Coan, William Folwell

COAN, FOLWELL, EWING, SMITH, NOCK, WELLES

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Date: 4/15/2003 at 22:02:26

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

WILLIAM FOLWELL COAN.

Prominent among the early business men of Clinton, Iowa, was William Folwell Coan, who was closely identified with the banking interests of that city for many years. He was born in Lodi, Seneca county, New York, on the 1st of March, 1820, and was a son of Dr. Claudius and Sara (Folwell) Coan, both now deceased. His paternal ancestors came originally from Worms, Germany, about 1715,and he started in life with the heritage of an honorable and strongly intelligent ancestry. He was educated at the Ovid Academy in his native state.

On the 16th of August, 1842, at Trumansburg, New York, Mr. Coan married Miss Catherine L. Peck, who still survives him, and they became the parents of five children namely: Frances Louisa, who was married June 28, 1865, to Walter I. Hayes, now deceased; Stella Caroline, who was married December 21, 1871, to the late Amos Greer Ewing; Helen Claudine, who was married October 15, 1879, to the late Dr. A. Homer Smith; Claudius Collins, who was married October 12,1887, to Ernestine Nock, of Rome, New York; and William Folwell, who was married December 11, 1883, to Mary Alice Welles.

In May, 1857, Mr. Coan came with his family to Clinton, Iowa, and the following year opened a private banking house at the corner of Fifty avenue and First street, where he remained in business until 1870. When the Clinton National Bank was founded, February 5, 1865, he became its president and held that office until his death, when he was succeeded by his son, Claudius Collins, while his son, William Folwell, was made cashier. The present bank building was erected in 1870.

As a public-spirited and progressive citizen, Mr. Coan was prominently identified with the organization and advancement of various enterprises, and did much to promote the interests of Clinton and the county. It was through his instrumentality that the Midland and the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroads were built through the county, the water works and gas companies formed, and the public schools established. From the time he located here until his death he was an active member and trustee of the Presbyterian church. He died of apoplexy January 15, 1886, and was laid to rest in Springdale, he being the first purchaser of a lot in the original plat of that cemetery. The most pleasant legacy to his children was his honored name, and the love and esteem which all classes of society gave him, more especially the poorer and less fortunate ones, who were sincere mourners at his death. He gave to them not only the best of advice in their difficulties, but assisted them financially, tiding them over hard places and starting them in business careers, and many attribute their success to his timely assistance.