John D. Boon (Jan. 8, 1817 - July 17, 1864), Last Territorial and first State printer, was a Methodist minister who came to Oregon from Ohio in 1845. Elected treasurer in 1855, he served continuously (except for one year) until 1862. Thereafter he was a Salem merchant and at various times an official in early telegraphy, transportation, and industrial enterprises designed for Oregon's betterment. His wife was the former Martha J. Hawkins; they had three children. He died at Salem. 
LHWV, pg. 652; SHOC, III: pg. 179, 187, ibid, IV:344: Sec State Report, 1897-8:183. Corning pg. 32. 

BOON, J. D. 
Early Oregon Treasurer Just Kept Two Purses by Ben Maxwell. 
When Judge R. P. Boise spoke of his contemporary J. D. Boon, Oregon Territorial and State Treasurer in the 1850s and 1860, he referred to him as a scrupulously honest man with two purses. In one purse he kept his own monies, in the other the state's funds. And those funds never got mixed. 
J. D. Boon's business journal between 1852 and 1861, when he was proprietor of a country general store on The Island (an area of 15 lots north of Mill creek and along Liberty street to its intersection with High) is now a property of L. H. McMahan, Salem collector of historical books and manuscripts. No income tax official would accept Boon's accounting. His honesty would not be challenged. Only Boon's highly personal method--not system, because none is obvious--of bookkeeping would be rejected. In that little account book of 100 years ago, now devoid of binding, entries started at both the front and back of the book and a few are upside down. Some were made in ink across the blue paper ruled with red lines. Others, less legible, were made with pencil. 
Records for pioneer Empire store, located according to J. B. McClane's "Island" plat recorded January 8, 1851, on the Main street alley intersecting with Mill street. A Portland journalist mentions that Boon's was a country store, a favorite trading place for many an old-fashioned dame who could never be induced to leave his unpretentious shop for more spruce and modern neighbors. As compared with prevailing prices in Salem those of 100 years ago usually display no shocking contrast. On November 21, 1852, Dave Phelps paid 75c for a pair of spectacles and Judge Olney paid the same price for a dozen eggs. The Rev. Thomas Pearne, later to become editor of the Pacific Christian Advocate, paid $2 for a wash tub, 50c for a broom and $3 for a pair of pants. 
Eliza Jones, 102 years ago, paid $1.25 for a pair of shoes, $5 for a bonnet, $3.50 for seven yards of alpaca and $1.60 for eight yards of calico. About this same date Francis Berry, an emigrant, paid $6.60 for 20 pounds of coffee, 32c for two pounds of sugar, 50c for two plugs of tobacco, 25c for a half gallon of molasses, 75c for a half bushel of potatoes and 50c for two pounds of rice. He also did a rental business handling his own properties and making rentals for others. March 14, 1855, P. D. Palmer rented Boone's old store for $8 a month. Old Man Chitwood rented Boon's house opposite The Mills (the Mission saw and grist mill located about where Larmer's warehouse now stands) for $8 a month. November 14, 1853, Boon rented the "Squaw's house" for $5 a month. On October 15, 1854, when John Hunt turned his oxen into Boon's pasture, he agreed to pay a rental of 25c a day per head. About this same time Boon hired McKinley to do some carpenter work at a wage of $5 a day. 
Because no one questioned the honesty of this early Wesleyan Methodist preacher and pioneer Salem storekeeper, money was often deposited with him for safe keeping and possibly for investment. On Christmas day, 1854, P. D. Palmer deposited $500 and E. J. Harding $900 in gold coins. Oregon Statesman for November 29, 1859, mentions that Boon was about to start construction on a new, two-story building on The Island (It came to be known as Boon's Island). January 26, 1861, the Statesman carried an advertisement stating that he, associated with his son, H. D. Boon, and J. C. Peebles, had just opened a fresh stock of goods in a fireproof building lately erected on Boon's Island. "Cash will not be refused." 
After 94 years that structure still stands as Karr's, 888 North Liberty street. It may be the oldest brick building now occupied in Salem. Boon's memorium published in the Statesman July 18, 1864, states that he was "one of the best of homely men who helped plant the American flag on disputed soil. He was unlearned in books and untraveled. He maintained through all the vissitudes of life his individually and strong pecularities." In 1845 Rev. J. D. Boon united James Nesmith, later a distinguished United States senator from Oregon, in marriage with Pauline Goff. Boon was born in Athens, Ohio and died in Salem during the early 1860's at the age of 47. His neglected grave is located in the lower, north half of Pioneer cemetery. 
The Capital Journal, July 22, 1954, Sec. 2-11:4-7. 

John Daniel Boone (John Linville> George> Squire> George III Boone) was born in Athens, Ky. in 1817. He came west with his wife Martha Hawkins and seven children to Oregon in 1845. He worked for the Methodist Mission established in present day Salem, Oregon. In his preaching days he was remembered for his "strong religious emotion" and for wearing a red flannel shirt. In 1851 his honest character got him elected as Oregon's Treasurer, an office he kept until the 1860's. During this time, Boon started his own general store. The pioneer conducted both State and store business in his brick building. In fact, it is said the he kept two sacks -- one for public monies, the other for his store's. He died after a short illness on June 18, 1864. His grandson restored the "e" to his name. Photograph courtesy of the Oregon State Archives. 
BOONE FAMILY MEMORIES: Historical Research Calendar [for 2001], 1666-1890, by Ed and Arlene Buschert.

PHOTOGRAPH NOTES:  The photograph of Boon's Treasury is courtesy of the Salem Public Library Historic Photograph Collection, Salem Public Library, Salem, Oregon.  The text which accompanies the picture is as follows: 
"This is a photograph of Boon's Treasury located in Salem, Oregon. The brick building in the center was originally built in 1860 as a general store by John D. Boon and used by him as the State Treasury for two years when he was first elected as the Oregon Treasurer. Later on William Lincoln Wade operated a general store in this building. To the left of this building was Harry Kelly's house and on the right the F. J. Babcock Furniture Store. The building later housed Karr's Tavern and in 1974 it became Boon's Treasury Tavern."