My Genealogy Hound

COATES, W. B. dealer in dry goods, boots, shoes, hardware, groceries, drugs, etc., etc., Wilmington, Greene Co., Ill. Mr. Coates was born in South Carolina, October 1835; the following year his parents moved to Illinois, locating at Wilmington, in Greene County; here the head of the family erected the building now owned and occupied by George W. McCollister: shortly after this he moved down on the bluffs, and purchased the grist mill then owned by David Hodges; he transacted a successful business until 1844, when he leased it for twenty-five years to Lemuel Patterson, George Sholts, and A. S. Seeley. Mr. Coates died many years ago; he was the father of ten children, of whom W. B. was the fourth; he first worked for neighboring farmers; for four years he worked in the mines of Montana; on his return to Wilmington he entered into the mercantile business, purchasing the building he now occupies, one of the most substantial in Wilmington; here he has held forth many a year, meeting with a large patronage due his honesty and square dealing. He was married in 1859 to Miss Elizabeth Watt, a daughter of Miner Watt, an old settler of Greene County. Mr. Coates has seven children: Peroria, Denver, Mary, Martha, Lillie, Tilden, and infant child.