Bartlett

Bowles

Coats

Curtis

Dutton

England

Hearst

Patton

Rogers

Rowe

William Coats of South Carolina

A photograph of Mary Phillips Coats A photograph of Wilson Coats

The ancestry of William Coats of South Carolina not been determined at this time, but it is known that he was born in South Carolina. One of the difficulties in tracing his line is the fact that there were at least 17 William Coats' living in the colonies around that time. Linda Coate did quite a bit of research on them

My fifth cousin, Charlotte Coats, has done extensive research on earlier generations that may be related to this line.

The photographs are of Wilson and Mary Phillips Coats of generation four below.

Generation One (Tentative)

COATS, Charles b ca. 1714

m ca. 1734 Sophia

  • Charles
  • William b bef 1740
  • James b ca. 1753
  • Notely b ca. 1755

This generation is tentative until additional documentation is found to support it. What is known is that Charles had a son William, a wife Sophia and land in Frederick County Maryland as detailed in a 14 Aug 1761 deed. Charles is listed in the 1776 Census as 62, without a wife, but with two sons James and Notely. Another possible son would be Charles. There is a Charles Coats on a 1757 Muster Roll that could be the son of Charles as the elder Charles would have been about 44 at the time.

Given the span of time between William and James it may be the case that Sophia was Charles second wife. If other children are found to fill the gap, it would be likely that she was the only wife.

Generation Two

COATS, William b ca. 1735 d 15 Dec 1784 Camden District, South Carolina

m 1757 Frances

William's wife and children are named in his will.

On 16 April 1791, 200 acres of land owned by William was sold on Kings Creek on the south side of the Enoree River to John Turner (Furnas), Sr. The deed is filed in Newberry County Records.

Generation Three

Children of William Coats and Frances

COATS, Barton b 1749

m Nettie

  • Barton b 1788
  • unknown b 1800

COATS, Wilson W. b ca. 1750 d Jun 1822 Bedford County, Tennessee

m 8 Feb 1790 Sumner County, Tennessee Catherine Celia Ruyle b 1770 Hampshire County, Virginia d 1868 Shelbyville, Sumner County, Tennessee

  • Sally m unknown Howard
  • Matilda m John Blessing
  • Polly m David Blessing
  • William b 20 Nov 1790 Sumner County, Tennessee d 26 Dec 1865 Pontotoc County, Mississippi m ca. 1828 Elizabeth Gideon b ca. 1805 South Carolina d Ponototoc County, Mississippi
  • Benjamin b 1795 Sumner County, Tennessee d 1862 California m 1819 Elizabeth b 1800 d 1870
  • Malinda b ca. 1798 Bedford County, Tennessee d before Oct 1853 Bedford County m Andrew Reed
  • Lovicey b 8 Feb 1800 d 15 Aug 1875 Bedford County, Tennessee m John Reed
  • Claiborne Wilson b 23 Jan 1807 Bedford County, Tennessee d 9 Dec 1896 Texas m Elizabeth Butcher b 1806 Kentucky d 8 May 1872 Texas
  • James b ca. 1810 Bedford County, Tennessee d 1 May 1893 Cabool, Texas County, Mississippi m Elizabeth Hart d before May 1893
  • Henry C. b 1812
  • Bailey W. b 1814 Bedford County, Tennessee d 1820 Bedford County
  • John B. b 1815
  • Elizabeth b 1816 m Milliam R. McFarlin

COATS, Benjamin Watts b 1752 Camden District, South Carolina d 11 Jun 1850 Smith County, Tennessee

m unknown

  • Benjamin F.
  • Nancy

m Elizabeth Brook

  • Jeremiah b Dec 1805 d 1879
  • Wilson
  • Elizabeth
  • Milberry

m Anna

  • Ann
  • Mary Polly b 1815 d 6 Apr 1889
  • Temperance b 1822 d 20 Jul 1885

COATS, William b abt 1754 Newberry, South Carolina d 13 Jun 1836 Coats' Prairie, Callaway County, Missouri

m 1791 Sumner County, Tennessee Nancy Baker b abt 1774 Sumner County, Tennessee d 23 Jul 1849 Coats' Prairie, Callaway County, Missouri

  • Sarah Mary b 21 May 1792 m Matthew Agee
  • James b 4 Jan 1794 m Mary Callaway, daughter of Joseph and Polly (Barrett) Callaway
  • Rachel b 30 Sep 1795 b 20 Sep 1795 d Dec 1876 m Robert Read
  • William b 11 Jun 1797
  • Nancy b 3 Feb 1799 d 18 Sep 1835 m 12 Dec 1822 Joseph P. Callaway, son of Joseph and Polly (Barrett) Callaway
  • John b 10 Nov 1800
  • Wilson b 10 Aug 1802
  • Anna b 2 Feb 1804 (possibly died young)
  • Laodocea b 25 Dec 1805 m Daniel Phillips
  • Benjamin b abt 1808 m Annie Delaney
  • Tabitha b 13 Dec 1810 d 2 Sep 1882 m 9 Apr 1824 William Callaway, son of of Joseph and Polly (Barrett) Callaway
  • Frances b 13 Sep 1812 m 15 Oct 1829 Samuel McLaughlin
  • Mahala b May 1814 m 18 Sep 1828 Francis Dodds
  • Hiram b 20 Feb 1816
  • Lemuel B. b 16 Oct 1817

At some point William moved to Sumner County, Tennessee for he was married there in 1791. Other records indicate that William was in Smith County. As Smith County was created out of Sumner County on 26 Oct 1799, it may be that William and his family lived in the portion of Sumner County that became Smith County.

In 1817, the family moved to what became known as Coats' Prairie in Callaway County, Missouri. William farmed for a living, but his avocation was as a Baptist minister. He became the minister for the people around Coats' Prairie and organized most of the Baptist churches in the region.

William's wife and children are named in his will with the exception of Benjamin and Anna. The children's names and birth dates, including Benjamin and Anna also appear in a bible in the possession of Gail Dance. There is also a biography of Rev. William and his family .

Generation Four

Children of William Coats and Nancy Baker

COATS, James b 4 Jan 1794 Sumner County, Tennessee

m Polly Callaway, daughter of Joseph and Polly (Barrett) Callaway

  • Matthias S.
  • Laura A.

COATS, William b 11 Jun 1797 Sumner County, Tennessee d ca. 1856

m 15 Apr 1817 Wilson County, Tennessee Patsey Tracy

  • Jimmerson
  • Mary R.
  • Elizabeth d May 21 1875
  • Lowery T. b. 24 Feb 1818 d June 27, 1875, Sedalia, Missouri
  • Timothy b 4 June 1819 d 9 Oct 1819
  • Benjamin W. b 21 Sep 1820 d Santa Fe, New Mexico
  • Thomas H. b 1 April 1822; d California
  • James M. b 17 May 1824 d Jackson, Mississippi
  • William b 21 Oct 1826 d Texas
  • Jasper N. b 2 Feb 1828, Cooper, Missouri d Henry, Missouri
  • Nancy b 28 Jan 1832 Callaway County, Missouri d 5 Feb 1903 Callaway County, Missouri

m 1837 Cena Callaway b ca. 1800 d 1847, daughter of Joseph and Polly (Barrett) Callaway

  • Demetrius Callaway b 3 Apr 1840
  • Ana Elizabeth b 12 Apr 1842
  • John J. b 13 Jun 1846

COATS, John b 10 Nov 1800 d 8 Sep 1848 Smith County, Tennessee

m Nancy Smith

  • John

COATS, Wilson b 10 Aug 1802 Smith County, Tennessee d 3 Jan 1886 Fresno County, California

m 25 Dec 1823 Callaway County, Missouri Mary Phillips b 16 Jan 1805 Tennessee d 27 Nov 1875 Contra Costa County, California

On 1 May 1849, after having caught "gold fever", Wilson, his son Felix, and two nephews made their way overland to California. It took them about five months to make the trip. In January of 1851, Wilson returned to Missouri via the Isthmus of Panama to bring the family back to California. When they arrived, they first tried to settle in Santa Clara County. Finding the land in the area taken up by Spanish land grants, they next traveled to Contra Costa County and camped near what is now Danville. They finally took up a homestead of 160 acres in Tassajara Valley, which was just to the North. In 1880, Wilson was living with his son Lemuel. At one time, Wilson was an associate judge in Contra Costa County.

