My Genealogy Hound

JOHN H. COATE, farmer and dairyman; P. O. West Milton; born on the place where he now lives Sept. 24, 1825; is a son of Henry and Rebecca Coate. John’s early boyhood days were spent in a manner incident to youth, and, after he had attained age and strength, became a valuable auxiliary to his father in the labors of the farm, on which he labored until he obtained his majority. May 20, 1850, he was married to Miss Jane Coppock, who is a daughter of Joseph and Rachel Coppock, who were born in Ohio; Joseph in the year 1805, Rachel Hollingsworth, his wife, in 1806. They were married in 1824, and settled on a farm in this township, just west of Ludlow’s Falls, on which they lived and reared their family of ten children, seven of whom are living, viz., Ephriam, Sampson, Jane, Isaac, David and Elizabeth (twins), and Sarah; the deceased are Eunice, Mary A. and Benjamin. Joseph Coppock died in March, 1862, very suddenly, from the bursting of a blood-vessel. After his marriage, John engaged in farming and dealing in stock, on the place where he now resides; he purchased 226 acres at the time, but has since added 40 acres, which makes his farm a very desirable one, and it is well adapted to the use he is making of it; he also owns a fine property in West Milton, which consists of business houses and dwellings. Owing to the superior advantages of his location, he established a dairy in 1877, which he is successfully operating. In October, 1879, he purchased one of Cooley’s Creameries, which should, perhaps, be spoken of; it consists of a rectangular box, about 10x3 feet, containing 14 cans, each holding seventeen quarts; the milk, after being heated to a temperature of 120° is placed in the cans and reduced to a temperature of 45°; on this plan not more than half the time is consumed to raise the cream, and the products are far superior to the old way of butter-making; no skimming is required, as, by the aid of a syphon, which is a patent arrangement, the milk is drawn from under the cream, which is left in the bottom of the can. He uses Davis’ swinging churn, which is without dash, and we can describe it only this way: the butter is rocked from the cream, and not pounded out. The products of this dairy are much sought after, and for three years Mr. C. has supplied hotels, restaurants and the officers of the Soldiers’ Home with choice butter, supplanting all competitors. His cows are selected with great care, among which he has some of the favorite dairy breeds, thoroughbred, in all thirty in number. He is assisted by his son, and their combined experience, and superior knowledge of stock, assure to them a complete success in the enterprise. His large and productive farm affords ample provender for his stock, and, as he is the first gentleman to establish a dairy in this part of the State, we feel an extended sketch of this enterprise is not out place. They are parents of four children, three of whom are living, viz., Henry, Warren and Loretta; Orlestus, deceased. They and their children are members of the Friends’ Church, and are every-day Christian people, taking a lively interest in the welfare of their church.