Coutts, Robert Gordon 1856-1934

COUTTS, FARLEY, GEORGE, NORTON, BEATTIE, LINCOLN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 2/14/2010 at 09:23:36

The Grinnell Herald (Grinnell, Iowa) Sept. 4, 1934

A BUILDER OF GRINNELL IS CALLED

R.G. Coutts Passes Away Monday Morning Aged 78 Years, 2 Months and 9 Days.

FUNERAL SERVICES TO BE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

Mr. Coutts Had Taught for Twenty Years Famous "Bob Coutts' Class" of M.E. Church.

R.G. Coutts, for almost a half century a resident of Grinnell, reached the end of a long life in which he exemplified to the full the ideals of a stalwart, Christian manhood when he passed quietly away at 6:40 o'clock Monday morning in the residence on Hamilton avenue which he built and in which he had made his home ever since May 1, 1886.

Mr. Coutts in a literal sense was more concerned with the material upbuilding of Grinnell than any other man in its history, for in his long career as a contractor and builder he had been engaged on practically every business building which has been erected in Grinnell since he moved here in 1885. He leaves to his children the proud legacy of an unblemished reputation. Every job which Bob Coutts undertook was well and honestly done to the best of his ability. He stood four square, just as his buildings have done during all the years since he erected them.

A devout Christian, Mr. Coutts was for many years an earnest worker in the Methodist church. All his life long he was a Sunday school teacher. For twenty years he had been the teacher of a large men's Sunday school class which had come to be known as "Bob Coutts' class" but he taught his first class in the Methodist Sunday school the first Sunday he was in Grinnell and was in charge of a class of men and women until he undertook the teaching work with which he later became so peculiarly identified.

Robert Gordon Coutts, son of Adam and Helen Coutts, was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, June 25, 1856, and at the time of his death had reached the ripe old age of 78 years, 2 months and 9 days.

He landed in Quebec, Canada, on his eighteenth birthday, June 25, 1874, and came directly to Poweshiek county, landing in Malcom and walking from there across country to Pleasant township. For two years he was connected with a store where the town of Ewart now stands, but it did not take him long to swing into his life work as a builder and he did some of the work on the court house in Montezuma.

He was married in Ewart on Septemaber 15, 1881, to Alvaretta Farley, who preceded him in death Nov. 24, 1930. To this union were born eight children, of whom seven survive him, the oldest child, Mabel, having died August 23, 1883, at the age of five months. The surviving children are Ross V., of Grinnell, Harry G. and Dwight R. of Chicago, Hazel R., of Iowa City, Mrs. Russell George of Mt. Pleasant, Mrs. S.G. Norton, of Brunswick, Ga., and Ray C., of Cedar Rapids.
It is expected that all the children will be here for the funeral.

He also leaves to mourn his loss two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Beattie of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and Mrs. Edward Lincoln, Jr., of Grinnell, and two brothers, W.P. Coutts of Kellogg, Iowa, and J.M. Coutts of Newaygo, Michigan.

Mr. Coutts had resided in Grinnell since July 25, 1885, and during all that time until his last illness came upon him twelve weeks ago, had been actively connected with all of Grinnell's business and religious interests.

His civic and fraternal activities were many. He was a member of the city council during the nineties, was mayor from 1905 to 1907, was a Past Noble Grand of Grinnell Lodge No. 358, I.O.O.F., and was a member of Hermon Lodge No. 273, A.F. and A.M. His active connection with the Methodist Episcopal church and Sunday school has already been referred to and was an integral part of his life.

His business connections of late years had been with the firm which he founded and which bears his name, in which he was associated with his son Ross. As a member of the firm of Clark, Coutts & Beyer he was actively associated in real estate and building operations in Grinnell during the earlier years.

His memory will be kept green in Grinnell as a man who lived uprightly, loved mercy and walked humbly with his God.

Funeral services will be held from the Methodist Episcopal church Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, conducted by Rev. H.S. Wilkinson. Burial will be in Hazelwood cemetery. There will be a short service at the house for relatives at 2 o'clock.

The same pallbearers will act as did at the burial of Mrs. Coutts: C.S. George, Fred Heinle, T.S. Mason, G.C. Murray, N.O. Pilgrim and G.O. Watland.