Elijah H. and Prudence C. Coon, the former of whom was also a native of New York State, born of Scottish ancestry, and was a son of Jabez Coon. The latter was one of five brothers who came to America, settling in Otsego County, N. Y., on farms near Coonsville, in that county, which village was named after them. Jabez Coon married Matilda Holmes, by whom he had thirteen children, six reaching mature age, viz.: Elijah H. (the eldest of the family), Nelson, Daniel, Joshua, Jefferson and Betsey, the others dying when young. Jabez Coon was one of a hardy, robust race, was a man of influence in his day, and was respected far and wide for his many good qualities, as was also the entire family.
Elijah H. and Prudence Coon were the parents of eight children, to wit: Fannie A., now the widow of Albert Burdick, and living at Merrill; Elijah Morgan, also of Merrill; Cortland J., deceased; William M., deceased; James K. P., deceased, subject of sketch; Julius J., of Toledo, Ohio; Mrs. Emma Witter, of Wausau, Wis.; and Mrs. Alice Champagne Fleming of Merrill. The father was by vocation a manufacturer of and dealer in furniture; was something of a politician, and held many prominent public offices. He was a man of sterling character, well educated, a leader of men, enjoying to the day of his death the esteem and respect all classes. He died in Delaware County, N. Y., in 1853, his wife surviving him till August 16, 1887, when, in the city of Merrill, she too passed away.