The parents and children's names and birth dates appear in a bible in the possession of Gail Dance. The daughter Mary most likely died young. Her name does not appear in the 1850 census with the rest of the younger children when she would have been six.

Wilson and Mary are buried in Section G of the Dublin Pioneer Cemetery, Dublin, California. The birth and death dates are from the gravestones. A biography of Wilson Coats was published in 1882.

COATS, Hiram b 20 Feb 1816 d 1857

m 17 Sep 1835 Permelia Walker

  • William B. b bef. 1843
  • Mary W. b bef. 1843
  • Tabitha A. bef 1843
  • Elizabeth F. aft 1843
  • John E. b aft. 1843
  • Francis W. b aft. 1843
  • Hiram L. b aft. 1843

Hiram and his children appear in the Callaway County, Missouri probate records - Vol F - 1855-1859 in a document dated 22 May 1857. The children's ages are specified as 14 or younger or older than 14.

COATS, Lemuel B. b 16 Oct 1817, Smith County, Tennessee d 10 Oct 1863 Portland, Missouri

m 6 Jul 1849 Elizabeth Maddox b 1826 Virginia

  • Hiram R. b 1850 Missouri
  • James F. b 1853 Arkansas
  • S. B. Coats (female) b 1857 Missouri

Elizabeth's birth date and the children's names and birth dates are from the 1860 Census. Lemuel was murdered along with his brothers-in-law in Portland.

Generation Five

Children of Wilson Coats and Mary Phillips

COATS, Therese Ettoline b 1 Nov 1824 Callaway County, Missouri d 1853, California

m 11 Feb 1841, Miller County, Missouri Albert G Nolen b 1810-1819, Tennessee d 1844, Miller County, Missouri

  • Berry William b 1 Jan 1842, Missouri d 10 Jul 1916 San Diego, California

Family research on Therese had her married to William Berry Nolen. Therese's brother Felix named one of his sons William Nolen. No records have been found for William Berry Nolen as the husband of Therese.

Both the Nolens and the Coats families were living in Miller County in 1840, so the marriage record, which gives Therese's full name is almost certainly for this Therese.

The initial assignment of Berry William Nolen as their son was based on Therese being married to William Berry Nolen. It is possible that Berry was named after his paternal grandfather, not an uncommon practice, espeically in the Nolen family. The birth locations that Berry gave for his parents coincide with those of Therese and Albert. He also named his daughter Minnie Ettoline Nolen, presumably after his mother.

The first record for Berry has him living in New Mexico in 1870. He then appears in Kansas and, finally, in San Diego, California where he died.

Missouri, US Marriage Records, 1805-2002 The exact date is from his gravestone. The month, year, and location are from the US Census California Death Index 1905-1939 From a family bible An article on Felix Coats from the History of the State of California and Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California, published 1904.

COATS, Milam Bethel b 27 Aug 1826 Callaway County, Missouri d 19 Mar 1856 Stockton, Missouri

A photograph of Milam Bethel Coats

m 1848 Susan Mary Egbert, daughter of Del Egbert b 1830, Kentucky d 4 Sep 1908, Sutter County, California

  • Arthur Wilson b ca. 1851 Missouri d Yuba City, California
  • Arianne b 30 Jan 1853 Pleasanton, California d 27 Dec 1856, Missouri
  • Trusten Polk b 19 May 1856 Stockton, Missouri

After coming to California with his father and brother, Milam, who was a physician, practiced in Pleasanton. The family returned to Missouri in 1852 where Milam and his daughter died five years later according to a Contra Costa County history.

According to her grandson, Arthur, Daniel O'Banion heard of Susan, traveled to Missouri, and married her. They then returned to Sutter County, California. In the 1900 census, Susan said she was the mother of four with two living. It doesn't appear that she had any children with Daniel.

COATS, Felix Grundy b 9 Aug 1828 Callaway County, Missouri d 10 Jun 1916 Contra Costa County, California

A photograph of Felix Grundy Coats

m 23 Feb 1860 Contra Costa County, California Leona Pearlee Doggett b 5 Mar 1841 Benton County Arkansas d 25 Dec 1893 Contra Costa County

A photograph of Felix Grundy Coats on horseback

As mentioned above, Felix came to California in 1849. After a few years at gold mining, he homesteaded 160 acres next to his father's in 1851, eventually enlarging it to 550 acres which was used to grow grain and raise cattle. At one point, Felix acted as a school trustee. In 1915, Felix dictated his memories of his trip to California and his early days there.

An 1880 U. S. census record lists Felix Coats, Leona and their children (except Jennie who hadn't been born) living in Green Valley, Contra Costa County. Felix's occupation was as a farmer. Also in the household was Leona's mother Elizabeth Daggett [sic] aged 61.

Photograph of Felix Coats Home.

In 1910, Felix was living at or near the intersection of Camino Tassajara and Sycamore Road. He reports he was living in a house as opposed to a farm. Living with him was his daughter, Jennie, and his grandaughter Hazel Worth.

Felix and Leona are buried in Section G of the Dublin Pioneer Cemetery, Dublin, California. The birth and death dates are from the grave stones. Felix is described as 6 feet tall, with light blue eyes and gray hair in the 1892 voter registration for Contra Costa County.

At least two biographies of Felix Grundy have been written: one in 1882 and another in 1904.

For an extensive genealogy of the Doggett line see the late Jim Doggett's page.

COATS, William Lafayette b 26 Dec 1830 Calloway County, Missouri d Mar 1917 Inyo County, California

Paid Nature's Last Debt
Well Known Citizens of Ripe Years Pass Into Eternity
William L.[Lafayette] Coats

William Coats, died at the Elmhurst Sanitarium Monday night about 8 o'clock. He was stricken by paralysis recently, and had been in the sanitarium since the early part of last week.

Mr. Coats came to California in 1850, with an ox team, by way of El Paso. Tuolumne county, Mariposa and Solano County were among his places of residence in the State. It is understood he was Sheriff of one of the mid-California counties at one time. He lived here for thirty years or more, and made sheep-raising his business during part of that time.

He was at one time the owner of mountain lands now including Andrews Camp. During that period some damage was done to the property by high water, and the suit he brought against the Hillside Water Company for damages, alleging the bursting of the company's dam at South Lake, and was a case of great local interest at the time.

So far as positively known here, he is survived by but one brother, Lemuel L.[should be A] Coats, of Santa Monica, father of John P. Coats, of Bishop. His age is stated to have been 86 years, 2 months, 23 days.

The Inyo Register, Bishop, Inyo County, California, March 22, 1917

Transcribed by Pat Houser for Inyo County GenWeb, December 29, 2004

 A photograph of William Lafayette Coats

William came to California with his father and brother Felix in 1849. William had moved to Inyo County by 1880 as he appears in the census for Bishops Creek, Inyo County in the household of Schuyler Williams. He gave his occupation as prospector. In the 1900 census, William was living with his brother Lemuel in the same county. There are three public land records for him in the county: two in 1891 and one in 1896. After prospecting, William pursued sheep ranching. It doesn't appear that he married.

William is buried in the West Line Cemetery, Bishop, California. An obituary appeared for him in the Inyo Register on 22 Mar 1917.

