Leander Coon: Wisconsin Settler

1814-1876
great-great-grandfather

Leander with his wife Harriet; from Kaufman Family Album.

 

      Leander Coon was born about 1814. Based on census data, he was born in New York state. However, according to Gramie, her mother Jennie Coon (Leander's daughter) said that Leander was born in Holland of English parents. Mom said that Leander's parents left England because of religious persecution and eventually came to America from Amsterdam! I currently suspect that he was born in New York, but it is not clear. At this time, I do not know who his parents or siblings are, although there are several candidates for brothers and cousins.

      Leander Coon married Harriet Potter in about 1842. Their eldest child, Hiram Mark, was born September 1843, in New York. We do not actually know where they married! They could have married in Hampton, New York, near the Vermont border, where Harriet grew up. On the other hand, they could have married in Genesee County, in western New York, where Leander appears to have lived. In 1843, Leander came to Palmyra, Wisconsin, from Genesee County.

      In 1849, Leander obtained the deed for 40 acres of land slightly southeast of the town of Palmyra from the federal government and worked as a farmer. In the 1850 census, he was living with his wife Harriet, son Hiram Mark, mother-in-law Orrilla Potter, brother-in-law Henry Potter and sister-in-law Frances Potter. His youngest child, Frances Jane, was born in 1852 in Palmyra and by 1860, all of the in-laws had departed! Leander's real estate was valued at $800, but his occupation in 1860 was speculator! In 1870, his occupation was keeping livery, so presumably he kept horses and let them out for hire. Jenny was still living at home, but son Hiram lived nearby working as a teamster.

      On December 20, 1876, age 62, Leander died in Palmyra. His daughter Jenny (Mom's grandmother) was still living at home, possibly to help take care of her father. There was a very brief obituary that identified Leander as one of the earliest settlers of Palmyra. His tombstone has not been found, but he most likely was buried in Hillside Cemetery in Palmyra.

      Leander Coon has remained a tantalizing mystery! It appears that he came from Genesee County, New York. The land in this area was purchased by the Holland Land Company in 1796. So I wonder if this was the basis for the story of Leander being born in Holland!... Even though Leander did purchase land in Palmyra, his primary occupation did not seem to be farming. Was his speculation related to buying and selling land?... In addition, one census stated that he was unable to read or write.

      The Coon family origins are a mystery as well! The Coon, Potter and Knapp surnames are very common in New York state and it quickly gets tangled. Orrilla Knapp's daughter, Harriet, married Leander Coon. But in addition, two of Orrilla's siblings married someone named Coon. Mom said that her grandmother Jenny was Scotch and French, so it is possible that Coon origins are in Scotland and Potter origins are in France. I think it likelier, though, that Potter origins are English.