COAN, William Folwell 1860-1918

COAN, FOLWELL, WELLS, RENDALL, SMITH

Posted By: Michael Kearney (email)
Date: 10/5/2002 at 09:58:14

The Clinton Advertiser Thursday February 14, 1918 p. 9 Mr. William Folwell Coan's many friends have been shocked by the manner of his death so foreign to one of his genial disposition and happy circumstances. Only his physician and family have fully comprehended the depression under which he had labored for the past few weeks and which culminated in the sudden, irresistible impulse that ended his life. Mr. Coan had been under treatment for an acute attack of diabetes and though the malady appeared to be yielding it had - as is so often the case - engendered a depression of mind and spirit which momentarily overmastered Mr. Coan's patient and really heroic resistance. Mr. Coan was born here on April 4, 1860. He was educated in the Clinton schools and at the Lake Forest academy, Lake Forest, Illinois. On leaving school he entered the Clinton National bank - with which his family had always been connected - and of which he was cashier at the time of his death. On December 11th, 1883 Mr. Coan married Mary Alice Welles, who survives him with their three children, Mrs. Humphrey J. Rendall, Mrs. Frank L. Smith, and Lieutenant Folwell W. Coan, now stationed at Camp Dodge. The eldest son, Edwin Welles Coan, died in 1906. Mr. Coan is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Walter I. Hayes and Mrs. Claudine C. Smith, and a brother, Mr. Claude C. Coan. Mr. Coan loved this community in which all his life was passed, and identified himself with every project that made for its advancement. Besides being cashier of the Clinton national bank, he was secretary and treasurer of the Clinton Savings bank. Mr. Coan united with the First Presbyterian church at the age of seventeen and for forty years was one of its most devoted members, having served as one of its trustees for over twenty years. He was deeply interested in Agatha hospital of which he was also a trustee. He was one of the founders of the Wapsipinicon club and was its president at the time of his death. Of late years he had given much time to the promotion of good roads and was both state consul for the Lincoln Highway association and an Honorary vice-president of the National association. Simply and sincerely religious, exceptionally unselfish and genial in social life, and gifted with a rare degree of public spirit Mr. Coan will be mourned by this whole community as a most true friend, and a most loyal citizen. Funeral services will be held at the residence on Saturday at 2:30. The Rev. Dr. John B. Rendall of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, will have charge of the services. The interment at Springdale will be private. The family request that no flowers be sent.