Aaron R. Coats, 1837-1920

COATS

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 1/28/2009 at 07:25:58

Another Pioneer Passes Away.
A. R. Coats, a Pioneer Railway Man and a Veteran of Civil War, Leaves Comrades.

A. R. Coats, an old time resident of this city, passed away at the home of his son Floyd Coats on west Emery Street, Sunday, June 27.

Mr. Coats was in the early days connected with the old B. C. R. & N. Ry., and after severing his connections with the company was employed in this city in other lines.

He was born in DeKalb County, Illinois, Nov. 30, 1837, making him eighty-two years of age at the time of his death.

He leaves a wife and four sons, Byron [Lloyd Byron Coats] of Deer River, Minn., John [John J. Coats] of Hamlet, N. C., Percy of Evanston, Wyo., and Floyd [Floyd Guy Coats] of this city, and four daughters, Mrs. Ora O. Bryan [Ora O. Coats] of Williston, N. Dak., Mrs. G. M. Brown [Minnie E. Coats] of Amegrad, N. Dak., Mrs. Martin Noll [Maude C. Coats], Moore, Mont., and Mrs. John Johnson [Gladys V. Coats] of this city.

The following is a brief war record of the departed veteran published in the Enterprise on May 28, 1913: "Aaron R. Coats enlisted on February 4, 1862, at Byran, Ohio, in Company K, 68th Ohio Volunteer infantry. He was afterwards transferred to Company G, Seventh Veteran Reserves, and promoted to second sergeant. Mr. Coats was engaged in many of the hardest fought battles of the Civil War. Despite his active service and his many engagements where it seemed almost impossible for any one to get through, he has not one scratch or scar to show for his bravery. He was never struck by shot, shell or bullet. He was in the thickest of the fight at Fort Donoldson, Shiloh, and Vicksburg, and at Champion Hill and Black River he saw some fierce engagements besides many minor battles and skirmishes. He served under Logan in Leggit's division throughout his service. Mr. Coats was in the hospital during the latter part of the war and when released he again tried for active service but was given a clerk's position. He has a discharge from the service that few, if any, can boast of, he having written his own discharge from the army at Washington, D. C., on February 3, 1865. Mr. Coats has been a resident of our city since 1884 and is still a very active and energetic man for his age and service."

The funeral services were held from the home today, the Rev. LaGrone officiating, and the remains were laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery.

Contributed by: hmcphie@cableone.net Source: Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa; June 30, 1920.