Hello Bob,
Thanks for your message....I will keep working on this family and let you know if anything turns up. There are several ties with the Nichols and Chronister families that I am exploring. You likely know this, but Jesse A. Boen and William H. Cooper (both "of Pope County") entered land on 1 May 1861, Clarksville Land Office, cash entries. William H. Cooper, father of Polly Cooper Boen. You may be right and he could have died before the War began. I keep hoping to find some affidavit in a pension file which sheds more light on the Jesse A. Boen family. So far, no luck, but have not given up yet!
Best Regards,
Cynthia