COATS, John Russell b 4 May 1833 Calloway County, Missouri d 5 Nov 1904 Quicksilver, California

A photograph of John Russell Coats

m Susan Preston b 16 Sep 1849 Missouri d 15 Sep 1927 San Francisco, California

John and Susan's birth and death dates are from their gravestones in the Middletown Cemetery, Middletown, California. John came to California with his family in 1849 or a year or two afterward.

An 1880 U. S. census record lists a J. R. Coats age 47 and wife Susan age 30 living in Sycamore, Contra Costa County. John's occupation was as a Butcher. Their children were Etta aged 13, Russell aged 11, Fannie aged 9, Eddie aged 7, Willie aged 4, and Roy aged 2. A Samuel Lyle aged 17 was listed as part of the household as a laborer. Susan's father's birth place is given as Tennessee and her mother's as Virginia.

An 1882 voter register has him in Lake County. John's nephew Bethel mentions visiting Middletown in 1885 and again in 1888. John's obituary has him living in Quicksilver when he died, which is about four miles southwest of Middletown. The Quicksilver post office closed in 1911. John died of pneumonia. Susan may have lived with her son William after her husband's death. William is buried in Colma, California which is where most San Franciscan's are buried. There are no active cemeteries in San Francisco.

John Russell Coats, an aged and highly respected resident of this vicinity, died at the family home at Quicksilver after an illness of only a few days' duration. Deceased was a native of Missouri, aged 71 years, 6 months and 1 day. He was one of the earliest settlers in this section and one time was an extensive property owner hereabout.

Clear Lake Press, 19 November 1904

COATS, Lemuel Allen b 19 Nov 1836 Miller County Missouri d 14 Feb 1918 Los Angeles County, California

A photograph of Lemuel Coats

m 10 Sep 1865 Sarah Merinda Agee b 28 Feb 1849 Calloway County, Missouri d 30 Mar 1925 Los Angeles County, California

A photograph of Lemuel Coats

Lemeul was born in Missouri and came to California when his father brought the rest of the family. At some point afterwards, he made his way to Oregon where he married Sarah and they had their first child. Sarah was the daughter of Isaac and Cordilly (Thorton) Agee. A few years later they reunited with Lemuel's family in Contra Costa County living next to his parents. In 1880, his father was living with them so perhaps he took over his father's ranch. Wilson was 77 at the time.

A photograph of Sarah Merinda Agee Coats

It's possible that Lemuel went into business running a livery stable as an L. A. Coats was running a livery stable in the Ocean View and Yockum Ferry area of Alameda County in 1875 according to a business directory. He is shown again in 1878, this time along with a Mr. Hewitt as his partner.

In September 1885, the family moved to Fresno. The family photo shown below was taken there. It's not known how long they lived there. By 1900, they were living in Inyo County with another brother: William Lafayette Coats. After a stay of several years, they moved one last time to Santa Monica, California, a few blocks from the beach. After Lemuel's death, Sarah continued to live there with some of her grown children. Others lived nearby. Lemuel and Sarah are buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica .

Lemuel: block 7, lot 184, grave F
Sarah: block 7, lot 184, grave D
There is no grave E A photograph of James Marshall Coats

COATS, James Marshall b 12 Apr 1839 d 1895, Alameda, California d 1872

m Fannie McKenzie b 26 Oct 1842, Missouri d 11 August 1938, Alameda County, California

  • May b 18 Aug 1871, California d 3 Feb 1894, Oakland, California

James was a lawyer in San Francisco, California. James and Fannie had one daughter who was killed in a street car accident in Oakland, California. May was a school teacher. The family is buried in the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California

A photograph of Frances Rosana Coats

COATS, Frances Rosana b 31 Aug 1841 Miller County, Missouri d 24 Dec 1871 Contra Costa County, California

Frances was still at home with her parents and listed as single in the 1870 census. She is buried in Section G of the Dublin Pioneer Cemetery, Dublin, California. Her gravestone has a death date of 22 Dec 1870. The former is from a family bible.

Generation Six

Children of Milam Coats and Susan Mary Egbert

COATS, Arthur Wilson b 4 Jun 1851, Missouri, d 27 Feb 1912, Yuba City, Sutter County, California

m 17 Oct 1900 King County, Washington Nettie A. Dunlap, b 1859, Illinois

Arthur appears in various records in Sutter, Lake, and Mendocino Counties. In 1910 an Arthur Wilson Coats appears in the San Francisco directory. One entry has him in real estate and another in cigars. His obiturary gives his profession as Real Estate. He is buried in the same plot as his brother, Trusten, in Yuba City.

His marriage to Nettie is problematic. The King County marriage record lists Arthur W. Coats being from Yuba City, California and a plaque on his gravestone says "My Husband". There's an Arthur Coats living with Nettie Dunlap in Arizona in 1910. It lists him as single. In addition, his obituary records him as single. Perhaps he and Nettie got divorced.

COATS, Trusten Polk b 19 May 1856 Stockton (or Jefferson City), Missouri d 17 August 1932 Yuba City, California

m 4 Oct 1883 Marysville, California Laura Jane Kirk, b 4 Nov 1861, California d 27 Jul 1954, Sacramento County, Californiaa

Children of Felix Coats and Leona Doggett

Photo of Felix Coats and family
Coats family - left to right back row: Hired man, Charlie Worth (hat), Ella Coats Worth (daughter of Felix Coats), James Longstreet Coats (tall with hat), Vivian Coats (child in arms - Frances' mother), Fanny Williams Coats, Phoebe Bowles Coats (Bethel's wife), Lillian Drennan Coats (Nolen's wife) May Coats (daughter of Felix Coats), Jennie Coats (dau of Felix), Alice Coats (daughter of Nolen), Wilson Coats (son of NOlen) Florence Coats (dau of Nolen), William Berry Nolen Coats (tall guy!) front row: Eunice Coats, Bernice Coats, Doris Coats (all three the daughters of Bethel Coats), Felix Grundy Coats, Hazel Worth, daughter of Ella Coats Worth.

COATS, William Nolan b 4 June 1862 Contra Costa County, California d 29 Dec 1923, Napa County, California

m 12 Nov 1882 Alameda County, California Catherine Delitha Drennan b 25 Jun 1865, Illinois d 21 Sep 1941, Contra Costa County, California

William is described as 6 feet tall with blue eyes and dark hair in the 1892 voter registration for Contra Costa County. There is a William Coats in the 1894 Husted Directory listing William as a laborer in the Ocean view, Yockum Ferry area of Alameda County.

In 1900, William was renting a farm in Contra Costa County where he grew hay. He continued to do so until 1912 when he moved to Napa County where he purchased a farm. The family lived there until around 1928 when he sold the farm and bought a smaller place near Rutherford in the same county.

William and Catherine are buried in the St. Helena Cemetery in St. Helena, California with some of their children and grandchildren.

California Death Index 1905-1939 Obituary in The St. Helena Star, 28 Dec 1931, page 1 California, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1850-1941 Fanny and James' wedding photo

COATS, James Longstreet b 12 Jun 1866 Contra Costa County, California d 16 Sep 1934

m 11 Aug 1895 Fanny Maude Williams b 31 Jan 1870 d 20 Jun 1936

  • Vivian b 9 Jan 1901, California

Fanny was the stepdaughter of Levi Maxcy, who owned a ranch adjacent to the Coats' place. James took over the ranch after he married Fanny. Due to his asthma, James had to give up ranching and became a government gauger (of distilled spirits). James is described as 6 feet tall with blue eyes and light hair in the 1892 voter registration for Contra Costa County. According to his brother Bethel, James entered the University of the Pacific in 1884 and graduated in 1887. At that time, it was known as California Wesleyan College and was located in San Jose. James is buried in Section G of the Dublin Pioneer Cemetery.

