Butte County

Biographies

 

 

 

 

 

WILLIAM COON

 

 

      WILLIAM COON.--A pioneer of Butte County, the late William Coon was born in Ohio, September 30, 1819.  He migrated to Illinois, where for many years he was engaged in farming in Coles County.  His wife was also named Coon, her Christian name being Elizabeth; she was born in Maryland, July 21, 1819.

     In 1860, William Coon brought his wife and five children across the plains, starting April 3, with ox and horse teams and coming via St. Joe, thence up the Platte, on across the mountains via the Honey Lake Route, to Butte County.  He located on a preemption two miles west of Durham, where he built a residence and made improvements and became a successful farmer and a influential man.  Hi wife died in 1892, aged seventy-three years, leaving him five children:  Louisa, who was Mrs. Lowrey, died in Sacramento; Allen, deceased; Mrs. Frances Duffield, who resides in Corning; Mary Jane, who is Mrs. Richardson; and Emmett, who resides on the home place at Durham. 

     Mr. Coon was interested in the cause of education, and with his neighbors, built the White Schoolhouse, where the children of the neighborhood attended and received their instruction in the early days.  He was enterprising and progressive, and was elected Supervisor of Butte County, being reelected and serving two terms.  He also served as road overseer and as deputy tax collector.  He died, December 25, 1898, almost eighty years of age.  His wife had always been a devoted member of the Christian Church, while he was a Universalist.  Fraternally, he was a member of the Odd Fellows.

 

 

 

Transcribed by Louise E. Shoemaker April 5th, 2008.

Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Page 840, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.

© 2008 Louise E. Shoemaker.

 

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