History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Nathan Boone
NATHAN BOONE, the famous pioneer of Iowa in whose honor Boone River, Boonesboro, Boone and Booneville were named, was a son of the noted Indian fighter of Kentucky, Colonel Daniel Boone. He was born in Kentucky in 1782 and lived with his father until he reached manhood when he removed to Missouri. In March, 1812, he was commissioned captain in a regiment of mounted “Rangers,” raised to protect the frontier against the British and their Indian allies. He was promoted to major of the regiment in 1813 and served to the close of the war. He served in the Black Hawk War under Major Henry Dodge and at its close became captain of a company of United States Dragoons. While stationed at old Fort Des Moines Captain Boone was sent in command of an exploring expedition up the Des Moines valley and from thence eastward. Lieutenant Albert M. Lea was under his command and wrote an account of the country through which they passed. They named the Boone River and Lieutenant Lea had his description of the region published in which it was called the “Iowa District.” This is believed to have been the first time that the name of “Iowa” was given to the country which became the Territory and later the State of Iowa. Captain Boone served on the Indian frontier and in the War with Mexico and became Lieutenant of the Second United States Dragoons. He died in 1857.