COATS, Bethel Sims b 16 April 1868 Contra Costa County, California d 30 May 1951 same

m 30 Dec 1891 Phoebe Ellen Bowles b 9 Apr 1873 San Luis Obispo County, California d 13 July 1962 San Jose, California

Photo of Eunice, Bernice, and Doris Coats

Bethel most likely took his entire primary education at the original Tassajara School. While at the school, Bethel started a journal. His first entry was about the school. He graduated in 1885 and started attending Livermore College the next year.

Phoebe's family moved to the county in 1887 at which time Phoebe started attending the Tassajara school. Bethel had already graduated, but may have met her there through his sisters who were still attending or at the school dance at the new school house in 1889 which he took the trouble to record in his journal. He certainly would have met her when he worked for her father in October of that year.

Bethel took over his father's ranch which he increased to 1200 acres and ran it off and on. He would sometimes rent out the ranch to others. For example, from an 1896 journal entry: "Rented our place to Ella and Charley Worth in the fall and went to the coast for a year or more"

Photograph of the ranch building location.
The ranch from "Little Hill". Highland Road is just behind the buildings and trees.

Before and after he married, Bethel liked to travel. Here's an entry from his journal for 1901:

Got a wagon and started out camping with whole family, Eunice, Bernice & Doris. Started July 1st, back Oct. 1st. Went through Santa Rosa, Geysers, Lake County, Adam’s Springs, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, Mercer’s Cave, and Big Trees of Calaveras Grove.

That's a good part of Northern California by wagon! The next year they covered a good part of Southern California in the same manner.

Went camping in the fall. Started Sept. 27th, got back Nov. 13th and visited Watsonville, San Simeon, Kings County, Fresno County, Madera County.

Two years later they went to the World's fair:

Phoebe and I went to the World’s Fair [in St. Louis]. Started Sept. 30th and got back Jan 29th 1905. Stopped in Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Watsonville and Livermore.

In 1906, Bethel bought a house in San Jose and moved the family there so that the girls (pictured above) could get a better education. Having three young daughters didn't stop them from traveling. In 1907 they took a six week trip to Yosemite and San Simeon, which was recorded by Phoebe's cousin Margaret. Two years later, they sold their first house and bought another one in the same city. In 1912, they bought a confectionary store at 60 East Santa Clara Street in San Jose, which they ran for about three years. Bethel also kept an orchard for about four years.

Photo of family members at the ranch.
From left to right: Victor Morton, Bernice (Coats) Clyde, Archibald Clyde kneeling, Robina (Morton) Heaton, William Heaton, Phoebe (Bowles) Coats, Bethel Coats, Doris (Coats) Morton, Margaret Heaton. Taken in 1934 at the ranch.

When their children had grown, Bethel and Phoebe returned to the ranch in Tassajara prior to 1920. By 1935, Bethel's sister May came to live with them and continued to do so presumably until her death in 1944.

Bethel died in 1951. Phoebe continued living there for a few years more before moving back to San Jose to live with her daughter Eunice until she died in 1962 at the age of 89. She wrote a a diary later in life. While the ranch is largely intact under the current owner, all the original ranch buildings are gone. Photos of the ranch when it was complete and its current state can be seen here.

Bethel and Phoebe are buried in Section F of the Dublin Pioneer Cemetery, Dublin, California. The birth and death dates are from the grave stones. Bethel is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall with gray eyes and brown hair in the 1892 voter registration for Contra Costa County. A biography of Bethel was written in 1926.

Susan Coats and Charles Worth in what may be there wedding photo

COATS, Susan Ella b 13 Sep 1872 Contra Costa, California d 23 May 1928 Stockton, California

m 11 Sep 1895 Charles Virgil Worth b Nov 1873, Kentucky d 21 Jul 1906, Livermore, California

  • Hazel Leona Worth b 26 Sep 1896, California d 15 Jan 1985, Reno, Nevada
Hazel Leona Worth

m Apr 1915 Sacramento, California Ernest Leopold Seiler b 28 Mar 1886, Germany d 11 Jan 1975, San Joaquin County, California

Susan attended the original Tassajara school. In 1892, Susan and Charles ran Bethel Coats ranch while Bethel and his new wife traveled. They eventually bought property in Livermore. The 9 Sep 1903 Oakland Enquirer reported run away horse and wagon in Livermore that lists Charles Worth, a wife, and a child as the occupants. Charles sustained a "badly wrecked knee". In 1906, Charles was working as a carpenter on a warehouse in Livermore when he was killed as a result of a head long fall. Charles was a member of the Eagles, Odd Fellows, Foresters, and the Livermore Fire Department.

When Susan married Ernest Seiler, they were both living in Stockton, California. An Ernest L. Seiler appears several times in the Stockton newspapers as the owner of Seiler Iron Works.

After the death of her father, Hazel went to live with her maternal grandfather and aunt in southern Contra Costa County. In 1913, she married Arnold Harrington. A divorced Hazel Worth is found in 1930 living in San Francisco. A Hazel L. Worth started appearing in the Reno, Nevada voter roles starting in 1956. In 1962, a Hazel Worth, aged 65, of 633 Casazza, Reno, pleaded guilty of drunken driving and having no valid operator's license.

The Stockton Evening Mail, 23 July 1906, page 1
Oakland Tribune, 21 Jul 1906, page 3 Oakland Tribune, 4 Aug 1906, page 3
The property is listed in a petition for letters of administration of Charles' estate.

COATS, May b 27 May 1877 Contra Costa County, California d 12 Jan 1944 San Francisco, California

m 1 Sep 1909 Marion E. Horton b c. 1868 d 17 May 1916 Alameda County, California

Photograph of May (Coats) Horton and Jennie (Coats) White

May got her early schooling at the original Tassajara school. According to her brother, Bethel, May started attending the University of the Pacific in January 1897. The university was located in San Jose at that time.

The 1909 marriage to Marion was his second. Marion was the father of twins, who lived with them, and two older children. In 1910, the family lived in Contra Costa County where Marion farmed. They are listed next to May's father, Felix. The census also reports that May have given birth to one child and that it was no longer living.

After Marion's death, May moved to San Francisco and worked as a sales clerk. At one point, she worked at Emporium. In 1940, she was living with her brother Bethel at the ranch. She is entombed with her sister at the Cypress Lawn Columbarium.

COATS, Jennie Ethel b 25 Dec 1880 Contra Costa County, California d 28 Dec 1949 San Francisco, California

m 20 Nov 1912 Thomas Henry White b 8 May 1877 California d 1 Sep 1946, San Francisco, California

Along with her siblings, Jennie attended the original Tassajara school. She and her sister May started attending the University of the Pacific in January 1897. Thomas was a San Francisco police officer for over twenty years. They lived at 1264 13th Avenue in San Francisco among other locations in the city. The 1920 and 1930 census showed no children. Tom's death is recorded in Phoebe Coats diary. Jennie moved to the Friedlan Rest Home two weeks later.

Children of John Russell Coats and Susan Preston

Photo of John Russell Coats Family
Family of John Russell Coats left to right back: Will, Cecil, Maude, Curtis LeRoy (Roy) Coats, Grove, Edwin; left to right front: Russell Wilson (Russ) Coats, Susan Preston Coats (mother), Zoe

COATS, Etta b 19 Jul 1866 Contra Costa County d 9 Dec 1957 Los Angeles, California

m 18 Oct 1885 Lake County, California William Leverett Lynn b 29 Mar 1860 Wisconsin d 11 Jul 1952 Fresno, California

  • Genevieve b 12 Jan 1888 California d 2 Feb 1984 Seattle Washington m Richard Furbash White

Etta and William met in Lake County, married, and had their only child there. William worked as a clerk. Shorty after Genevieve's birth, the family moved to Seattle, Washington. In 1910, they lived on a farm in Snohomish County where they grew berries. Ten years later William was a Bookkeeper in Tacoma. In 1930, they appear in Seattle where William was a merchant in books and stationary. Sometime after 1935, Etta and William moved to Madera, California where then lived with Etta's sister Zoe. They moved to Fresno, California where William died in 1952. Etta moved to Los Angeles and died in 1957. Genevieve remained in Seattle and lived to be 96.

