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Note: Written by Jan Holman, and first published in the Durham Community Communicator, Vol III, issue 7, May 1979. -- Grace Coon.
“Durham’s 1979 Woman of the Year, Mrs. Grace Coon, was born Grace Jamerson on April 25, 1892 in Denver, Colorado. Mrs. Coon’s father had a photography studio where he enlarged pictures and then a furniture store while in Denver. In 1915 he decided to move his family to California to seek a new way of life. The family came by train via the southern route stopping in San Diego and San Francisco to see the World Fairs. The family then traveled by steamer up the Sacramento River to Sacramento where an acquaintance recommended Cottonwood where the family raised stock and grain.
“While visiting friends in Durham - the family traveled in their Overland - Grace met Jesse Coon, her future husband. Jesse and Grace were married in Cottonwood on September 6, 1922. Jesse brought his bride back to his father’s home on Burdick Road where the family was engaged in almonds. The family Grace married into was a pioneer family, the first members arriving in the Durham area in 1860.
“Grace set to work caring for her husband and his father. The home on Burdick didn’t receive electricity until 1925 so her days were especially busy just running her home. Two years after their marriage, a daughter, Adele (Hackett) was born.
“Mrs. Coon has been a member of the Rebekah Lodge since March 3, 1923 and was a Noble Grand of that organization. She is a Veteran Rebekah, a distinction awarded members of 15 years. Grace joined the Durham Woman’s Club in the 1930s, was an active member of the Durham P.T.A. during the twelve years her daughter was in school and is a member o the Church of Latter Day Saints.
“While in P.T.A. she involved herself with many activities to benefit the schools. She helped raise money for high school band uniforms. The uniforms consisted of capes, caps and white pants. When the high school band received its new uniforms, the elementary school band inherited their old ones. P.T.A. fund drives made it possible for red velvet curtains to be purchased for the old grammar school [stage]. The parents put on an operetta as one fund raiser. P.T.A. members took turns providing refreshments of tea or coffee and cookies for each of their meetings.
“Grace’s involvement in the Durham Woman’s Club found her, among other things, making bandages and dressings for the Red Cross and sewing slippers for our men in the Veterans Hospital.
“Grace and Jesse were in charge of a listening post in Dayton after Pearl Harbor was attacked in December of 1941. It was Graces’ job to find people to work and post a calendar of those working and the times of their shifts. The calendar was posted in the old Odd Fellow Halls that then stood in Dayton. The posts were manned 24 hours a day.
“Grace continues to live on Burdick Road in the home built for her by her husband. Being the matriarch of a large pioneer family, Grace maintains an interest in the past and present of our community. She is kept busy by her six grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, and can often be found riding her bike to visit a neighbor or her daughter.
“When told that her community was asking her to be their Woman of the Year, she was pleased. Her first comment was, ‘What am I going to wear?’ Grace is one of those strong, good, reliable individuals who give our town its roots and its character.”
1920 census Cottonwood, Shasta, CA: Charles Jameson, aged 57, widowed, farmer, bp IL, both parents IL; Denver aged 29; Grace aged 27 -- both born CO, both parents IL.
1930 census Durham, Butte, CA: Jesse Coon, aged 44, farmer, bp CA, father IL, mother MO; Grace aged 37, both first married aged 37 & 30, respectively, bp CO, both parents IL; Adele aged 5, bp CA. They are living on the original homestead next door to Jesse's father, Emmett.
Grace lived in Colorado until she was 18 years old. During that time she became a milliner. Her family moved to Norwood, Missouri (Wright County) where she became friends with Dora King, later to become Aunt Dora, married to Allen Coon. Her father took the family to the World Fair in the state of Washington. It is not known at this point if he intended to relocate to California, but on their trip down from Washington they settled in Cottonwood, California where both of Grace's parents later died. They lived on Gas Point Rd. in Cottonwood. Grace knew that Dora was in Durham, CA and travelled to Durham to meet her. Dora at the time was cooking on the Samuelson Ranch down in Richvale and married to a Jenkins. Later Dora married Allen Coon and introduced Grace to Allen's brother Jesse and they were married. Grace, like her husband Jesse, finished grammar school only.
The following are addresses off of postcards sent by Grace. [Her daughter Adele obtained the dates/addresses off of postcards held by a collector. They were too expensive, but he allowed the info to me taken down.]
Grace Coon - Deepwater, Missouri
Grace Jamerson - 1400 Route One, Pueblo, CO - Oct. 5, ?
Grace Jamerson - 1824 East Evens Ave., Pueblo 1911 & 1916
Grace Jamerson - Norwood, Missouri from Allison in Iowa 1914
Grace Jamerson - 1402 Route One, Pueblo, CO 1904
Grace Jamerson - 1512 Route One, Pueblo, CO to Martha Neill Dec. 1910/1909
Grace Jamerson - 1013 Route One, Pueblo, CO to Mable and/or Maude 1910
Grace Jamerson - 1235 Route One, Pueblo, CO 1906
Grace was in Hillsdale, IL 6 July 1911 and 5 July 1910 - she wrote to G. C. Jennings at 1220 Route One, Pueblo, CO
Lena Jamerson Lusian (Philamina Augustina) remembers Grace as a "small gal, very intelligent, quick on her feet; hard worker, focused on family. Grace knew history and foreign countries. She belonged to the Kitty Club. Almonds were the most important asset in their [Grace and Jesse] minds. She was so fast that sometimes it didn't turn out right. Such as she once used the dishpan to cook the turkey in, without properly cleaning the dishpan, so I thought. But we loved her a lot."
