This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: COON, McNEAL, WOODS, FOSS Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/nZB.2ACE/242 Message Board Post: The Oregon Journal, Portland, OR., February 10, 1937, page 3 PIONEER TEACHER DIES AT HOOD RIVER Hood River, Feb. 10 – Thomas Ray Coon, 83, discoverer of the Clark seedling strawberry, is dead. He was schoolteacher in Northwest and Portland schools for many years. One of his pupils was Frederic Homer Balch, author of “The Bridge of the Gods.” Coon, a native of Silverton, was joint representative from Wasco and Sherman counties from 1893 to 1895. He served as mayor of Hood River in 1903. He was a leading organizer of the Fruit Growers union, now known as the Apple Growers association. --------------------------- The Hood River News, Hood River, OR., February 10, 1937, page 1 PIONEER OF CLARK SEEDLING PASSES Thomas Ray Coon, Who Discovered Shipping Possibilities Of Famous Strawberry, Leader In West TAUGHT IN MANY SCHOOLS Was State Representative And Early Mayor Of Hood River Thomas Ray Coon, the pioneer who developed the Clark Seedling strawberry which made Hood River valley famous for the berry which could be shipped over long distances and brought handsome returns to its growers, passed away at his home here Monday night, in his 83rd year, less than three months after the death of his life partner, Mrs. Delia Coon. Funeral services were held at the Anderson chapel yesterday, the Rev. R.A. Fedje, of Asbury church, and Rev. Frank Spaulding, pioneer circuit rider, officiating. Interment was in the Knights of Pythias cemetery. Many old-time friends paid their last tributes to the memory of this out-standing resident at the chapel and cemetery on the West Side. Born at Silverton, Oregon, on March 4, 1854, Thomas Ray Coon received his education at Willamette university. Taking up teaching as a profession, he taught in a number of schools of the Pacific Northwest, at Tacoma, Puyallup, Seattle and Astoria. He was the first principal of the Portland East Central school, located on the site of the present Washington high school at Mt. Tabor. Frederic Homer Balch, author of The Bridge of the Gods and other works, was one his pupils. Coming to Hood River in 1879, this pioneer teacher taught respectively in Barrett, Oak Grove and Hood River city schools. In 1886, Mr. Coon was named justice of the peace in this city, serving for two years. In 1893 and 1895, he served in the Oregon state legislature as joint representative from Wasco and Sherman counties (Hood River not having yet acquired county status, but being part of Wasco county). In 1903, Coon was elected mayor of Hood River on a “dry” ticket, as a protest against saloons, once in operation in this city. Becoming a member of the Brethren church, he was licensed to preach and until his health began to fall, was active in church work. On April 12, 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Della McNeal, who preceded him in death less than three months ago. Mr. and Mrs. Coon were the first couple to be married in the city of Tacoma, Wash., and to the union were born eight children. It was while pioneering in the fruit industry on his ranch near this city that he discovered the splendid shipping qualities of the Clark Seedling strawberry, with which he had been experimenting, and he introduced it to the commercial market. In following years this strawberry was destined to bring national fame to Hood River valley and a large annual income. Today, there are many of the orchards in commercial bearing in this valley, development of which was made possible only through the income derived from the Clark Seedling strawberry, growing between the tree rows over the long period of years between tree planting and fruit bearing in commercial quantities. Pioneer Coon was instrumental in the organizing of the Hood River Fruit Growers union, and for seven years, served as its president, without any financial recompense. He made several trips to the central states developing new markets for the Clark Seedling strawberry, and even today it is generally conceded that the great hope of fruit growers is that a strawberry variety worthy to take the place as successor of the Clark seedling, which has run out on production, may be discovered in the near future. This pioneer loved his garden and, up till within a few months of his death, worked consistently in producing from the soil. The Coon strawberries have, for many years, been first of local varieties, to appear in Hood River stores. To mourn his death, five of his children survive. They are: Sons, E.C. Coon and T.M. Coon; daughters, Florence Woods, Ruth Foss and Miss Mabel Coon. There are also three grandchildren, Webster, Frances and Mildred Foss. This was posted for reference only. I am not related to, nor am I researching this family. If you have additional information about the family or event mentioned above, please post it as a reply to this message.