COATS, Russell Wilson b 1869 d 2 Nov 1929 Madera, California

Russell's appears in the 1890 voter register for Lake County. In 1910, Russell was living with his brother William in San Francisco. In 1920, he was living with his brother, Edmund. Two years later, he went to live with his brother Cecil in Madera. He remained there until his death. He's buried at the Arbor Vitae Cemetery in Madera.

COATS, Fannie Amanda b 14 Oct 1870 Contra Costa County, California d 17 Jan 1883 Lake County, California

Fannie is buried in the Middletown Cemetery. Her gravestone lists her parents as J. R. and S. C. Coats.

COATS, Edmund Lee b 18 Jan 1873 Contra Costa County, California d 23 Oct 1926 Chico, California

m 25 Dec 1901 Lake County, California Clydia C. Parson b 1874 Iowa d 23 Nov 1919 Oakland, California

Prior to her marriage to Edmund, Clydia gave birth to a son, Roland Nobel Parsons. He's shown living with his maternal grandmother in the 1900 census. Edmund mentions him in his will and bequeaths to him $1.

The 1900 census shows Edmund as a miner in Lake County. The 1910 census shows him following the same occupation in Grass Valley, California.

A World War I draft card filed 23 Sep 1918, shows Edmund working as a miner at Kimberley Con Mines Company in Hilltop, Lander County, Nevada. He lists his wife as his nearest relative.

Clydia died in 1919. In 1920, Edmund was running a farm in Scots Valley, Lake County. His mother and his brother, Russel, were living with him. A 1924 city directory shows him living in Los Gatos, California. He's listed as a retired miner. His obituary gives Chico, California as the location of his death and stated he died from miner's consumption.

Edmund's is buried in the Hartley Cemetery and Clydia is buried in the Middleton Cemetery, both in Lake County, California.

from his gravestone from her gravestone Lake County Marriage Book 4, page 116 California Death Index California, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1850-1953, Lake County, page 375 1910 US Census

COATS, William Preston b c. 1876 Contra Costa County, California d 4 Mar 1933 San Francisco, California

m 3 Nov 1898 Maud Shreve 17 Sep 1879 California d 26 Sep 1973 San Francisco, California

  • Bernice b 19 Mar 1899 California d 18 Apr 1958 San Francisco, California m Robert Lee Bender
  • Preston Shreve b 8 Apr 1901 California d 23 May 1953 San Francisco

The 1910 census finds the family in San Francisco where William was a teamster. Both Bernice and Preston were still at home. In 1920 he was a watchman at an iron works with the family still intact. In 1930 he was a shop man for the Street Railway. By this time, Bernice had moved out. Preston was still with them.

COATS, Curtis LeRoy b 10 Feb 1878 Contra Costa County d 11 Nov 1962 New Orleans, Orlans, Louisiana

m 16 Oct 1899 Alameda County, California Leta C. Harbin b Mar 1879 California d 24 Nov 1935 San Francisco, California

  • Lorin Leroy b 26 Jun 1900 Lake County, California d 19 Feb 1946 San Francisco, California
  • John R b 23 Nov 1905 Lake County, California d 15 Feb 1915 San Francisco, California

m 30 Dec 1938 San Mateo, California Alice Roslind Haas b 17 Feb 1882 Haasville, Louisiana d 18 Jun 1963

A Roy Coats is listed as the son of John in the 1880 census. The full name is from a photograph of him. He went by Leroy in the 1900 census records. Leroy and Leta were still living in Lake County at that time. The census records them as being married less than one year. Leroy was working as a miner. By 1920 Leta and Leroy were divorced with Leta and her son living in San Francisco. She worked as a milliner. They lived at 229 24th Street.

Roy moved to San Mateo and worked at various jobs. He joined the Christian Science church where he became First Reader. There, he met his second wife, who was the Second Reader. He adopted Alice's youngest daughter: Carol. In 1930, after Carol graduated from high school, the family moved to New Orleans. Roy became a Christian Science teacher and denominational spokesman for Louisiana. He's listed as a Christian Science practitioner in several New Orleans city directories

COATS, Susan Mabel b 1 Jun 1880 Contra Costa County, California d 23 Jan unknown year Lake County, California

Susan's gravestone lists her parents as J. R. and S. C. Coats.

COATS, Zoe H b 12 Jan 1883, Lake County, California d 28 Feb 1959, Santa Monica, California

Photo of Zoe Coats
Zoe Coats.

She is listed in the 1900 and 1910 census as living with her sister Etta in King County, Washington. In the 1920 census, she was living in San Francisco and worked as a pharmacist. A 1921 directory shows her living at 1290 Bush Street, San Francisco. The next year's directory shows her at 1369 Hyde Street. The same year she moved to Fresno

In 1922, she was working as a druggist at Smith Brothers, a new drug store in Fresno, California. Two years later, she was called before a grand jury investigating into stolen bonds. She was "exonerated from any suspicion." A 1927 newspaper advertisement shows her as the proprietor of the Broadway Drugstore along with M. W. Lewellin.

In 1930, Zoe was a lodger in the city of Fresno. In 1940, she is living with her sister Etta and her husband William Lynn in Madera, California. She was still there in 1950. In 1949, a Zoe Coats of the same age hit a bicyclist while driving

In 1953, the hotel in which her pharmacy was located burnt down. After the loss of her business, she worked as a pharmacist at other drug stores until 1957 when she moved to Santa Monica where her brother, Grover, lived.

After her death there, she was inurned at the Chapel of the Light Columbarium and Cemetery in Fresno, California. Zoe never married.

The Fresno Bee, 6 November 1927, p 34
The add indicates that business took over Smith Brothers. The Fresno Morning Republican, 3 January 1924, p 13 The Fresno Bee, 16 Dec 1922, p 4 California Death Index The Fresno Bee, 2 Mar 1959, p 16 The Fresno Bee, 1 Jul 1949, p 9

COATS, Grover Cleveland b 30 Dec 1884 Lake County, California d 18 Jan 1967 Los Angeles, California

Photo Officer Grover Coats on horseback ca. 1917
Officer Grover Coats ca. 1917, from the UC Berkeley Collection via polkparty on ancestry.

m 1905 Lillia H. Edgar b 14 Jan 1886, California d 31 Aug 1961, San Mateo, California

m 19 Mar 1959 Los Angeles, California Pauline (Keegan) Brendenbrook b 19 Jul 1894 California d 20 Apr 1975 Los Angeles, California

Grover first worked as an elevator constructor. He was appointed to the San Francisco Police department 31 December 1908. In 1910, Grover and Lillia where living in San Francisco.

In 1916 he and seven other police officers were suspended for failing to stop gambling in China Town. In 1917, he was promoted to corporal, in 1921 to sergeant, and in 1924 to lieutenant.

The 1920 census has both Grover and Lillian married, but living at different locations in San Francisco. The 1930 census finds Grover divorced and one of many lodgers at 456 Post Street.

In 1933, Grover was promoted to Captain along with two other lieutenants. The validity of the promotions was contested in court. After six years of legal proceedings, the promotions were deemed invalid and the captains were reduced to lieutenants

In 1940, Grover was suspended again, this time for "arriving at work intoxicated." This would have been shortly after his demotion.

