CAPTAIN NEVEL BLACKMER BOONE, a veteran of the Civil war and a large land owner in Sullivan county, Indiana, comes of the Boone stock of which "Old Daniel Boone, the Hunter of Kentucky," was a member. Captain Boone, of this narrative, was born in Boone township, Harrison county, Indiana, June 12, 1835, a son of Craven Boone, and grandson of George Boone, who was a cousin of Squire Boone, the latter being a brother of the old pioneer Daniel Boone, and an early settler in Harrison county. Captain Boone's mother was Sarah Newman, daughter of Benjamin Newman, a native of Virginia, who moved to Tennessee and from there to Indiana. The captain is one of a family of eleven children born to his parents, Craven and Sarah (Newman) Boone. He was reared and educated in the common schools of Harrison county, Indiana, as well as the higher schools of Corydon, Indiana. Elected recorder of Harrison county in 1858, he resigned after three years and organized Company E, of the Eighty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was mustered in August 29, 1862, and served faithfully and well until his discharge in October, 1863. He took active part in the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga, after which he resigned and returned home. He was engaged in the dry goods business at Laconia in 1864 and then moved to New Albany, and from there to several other places, returning then to Harrison county and locating at Corydon. Here he remained for a time, then removed to Mauckport, where he sold goods a year and a half, and purchased a store-boat on which he made two trips-one to Cottonwood Point, Missouri, and one to Memphis. Captain Boone was in the mercantile business from 1864 to 1874, since which year he has been devoting his time to agriculture. He remained on his farm until May, 1906, when he moved his family to Carlisle, where he has lived since. He still owns his farm in Harrison county, the same consisting of two hundred and fifteen acres, and it is now carried on by his son, Rush H. Boone.
Politically, Captain Boone is a firm believer in the principles of pure Democracy. He was united in marriage to Anna R. Helms, October 8, 1867. She was born August 1, 1846, daughter of Dr. H. N. Helms by his wife, Mary, the latter being a daughter of Rev. John Davis, a Methodist preacher, and a sister of Hon. John W. Davis, of Sullivan county, who was a member of Congress. Captain and Mrs. Boone have had nine children, as follows: Rush H., residing in Harrison county, where he is engaged in farming on the father's place; Mary M.; Ida, wife of Theodore Elbert, residing in Louisville, Kentucky; Lola V., wife of Oliver Neely, of Anderson, Indiana, a retired merchant; Fay N., now attending the state normal, at Terre Haute, and will graduate with the class of 1909; Bonnie, unmarried and at home; Hamet N. and Anna C., twins, died in infancy; Daniel E., deceased. Mrs. Boone and the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
It should be subjoined, in this connection, that Mrs. Boone is the daughter of Dr. Helms, one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Carlisle, who died at his home, September 16, 1902. He was born near Geneva, New York, October 3. 1814, and came with his father to Carlisle, Indiana, in 1817. His education was begun in the old log school house, and he studied medicine with Dr. John W. Davis, afterward studying at Lexington, Kentucky. Dr. Helms commenced medical practice at Edwardsport, where he remained one year. He also practiced at Carlisle with Dr. Davis and Dr. Murphy, and later with Dr. John M. Hinkle and Dr. W. R. Miller. About 1873, he abandoned the practice of medicine and turned his attention to farming. Politically, he was a stanch defender of Democratic principles, and in church connection was of the Methodist denomination, lie was twice married, first to Mary Ann Davis, by whom three children were born: Dr. Rush Helms, who died in 1887: Margaret, of Haddon township: and Anna R., wife of Mr. Boone, of this biography. For his second wife, Dr. Helms married Amanda Sallee, who survived the doctor, dying in 1905. Three sons were the issue by this union: Samuel Dixon, deceased; Albert Cray, also deceased; Daniel V., who resides on a farm in Haddon township.