Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 1912


Coates Family Biography

The name Coates is of ancient origin and was written in the earliest records as De Cote, a Norman name; the letter "a" occurs in the spelling as early as 1331, when in the fourth year of Edward III, William De Coates was Lord of Coles DeVille in Leicestershire, England, and in 1347 John De Coates, with an "a" held lands here of Bishop of Lincoln, although the name was generally written Cotes until the seventeenth century. The name in Scotland is Coats, omitting the "e" and may be from another source. There are landed proprietors bearing the name Coates in England, Wales and Ireland. In Scotland the family is very wealthy and known the world over as manufacturers of thread, J. and P. Coates being as well known as Clark's. The first mention of the name in America is in 1638, when Sir John Coates came to Maryland and soon afterwards obtained the grant of a tract of land five miles from the city of Washington, part of which is still owned by descendants.

Another of the name, Thomas Coates, came to Philadelphia in 1683 from Leicestershire, England, married Beulah H. Saques, became a prosperous merchant and the head of a large well known family. But the greater part of the Coates family of Pennsylvania descend from Moses and Susanna Coates, who came from the Carlow Monthly Meeting in Munster, Eastern Ireland, but of the English family.

The Coates family of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, are of comparatively recent settlement and descend from the Coates family of Cleg Hall, Lancastershire, England. Joseph Coates lived and died at his ancestral home, Cleg Hall, which he owned in connection with his farming estate, Brimmercroft. His was one of the prominent county families and he devoted his time entirely to his own estate, leading the existance of the typical English country gentleman. He was a Conservative in polities and a member of the Church of England. He was twice married. By first wife he had several sons and daughters, the eldest son, Dr. Coates, a physician of London, England, inheriting Cleg Hall. By second wife, all deceased: Joseph, of whom further; Simon, a real estate dealer of Rochdale, England; James, a cattle dealer in England; Solomon, a real estate dealer of England; John, a noted hotel proprietor of England; Ann, married John White and died in England.

(II) Joseph (2), son of Joseph (1) Coates, was born in Rochdale, Lancastershire, England, about 1810, died in California in 1862. He grew to manhood in his native land and prepared for the profession of medicine, but never practiced. Shortly after attaining his majority he came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, later went to Boston where his brothers-in-law, David Gore and George Rose, were prominent contractors under the firm name of Gore, Rose & Company. They built the first street railroad from the "Old South Church out Dorchester avenue to Milton, Massachusetts," but the company being unable to pay the contractors, Gore, Rose & Company took charge and operated it for several years. Mr. Coates served them in the running of the road in various capacities, continuing until 1862, when he started for California, via the Isthmus of Panama. He contracted fever on the journey across but recovered and reached Sacramento, California. He worked for a time in the gold mines, but another attack of fever resulted fatally.

He married Sarah Rose, born in Guilford, Maine, 1819, died January, 1882, daughter of Thomas and Judith (Lulkin) Rose, both born in Maine, of English descent. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Rose : Aaron, Thomas, Timothy, all farmers of Guilford, Maine; George, a contractor of Freeport, Maine. Rhoda, married David Gore and lived in Boston; David Gore and George Rose were partners in the contracting business; Joan, died young; Sarah, of previous mention. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Coates : 1. Charles J., of whom further. 2. William H., now a contractor, residing at New Brighton, Pennsylvania; he married Jennie Wheeler. 3. Fannie, married Addison Wilson, an orange and general fruit grower at Orange, California. 4. Anna, died in infancy.

(III) Charles J., eldest son of Joseph (2) and Sarah (Rose) Coates, was born in Ashland, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, February 18, 1856. He attended the public schools of Boston, Massachusetts, also at Guilford, Maine. He was a classmate of the famous inventor, Hudson Maxim. When a boy he worked for the firm of D. & H. Gore, contractors in Boston, they then being engaged in street paving and street railroad construction. He learned the business thoroughly and when twenty-seven years of age was admitted to a partnership with his uncle, David Gore, continuing for five years, a member of the contracting firm of Gore, Coates & Ward. The firm then dissolved, Mr. Coates continuing the same business alone in Boston. In 1896 he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and continued the contracting business there one year. He was a resident of New Brighton, Pennsylvania, three years, also for a time of New Castle, being engaged in business in both towns. In 1902 he lo-cated in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. His first contract there was as partner in the firm of Funkhauser & Coates, paving North Gallatin avenue. The next year he formed a partnership with H. P. Brown, of Rochester, Pennsylvania, and as Brown & Coates continued in the contracting field until 1907. Mr. Coates has been connected with most of the street paving in Uniontown; paved and sewered North and South Gallatin avenue, Peter street, South street, West Main street, Arch street, Mount Vernon avenue, Kensington street, Nassau street and others. He is a capable energetic man of business and a thoroughly trustworthy contractor. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married, January 1, 1881, Emma Kiley, born in Boston, Massachusetts, daughter of Lawrence and Mary (Dugan) Kiley, born in Prospect, Nova Scotia. Lawrence Kiley was a cooper and lived in Boston. Children: 1. Percy D., born November 3, 1881, residing at home. 2. Alice M., born July 24, 1884. 3. Lena, born September 3, 1886. 4. Lloyd W., born April 27, 1894. 5. Emma, born August 27, 1899. The family home is at No. 349 West Berkeley street, Uniontown, where Mr. Coates erected a handsome residence in 1906.

Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912.





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