By 1942 Grover was living at the Lakeshore Olympic Club and was an employee of the police department. He was still there in 1950 and still working for the police department. He later moved to Los Angeles as he was married there in 1959.

Grover and Pauline are buried at Forest Lawn in Glendale, California. His obituary noted that he was cited three times for bravery while with the San Francisco police department.

World War II Draft Card (1942) 1950 US Census The San Francisco Examiner, 30 Mar 1916, p 1 The San Francisco Examiner, 22 Aug 1940, p 15 The San Francisco Examiner, 21 Jan 1955, p 50 A January 1934 article on the careers of police officers involved in a department shakeup.

COATS, Cecil Lynn b 16 Jul 1890 Lake County, California d 19 Oct 1957 Fresno, California

m 19 Oct 1917 Seattle, Washington Airdrey L. Kincaid b 24 Apr 1801 Washington d 26 Jun 1966 Santa Barbara, California

m Oct 1923 Echo Myrth Lewis b 21 Aug 1897 California d 31 Oct 1990 San Diego, California

  • Jacqueline Zoe b 24 Feb 1925 Madera, California d 12 Dec 1982 Fresno, California, m Paul McNally

After Cecil's father died, he and his mother moved to Seattle, Washington to live with his sister Zoe who had moved there earlier to attend college. On Cecil's World War I draft registration card, which he submitted 5 Jun 1917, he lists himself as the sole support for his mother. By then, Zoe had moved to her own residence. He also indicated that he had served one year in a Washington state military unit. The family was now living in Everett, Washington. Cecil was an office supply salesman for the Everett Pulp and Paper Company. He married Audrie later the same year. By 1920, they were living together on their own in Seattle. Cecil was a salesman for the Veterans Welfare Company and Airdrey was in advertising. Within a few years, Airdrey had remarried and gave birth to a daughter in 1926 in Santa Barbara, California.

Cecil remarried in 1923 and had moved to California where his daughter was born in 1925. The family settled in Fresno, California where Cecil worked as a salesman for the Concrete Pipe Company. They remained there until his death in 1957. In 1959, Echo married William Bliler.

Children of Lemuel Allen Coats and Sarah Merinda Agee

Photo of Lemuel Coats Family. Taken in Fresno, California
Lemuel Allen Coats family standing: unknown (hired man), James Franklin Coats, Sarah Merinda Agee Coats (wife of Lemuel Allen Coats), Lemuel Allen Coats, Charles Allen Coats, John Paul Coats, Melissa Edna Coats; seated in chairs left to right: Thomas Agee Coats, Annie Laurie Coats (in high chair), Cordelia Coats

COATS, Franklin James b 29 Jul 1867 Yamhill County, Oregon d 20 Apr 1957 Arizona

A young Frank. Image courtesy of Francis Edmonston.

Frank is listed as James F. in some places and Frank J. in others. Frank was the only one of his siblings born in Oregon. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Contra Costa County in California where they lived for about 15 years. In 1900, he and his brother John were listed as lodgers in Benton, Mono County, California where they worked as cattle herders. They were also listed in the same census with their parents in Bishop. Ten years later, he was living with his parents in Santa Monica, California. He continued to do so for at least ten years. In 1922, Frank and his sister, Mary, were sharing a residence very near their mother and then several blocks away in 1925. By 1930, Mary was a patient in the Norwalk Hospital for the Insane. It may have been that Frank was taking care of her until she was admitted. Frank worked as a house mover.

A Frank Coates appears in the 1940 census for Mohave, Arizona reporting that he was living there in 1935. The birth year and location agree with this Frank. The 1950 census has a James F. Coats with the same birth year and location.

The evidence for Frank's death in Arizona contains some conflicting information. The death certificate for James Franklin Coats indicates he had lived in Arizona for 50 years. This is supported by a 1907 voter registration record. There is abundant evidence that he was living in California until 1925. The obituary for Frank J. Coats also said he had lived in Arizona for 50 years. It lists his brother J. P. Coats as next of kin, living in Bishop, California, which corresponds to other factual information. A possibility is that he move to Arizona from Bishop by 1907 and then moved back with his family by 1910.

He is buried in the Mountain View Cemetery in Kingman.

Family bible Death certificate sec 19 lot 7 gv 6 Mountain View Cemetery, Kingman, Arizona The Arizona Republic, 21 Apr 1957, page 6
obituary for Franklin Coats

COATS, Melissa Edna b 9 Apr 1874 Contra Costa County, California d 19 May 1962 Los Angeles, California

Edna in March 1959. Image courtesy of Francis Edmonston.

Edna was born in Contra Costa County after her parents moved there from Oregon. From there she moved with the family to Inyo County by 1900 and then to Santa Monica by 1910. In 1922, she was living on her own in the same city and was employed as a nurse. She moved to Pasadena in the early 1930's and finally settled at 10036 Breidt Ave, Los Angles at least until 1954.

California Death Index 1940-1997 California Death Index 1940-1997

COATS, Charles Allan b 29 Dec 1875 Alameda County, California d 12 Feb 1952 Los Angeles County, California

California Death Index and family Bible California Death Index and family Bible

m ca. 1908 Mary Matilda Goins b 11 Jan 1884 Kentucky d 12 Jan 1955 Los Angeles County, California

Charles Coats<br>Image courtesy of Francis Edmonston.

Charles was born on his parent's farm in Alameda County, California. By 1900, his family had moved to Bishop, but he remained behind and was living with his cousin Bethel in Contra Costa County, California. Charles then followed his family to Bishop. After only a few years, Charles moved to Visalia in Tulare County where he worked as a house painter. There he married Mary prior to 1910.

Mary was born in Kentucky to William and Nacissa (Watkins) Goins. Her mother died in 1899 in Kentucky. After about a year, her family moved to Visalia, possibly following her eldest brother Christopher Columbus Goins.

Mary Charles Coats<br>Image courtesy of Francis Edmonston.

They then moved to Santa Monica, in Los Angeles County where they were living with his parents in 1918. He was employed as a farm laborer. They continued to live there for several years. By 1924, they moved to 1452 1/2 Third Street, Santa Monica where they lived until Charles' death. Charles returned to working as a house painter and Mary became hotel manager of The Donald. After Charles' death, Mary moved next door to her sister-in-law Edna.

Lake County Marriage Book 3, page 418

COATS, John Paul b 25 Jan 1878 Contra Costa, California d 5 Feb 1965 Bishop, California

m ca. 1915 Dora Chamberlain b 1 Jan 1879 Inyo County, California d 10 Feb 1976 Bishop, California

Dora and John Coats<br>Image courtesy of Francis Edmonston.

John was born in Contra Costa County and moved several times with his parents and siblings. He was in Bishop, Inyo County in 1900. John then moved with his parents to Santa Monica between 1904 and 1910. He finally returned to Bishop. He is mentioned in his uncle's obituary as living in there in 1917. John was a farmer.

Dora is the daughter of James and Addie S. Chamberlain. She first married Edgar Ray Yaney in 1898. They had a daughter, Elma Rae, in 1899. Edgar died in 1907 and is buried in the West Line cemetery. Elma married a William Archer Crosby. She is buried in the same cemetery.

John and Dora are also buried in West Line Cemetery in Bishop.

COATS, Mary Cordelia b 5 Feb 1880 Contra Costa County, California d 9 Jan 1965 Los Angeles County, California

The census for 1920 shows Mary as single and living with her mother in Santa Monica, California.

Mary was living with her older brother in 1922 and 1925.

By 1930, Mary was a patient at the Norwalk State Hospital for the Insane. She was still there in 1940. In 1950, she was a patient in Downy, California.

