Delinda Boone

     Delinda Boone was born on 3 February 1802 at Saint Charles District, Spanish Louisiana Territory, Spain. She was the daughter of Nathan Boone and Olive VanBibber. Delinda Boone married, at age 17, James Craig, age 33 on Thursday, 29 April 1819 at Femme Osage, Saint Charles County, Missouri Territory, USA. Delinda Boone died on 18 September 1877 at Hanover, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, at age 75 years, 7 months and 15 days. She was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, located in Hanover, Jo Daviess County, Illinois.
     From Gary R. Hawpe, ed. and Jack Leedom, comp., 'Great Excitement In Hanover,' Van Bibber Pioneers E-Newsletter, Vol. 5 No. 2 (December 2001), pp. 15 - 16.

GREAT EXCITEMENT IN HANOVER - WHISKEY AND GAMBLING SHOP DEMOLISHED BY THE LADIES

Mr. Editor: Some of the 'noble race of the gown,' of which the ancient posts sung, are still living in the little town of Hanover, and I send you a record of their deeds, agreeably to request:

For two or three years past a large brick building has been used as a gambling and tippling shop, and so long have the best citizens been trying, in various ways, to rid themselves and neighbors of this intolerable nuisance. -- Several indictments have been found against the dramsellers, but somehow they have managed to evade their just punishment from the law. The establishment had come to be a favorite resort of many fathers, husbands, and interesting young men engaged in the various mills and work-shops of the town. Every pains had been taken by the proprietors to make it attractive to the young and thoughtless. But fortunately a certain lady mistook the 'Nine Pin Alley' for the Postoffice, (being in a similar building nearby), in which she caught a glimpse of certain obscene paintings hanging along the Alley. The report of this exhibition was the beginning of war. A few resolute women, asking no favors of the 'lords of creation,' but feeling a grievous burden of women's wrongs, called a Council of Ladies, and quickly decided upon a plan of operations. They selected for their Captain the daughter of Col. Boone, famous for his victories in the Black-Hawk War, and granddaughter of Daniel Boone, Kentucky's boasted pioneer. And she was a Captain of the first blood, sure. They first issued and posted their notices that this nuisance must be suddenly removed, and that the building, with it's contents, would be entirely destroyed, by armed force, if necessary, on the 24th inst., between the hours of one and two o'clock P.M. 'Brag & Holdfast' had made various threats of shooting the woman who dared strike the first blow: that the dangerous guns were all ready, &c. But these threats served only to rouse the indignation of the injured wives and mothers. As soon as the hour arrived some sixty women, armed with sledgehammers, crowbars, and battle-axes, assembled on the common, then marched boldly up to the liquor ship in battle array. A gentle rap on the door was given by the Captain, but admittance being refused by a strong lock she plied the sledge-hammer, when the doors and windows immediately gave way to the well directed blows of the Light Infantry. When the decanters were well broken, and the whiskey and brandy barrels were emptied and destroyed, the brave Captain gave the following toast, vis: 'Where is the man with the 'dangerous gun' --- his powder is wet and his courage has failed.'

Then they commenced breaking in the sides of the building, and pulling out, with large ropes, some ten feet square of brick at a time, till the whole building fell in one mass of ruins. A multitude of the - so called - sterner sex offered their assistance, but none was received till the building, with its contents, was well nigh ruined. It was the work of the ladies, and to them the praise belongs. It was evident, however, that they had the approbation of nine-tenths of the lookers on. When the work was thoroughly done the company marched up before the door of the Postoffice, and passed the following resolution. Vis:

Reso'ved, That we, the ladies of Hanover, watchful of the character and welfare of our fathers, husbands, and sons, will put a decided veto upon the future sale of intoxicating liquors in our town, as a beverage, and will totally demolished - as we have done this day - the first liquor shop know to be established in our town.

Three cheers were then given to the ladies of Hanover, a large flag hoisted, and several cannons fired, when the crowd gradually dispersed. The ladies have offered to give a list of their names if it would accommodate those threatening to prosecute.

B. M. MUNN
Secretary, pro tem.

Taken from the fourth column on page 1, of the April 29, 1856 Edition, of the Galena (Illinois) Daily Advertiser. A similar Editorial appears in the Northwestern Weekly Gazette, May 6, 1856. Edition.