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In about 1841, with their new Mormon faith and seven children under the age of eleven, my 3rd great grandparents, Abraham and Elizabeth Coon experienced the heavy persecutions that drove the Latter-day Saints from Missouri. More children came in Nauvoo Illinois but one died in infancy. As persecution followed them to Nauvoo, Abraham and Elizabeth headed west with the Saints. With her support, Abraham served as bishop, never turning away the needy, experiencing “wagon accidents, diseases, Indians, tough river-crossings, loss of cattle and wagons, and many deaths.” He served as a captain of ten, and looked after several families whose husbands or fathers were called away in the Mormon Battalion. Although losing four of ten children in death, one as a baby, and three as older teenagers including one to cholera, they pressed forward to the Salt Lake Valley. Thank you Abraham and Elizabeth for your faith, honor, service and hard work.
(by Kenneth R. Hardman, Ref. For complete story and references see, Abraham Coon and Family, by Jana K. Hardman, in Hardman Biographies – Ancestors of Sidney Glenn Hardman and Dorothy Mae Griffin, 2009. Photos from FamilySearch.org contributed by Rachel Joey Wilson. Excerpt from Gilbert Belnap’s document. Journal History. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FHL Film #BX No. 19 Reel 10. September 7, 1850, p. 3-4.) #AncestorClips
Additional Resources about Abraham Coon
Facebook, Descendants of Abraham and Elizabeth Coon, https://www.facebook.com/groups/533404800061093/
FamilySearch.org, Photos, Documents, and Stories, https://familysearch.org/tree/person/KWJ6-9N2/memories
Goble, William Kent, Heritage of the Abraham Coon family, 1989 https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/532512?availability=Family%20History%20Library
Hardman, Kenneth R., Hardman biographies : ancestors of Sidney Glenn Hardman and Dorothy Mae Griffin, 2009, https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE212153
Oatney, Thomas N., Descendants of Abraham Coon, 2015, http://www.oatney.org/Descendants%20of%20Abraham%20Coon%20(1810-1885).pdf
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Kenneth Hardman has, in few words, captured the heart of Abraham and Elizabeth Coon. He had me with the title, “Ever Faithful.” Reading of their sacrifices, trials, and faithfulness put my own modern-day challenges in perspective. I know I can remain ever faithful by following their examples.
I love hearing of the Spirit my ancestors possessed and see how that was passed generation to generation. Love to see history repeat itself in a good way!
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