Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 806
WILLIAM COULTHARD

The COULTHARD family has been connected with Harrison county's history since 1858, in which year the father of William COULTHARD first came to Harrison county and bought land. William COULTHARD himself did not come to the county until 1865, arriving here when he was twenty-one years of age from Canada, where he was born and reared. For the first few years he farmed and worked in the lumber camps along the Missouri river, but since 1869 has been engaged in general farming and stock raising with unusual success. He now owns about seven hundred acres of well-improved land, on which he has three sets of farm buildings.

William COULTHARD, the son of Robert L. and Jane (EDDIE) COULTHARD, was born on August 19, 1844, near Glencoe, Ontario, Canada. His parents were natives of Dumfries and Nairn, Inverness, Scotland, and came to Canada when they were children with their parents. Albert L. COULTHARD came to America about the year 1825, grew to manhood in Canada and there married Jane Eddie. About 1857 or 1858 Robert COULTHARD came to Harrison county, Iowa, and bought land. However, he did not remain here, but returned to Canada, where he owned a good farm, and lived in that country until in May, 1877, at which time he moved to Harrison county, where he spent the remainder of his life.

William COULTHARD was one of ten children born to his parents and the third in order of birth. He came to this county from Canada about 1865. He left his home in February of that year and came by stage from Cedar Rapids to Council Bluffs, and thence drove through to Harrison county. For the first four years after coming to this county he worked in the lumber camps along the river and floated lumber down to Omaha. Shortly after coming to the county he began to buy land, purchasing some of it for two dollars and fifty cents an acre, although he has since paid as much as one hundred and twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents an acre for land. Year after year found him more prosperous and his seven hundred acres in Cincinnati township is sufficient evidence that he has been successful in all of his operations. He has engaged in general farming and stock raising and now annually feeds about one hundred and fifty head of cattle and from two hundred and fifty to three hundred head of hogs for the market. He has his own threshing machine and does his plowing with a gasoline tractor. He uses mules exclusively for his farm work, having twelve head of mules on the farm. His son, Lloyd, now manages the farm and also owns considerable land of his own. Lloyd is one of the most progressive young men of the county and bids fair to become a leader in its agricultural affairs.

William COULTHARD was married on January 26, 1867, to Jane EDDIE, who was born on October 14, 1848, in Atton, Ecksport township, Middlesex county, Canada, a daughter of John and Jane (SEATON) Eddie, natives of Scotland. William COULTHARD was married in Canada, and in July, 1856, moved to Minnesota, where he lived for ten years. In 1866 he came to Harrison county, Iowa, and bought land in Cincinnati township, giving six dollars an acre for it. Mr. COULTHARD and his wife are the parents of twelve children, five of whom are living, Anna, Inez, Harry, Ella and Lloyd. Robert, William, Lolla, Lalla, and two who died in infancy, are the other seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. COULTHARD. Lalla was married to Umpton Myers and left her husband with two children, Lolla and Lilla, twins. Lolla was accidentally shot. Anna married Samuel Downey, of Logan, and has three children living, Hazel, William and Harry, Robert, another son, dying in infancy. Inez, who married Fred Herman, and lives in Lee, Nebraska, has five sons, Burel, George, Byron, Fred, Harry and Donald. Harry, who lives in Idaho Falls, Idaho, graduated from Iowa State University in the medical department and is now practicing his profession in Idaho Falls. He married Iva Troy. Ella, who became the wife of Carl Doty, has three children, Inez Burel, Glenn Curtis and Marguerite. Lloyd lives with his parents and is now the general manager of this father's large farm. He is a graduate of the Woodbine Normal School. Lloyd is also a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

William COULTHARD is one of the oldest farmers of Cincinnati township, having been identified with its interests for nearly half a century. He and his son Lloyd are stanch Republicans. He has been assessor of his township for nine years and also trustee of his township. He also served as clerk of his township. The family are all members of the Presbyterian church and generous contributors to its support.

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