Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2025 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== USGenNet Data Repository Notice: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ============================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ============================================================================= Historical Collections Collections and Researches made by the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society Reprint VOL. XXI Wynkoop Ballenbeck Crawford Co., State Printers 1912-1913 [page 127-129] HON. EZRA L. KOON died at his home in Hillsdale, Feb. 9, 1892, aged 59 years. EZRA L. KOON was born at Tyrone, Steuben county, New York, December 31, 1832. His early education was gained in the district schools while assisting on his father's farm. In addition to this he attended Franklin academy one term of four months. In 1844 the entire family consisting of the parents, six sons and two daughters, removed to Hillsdale county, settling in Allen township, where they opened a farm of 320 acres. At the age of twenty MR. KOON returned to New York, and taught one winter. Returning thence to Michigan, he worked on a farm one summer; the next winter taught school in Branch county. The following summer he clerked in a dry goods store, teaching again the next winter in the same county. He then went to Kan- kakee, Ill., where he taught school two years, meanwhile begin- ning the study of law. In 1858 he returned to Hillsdale, entered the law office of C. J. Dickerson, and at the end of the year was admitted to the bar. He at once formed a partnership with Mr. Dickerson which was continued until the fall of 1862, when Mr. Dickerson entered the military service as Lieut. Colonel of the tenth Michigan infantry. MR. KOON continued alone in the practice of law until the fall of 1866, when he took into partnership his younger bro- ther, MARTIN B. This partnership continued until April, 1878, when his young brother removed to Minneapolis, where he has since risen to the position of district judge of Hennepin county. In 1860 MR. KOON was elected circuit court commissioner, which office he held two years. Following this he was elected prosecuting attorney, continuing in that position four years. In 1868 he was elected to the state senate from this district, which then comprised Hillsdale county alone. Three years later he was chosen by Governor Baldwin, with Hon. Charles Upson, to examine and certify to the correctness of the then existing laws of Michigan, compiled by Judge Dewey. In 1881 he was elected mayor of Hillsdale and reelected the following year. He was made a director the Second National bank in Hillsdale in 1865, and ten years afterwards its vice-president. When the Second National was changed to the Waldron bank, MR. KOON be- came vice-president. Upon the absconding of the president, C. W. Waldron, the vice-president promptly and honorably came forward and made up the deficiency to the depositors. MR. KOON had been a member of the board of trustees of Hillsdale college since 1875, and a member of the prudential board during the entire time. He was also several years a member of the Hillsdale city school board. In the fall of 1882 he was elected to the state senate by the Republicans of the ninth district, composed of the counties of Hillsdale and Branch. He served as chairman of the judiciary committee, and member of the committee on expiring laws, rules and joint rules, and State prison. As an attorney MR. KOON met with marked success. He was interested in nearly every important case in the county after beginning his practice, and his voice has often been heard in the halls of the supreme court. In October of 1865 MR. KOON was united in marriage to Miss LOTTIE M. PEABODY, a native of Lyons, New York. To them was born one child. ===============================================================================