Jasper KOONS (Ca. 1816 - 1851) of Marion Co., Iowa
Jasper Koons, said to be the son of Devault Koons and Milly Koons,
1
was born about 1816 in North Carolina.
2
On 15 Dec 1836, in Johnson Co., Indiana, Jasper Koontz married Mary
Gallaspy
.
3
The 1850 census of Marion Co., Iowa appears, on first reading, to
list Jasper's wife's name as Baley, born about 1822 in Kentucky.
However, on closer examination (with comparison of the enumerator's handwriting
on other names) it appears probable that the name is actually "Polly," a known
diminuitive of Mary. Given the close associations between Jasper Koons
and the
Gillaspy
family, it seems likely that his wife was Mary "Polly" Gillaspy.
4
Also living in Jasper's household in 1850 were Samuel and Leah
Bacon
, a 10 year old named John
Dyer
and several children with the surname
Bacon
. Leah
Bacon
, age 32, born Kentucky, appears to be Leah
Gillaspy
, who married Daniel
Dyer
on 22 August 1839 in Johnson Co., Indiana.
5
Apparently, Jasper Koons moved to Louisa Co., Iowa with his brother Alfred
about 1840.
6
By 1843, Jasper, with his brother Asa, had settled in Lake Prairie
Township of Marion Co., Iowa.
7
When neighboring Clay Township was organized on 16 Nov 1846, "the
place for holding elections was appointed to be the house of Jasper Koons."
8
He was elected township treasurer on 2 Apr 1848,
9
and was serving as Justice of the Peace at the time of his death in late 1851.
10
Mr. Koons defended his property rights with vigor. According to a sketch
of John W.
Alley
, known as Colonel Alley, the first lawyer in Marion Co., "during his
residence in this township [Lake Prairie], the Colonel had some trouble with
the Koonses in relation to a claim at the lower end of White Breast prairie and
was fired upon and slightly wounded in the arm, one night, as he was on his way
home. Having ascertained the person of his intended assassin, he ambushed
himself near the disputed claim, and awaited the appearance of Jasper Koons,
who was hauling rails. When his intended victim was in sight and within easy
range, the Colonel fired and the bullet knocked the ox whip off the fellow's
shoulder. Soon after this a compromise was effected and Koons surrendered the
claim on the receipt of a stipulated sum."
11
This incident may have motivated his move to Clay Township where he purchased a
total of 300 acres in Section 16 in 1848 and 1849,
12
and 80 acres in Section 9 on 2 Nov 1849.
13
The disposition of this land has not been fully traced in Marion Co.,
Iowa deed records, but on 13 Sep 1859, a portion of it, along with acreage in
Section 3, was ordered divided between
John W. Walton
, Lewis and Sarah
McKinney
, and James K.
Koons
, with Walton receiving a one-half share and Sarah and James each receiving
one-fourth share.
14
It is a mystery why John Walton, the husband of Jasper Koons deceased
daughter, received a larger share than his surviving children. The court
approved the final distribution on 23 May 1860.
15
Jasper seems to have been fond of travel, and not opposed to leaving his
children behind. A detailed story is told of Jasper Koons and his wife
crossing to the north side of the Des Moines River in March, 1845,
"leaving Eliza J.
Durham
, now Mrs. D. D.
Miller
in the care of his house and two small children." A spring thaw
caused the ice on the river to break up, stranding them, with the children
running low on provisions. Mr. Koons had to call across the river to Ms.
Durham's brother to rescue them.
16
Jasper Koons and his wife both died while on a visit to Indiana in the fall of
1851.
17
They were apparently accompanied by their three youngest children, with
the older daughters, Sarah and Susan, remaining in Marion County, Iowa.
18
The exact date of death is not known, but would have been by 12 Dec
1851, when John
Gillaspy
states to the court that "he is the nearest relation living of said
deceased, now living (sic) and relinquishes his right to administer said estate
(of Jasper Koons) in favor of John B.
Hamilton
."
19
On 1 Jan 1852, John
Gillaspy
applied and was appointed guardian of the minor heirs of Jasper Koons,
deceased: "Sarah An (sic) Koons age 13, Susan Jane Koons age 11,
Eutha A(illegible) Koons, age 9, James K. P., age 6, and Elijah Willson Koons,
age 5." The guardianship order states that "the first 2 are
now in Marion Co., Iowa, and the last three in Johnson Co., Indiana."
20
On 30 Jul 1859, John
Gillaspy
, "guardian of Sarah A.
McKinney
formerly Sarah A. Koons, Susan J.
Walton
formerly Susan J. Koons, and James K.P.
