Datus Ensing Coon

Datus Ensing Coon (1831 - 1893) was a newspaper publisher, Union Army officer during the American Civil War, planter, and state politician in Alabama. He was a delegate to the 1875 Alabama Constitutional Convention and a fraternal order of veterans president in San Diego, California.[1] He served as a state legislator during the Reconstruction era in Alabama. representing Dallas County, Alabama in the Alabama House of Representatives.[2] He served on investigating committee evaluating corruption allegations against U.S. Senator George E. Spencer.[3]

He was born in New York. He worked on a farm in Iowa with his father before starting a newspaper.[4] During the American Civil War he served as Colonel of the 2nd Iowa Cavalry Regiment and eventually commanded a cavalry brigade.[5]

In 1872 he was documented as an inspector in the 2nd District of Alabama.[6] A specimen of gypsiferous marl from him in Selma, Alabama was documented in an agricultural report in 1872.[7]

He served as U.S. Commercial Agent in Baracoa, Cuba.[8]

He moved to San Diego in 1878 to serve as a "Chinese Inspector" (Chinese Exclusion Act).[9][10] He was a leading member of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) in San Diego and was accidentally shot in 1893. The organization named one of its posts for him.[10]

He is buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery in San Diego.[8]

Further reading
  • An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago 1890 pages 291 and 292

References
  1. "The Code of Alabama: 1876". Barrett & Brown. December 31, 1877 – via Google Books.
  2. Representatives, USA Congress House of (December 31, 1875). "House Documents". U.S. Government Printing Office – via Google Books.
  3. Senate, Alabama Legislature (December 31, 1876). "Journal of the Senate of the State of Alabama" – via Google Books.
  4. Stuart, Addison A. (December 31, 1865). "Iowa Colonels and Regiments: Being a History of Iowa Regiments in the War of the Rebellion; and Containing a Description of the Battles in which They Have Fought". Mills & Company – via Google Books.
  5. Office, Iowa Adjutant General's (December 31, 1865). "Report of the Adjutant General and Acting Quartermaster General of the State of Iowa". F.W. Palmer, state printer – via Google Books.
  6. Treasury, United States Department of the (December 31, 1872). "An Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of the U.S." – via Google Books.
  7. Agriculture, USA Department of (December 31, 1873). "Monthly Report of the Department of Agriculture: 1872 (1873)". U.S. Government Printing Office – via Google Books.
  8. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Coon". politicalgraveyard.com.
  9. https://honors.libraries.psu.edu/files/final_submissions/797
  10. https://sandiegohistory.org/wp-content/uploads/migrated/online_resources/downloads/MS%2520157%2520Grand%2520Army%2520of%2520the%2520Republic%2520Collection.pdf


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