Coon Cemetery is located approximately six miles south of Princeton, just east of Highway 65 in Washington Township. From Princeton, go south on Highway 65 approximately five miles to the fifth road to the left. This is actually part of the old highway 65. There is a sign for the cemetery at the intersection. Turn left. The road will angle south-east, then straighten to the south. Go approximately 3/4 of a mile to the gravel road intersection. Turn left and proceed east approximately 3/4 of a mile to the next "T" intersection. Turn left (north). The cemetery is at the end of this road. It is very well maintained and is still in use.
This survey was conducted by Phil & Kathi Stewart in August, 2003.
Coon Cemetery was established in 1854 when the two-year old child, James Henry Coon, son of Stanley Watson and Elizabeth Caroline (Wilkerson) Coon, died. A burial plot was given by Jacob B. Coon, grandfather of Stanley Coon, and this child was the first grave in the cemetery. A landmark in the cemetery was a cedar tree on the grave of little James Henry Coon. The tree was one of two seedling trees carried back from the Civil War in a knapsack by two half-brothers of Henry Coon. It was with love and caring that Peter and Scott Clemens carried these tiny trees, but one of the trees died long ago and the second one died in the late 1950’s and had to be cut. A portion of its stump still sits on the child’s grave.
My sister and her husband have been at our house the last few days and she is into genealogy, so we got to talking about some of our relatives and where they were buried. Coon Cemetery was one of the cemeteries we talked about and we decided to take a road trip to visit it. Izador Hornaday is Buried in this cemetery and is our cousin twice removed. Our 3rd Great Grandfather, Nathan Hornaday, was her Great Grandfather.
Our father, Milford Hornaday had a photograph of Izador's gravestone. When he was living, he corresponded with a family that stated that family stories are of a Hornaday family traveling through Princeton, MO. When their baby, Izador died, this family let the Hornaday’s use a family burial plot to lay Izador to rest. Izador’s parents were Michael C and Minerva Jane Butterfield Hornaday. Izador was born July 1880 and died on Oct 21, 1881.
Her stone is broken and lies face down about 70 feet west of where this cache is hidden. The stone only states her death date and the age she was when she died.
"Please be respectful, do not hunt at night, do not disturb mourners, and leave this peaceful and revered place in good condition. Remember to practice CITO, always. Thank you."