Iowa
Old Press
Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur
February 1922
WILLIAM T. COONS was born near Columbus, in
Franklin County, Ohio, July 8, l852. He was the oldest son of
MADISON and RACHEL COONS, two brothers, JACOB and OWEN and one
sister, MARGARET, all preceding him to the great beyond. He died
at his home in Los Angeles, California, Feb. 2, l922, aged 69
years, 6 months and 26 days, his death being from the third
stroke of paralysis, causing cerebral hemorrhage.
MR. COONS came with his parents to Lee County, Iowa, in l856,
when he was but four years of age. His parents settled on a farm
and here he grew to manhood following farming, merchant and
carpentering as his occupation. He was married to MISS INA GIVANS
at Leon, Iowa, in l877, he having located at Leon in l874. They
moved to Lamoni, where they resided for l8 years, returning to
Leon in l903. To them were born twelve children, LILLY, LUCILA,
WILLIAM, FLORA, LENNA, MADISON, NELLIE, FANNIE, LOREE, JOHN, FLOY
and CECIL. One boy, WILLIE, and one girl, LILLY, passed to the
great beyond, leaving his devoted wife, ten children and ten
grandchildren to mourn his loss.
While living at Lamoni, he was a member of the firm of Booth,
McHarness & Coons, who sold out to B.D. Fleet, after which he
clerked in the Fleet Store, Thomas Teale & Son and other
stores.
His funeral was held at Pierce Bros. & Co.'s funeral parlors,
his wife and children attending. MADISON COONS, of Seattle,
Washington, arrived in time for his father to recognize him. He
had called for all his children to be at his bedside. FLOY COONS
and MRS. LOREE PALMER did not reach Los Angeles until after his
death, but were in attendance at the funeral. The children
present were; MADISON COONS, of Seattle, Wash.; FLOY COONS and
MRS. LOREE PALMER, of Kansas City, Mo., NELLIE, JOHN and CECIL of
Los Angeles, also his father-in-law, MR. J.C.F. GIVANS, who is 93
years old. Several [illegible] also in attendance, including MR.
and MRS. J.R. BOWSHER, G.A. LONG, HENRY MILLER, C.S. EVANS, MR.
MUSE and wife and MRS. KELLEY and others.
[transcribed by M.A.N., April 2006]