COBURN, Hon. George F. - 1914

COBURN, WRIGHT, PETTINGILL, CROCKER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/10/2009 at 04:12:11

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

HON. GEORGE F. COBURN.

The history of Cherokee county has been influenced in an important.way by the activities of Hon. George F. Coburn, who came to this part of Iowa in 1878 and has since taken a leading part in the promotion of its interests along business and political lines. He has made notable contributions to its agricultural development through his able management of his fine farm of three hundred and seventy acres in Tilden and Grand Meadow townships and he has been active also in the field of public service, influencing the political interests of the state through his activity as a member of the twentyeighth, twentyninth, thirtieth, and thirty-first general assemblies. His name has become a synonym for progress and advancement in this locality, and he occupies a prominent position among the men of marked ability and substantial worth in the community. He was born in Boorje county, Illinois, May 12, 1856, and is a son of Lanson and Mary (Wright) Coburn, natives of Maine. The father engaged in lumbering in that state until 1850 and then moved to Illinois, where he turned his attention to farming. In 1864 he disposed of his landed interests there and returned to Maine, where he made his home until his death in 1888. His wife survived him some years, dying in 1907.

Hon. George F. Coburn was educated in the public schools of Illinois and Maine and at the age of eighteen came west, working as a farm hand in Illinois for about five years. In 1878 he came to Cherokee county, Iowa, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 34, Tilden township. To this he has added from time to time until he now owns three hundred and seventy acres of valuable land. He has operated this farm for thirtyfive years with constantly increasing success, and it bears every evidence of the careful supervision and practical labor he has bestowed upon it. It is equipped with substantial buildings and modern machinery and is in all respects a productive and valuable property.

On the 7th of November, 1879, Mr. Coburn was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Coburn, a daughter of Albert and Elizabeth (Pettingill) Coburn, natives of Maine, where the father engaged in farming. They moved to New York at an early date and there the father passed away in 1856. His wife died in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. George F. Coburn have become the parents of eight children: Arthur, who is engaged in farming in Rock township, this county; Whitman, who died in 1883, at the age of one year; John, an attorney at Cut Bank, Montana; Pearl, the wife of Frank Crocker, a farmer of Tilden township; Alva, engaged in farming in Willow township; Frank who died at the age of six weeks; Francis, at home; and Clarence, who died in infancy.

Mr. Coburn is a member of the following orders: Sparta Lodge, No. 524, I. O. O. F.; Little Sioux Lodge, No. 521, A. F. & A. M.; Haggai Chapter, R. A. M.; Crusade Commandery, No. 39; T. S. Parvin Consistory, No. 5, A. A. A. R. of F. M., Sioux City, Iowa. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is well known in public affairs, his influence being always ready in support of projects for the general growth and advancement. He was elected state representative from this county on the republican ticket and took his seat in the twentyeighth general assembly, his work receiving the indorsement of his constituents by his reelection to the four succeeding bodies. He was a candidate for state senator of the fortysixth senatorial district in November, 1912, but was defeated by one vote. His record in the house was marked by the accomplishment of a great deal of important and public-spirited work, and his name was always to be found among the supporters of progressive and constructive legislation. He has proven himself a capable, conscientious and reliable official and an able business man, and his name is held in high honor and regard wherever it is known.