_______________________________
_Ray Spence Junior BOOTS _|
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|--Anna Mae BOOTS
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| _Jesse James (Leslie_V.) GRAY _
|_Bonnie Mae GRAY _________|
|_Anastasia Lee (Anna) FOUDRAY _
! A few years ago (early 1990's) the following paper was written for Pioneer's Day for the State of Indiana by Anna (Boots) Fox.
! I have always been told of how Martin Boots was the founder of Marion. The story goes something like this... On October 19, 1825, a short older man strode into the Muncie Land Office and announced his interest in preempting land in Northwestern Delaware County, and along the river which the Miami Indians had called "laughing water." The man knew that the U.S. Government asked $1.25 an acre and he had sufficient funds to make an investment, that was destined to be Historic. The short older man who would be troubled with Gout, entered the west half of the southeast fractional quarter of Section 6, township 24, north, range 8 east, containing 107.7 acres. The buyer was Martin Boots. It was not until the following August 26, that a red haired man, David Branson, went to Muncie to enter the east half of the southeast fractional quarter of Section 6, township 24 north, range 8 east, containing 95.35 acres. Branson was the second land owner of Grant County, which proved ideal within a brief space of time. I have a copy of the deed from Martin Boots and David Branson to Nathan Branson, Grant County Agent. I also have a copy of Land Grant to Martin Boots from U.S. Government, (J.Q. Adams) Legend has it... That Martin Boots donated the land for the county seat with a few conditions; 1. That the hitching racks around the Courthouse remain standing and 2. Noone would ever receive the Death Penalty in Grant County. The land was to revert back to the Heirs if these conditions were not met. In 1968 Charles Adams was sentenced to Death. The above story has been handed down through the years in our family. I found this in an article in the 12/4/68 issue of the Chronicle Tribune, Marion, Ind. I don't know how true this is. The following story is true and I have done follow up research on it. There are countless articles and paperwork on it, so I know it's true. Martin Boots set aside 2 acres of land on the Third street hill as a Boots Family Burial Plot. The city acquired the land for $1.00 at a Sheriff's sale in 1889. The bones of the town's founder and his family were moved to I.O.O.F. Cemetery, (now Estates of Serenity) in a long trench; all the remains were put in one grave. The City charged $.25 for people to help load the bones in a wagon to be taken to the cemetery. People actually paid for the opportunity to touch the bones of Martin Boots. He does not even have a proper marker. The family keeps up the graves. He was not only the first land owner of Grant County, he was also a veteran of the War of 1812. The city built a school on the land where the Burial ground was. It burned down 3 times, always on a damp misty Sunday. They tore down the Martin Boots School a few years ago and built apartments there. I have always felt this was wrong. They should not have disturbed the graves in the first place. The Burial ground should have remained in the family. It was a private cemetery. He donated 30 acres in the center of town for the purpose of forming a County seat. David Branson also donated 30 acres. It seems both men have been forgotten. The burial ground on Third street hill was not for City use. We are not even sure all the remains were moved. This can all be verified through my records, Grant County Library and the Chronicle Tribune in Marion, Ind. I hope you don't let this hamper my application. I just though it might be helpful to include some Family history. (My native American hereitage comes from both the Boots side and my grandmother Grace O'Bannion - Miami Indians of Indiana). Another story handed down to all new brides in the family follows; while Mary (Odell) Boots was the first bona-fide housewife in the community, she never had seen coffee until one day when Martin, her husband came home with 2 lbs. She did not understand the roasting process, and she boiled the green coffee without developing the aroma. Needless to say the coffee was not fit to drink.