From "The History of North Washington" Published 1904

Scanned by Susan Dechant (sdechant@triax.com)
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ORIN COATES
     Orin COATES lives about two miles south of Meyers Falls and devotes 
his labors to farming. He was born in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, on July 23, 
1837, the son of Robert and Martha (Cremer) Coates, natives of Pennsylvania.
The family moved down the Ohio river to St. Louis and our subject well 
remembers on this trip they used pork for fuel, it being cheaper than wood. 
Upon leaving the boat they drove across the country to Iowa where settlement 
was made. It is interesting to note the prices that ruled at that time. A 
man's wages were eight dollars a month; a good cow could be bought for eight 
dollars. Pork was one cent per pound. In the spring of 1852 they moved to 
Cottage Grove, Minnesota, and the next year to St. Paul, where the father 
conducted Governor Ramsey's farm for three years. After this they went to 
Rice county, then to Douglas county, and in 1885 came to Custer county, 
Montana, and on June 12, 1889, Mr. Coates arrived in Stevens county and 
located the place where he now lives. It was heavily timbered and required 
much labor to make a fine producing farm. On October 14, 1861, our subject 
enlisted in the first Minnesota Infantry under Captain John H. Parker and 
Colonel John B. Sanborn of St. Paul. He served until January 1, 1864, being 
honorably discharged. He immediately re-enlisted being honorably discharged 
from this service on July 19, 1865. Mr. Coates participated in the following 
battles: siege of Corinth, Iuka, Raymond, second battle of Corinth, Jackson, 
Mississippi. Champian Hill, and siege of Vicksburg, and the assault of 
Vicksburg which continued for forty-eight days, Missionary Ridge, the siege 
of Savannah. After this he went to Richmond and then to Louisville, Kentucky, 
where he retired from the service.
     On December 29, 1869. occurred the marriage of Mr. Coates and Julia, 
daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Harness) Madon, natives of Pennsylvania. 
The parents moved to Wisconsin, and then to Minnesota, where they remained 
until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Coates adopted Frank R. Jones and also their 
niece who is now visiting her relatives in the east. Mr. Coates is liberal 
in political matters and always takes an active part in the campaigns. Mrs. 
Coates is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church.