Career
Coulon emigrated from Germany in 1847 to avoid military service. Coulon arrived in Indianapolis in 1852 where he studied law and eventually opened an office. He was elected as justice of the peace in 1856.
In November of that year, then mayor Henry F. West died and Coulon was appointed as interim mayor by the city council.
Coulon finished his first term as justice of peace (1864-1860), a post he also held from 1864 to 1868.