From A
Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. I, p. 239
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902
SIMON KOONS
Simon W Koons was born in Wayne county, Ohio, March 12, 1848, and is now engaged in farming on section 2, Valley township, Rice county, Kansas. His parents were John and Rebecca (Gesleman) Koons. The former was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1797, and died upon the farm there in October, 1872. By his marriage he became the father of eleven sons and four daughters, of which number ten sons and three daughters reached adult age and all were married with the exception of one daughter. The youngest daughter of the family was accidentally poisoned when one year old, and they lost an infant son. The parents began life in humble circumstances and in the midst of the heavy forest the father cleared and developed a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and the rich fields yielded to him a golden tribute for the care and labor he bestowed upon them. He served in the war of 1812 and was ever a loyal and devoted citizen. He and his wife were members of the United Brethern church and the latter died in 1884, being an octogenarian at the time.
Simon W Koons spent his youth in the usual manner of farmer lads of the period. He acquired a good common-school education, such as was given to the other members of the family. The nine sons engaged in teaching school and two of them, Samuel and Isaac, became ministers of the gospel, the former now preaching in California, while the latter is located in Wichita, Kansas. Joseph was the inventor of the Minnesota Chief Thresher and makes his home in Glencoe, Minnesota. Jacob was a soldier for four years in the Civil war and now resides at New Auburn, Minnesota. He has a son who is engaged in military service in the Philippines. During fourteen winter terms Simon W Koons engaged in teaching school in Ohio and Kansas and was a capable educator, who imparted clearly and concisely to others the knowledge he had acquired. He remained at home until his marriage, which was celebrated on the 1st of December, 1870, Miss Minerva Grady becoming his wife. She was born in Ohio, August 11, 1850. Her parents came to Kansas in the fall of 1884, but both are now deceased. Mr Koons of this review arrived in the Sunflower state on the 23rd of August, 1877, settling a quarter section of land. He homesteaded eighty acres and paid two thousand dollars for the other eighty. He has since carried on general farming, his principal crop being wheat and corn. He has raised twenty-three hundred and fifty bushels of wheat and three thousand bushels of corn in a single year and has kept on hand from six to eight head of horses, most of which he has worked in the operation of his land. He also keeps about thirty-five head of cattle and an equal number of hogs. In 1901 he erected a good residence upon his farm and today he has a well improved place, neat and thrifty in appearance, the richly cultivated fields bringing to him a splendid return for his labor.
The marriage of Mr and Mrs Koons has been blessed with six children: Franklin Walter, who married Bertha Talbott, is a graduate of the Kansas City Medical College and is now engaged in practice in Chase, Kansas; Nola Maud is the wife of Bruce Burrows, and they have two children; Carrie May is the wife of William Coldwater, a farmer living near Chase, Kansas, by whom she has one son; Guy Grady assists his father in the operation of his farm; and Lena Catherine and Bryson are both at home. Mr Koons is a member of the subordinate lodge and encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has membership relations with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He supports the men and measures of the Republican party, has been township trustee for one term and has served on the school examining board. He and his family are members of the United Brethern church and he is a public spirited and progressive citizen who gives all his aid and influence to support every measure which he believes will prove of general benefit.