In the steps of Daniel Boone
Boonesfield Village — Defiance, MO

by Heather Berry

In 1799, Daniel Boone led his family from Kentucky to the picturesque Femme Osage Valley located near Defiance. There, Daniel and his son Nathan built a four-story, Georgian-style limestone home modeled after Daniel’s boyhood home in Pennsylvania.

Nathan sold the home in 1837 and several families lived there for nearly a century. In 1998, the Andrae family, who owned the property at that time, donated it to Lindenwood University.

Since then, the university has expanded beyond the home tour by adding Boonesfield Village to its preservation efforts. The quaint village situated behind the Boone home allows visitors to catch a glimpse into early 19th-century life on the Missouri frontier.

The settlement is comprised of more than a dozen historic buildings, with more to be added. Visitors will see a log schoolhouse, log general store, log barn, gristmill and milliner’s shop on the tour.

Another highlight of the village is Old Peace Chapel, which is a charming relic of local Americana. The original structure was built between 1838 and 1860 just five miles from the Boone home. Moved to the village in 1983, it has been restored to pristine condition. A working pipe organ and church bell add to the chapel’s charm and the numerous weddings that are held there each year.

Many events are held on the site each year, such as Oregon Trail Days in March or Pioneer Days in September, where reenactors in period costume demonstrate life in the 1800s.

The Daniel Boone Home and Boonesfield Village are open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For prices and information, call (636) 798-2005 or log onto www.lindenwood.edu/boone.