California Death Index 1940-1997. Listed as Mary C. Coats, mother's maiden name Agee. Born 5 Feb 1889, California

COATS, Thomas Agee b 5 Dec 1881 Contra Costa County, California d 16 Jun 1952 Bishop, California

Thomas Agee Coats<br>Image courtesy of Francis Edmonston.

Thomas was the youngest son in the family. While still very young, he moved with his family to Fresno, Bishop, and finally Santa Monica. When he registered for the draft, he was living in Taft in Kern County working in oil well drilling. By 1930, he was living back in Los Angeles County in the city of Signal Hill following the same profession. A 1940 World War II draft card gives Fish Springs, California as his residence. It's about 20 miles south of Bishop where he is buried in the West Line Cemetery.

California Death Index 1940-1997. Listed as Thomas Agee Coats, mother's maiden name Agee. Born 5 Dec 1883, California

COATS, Annie Laurie b 14 Feb 1883 Contra Costa County, Calfornia d 23 Feb 1922 Los Angeles County, California

Elmer and Annie Shepherd<br>Image courtesy of Francis Edmonston.

m 1910 Elmer Shepherd b 9 Oct 1873 Illinois d 21 Oct 1958 Los Angeles County, California

  • Charles Elmer b 6 Feb 1913 Los Angeles County, California d 1 Dec 1970 Los Angeles County, California
  • George Aubrey b 21 Mar 1919 Los Angeles County, California d 27 May 1934 Los Angeles County, California
Charles and Aubrey Shepherd<br>Image courtesy of Francis Edmonston.

Annie was born in Contra Costa County and moved with her family to Fresno, Bishop, and then Santa Monica. In 1910 she married Elmer and they lived in South Pasadena. They lived there at least until 1916. By 1920, she and her children were living with her mother. She died two years later of influenza. At the time, she was living with her husband at 1740 22nd Street In 1924, Elmer was living several blocks away.

George died at 14. Charles was working as a groom and living at a riding academy in 1930. He appears to have remained in Los Angeles as he died there in 1970. No additional information has been found for him.

Annie, Elmer, and George are buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica .

California Death Index The 1910 census gave 0 years of marriage implying they were married within the year. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. Mother's maiden name given as Couts. Listed as Elmer A Sheppard. The same birth date was given on the death certificate with the name Charles E. Shepherd. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. Mother's maiden name given as Coates. Only A given as a middle initial. California Death Index, 1940-1997. Listed as Charles E. Shepherd born 6 Feb 1913 in California. Social Security Number: 549123977.

Death Certificate issued by the State of California

Anna Laurie Shepherd of 1740 22nd Street, Santa Monica
Died: 2:30 PM, 23 Feb 1922
Cause of Death: Influenza
Buried: Woodlawn Cemetery, Santa Monica, 25 Feb 1922
Husband: Elmer Shepherd, born 14 Feb 1884

 California Death Index 1930-1939
"Shepherd George A - 1 15 - 70 - 5 28 34 - 34 - - 26390" 15 is the age, 70 is for Los Angeles County, and 26390 the file number
The file number was very difficult to read. The last digit may be an 8. The birth date is from a bible record.
The location is based on the census records. Annie: block 2, lot 87, grave A
Elmer: block 8, lot 128, grave A
George: block 9, lot 127, grave A

Generation Seven

Children of Trusten Polk Coats and Laura Jane Kirk

COATS, Milam Grover b 13 Dec 1885, Yuba City, California d 7 Aug 1948, San Francisco, California

m 18 Apr 1909, Yuba City, California Glenora A. Lewis b 1891, California d 11 Feb 1933, San Francisco, California

  • Milam Laura b 24 Nov 1915, California d 14 Dec 1983, Riverside County, California
  • Glen Lewis b 20 Nov 1919 d 17 Sep 1941, England

m Marie Margaret Selinski, 24 Jun 1940, Carson City, Nevada b 4 Sep 1893, Minnesota d 3 Jan 1956, San Francisco

Before his marriage to Glenora, Milam worked as a printer for the Sutter Independent. The newspaper announcement of their weddding said they planned to move to Washington. If they did, it wasn't for long. By 1913, Milam was working for the Daily Independent in Richmond, California. By 1915, he was working as a forman for The Herald in Fresno. They remained there several years. By 1927, they were living in San Francisco, California and he was working for the San Francisco Examiner newspaper as a foreman in the printing department.

Milam is buried at Cypress Lawn, Colma, California. Glenora is buried at the Manzanita Cemetery in Lincoln, California. Marie is buried at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colma, California.

World War II draft card The Sutter County Farmer, 16 Apr 1909, page 1 Carson City, Nevada, Marriage Index 1855-1985 California Death Index

COATS, Mary Jane b 18 Feb 1887, California d 25 Aug 1973, Sacramento, California

m 2 Jan 1910, Yuba City, California Clive Berry Kelly b 11 Jan 1884, Missouri, d 8 Jun 1978, Wheatland, California

According to their marriage announcement, they first built a home on a 20 acre vineyard owned by Clive. Mary and Clive continued to live in Sutter County until their deaths. Clive was an assessor for the State Board of Equalization. Mary was an elementary school teacher. No records have been found for any children.

Mary and Clive are buried at the Sierra View Memorial Park in Olivehurst, California.

The Appeal-Democrat, 27 Dec 1909, page 1

COATS, Arthur William b 29 Oct 1888, O'Banion Corners, California d 8 Aug 1965, Yuba County, California

m 21 Apr 1913 Woodland, California Assumption Fabiola Lang b 18 May 1888, California d 20 Dec 1984, Yuba City, California

  • Arthur William b 24 Jun 1914, Yuba City, California d 14 Apr 2002 Cambria, California m 9 Jun 1945, Sacramento, California Jane Francis Houston
  • Jane Claire b 12 Aug 1915 San Francisco d 27 Mar 1997, Yreka, California m 1937 Charles Edgar Cotton
  • Wilson Francis b 24 Aug 1917 Yuba City, California d 10 Jun 1983 Yuba City, California m 6 Apr 1942, Reno, Nevada Mildred Knutson
  • Robert Trusten b 25 May 1920 Yuba City, California d 27 Oct 2007 Yuba City, California m 10 May 1942, Fort Belvoir, Virginia Betty Jane Poole
  • Wallace James b 22 Jul 1924 Marysville, California d 12 Jul 2000 Sacramento, California m Dorothy Rae Readhair
  • Lauren Jerome b 6 Jun 1926 San Francisco, California d 7 Jul 1941 Los Angeles County, California

Arthur graduated from Marysville High school and then taught school in Colusa and Glen Counties. He then read law in the office of Wallace Dinsmore. In 1914, he was elected district attorney for Sutter County. After serving for 16 years, he ran for and was elected superior court judge. He remained in this position until he retired in 1962.

Arthur and Assumption are buried in the Sutter Cemetery, Sutter, California

Photograph of Arthur William Coats family
The names are from the back of the photo. From the left: Robert Coats, Jane Coats Cotton, Assumption Lang Coats, Judge Arthur Coats, Milam Coats Carr ( daughter of Milam Coats), Wilson Coats. At the bottom left: Wallace Coats. The photo appears to have been taken 2 Jan 1967.

COATS, Trusten Polk b 8 Oct 1898, Yuba City, California d 30 Jul 1972, Stanislaus County, California

m 3 Jun 1923, Marysville, California Manilla Evelyn Reissinger b 27 Jun 1898, Marysville California d 23 Sep 1980, Stanislaus County, California

  • Gordon Allen b 3 Apr 1925, Yuba City, California d 10 Dec 2011 London, England m 8 Oct 1955 Patricia A. Oharro
  • Trusten Polk b 4 Jan 1931, San Francisco, California d 9 May 1937, Berkeley, California

After serving in the U.S. Army during World War I, Trusten's started his career in banking. He first worked at the Ridout Bank in 1918. Later he organized and became president of the Producers Bank in Yuba City. It was later acquired by the Bank of America. In 1933 he became the president of the Production Credit Corporation. He held this position until he entered the U.S. Navy reserve where he was a lieutenant commander. After the war, he returned to banking in Oakdale and then was named president of the Bank of Oakland in 1950. He then became president of the Central Bank of Oakland in 1957. He retired in 1959.

