My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS COATES, retired, McKeesport, was born near Temperanceville, Allegheny county, Aug. 15, 1836, a son of James and Anna (Brown) Coates, natives of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. They came to this country about 1830 and settled in Pittsburgh, where the father for a time followed mining, later farming, and finally the hotel business, keeping the stone tavern on the Washington turnpike, in what is now the Thirty-sixth ward of Pittsburgh. He reared a family of four children: Joseph, Thomas, William and James. Thomas was reared and educated in this county, and began life as a coal miner, which he followed twenty-five years. In September 1863, he enlisted in Battery H, Ind. P. V., and served until June 19, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. In 1870 he embarked in the general merchandise business at Alpsville, Allegheny county, with C. M. Robinson, under the firm name of C. M. Robinson & Co., which continued one year. He then removed to Suter Station, Westmoreland county, and engaged in the same business there on his own account until he was burned out June 9, 1874. He then located at Broad Ford, Fayette county, and opened a general store, under firm name of Coates & Fritchman, remaining until the spring of 1878; then embarked in general merchandising, continuing in business until his retirement in 1887.

Mr. Coates married, in 1857, Caroline, daughter of John and Jane Arthur, of this county, and by her had two children: Ida M. (Mrs. Charles Pollock) and Anna (Mrs. John Logan, deceased). In 1883 Mr. Coates erected a large brick block on Walnut street, three stories high, with two elegant stores on ground floor, 20x80 each, which is a valuable improvement to the city. He is a member of the F. & A. M., and is a republican.