Caroline Boone Berry

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     In the fall of 1999 our family attended the Nathan Boone Rendezvous in Ashgrove, Missouri.  While there we met Father Moses Berry.  Fr. Berry's oral family tradition indicates that his great great grandmother was the daughter of Nathan Boone.  Father Berry's great-grandfather was Wallace White who was the first and only black man in Company D, 6th Missouri Union Calvary.  He was the only member of Company D that did not receive a military pension. 

    The story of Nathan's daughter born in slavery comes as no surprise to the residents of Ashgrove.  An informal discussion with community members leads to a conclusion that most of the town folk believe the oral tradition to be true.

    An interesting dilema occurs for the amateur genealogist.  First, since Caroline would have been the daughter of a slave, no formal record of her birth would have been kept.  Second, since Olive VanBibber was still alive, one could assume that the affair was kept somewhat to a whisper.  Therefore hard paper proof probably doesn't exist.  However, after talking with town members and talking with Father Berry, one must conclude there is a strong likelihood that the oral tradition is indeed fact. 

    Nathan Boone, while a noteable historical figure, is not as famous as Thomas Jefferson and his Sally Hemming affair.  Therefore, one must conclude there will not be a call for DNA testing.   The actual facts will most likely remain a mystery based in oral tradition, faith and the conventional wisdom of the community.

    Because there is a strong likelihood of the relationship she is included in these pages.  As for me I believe the oral history to be probably true.