My Genealogy Hound

William Coats, one of the largest and most progressive young farmers of Oxford township, Oakland County, has attained a high position among the farmers and business men of his county and is now the owner of a 320-acre farm situated in section 7. He was born June 24, 1866, in Oxford township and is a son of John and Catherine (Mann) Coats and a grandson of William Coats.

William Coats, grandfather of our subject, came to Michigan in 1834 with his family and located in Oxford township, where he took up a tract of land from the government in section 5, Oxford township, and engaged in clearing and putting it under cultivation. Politically he was a Democrat. He died on his farm December 7, 1860.

John Coats was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, in 1822, and was successfully engaged in farming throughout his life, — owning a 320-acre farm at the time of his death, which occurred in 1891 on the farm now owned by our subject, whose name heads these lines. He was married in Michigan in 1865 to Catherine Mann, who died on the homestead farm 37 years ago. Their only child was William, the subject of this article.

William Coats, our subject, received his educational training in the schools of Oxford township. He has been engaged in general farming all his life, and has done splendidly with the heritage of rich land left him by his father. He ranks as one of the largest land owners of the county. At present he rents his farm and resides in the village of Thomas, Oxford township. Politically he is a Democrat. He was married to Margaret Hart, daughter of Abram Hart of Orion township, and they are the parents of one child, John R., who died in infancy.