Governor, Statesman & Architectural Patriarch

As you stand before the grave of Ratliff Boon, you are looking at a life that traced the very arc of American westward expansion—and left a lasting architectural footprint on the town below.

Born in North Carolina in 1781, Boon grew up on the Kentucky frontier before helping shape the early history of Indiana. He studied law, entered public service, and quickly rose through the ranks. He served as Lieutenant Governor and, in 1822, became the second Governor of the State of Indiana. In fact, the town of Boonville, Indiana, was founded and named in his honor. Boon went on to serve multiple terms in the United States Congress during a pivotal era of national growth.

In 1839, Boon looked west once more. Drawn by the energy and commerce of the Mississippi River, he moved to Louisiana, Missouri, bringing with him his daughter, Minerva, and her husband, William Luce, along with their three young children: Marion, Helen, and Homer.

While Boon’s time in Missouri was cut short when he passed away in 1844, his family’s impact flourished. His son-in-law, William Luce, became an exceptionally successful merchant and civic leader in Louisiana. In the 1850s, Luce set out to provide for his grown children by commissioning four of Louisiana’s finest antebellum homes:

• The home at 1210 Georgia Street, constructed in 1854 for their daughter Marion and Edward Murray.
• 220 North 3rd Street, built in 1856 for son Homer and Irene Luce.
• The stately residence at 1100 North Carolina Street, built in 1857 for himself and his wife Minerva.
• 1014 South Carolina Street, built in 1857 for daughter Helen and Archibald Van Horn.

Ratliff Boon’s story reminds us that the history of Louisiana reaches far beyond Pike County. From the statehouse of Indiana to the quiet bluffs of Riverview, his legacy lives on in the grand brick avenues we treasure today.

And in a remarkable twist of history, Boon is not the only chief executive resting here. Further along our path, you will encounter the grave of Missouri Governor Lloyd Crow Stark—linking two state governors from two different centuries on these very hills.

Down in Town: When you finish your tour, make sure to take an architectural drive down Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and North 3rd streets to see the four magnificent Luce family homes that still grace Louisiana today."