SCOON, Alfred F. & Lyman Strong
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 303-305

Lyman Strong SCOON, a leading farmer of Reedsburg Township, Sauk County, and 
a worthy representative of one of the prominent pioneer families of this 
section of the state, was born in Loganville, Westfield Township, Sauk 
County, WI, 23 Jul 1859, a son of Alfred Freeman and Emily E. (STRONG) SCOON. 
The mother, who was a consistent member of the Methodist church of 
Loganville, died in Mar 1865 at the age of 33 years. She was born in 
Cattaraugus County, NY, and was a daughter of John Merrill STRONG, a farmer, 
who died in Grand Detour [Ogle County], IL.

Alfred Freeman SCOON, the father of our subject, was born in the town of 
Greenwich, Washington County, NY, 04 Jul 1829. His father, who was born near 
Dumfries, Scotland, started for the U. S. during the war of 1812 on board an 
American veseel, but was captured and pressed into the British naval service. 
After two years he managed to escape by concealing himself in a coil of rope 
in NY harbor, where he remained for two days with only sea biscuit to eat. 
In the meantime his wife, who had been left in Scotland, remarried, supposing 
him dead. He settled in Washington County, NY, and there married Nancy 
PRATT, by whom he had ten children. 

Alfred Freeman SCOON, the youngest of this family, left home at the death of 
his father, when he was 14 years old and worked in the woods of Canada [p 
304] until 1847, when he went to Grand Detour [Ogle County], IL, where he 
married the mother of our subject. For several years he was employed as a 
salesman for the John Deere Plow Company of that place, and in 1856 came to 
Loganville [Sauk County], WI, where he worked at the cooper's trade until 
after the breaking out of the Civil war. In Dec 1863 he enlisted in Company 
B, 12th WI Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out in Jul 1865, after a year 
and a half of arduous service. He was with Sherman all through the Atlanta 
campaign and on the march to the sea. Having contracted heart disease and 
other troubles, he was in a hospital at Indianapolis, IN, for some time, and 
was then transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, in which he served with 
the rank of sergeant until the war was over. During his residence in 
Loganville and later in Reedsburg Township [Sauk County, WI] he filled the 
office of justice of the peace in a most acceptable manner. On 15 Apr 1863 
he took possession of a farm on section 31, that township, upon which few 
improvements had been made, and to its further development and cultivation 
devoted his energies until the spring of 1895, since which time he has lived 
retired in New London [New London in Outagamie County, or New London in 
Waupaca County?], WI. [Alfred F. SCOON died 28 Sep 1906 at Superior, Douglas 
Co, WI.]


Alfred Freeman SCOON was one of the few man who made money during the hop 
crash of 1868, and he was a successful dealer in that and other products, and 
also in real estate to some extent. He is a well-read man of decided views, 
who has always taken an active interest in political affairs and was a 
Democrat in early life, but since 1880 has supported the Republican party. 
He served as assessor of Westfield Township, Sauk County [WI], for two years. 
By this first wife he had eight children, of whom three died in infancy. 
The others are: (1) Frances F., now the wife of Albert WAGER, of Reedsburg, 
Township [Sauk County, WI]; (2) Frederick, who died in 1874, at the age of 
21 years; (3) Lyman S., our subject; (4) Darwin W., a resident of West 
Superior [Douglas County], WI, and ex-sheriff of Douglas County [WI]; and (5) 
Emma, wife of William E. CARTER, of New London [County, WI]. For his second 
wife, Mr. Alfred Freeman SCOON married Louise C. SEAMANS, who died in Jan 
1891, when nearly 62 years of age. All of the three children born of this 
union died in infancy. They had an adopted son, John Duane, now a resident 
of West Superior.

Lyman Strong SCOON, of this review, attended school at Loganville and 
elsewhere until 16 years of age, since which time he has devoted his entire 
attention to aricultural pursuits, and with the exception of three years has 
spent his entire life on the home farm. In May 1886 he went to Faulk County, 
SD, where he took a pre-emption claim, but two years later returned to Sauk 
County and has since carried on the old homestead, which comprises 150 acres 
of land, 100 acres of which are under a high state of cultivation and well 
improved. In connection with general farming, he gives considerable 
attention to the raising of Shropshire sheep and hogs; has speculated more or 
less in livestock and for some years conducted an extensive dairy.

On 28 Sep 1881 Mr. Lyman Strong SCOON married Miss Anna B. CRIBBEN, a native 
of Walworth County, WI, and a daughter of Thomas and Isabel (TROY) CRIBBEN, 
of Sauk County. The father was born near Dublin, Ireland, and came to 
America in 1847. In Walworth County, WI, he married Isabel TROY, also a 
native of Ireland, and in the spring of 1868 removed to Sauk County, their 
home at present being in Lavalle. Mr. and Mrs. SCOON have two children 
living: Alfred Thomas, born Jul 1885, and Frankie Belle, born May 1890.

Socially Mr. Lyman Strong SCOON is a prominent member of the Hillside Camp, 
No. 2374, Modern Woodmen of America, at Loganville, in which he has filled 
the chair of venerable consul; and for some years he was a member of the 
Independent Order of Good Templars, until the lodge at Loganville was 
disbanded. Both he and his wife belong to Arbutus Camp, No. 47, Royal 
Neighbors, and are held in high regard by a large circle of friends and 
acquaintances. Since casting his first presidential vote for James A. 
Garfield in 1880, he has supported the Republican party on national issues 
and has filled the office of constable for one year each in Reedsburg and 
Westfield Townships, and has most creditably and satisfactorily served as 
justice of the peace since the spring of 1895.

Contributed by Cathy Kubly