| George Koons |
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Veteran Jurist Had Been ill Several Months Of Anemia. George H. Koons. former judge of tha Delaware county circuit court, senior member of the law firm of Koons & Koons, and well known as an attorney and jurist throughout Indiana, died at his home, "Robin Grove," 701 Wheeling avenue, at 7:30 o'clock Friday morning. He was 71 Tears old. Mr. Koons had been illfor several months of anemia but the seriousness of his condition was not generally known. Those who knew and who inquired at his home were told, at his direction, that he was "resting easy." About nine weeks ago he went to Colorado, accompanied by a daughter. Mrs. Charles Langdon. and Mr. Langdon, of this city, but the change of climate had no beneficial effect on his health. He returned about four weeks ago and had since been confined to his home. During the last few days he suffered a number of fainting attacks and members of the family became aware that his death probably was not far off. There was no marked change for the worse until Wednesday but it was hoped he might withstand the relapse. He became gradually weaker, however, until the end. Members of the family were with him. Three Children Survive. Mr. Koons is survived by three children, George H. Koons, Jr., and Mrs. Reba Langdnn, the wife of Charles Langdon, both of Muncie, and Mrs. Clarissa K. Eastabrook, the wife of Gav Eastabrook, of Indianapolis; one sister, Mrs. Ella Helton, of near Mooreland, and two brothers, Ben and Will P., both of Muncie. There are three grandchildren. George Eastabrook. and Helene and George Koons, Jr. Miss Helen Stevens, who was reared by the Koons family, is regarded as a daughter. Mrs. Koons died several years ago. Funeral arrangements had not been announced Friday afternoon. Born in Henry County The ancestors of the deceased emigrated from North Carolina to Indiana at an early day. George H. Koons was born in Blue River township, Henry county, April 2, 1848, the oldest of a family of seven children of Peter and Catherine (Rinard) Koons. His boyhood days ere spent at home on the farm. His education was begun in the district schools and continued in the Newcastle Academy and later in the Indiana University at Bloomington. He taught in the county schools during the winter while yet a student in the academy. After completing his course of study there; ha became superintendent of ths schools at Middletown, whose standard he raised to a high mark. He read law with Brown and Polk, attorneys at Newcastle, afterward entering the law department of the state university, from which, in a class of twenty-three members he was graduated with honors, receiving the degree of LL> B in 1871. After leaving the university he continued the study of law under the instruction of Jehu T. Elliott of Newcastle, and then began the practice of law in Middletown. In 1874 he removed to Muncie where he had since lived while practicing his profession with the exception of six years, during which time he served as judge of the Delaware circuit court. He wasranked among the best lawyers in the state, the result of patients industry and painstaking and intelligent effort. Republican in Politics. In politics he was a Republican, with liberal and independent proclivities. Corrupt methods in politics were severely condemned by him at all times, he often expressing the view that "the corruption of the ballot is a traitorous crime for which there is neither excuse nor palliation." In 1880 he was a candidate for nomination for the state legislature but was defeated bv John W. Rvan. In 1892 he defeated James N. Templer at the Republican primary election for the nomination of Judge of the Delaware circuit court and was elected to that office, in which he served from 1892 to 1898, discharging his official duties with diligence, ability, courage and dignity expected of him. Being conscientious in devotion to duty and just in judgment his decisions were rarely reversed. One of his principles was never to accept "passes on a railroad. He was defeated for renominatlon by Joseph O. Leffler. who was elected to succeed him. Since his retirement from the bench he had been diligently engaged in the practice of law. In recent years with his son. George H. Koons. Jr. The last case in which he appeared actively in court was that of the suburb of Riverside against the city of Muncie. Judge Koons believed that the annexation of that territory by the city was in violation of a constitutional provision which prohibits the taking over of property against the wishes of the annexed and without an equal return of benefits. Held Broad Views of Life. Judge Koons waa a man of broad humanitarian views, thoroughly democratic in bearing and in close sympathy with bis fellow men. He was Unitarian in belief and deeply imbued with the philosophy and teachings of Emerson, though an attendant at the unlversalist church of Muncie. At college he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He was for many years a member of the state bar association and was a charter member of the Muncie bar and at one time its president. He was married September 6, 1871 to Josinah V. Hickman, daughter of William H. and Clarissa (Williams) Hickman, and to them were born four children, one dying at 14 months. |