GEORGE D. COON, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Topeka; son of Reuben and Anna Coon. The former was born on a farm in New Jersey, in 1787, and came to Illinois in 1842. His wife's maiden name was Drake, daughter of George Drake, of New Jersey. She was born in 1793. They are both dead; he died in 1862, she in 1853. They were both members of the Baptist Church of New Jersey, and died in that faith. The subject of our sketch was born April 9, 1813, in New Brunswick, N. J., and remained there until 1839, and was engaged in farming and blacksmithing. In that year he came, by team, to Illinois, and settled in Greene Co., where he remained until 1842, at which time he moved to Mason Co., and settled on a farm for some time. He then settled on the present farm of eighty acres, which he had entered from the Government prior to his settlement on the same. He has given his attention entirely to agricultural pursuits, and has increased his land to 820 acres, aud has improved the same. Seven hundred and twenty acres of this land is the fruit of their own labor and management. He celebrated his marriage, in 1836, with Harriet Brown, daughter of Stephen Brown, of New Jersey. He came to Illinois in 1849, with a family of seven children. His wife's maiden name was Bishop. Mrs. Coon was horn in 1815. Six children were the fruit of this happy marriage:  Mary J. (now Appleman), who has taught school, Walter L.. Reuben G., Sophia B., George D.; deceased, R. R. Mr. Coon retains a membership in the Baptist Church in New Jersey. At the time of Mr. Coon's settlement the county was but little settled, and there yet remained now and then a wild animal which had perhaps narrowly escaped theflintlock and spear of the savage. He has toiled on in rural life in the same channel with his neighbors, and has improved these raw prairies.



Maintained by Mason County Coordinator Donna Mayer