Honorable W. G. COIE, residing in Hays township, Kearney county [Nebraska], retired farmer, is proprietor of a fine estate adjoining Minden, where his family occupy a beautiful new residence. Mr. COIE was elected on the Democratic and Peoples party to represent Kearney county in the state legislature for 1896 and 1897. He has always been active in political affairs here, having been assessor of Sherman township for five years, and also township clerk for several terms.

Mr. COIE is a native of Columbiana county, Ohio. His father, Robert COIE, was born in Donegal, Ireland, and came to America when a young man, settling in Ohio, where he met and married Miss Mary ELDER, who resided in Coshocton county. She was one of a family of nineteen children, her father also a native of Ireland. In 1872 our subject came to Nebraska, locating at North Bend. He came here from Iowa, where he had farmed in Munroe county and later in Ringgold county. His brother, John COIE, was a member of the Iowa state legislature elected on the Republican ticket from Ringgold county to represent his district. One brother lives in Columbiana county, Ohio, and two others, Thomas and Samuel, served in the Union army for four years, the latter dying during the war. He was wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro.

In 1884 Mr. COIE came to Sherman township, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of school land and farmed there up to 1906, at which time he met with a serious accident through being kicked by a horse. He then sold out his farm and moved to his present place. While farming, he dealt largely in stock, making a specialty of pure bred hogs and fine horses and cattle, and was the owner of a number of as fine animals as could be found in this part of the state.

In 1873 Mr. COIE was married to Miss Margarette J. DUNLOP, of Mount Ayr, Iowa. They are the parents of five children, namely: Nannie, William R., Mabel O., a teacher in the Minden [NE] schools; Mary and Una. The family are members of the United Presbyterian church and are highly esteemed throughout the community as worthy citizens and good neighbors.

SOURCE: Compendium of History Reminiscence & Biography of Western Nebraska Pp. 301-02. Alden Publ. Chicago. 1909.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2009