followed general agriculture and devoted considerable attention to sheep raising. In politics he was a Republican. He died July 20, 1884, in his fifty-third year. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Boon has continued to reside on the old place, which has been her home for twenty-six years. It contains 100 acres of good land. Mrs. Boon is a member of the United Presbyterian Church at Canonsburg

Text taken from page 1167 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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