Susan Ann Coon

• *"Her mother, Margaret [Leadwith] Speer, was of Scotch descent, and was born in the State of Maryland." The 1870 U.S. Fed. Census for Amwell, Washington, Pennsylvania. reports that Margaret was not able to write and that her father was of foreign birth. There is also a published account that her "father, George Speer, died when Susan was a child" **. [Her grandmother, Susan Leadwith, born appox. 1798 in Maryland, can be seen with her mother, Margaret Speer, in the 1850 U.S. Federal Census for Washington, Washington, Pennsylvania.

Susan Ann Speer, was born on 17 January 1840, in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania and grew up in Washington County, Pennsylvania, just to the south of Pittsburgh.

In 1858, Susan became the wife of Henry C. Bayne. Her busband's family lived in Washington County, Pennsylvania. His father and mother were, Henry and Jane [McBride] Bane. His father was born, 03 Nov 1779 and he died, 02 December 1842. His mother was born, 01 Oct 1780 and died, 28 June 1858.

Susan and her first husband, Henry C. Bayne lived in Amwell, Washington, Pennsylvania where he was a sucessful wagon builder and his children went to school. The Bane name was well known in the surrounding community with several other related families in the town.

In the early 1870's divorced occured between Henry and his wife Susan.

Washington Landis Coon, who was an educator, explorer, miner and several other occupations, was traveling about on the East Coast and happened to become acquainted with Mrs. Susan Bane and they fell in love and were married on 15 March 1875, in Amwell. Years earlier, Mr. Coon had moved to Oregon and purchased some farm land and had taught in public schools. Now, the newlyweds decided to move to Oregon immediately and settle down for the remainder of their lives on the land that they already owned and her new husband had prevously built a house upon. To this marriage two children were born. One girl, Sarah Margaret Coon and one boy, Michael Speer Coon. Thus, their family was completed with the four children from her previous marriage.

Her former husband, Henry C. Bane, sold out his wagon business in Amwell, Pennsylvania and followed after his children to Oregon. Settling down in Peoria. He changed his name by adding a 'y', Bayne. This was at the time a thriving transportation hub for both Linn and Benton Counties. Most goods moved in and out of the area by use of the Willamette River and steam driven riverboats. The railroad was still a few years off. [The first railroad track across the United States was completed in 1869.] There was also a road that ran north to Corvallis and Albany and south to Eugene and Springfield. Henry C. Bayne, continued to see his children. He died, 26 December 1882 in Linn County and is buried not far from his former wife and his children.

Susan's husband, Washington Coon, died on the farm in 1901. Their son, Michael continued on with the operation of their now prosperous farm and lumber business.

They were both very active in the United Presbyterian Church Of Oakville, where they were founding members.

• *Portrait and Biographical Records of the Willamette Valley; Chapman Publishing Company, !902,