My Grandfather and Grandmother Josiah & Rebecca Coon came from Henry County, Indiana, in the fall of 1853. They stopped 3 miles southwest of Osceola and stayed two years on some rented land that belonged to Uncle George Coon. In 1855 they took a claim for $1.25 an acre on my present farm in section 26; Doyle Township. They wanted to get close to the colony. We know it as Hopeville. They came in two covered wagons and drove two cows through. They had a team of horses and a team of oxen. Besides the family of 6 children there were Abe Coon and brother-in-law, Henry Carl. He went back to Indiana. My father, Aaron, was born here on the farm in 1858. Grandfather had 40 acres which he sold for $300.00 in gold but had to walk back later for the money. All of that prairie land around Murray could have been bought at the same price, but poor people had to settle in the timber. As long as my father lived, when he got up where Glen Davis now lives, he would be getting up on the prairie.

Wnen the Civil War came in 1861, grandfather gave two boys, George and William. William

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LETTER TO MR. & MRS. COON ABOUT SON
WILLIAM

Washington, Ark. Nov. 29, 1865

Mr. & Mrs. Coon,
By the request of your son, William, I write a few lines to you, the task of writing is nothing; but the information is my painful task to impart is not a pleasant one. But as a token of respect to the living and dead. I shoulder the task with pleasure. I presume you will have been apprised of the sickness of George long ere this reaches you. He suffered much for a few days but now his sufferings are o're. Last night about 7 o'clock I visited him in the hospital; he seemed to be struggling with death. He remained in this condition until about four o'clock on the following morning. When he yielded a victim to death. He was unconscious three days before he died, his lapse was morned by all who knew him, he had not an enemy in the regiment, he was so honest, upright and almost without fault, a promising

came home. they were held after the war to guard cotton and George became victim of Malaria fever, which was fatal. I will share with you the letter that grandfather was notified of his death, below.

My father, Aaron Coon, bought out the heirs at grandmother's death and my father and mother spent their entire married life on this farm. My sisters, Emma and Alice, were born in the log house 1/4 mile north of my present home. My sister, Iris, died of scarlet fever at age seven in 1916. I live in the house I was born in. My father built it in 1894 and in 1905 built on it again. My wife and I have spent our married life on this farm. We raised two orphan boys, Sidney and John. John went down on the Huston in W.W. 2 and Sidney and his family live in the country close to Benton Harbor, Michigan. We lost a baby daughter at birth December 9. 1930. On January 11. 1936. Janice came to live with us. She is Mrs. Jay Irvin & She and Jay live at Urbandale. Janice works for American Republic and Jay works at Firestone.

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youth. But fatal death, alas; has taken him from his earthly friends. George loved his parents mach respected their former teachings - never, fell victim to any of the vices which so often demoralize the Camps, he was ever and anon the same boy that left his mothers side two years ago, to do his country service. True he was not a victim of the unconditional weapons of the battlefield but of disease contracted while in service of his country. It is a painful task to bury our friends in this, southern soil, but it must needs be at the present. Such is the will of our ruler of the universe.

If you make application through a claim agent, you will get the balance due George which is five months pay. If I was well I might give a more expletive detail of his character-suffering and death but I hope this will suffice until we get home.

I sign myself Benj. S. Bonham
1st Lieut Co "H" 9th Iowa

Further I must say for George he was a good soldier always ready for duty and that without murmurings none can boast of better we should have sent the corpse home as it was his request before he took sick. But it is not in our power to do so under existing circumstances.