Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-12-13
DEATH OF COL. JAMES BOON
A Rsiiroader Of the OIden Time Who Had
Diversified Career

A Raiiroadsr Of the Olden Time Who Had A
Diversified Career.
Col James Boon, an old and well known
citizen, died this morning at o'clock al his
boarding place, (Hsttie Kepperlings) No. A
East Chestnut street, after an illness Of sew.
eral months, sged So years.
Col. Boon was a native of Ireland, but
came to America in his youth, and settled in
pennsylvania He was a contractor and
helped to build for the state the Philadelphia
q Columbia railroad, now part of the Penn.
sylvania railroad. He was afterwards a.
slstant superintendent of the road under
Gen. A. l.. Roumfort and Col. James Cam.
eron. He had charge of the state locomotive
works at Parkesburg, and at the same time
ran private foundry OF his own at Chris.
tiana, this county.
He held at one time an important posi,ion
on the Fort Wayne Chicago railroad.
he was IN partnership with David Cockley,
about 1910, in carrying on the old frame
foundry, corner Duke and Chestnut streets,
ana ister AZ the west Chestnut street foundry
with Michael Hanaway.
He had several contracts on the Pennsyl.
vania railroad and its branches, and also in
he construction of telegraph lines.
About 1850 he had charge OF the old Port
age road, and Ex-Governor Geary was his
clerk.
For some years he kept the old Red lion
Motel ON Market street, Philadelp phia. He
was the Oldest Odd Fellow in PennsyIvania
having been member of the order mora
than 90 years. He was the founder of Ian.
caster Lodge, NO. 81, and of Washington
Encampment, No. IL, OF this city, and was
the first noble grand and first chief patriarch
OF these organizations respectively. He was
In his younger days very active in organic.
ing new lodges and otherwise furthering the
interests OF the order. He remained a mem.
ber OF Lancaster Lodge and Washington En-.
campment to the time OF his death.
FOR several years past he was PARTIAL Y
paaaiyzeu, the result OF several accidents
suffered by him. On one occasion he was
met on trestle work by train OF coal cars.
10 prevent them from running over him he
Jumped from the trestle which was thirty
ieet nigh, and sprained himself so badly that
ne lost control partially OF his legs and
arms. On another occasion, while build
ing telegraph line, one OF the poles fell
anu mi; Boon was caught by II in some
way anu hurled high into the air and picked
up Iof oead. On another occasion he mel
WIN aIeariul accident on the Camden a
AmDoy railroad by which he had the fesh
tofn from his legs and arms. Being A man
OF great vitality he survived all these shocks
and lived to a good old age.
Coi. boon was careful business man.
remarkably industrious as long AZ he wss
Aoie 10 work and OF abstemious and AGO.
noucai habits. Even after he became dis.
-oNs oeo lor active business, he made careful in.
sMents and speculations In bonds and
ana II Is said he leaves a fine estate.
ha ,ea rsS ~, wue died many years ago and
father has long been engaged I, IN 0rn .ne hls
iairs lie was for years superin,enSsn, -
motive power ON the Fort Waype a Chiasf ~ va
rauroad, and afterwards superintendsn, -,
the Northwestern railroad. He is al present
superintendent OF the West Shore road from