Byron M. Coon

COON, MCPHERSON, LESHER

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/12/2011 at 20:40:03

Byron M. Coon is engaged in the practice of law in Estherville, being a well known attorney of Emmet county. He was born in Washington, D. C., March 3, 1880, and is a son of Byron C. and Janet (McPherson) Coon, who were natives of New York and of Maryland respectively. The father is now a distinguished citizen of the nation's capital and at present is filling a position in the office of the second assistant postmaster general. He has been connected with the postoffice department there for forty-five years and no higher testimonial of fidelity and capability could be found than the statement of the fact of his long connection with the department and his steady advancement in the service.

Byron M. Coon, reared in his native city, attended the George Washington Law University, from which he was graduated on the completion of the regular course. He was then admitted to practice before the supreme court of the District of Columbia and in the United States courts in 1903. He spent six months in a law office, gaining practical experience, and on the expiration of that period removed westward to Estherville, Iowa, where he became associated in practice with George E. Patterson, opening an office in the old Coon block. This was before the fire of 1904. He continued his connection with Mr. Patterson for a year and later was associated in law practice with Judge N. J. Lee for a year subsequent to 1910 but between the years 1904 and 1910 was alone in practice. In April, 1916, he was joined by S. G. Bammer in a law partnership that is still maintained. His devoting his attention to general law practice and is a strong and able attorney, preparing his cases with great thoroughness and care. He is resourceful, being seldom surprised by the unexpected attack of an adversary, and at all times his deductions are sound, his reasonings logical and his arguments convincing. He first gleaned knowledge of Estherville through a visit with relatives, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Doolittle, and becoming impressed with the city and its opportunities, he returned to enter the field of active practice here in 1903. In 1901 he had been connected with the agricultural branch of the twelfth federal census, editing the agricultural data, and this brought him much knowledge concerning the state, its conditions and its opportunities, leading to his later investigation, with the result that Iowa gained a substantial citizen and Mr. Coon found here a profitable field of labor.

In 1906 occurred the marriage of Mr. Coon and Miss Mary E. Lesher, a daughter of W. A. and Alvira Lesher, then of Estherville. The mother is now deceased, while the father at the present time resides in Le Mars, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Coon have become the parents of three children: Paul L., who was born April 12, 1907; Janet, April 4, 1909; and Mary Elizabeth, June 30, 1912.

The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and in the social life of the city they occupy an enviable position. Fraternally Mr. Coon is connected with the Elks, the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Yeomen. For two years he was venerable consul of the Modern Woodmen camp at Estherville and was lecturing knight for the Elks for a year. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and he has several times been called upon to fill positions of honor and trust. For four years he served as justice of the peace and his decisions in that office were strictly fair and impartial. For a similar period he filled the office of secretary of the independent school district of Estherville. In 1905 he was called to the position of city attorney, which office he occupied for four terms, resigning in 1913 to become county attorney, in which position he is now serving for the second term, making an excellent record by his devotion to duty, coupled with his comprehensive knowledge of the law and his ability to correctly apply its principles.

Source: History of Emmet County and Dickinson County Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, The Pioneer Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1917.