Koons
, minor heirs of Jasper Koons, dec." filed a Statement of Condition of the
Estate with the court.
21
From this and other evidence discussed below, it is assumed that Eutha
and Elijah died as young children.
Children
(1)
Sarah Ann Koons
, born about 1838, Indiana,
22
married 1 Aug 1853, in Marion Co., Iowa,
23
Lewis McKinney
. No effort has been made to trace this couple further.
(2)
Susan Jane Koons
, born about 1840, Iowa,
24
married 25 Jul 1858, in Marion Co., Iowa,
25John W. Walton
, who was born about 1825-32,
26
in Danville, Virginia,
27
and died 11 Nov 1897 in Harrison Co., Missouri.
28
On 5 Aug 1857, Susan petitioned the court as a minor heir over 14 of
Jasper Koons to have Josiah
Adams
of Clay Township appointed as her guardian as she was not satisfied with John
Gillaspy
.
29
Susan died 7 Sep 1858
30
and is buried in Eureka Cemetery, Clay Twp., Marion Co., Iowa.
31
After her death, John married, on 1 Sep 1859, Amelia Anna
Morgan
,
32
the daughter of Solomon
Morgan
and his wife Eliza. John W. Walton was appointed administrator of the
estate of Susan J.
Walton
on 21 Sep 1858,
33
and filed a final settlement on 16 Jan 1862 which names her sister Sarah Ann
McKinney
and brother James K.P.
Koons
.
34
(3)
Eutha Koons
, born about 1842 in Iowa.
35
She, along with her two brothers, were in Johnson Co., Indiana, when,
on 1 January 1852, John
Gillaspy
was appointed her guardian.
36
Eutha apparently died by January 1854, as she is not mentioned in
subsequent accountings to the court.
37
(4)
James K. P. Koons
, born about 1845, Iowa.
38
He may be the James Koons b. 8 Dec 1845 d. 31 Dec 1900 who is buried in
Dunreath Cemetery, Marion Co., Iowa.
39
He may also be the James Koons said to have married (1) Mary Jane
Dragoo
on 13 Feb 1868
40
and (2) Margaret A.
Harvey
on 27 Jun 1872,
41
both in Marion Co., Iowa. If so, it appears he had at least one son,
Andrew Jasper Koons, born in 1869, who is said to have been adopted by John
Wesley
Rich
and his wife Eliza Jane
King
.
42
It is known, from platting land records, that the
Rich
and
King
families were close neighbors of Jasper Koons in Clay Township of Marion Co.
However, there is another James Koons (1837-1916) buried with his wife
Jeannette in Greenwood Cemetery, Knoxville Township, Marion Co., Iowa.
43
(5)
Elijah Willson Koons
, born about 1849, Iowa.
44
Although Alfred Koons presents an account for boarding James K.P. Koons
and Elijah Koons on 8 Feb 1854,
45
Elijah is presumed to have died by 17 Jan 1854 when his guardian John Gillaspy
presents an accounting to the court which mentions only Sarah, Susan, and James.
46
Endnotes
1Descendants of Peter Kuntz
compiled by Claude E. Wells, 3809 Philadelphia Road, Abingdon, MD 21009-1107,
downloaded 14 Feb 2000.
2
Jasper Koons household, 1850 U.S. Census, Marion Co., Iowa, dwelling 448,
families 485 and 486, FHL Microfilm 442,962, p. 260. Hereinafter
1850 Census, Marion Co., Iowa.
7
William M. Donnel,
Pioneers of Marion County: consisting of a general history of the county from
its earliest settlement to the present date
(Des Moines, Iowa: Republican Steam Printing House, 1872), pp. 126 and 140
25
Marriage Register, Marion Co., Iowa, Volume I, 1845-1866, FHL Microfilm
1,019,714, p. 277. Hereinafter
Marion Co., Iowa Marriage Register, Vol. 1
26
The 1860 Census of Clay Township, Marion Co., Iowa gives John Walton's age as
30, while the 1870 and 1880 censuses of Harrison Co., Missouri, give ages of 38
and 55 respectively.
27
Harrison County, Missouri Cemetery Records, Compiled by the Harrison Co.
Genealogical Society, 1985 p. 85
29
Marion Co., Iowa Probate Records, Volume D, FHL Microfilm 1,019,724, p. 202.
30
Marion Co. Genealogical Society, Cemeteries of Marion Co., Iowa, (Harlan, Iowa:
R.C. Boothe Enterprises, 1976), p. 90. Hereinafter
Cemeteries of Marion Co., Iowa
.
