My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM O. COE is a native of Oswego county, N. Y., and was born October 31, 1831. He is a son of Alexander and Martilla M. (Coon) Coe, both of whom were natives of New York. His father was a farmer and died in 1844; his mother died in 1886. Both were zealous members of the Free Will Baptist church. Soon after the death of his father, Mr. Coe moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and worked out. He remained in the Buckeye State for fourteen years, when he located in Noble county, Ind., and engaged in tilling the soil. He enlisted December 31, 1863, in the Twelfth regiment of Indiana cavalry, but was taken ill soon afterwards and sent to the hospital. He spent twelve months in Huntsville, Ala., was at Tallahoma, Tenn., New Orleans and Baton Rogue, and was mustered out at the last named place May 29, 1865. Mr. Coe returned to Noble county, Ind., and resumed his vocation as a farmer. He came West in the spring of 1872 and settled in Harlan county, Nebr. He located a quarter section on Rope creek and was the first homesteader in Washington township. He built a sod house and hauled what lumber he was obliged to have from Beatrice. Wild game of all kinds was plenty especially buffalo, antelope and deer, he had fifty-six acres of corn stripped clean in two hours by the grasshoppers and passed through other trying ordeals almost as bad. Mr. Coe went to Ohio to solicit aid for the many sufferers on account of the grasshopper raid, and was successful in obtaining a considerable quantity of food and clothing. There was but one frame building in the county when he came, and a small store at Republican City. Provisions of all kinds were extremely high in those days. He paid $10 for a barrel of salt, and other necessaries of life were equally high. He had two yoke of cattle and freighted considerably hauling goods from Lowell to the stores at Melrose and Orleans.

Mr. Coe was married November 1, 1853, the lady of his choice being Miss Emily M. Furman, a native of Ohio and born April 12, 1830. She is a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Deetor) Furman, the former a native of New York and the latter a native of Connecticut. They died in 1888 and 1858 respectively.

Mr. Coe’s family consists of eight children, namely — Ella M., born September 15, 1854; Willis A., born February 14, 1857; Arthur W., born May 16, 1859; Benjamin A., born March 7, 1862; Francis E., born January 13, 1864, and Fannie M. (deceased), born January 12, 1864 (twins); George S., born July 19, 1867, and Mary A., born January 15, 1871. Mr. Coe was elected coroner of Harlan county in 1872 and again in 1874. He has been a member of the board of county supervisors and has been assessor of his township. He is an honored member of the G. A. R. and also of the Farmers’ Alliance. His farm consists of four hundred acres, two hundred and thirty of which are under cultivation. He erected a fine brick house in 1886 and his farm is otherwise well improved. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.