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         J. B. COUTANT, carriage-maker and general blacksmith, of Letts, this county, was born in Ulster County, N. Y., and is a son of William M. and Nargaret Coutant, who were also natives of the Empire State. The father was a dealer in lime and cement in that State for many years, but is now living a retired life. Our subject was reared in New York, and received his education in the district schools, but when a young man emigrated to Indiana, locating in Dearborn County. Subsequently going to Cincinnati, Ohio, he there began learning the trades of carriage-maker and blacksmith.

When the war broke out our subject left his work to enlist at the President’s first call for 75,000 volunteers to serve three months. He became a member of Company A, 7th Indiana Infantry, and was mustered into service at Indianapolis, being assigned to the command of Gen. McClellan, under whom he participated in the battles of Phillippi, Carrick’s Ford and Rich Mountain. At the expiration of his term of service he was discharged, but re-enlisted, in Company E of the same regiment, for three years’ service and was retained in Western Virginia, engaging in the battles of Greenbrier, Winchester, Cedar Mountain, second battle of Bull Run, and a number of skirmishes, after which he was discharged at Indianapolis, in 1862, on account of physical disability.

Returning to Cincinnati, our subject finished learning his trade, at which he afterward worked in that city and in various towns in Indiana until his removal to Iowa. In 1871 he came West, settling in Cedar Rapids, where he engaged at his trade for about four or five years, and in 1876 removed to Letts, where he opened his present business.

In 1880, in Muscatine County, Iowa, the marriage of J. B. Coutant and Miss Sarah Bailey was celebrated. The lady is a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of John and Julia Bailey. Since their marriage they have resided in Letts, and both are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, Mr. Coutant is a Republican, while socially, he is a member of the G. A. R. Post. He gives much of his time and attention to the raising of thoroughbred poultry, which he has on exhibition at all the regular poultry exhibits in both Iowa and Illinois. His poultry is of the silver-laced and white Wyandotte breed, on which he has received several premiums, and at Bonaparte, Iowa, he won a $25 silver cup. He also keeps eggs and stock on hand ready for any order that he may receive from time to time.