PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM
pg 504, 505
CHARLES T. COATES. The attention of the traveler passing through Harmony Township, Clark County, is invariably attracted to the many pleasant country homes which have been built up through the perseverance and industry of a more than ordinarily intelligent class of men. Among these Mr. COATES occupies no secondary position. In connection with general farming he gives much attention to the breeding of live stock in which industry he has gained an enviable reputation. He is a native of the Buckeye State and born January 7, 1846, in Rochester, Warren County. His father John F. COATES and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Jane PARK, were natives of Yorkshire, England, the former born near Hunstanton, in August 1802, and the latter near East Motherly, December 25, 1812.
The father of our subject remained a resident of his native shire until a man of thirty years and then emigrated to America locating in Cincinnati, Ohio. In England he had been engaged as a shepherd, but after coming to America began the manufacture of mattresses and furniture and with the exception of one and one-half years which he spent of a farm was thus occupied the remainder of his life. He died in August, 1868. The parents were married in Cincinnati September 11, 1834. The mother survived her husband many years, her death taking place September 27, 1879. In their native country they had been members of the Church of England, but after coming to America identified themselves with the Methodist Episcopal Church. There were born to them six children, viz: Francis J., Mary J. who died in infancy, Mary Ann the wife of William W. SPENCER, Caroline who died in 1849 when eight years old, Charles T. and Emma Jane.
The parternal grandfather of our subject was Francis COATES, likewise a native of Yorkshire and born in 1760. He was reared to farming pursuits which he followed until coming to America with his son’s family in 1832. His wife had died in England. He brought with him to America two children—James and John F. He located in Cincinnati but only lived a short time after coming to this country, his death taking place December 1, 1833. The mother of our subject accompanied her father to the United States, there coming with them also her sister Margaret, the wife of Charles WOOD, and who died leaving one child, Alfred. Her sister Mary died childless. The maiden name of Grandmother PARK was Mary LOWTHER.
Mr. COATES of whom we write was reared in Cincinnati, attending first the primary schools and then completed his studies in the Woodward High School. While at school and about a year before the close of the Civil War, his patriotism got the better of him and leaving his books he entered the Union army, enlisting in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Infantry in the one hundred days’ service. After the war was over, he, in 1865, began learning the trade of a machinist, serving his apprenticeship with Lane & Bodley of Cincinnati. At the expiration of this time his father died and Charles T. with one of his brothers took charge of the furniture business which also included the manufacture of barber chairs.
In 1872, Mr. COATES removed to Clark County and engaged as a farm laborer, leaving the business at Cincinnati in his brother’s hands. It was closed out about 1880. Mr. COATES found farm life quite congenial and in 1882 purchased sixty-seven acres of land to which in the year 1883, he added thirty acres and has now ninety-seven acres which forms a snug little body of land which has brought to a high state of cultivation. He has effected many improvements, making fences, planting trees and erecting modern buildings. There is a prospect that he will be able to lay upon ample competence for his declining years. Mr. COATES has for some time been warmly interested in the temperance question and is now an active prohibitionist. He belongs to various societies and keeps himself thoroughly informed upon the leading events of the day.