Trusten, Manilla, and their son Trusten are buried at the Sierra View Memorial Park in Olivehurst, California.

Independent-Herald, 7 Jun 1923, page 8 California County Birth, Marriage, and Death Records 1849-1980 California Death Index 1940-1997

COATS, Laura Ruth b 26 Aug 1903, California d 14 Aug 1981, Wheatland, California

m 1927 Chester James Metcalf b 30 Oct 1903, Humboldt County, California d 12 Feb 1966, Yuba County, California

  • Marilyn b 13 May 1931, Yuba City, California d 29 Jul 2008, Chico, California m James C. Smith
  • James Chester b 27 Jun 1934, Yuba County, California d 10 Sep 2015, Lincoln, California m Lynn Ann Peterson

In 1950 Ruth was working as a bookkeeper and Chester as a mechanic and welder, possibly at the same business.

Ruth and James are buried at the Sierra View Memorial Park in Olivehurst, California.

Children of William Berry Nolan Coats and Catherine Drennan

COATS, Wilson Riley b 14 Sep 1883, Contra Costa County, California d 19 Apr 1930 Niles, Alameda County, California

Photo of Wilson Riley Coats
Wilson Riley Coats. Courtesy of Francis Edmonston.

Wilson worked as ranch foreman in Niles, which is now part of Fremont, California. He first showed up there in 1904 as a hired hand, but was back with his parents in 1910. From 1914 to 1930, he appeared in the voter rolls for Niles as a Republican describing himself as a rancher, farmer, or cattleman.

In 1920, according to two news articles, Wilson was involved in running an illegal still and distributing liquor. One article says it was Wilson's ranch and still. A second says it was Dan Greenwood's. Wilson was a ranch foreman, so the second version is the most accurate.

In 1930,Wilson was found dead in a ravine. From his injuries, it was concluded that he was dragged by a horse he was trying to break. He had been working on the ranch of Leo Hass for eight months prior and was engaged to be married.

Wilson is buried with his parents in the St. Helena Cemetery in St. Helena, California.

1900 US Census and World War I draft card California Death Index. His body was found on the 21st. The 19th is the coroner's estimated time of death. Oakland Tribune, 21 April 1930, page 1
The St. Helena Star, 25 April 1930, page 1 Oakland Tribune, 10 August 1920, page 22
San Francisco Chronicle, 11 August 1920, page 12

COATS, Florence Irene b 13 Oct 1885, Alameda County, California d 21 Nov 1944 Alameda County, California

m 28 Aug 1908 Contra Costa County, California Joseph Tunis Edeline b 17 Dec 1874, Hoopa, Humboldt, California>d 22 Mar 1962, Alameda County, California

  • Delitha Orolea b 23 May 1909, Humboldt, California d 5 Jan 1990, Sparks, Nevada m Henry Sly

After their marriage, Florence and Joseph were living in Humboldt County as their daughter was born there. Shortly after, they moved to Contra Costa County and lived on a farm in the Tassajara District for the rest of their lives. They may have taken over Florence's father's place. He moved to St. Helena in 1912. Florence once gave her occupation as a milker, so it may have been a dairy farm or they just had cows.

After Florence's death, Joeseph remarried in January 1946 to Grace Simon.

Joseph and Florence are buried in the Dublin cemetery with many Coats relatives.

California Death Index 1940-1997 World War I draft card dated 12 Sep 1918 Contra Costa County Marriage Book 1910 US Census

COATS, Alice Miriam b 2 Feb 1891, California d 2 Sep 1929, Scotts Valley,Lake County, California

m 1907 Edward Alvin McIntire b 27 Aug 1888, California d 27 Feb 1954, Alameda County, California

  • Alvin Wilson b 21 Aug 1908, Pleasanton, California d 14 Aug 1960, San Francisco, California m Grace L. Everett
  • Mildred Catherine b 21 Aug 1910, Alameda County, California d 19 May 1991, Monterey, California m Leonard Gehringer

m 1 Jan 1919 Napa County, California Ernest Elton Stice b 25 Sep 1889, California d 24 Aug 1937 Napa County, California

  • Norman Elton b 2 Jul 1919, California d 21 Jul 1997, San Bernadino County, California m Mary Bryant
  • Mervin Nolan b 8 Mar 1921, Napa County, California d 5 Feb 1953, Humbolt County, California m Betty J. Smith

In 1911, Alice moved to St. Helena, where her parents lived. Her children from her first marriage were living with her parents in 1920 so she may have been also. She and her second husband lived in Rutherford until shortly before her death when they moved to Lake County. Ernest was a farmer.

Alice, Ernest, and their son Mervin are buried with Alice's parents in St. Helena Cemetery in St. Helena.

California Death Index 1905-1939
Scotts Valley is from her obituary US Census and findagrave entry Her obituary in The Napa Valley Register, 6 Sep 1929, page 9

Children of James Coats and Fanny Williams

COATS, Vivian b 9 Jan 1901 Contra Costa County, California d 16 Nov 1987, San Francisco

m 26 Nov 1932 Reno, Nevada Charles Ninian Edmonston b 25 Jan 1903 d Mar 1979

  • Charles Ninian b 21 Mar 1936 d 8 Oct 1991
  • Frances Ann b private

Vivian wrote an autobiography From the Ox Team to the Moon that can be found at the Sutro Branch of the California State Library, San Francisco.

Children of Bethel Coats and Phoebe Bowles

COATS, Bernice Eloise b 16 Feb 1895 d 8 Sep 1963

m 1934-5 Archibald Isaac Clyde b 2 May 1898 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania d 16 Nov 1980 Sonoma County, California

  • None
Photograph of Bernice Coats

Bernice attended the Stanford University nursing school on Clay Street in San Francisco. The 1920 census has Bernice living there. The 1930 census describes Bernice as a graduate nurse (R.N.) at a doctor's office and living on California Street, San Francisco. Both census records have her single. She later moved to 1515 Broadway. A 1934 Polk's Directory lists her as Bernice Coats. The 1935 directory lists her as Bernice Clyde. After marrying the couple moved to Sausalito in Marin County and lived at 117 4th Street.

Archibald (Archie) was a butcher. He served in the United States Navy during World War I. In 1920, he lived with his family in Los Angeles, California. In Sausalito, Archie worked at the Golden Gate Meat Market. He was probably the owner.

Bernice died from cancer. Archie continued to live at the 4th Street house. Both Bernice and Archie are buried at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California. Bernice was known as Bunny to her family.

Photograph of Bernice and Archibald
Bernice and Archibald Clyde at Bethel Coats' ranch in 1934.

COATS, Doris Thelma b 18 Apr 1899 d 17 Aug 1982

m 26 Oct 1921 Contra Costa County, California Victor Morton b 17 Jun 1892 d 14 Dec 1973

  • Victor Julian b 26 Dec 1922 d Jul 1945 - Victor was shot down while flying a TBM near Kure, Japan.
  • Marcia Bernice b 1926

Generation Eight

Children of Doris Thelma Coats and Victor Morton

MORTON, Marcia Bernice b 1 Feb 1926, Edenvale, California d 12 Apr 2022 San Jose, California

m 7 Oct 1945 Harold Henry Sonnenberg b 17 Feb 1924, Minnesota d 16 Jun 2008, San Jose, California

  • Gail Diane
  • Bruce Alan