DURHAM NEWS, Friday April 19, 1935, pg 4, col 3-4. "About You and Me."
“Mrs. J.G. Coon presided at the regular meeting of the Pink and Green club held in the Odd Fellows hall Friday. The members worked on articles for the fall bazaar.”
CHICO ENTERPRISE RECORD, no date: "Rebekah Marks 50th Year. Durham (E-R) -- A woman who has held various offices in the Rebekah Lodges of California for 40 years was presented her 50-year membership pin at the May 15 meeting of Alta Rebekah Lodge, Durham.
"Mrs. Grace Coon, noble grand of the Durham group in 1924 and district deputy president in 1927-28, is the new 50-year member. Her husband, the late Jesse Coon, had been a Rebekah even before she was, reports Mrs. Ruth Orr, spokesman.
"Attending the special meeting were two of Mrs. Coon's longtime friends, Mrs. Blanch Wageman and Mrs. Maud Ford of Chico.
"Mrs. Karen Birdseye, noble grand, presided over the session, during which announcement was made of a dinner and reception honoring Mrs. Grace Kossow June 9 in Durham Memorial Hall. Mrs. Kossow is marshal of the Grand Ladies Encampment Auxiliary of California. The event, beginning with a 6:30 p.m. dinner, is being jointly sponsored by the Durham Lodge and Chico LEA. Mrs. Elsie Mae Garner of Beulah Rebekah Lodge in Chico is in charge of reservations, and may be contacted at Rt. 1 Box 406C, Chico, by Jun 1. It was noted Mrs. Kossow had been active in the Durham community before moving to Watsonville with her husband.
"Reported on the sick list were Mrs. Elizabeth Henderson and Mrs. Nettie Isham, who is at Vista Manor Rest home in Durham.
"It was noted the Lodge's float had taken first prize." [See Grace Switzer Kossow, Nettie Yockey Isham, Maud McElroy Ford and Karen Staples Birdseye in the index.]
Chico Enterprise-Record, Thursday, April 22, 1978, p. 4B:
"Honored In Durham --- Durham Women's Club honored long time members during its April 13 meeting in Memorial Hall. Those honored are Edith Conrady, Ida May Russell, Louisa Rodney, Grace Coon, Etta Henson, Mary Lemcke, Ruby Ravekes, Hattie McEnespy and Faye Bigham. Many of the women are past presidents and all have contributed heavily to club and community activities in the way of time and energy."
OBITUARY - CHICO ENTERPRISE RECORD, May 7, 1983: "Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Dayton Cemetery for Grace Fernbell Coon, 91, who died Friday at her Durham residence. Mrs. Coon was born April 25, 1892, to Charles and Florence Jamerson in Denver, CO, where she was reared and attended school.
"She came to California in the early 1920s and settled in Cottonwood. She married Jess Coon on Dec. 6, 1922, and they moved to a farm in Durham. Mrs. Coon was in charge of the Dayton Cemetery for many years and was also a member of the Durham Alta Rebeckah Lodge and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"Survivors include a daughter, Adele Hackett of Durham; four granddaughters, Carolyn Dowd of Santa Rosa and Marilyn Loofbourrow, Lynn Aroven [sic] and Debra Hamilton, all of Durham; and two grandsons, George Hackett Jr. of Durham and Randy Hackett of Chico.
"Coon died in 1969. Bishop Richard Rollins of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will conduct the services. Those who wish may make contributions to the LDS genealogical library or to the Dayton Service Group in care of Brusie Funeral Home, which is handling arrangements."
BLUE AND WHITE, Durham, CA, June 12, 1958 [Durham High School newspaper]
"Durham High Receives Frontier Paintings From Mrs. Jesse Coon.
"Durham High School recently acquired three pictures (artist's proofs) from Mrs. Jesse Coon. The pictures were painted by Frederic Remington, and Mrs. Coon has had them in the family for fifty years. The pictures are named, 'Buffalo Runners,' 'The Bell Mare,' and 'Pony Tracks in the Buffalo Trail.'
"Frederic Remington (1861-1909) studied at the Yale Art School and the Art Students' League in New York. He later went west and became a cowboy and stockman. Here he gathered material which he used with success in scenes of frontier life.
"The pictures will be framed and put on display. The school appreciates the generosity of Mrs. Coon and thanks her for the lovely gift."
"Our Grandma" written by Faith Lynn Hackett.
From all of us, we'd like to say,
Of our Grandma who's gone home.
We know she'd like it said this way,
Our thoughts expressed in poem.
So Grandma listen if you can,
Hear what we have to tell.
Know that we all appreciate,
The things you did so well.
You took the time when we were young,
Just to talk or play some games.
All those things you did for us,
Time and time again.
You read us poetry on your knee;
We laughed, for it was good.
You had your witts about you,
And you taught us what you could.
You sure were special Grandma;
We were lucky, yes indeed.
Cause no one had a Grandma,
As kind and dear as we.
From Carolyn, Marilyn, George and Lynn
Debbie and Randy, too.
Remember us when you see Him,
For He was pleased with you.
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