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1907 Past and Present Biographies

E. A. Coburn

E. A. Coburn, of whom all speak in terms of commendation and respect, is well known in business circles as a merchant of Dana, Iowa, and the creditable record he has made well entitles him to the high regard in which he is uniersally held. He was born at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, on the 24th of October, 1850. His father, G. A. Coburn, was born in Canada, and on going to Wisconsin settled at Stevens Point, where he resided for a few years. Later he became a resident of Illinois and his last days were spent at Gridley, where he died when his son E. A. Coburn was but twelve years of age. His mother bore the maiden name of Lucy B. Munger and was born in Massachusetts. After her husband’s death she married A. P. Jewett, of Gridley, Illinois, and came to Iowa with her family. Her death occurred in Greene county when she had reached the age of sixty-two years. E. A. Coburn is one of a family of four children: Florence, who is the widow of Peter Davis and resides at Grand Junction; Ida, the wife of John Jasinsky, a resident farmer of Junction township; and James Jewett, who is now living in Grand Junction.

The subject of this review spent his boyhood days at Gridley, Illinois, and at Stevens Point, Wisconsin. In 1870 he came with the family to Greene county, Iowa. His educational privileges were meager owing to the condition of schools in a pioneer district and to the fact that his labors were needed upon the home farm. When he had reached the age of twenty-two his mother gave him eighty acres of unimproved land and at once he took up the task of developing and improving this property. He erected a dwelling upon this place and carried on the work of the farm year after year until 1902, when he sold his property and retired to Dana. In May, 1906, he purchased the general merchandise store of T. E. Meredith and the firm is now E. A. Coburn & Son. They carry a complete line of merchandise and are conducting a good business, having secured a liberal patronage which is constantly growing. They put forth earnest efforts to please their customers, are reliable in all their dealings and in their business transactions have made an excellent record.

On the 3d of December, 1873, Mr. Coburn was united in marriage to Miss Mary I. Kinsey, who was born in Ohio in September, 1852, and is a daughter of U. B. Kinsey, now deceased, and a sister of Lea B. Kinsey, a prominent resident of this county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Coburn have been born four children: G. A., who is a member of the firm of E. A. Coburn & Son, was educated in Dana and clerked in the store for several years before being admitted to a partnership. He married Callie Moranville and they have two children. U. K. Coburn married Ollie Kaywood, by whom he has two children, and his time and attention is given to farming in Junction township. Ida is the wife of C. W. Casey, a resident of Des Moines. Harry L. is at home.

The parents are members of the Presbyterian church in Dana and Mr. Coburn is a republican in his political views. He has served as a school director but has never sought nor desired pubhc oflice, preferring to give his undivided time and attention to his business affairs. He has taken all of the degrees of Odd Fellowship and for twenty-seven years has been a member of lodge No. 216 at Dana. It has always been his purpose in life to live peaceably with his fellow men, to deal honestly with them and to display a spirit of justice in all his relations. His life, guided by these high principles, has gained for him a most unqualified regard. Moreover, viewed from the financial standpoint he is a self-made man and has every reason to be proud of what he has accomplished.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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