WILLIAM COUTTS

On the roll of Tipton’s honored dead appears the name of William Coutts, a man whose capability and strong determination enabled him to work his way steadily upward until he became one of the leading agriculturists and extensive land owners of Cedar county. A native of Aberdeen, Scotland, he was born about the year 1810 and resided in that country until after he had attained his majority, spending his youthful days upon a farm. It was about 1834 that he crossed the Atlantic to America, believing that he might have better opportunities in the new world. Making his way to Ohio, he there remained for three years, during which time he worked as a laborer.

On the 12th of April, 1837, he arrived in Cedar county, Iowa, walking the entire distance from Ohio in company with John Chappell. They made their way to the Scotch settlement of Red Oak, there being only three or four families at the grove at that time. In fact it seemed that the seeds of civilization had scarcely been planted in this portion of the state. He took an active part in the early development and progress of the county and has since been numbered as one of its honored pioneer settlers. He secured a claim and entered land when it was placed upon the market. The Indians were here at the time of his arrival and it was not until the following year that they were sent to reservations father west. After three years Mr. Coutts returned to Ohio and again walked the entire distance, being nineteen and one-half days on the way. Soon he came again to Cedar county and throughout the remainder of his life gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits. He made steady progress in that department of labor and prospered as the years went by until he was numbered among the most successful and progressive agriculturists of this part of the state. He continued to farm at Red Oak until, wishing to give his children better educational advantages, he purchased a tract of land of four hundred acres a mile east of the courthouse in Tipton. There he established a home and the proximity to the city enabled the children to pursue their education in the city schools. Mr. Coutts remained on that farm until the year prior to his death, when he removed to Tipton. At one time he was the owner of eight hundred acres in Red Oak township. His farm of four hundred acres in Center township was a very valuable property, upon which he made substantial improvements. For his early purchase of three hundred acres he paid one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. He never bought land for speculation but utilized it for its productiveness and thus did much to promote the agricultural development of the county.

Mr. Coutts was married twice. He first wedded Miss Rachel Bandeen, a native of Scotland, who died in 1848, and on the 16th of April, 1850, in Ohio, he married Miss Barbara Bandeen, who was born near Aberdeen, Scotland, April 19, 1828. In 1833 she was brought to America by her parents, John and Janet (Yule) Bandeen, both of whom have long since passed away. Unto William and Barbara Coutts were born seven children: John, the oldest, spent his entire life in this county and died at the age of fifty-three years. He was married but had no children. He served as county treasurer for four years and was president of the City National bank at the time of his demise; Jane, who became the wife of Charles Wright and at her death left two children; William, a graduate of the law school of the State University of Iowa at Iowa City, who was engaged in the practice of law at the time of his death when twenty-eight years of age; Sarah, who was the wife of Joseph Bunker and lived at Cedar Rapids; Mary, the deceased wife of W. J. Moore who, since the death of Mrs. Moore, has resided with his mother-in-law, Mrs. Coutts; Martha is at home; and Ida is the widow of Dr. Roscoe Nash and is living in Tipton.

Mr. Coutts was a man of considerable local influence and prominence. He held several school and road offices and always gave his support to the measures and movements which he believed would prove of benefit to the community. In 1876 he made a visit to his native land and other European points and greatly enjoyed looking again on the scenes of his childhood and renewing acquaintance with the friends of his youth. He was a life-long Congregationalist, active in the work of the church and ever loyal to its teachings. He died in Tipton, December 16, 1891, at the venerable age of eighty years, honored and respected by all who knew him. While he left to his family a handsome competence, he also left to them the more priceless treasure of an untarnished name.