15 Facts About Ratliff Boon

At the outbreak of the War of 1812, Ratliff Boon joined the Indiana Territorial militia and eventually rose to the rank of colonel.

Warrick County was organized in 1813 and Ratliff Boon was appointed by Governor Thomas Posey to the position of County Treasurer.

Ratliff Boon was elected to the state senate in December 1818 but resigned after winning the election to become the second Lieutenant Governor in December 1819.

Ratliff Boon's success led to the rapid repeal of the law which quickly became a drain on the state's limited resources.

When Governor Jonathan Jennings resigned to take a seat in Congress, Ratliff Boon succeeded him and became the second governor of the state on September 12,1822, and served until Hendricks's inauguration on December 5,1822.

Ratliff Boon's only act of consequence during his short time as governor was to conduct a census of the area purchased by the Treaty of St Mary's and make recommendations for the creation of counties in the region.

Ratliff Boon's proposal was adopted by the General Assembly, which organized county governments and created three seats in the assembly to provide representation to the subjects of the census.

Ratliff Boon returned to the lieutenant governor's office and remained in that position until January 30,1824, when he resigned after winning the election to the United States House of Representatives.

Ratliff Boon was elected as a Jacksonian and served in Congress from March 4,1825, to March 3,1827.

Ratliff Boon was unsuccessful in his re-election attempt in 1826, defeated by Thomas H Blake who ran on an internal improvement platform which Boon's party was opposed to.

Ratliff Boon ran again for the office in 1828, and won.

Ratliff Boon served in Congress again from March 4,1829, to March 3,1839.

Ratliff Boon made an unsuccessful run for re-election in 1839, and was defeated by Oliver H Smith.

Ratliff Boon remained sick and died shortly after hearing of his party's victory in the election.

Ratliff Boon is interred in Riverview Cemetery of Louisiana, his son, Baily Hart Boon, later erected a monument over his grave.