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HENRY COULTHARD

 

Henry Coulthard, one of the successful farmers of Holt township, Taylor county, Iowa, whose progress has been due solely to his own efforts, was born in County Durham, England, September 15, 1834.  He received a very limited education in the land of his birth and at the age of eleven years began to work in the mines.  At the age of twenty he came to the United States, confident that he could better his condition here were he but to try.  In 1854 he found employment in the mines of Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where he remained two years, and then went to Virginia, where an uncle of his lived and where he again worked in (page 595) the mines.  In 1861 he went to Wisconsin for the second time and shortly after his return, the Civil war having been inaugurated, he enlisted in Company C, Fiftieth Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment.  For one year he saw active service in Missouri and the Dakotas, and then, in Sioux City, was mustered out.  He had been made clerk of the regiment and was six months in the hospital, where he contracted catarrh from which he is still a sufferer.

 

In 1871 Mr. Coulthard came to Taylor county, Iowa, driving a span of mules across the prairies from his Wisconsin home.  He owned, however, in addition two yoke of oxen, two cows and two calves, and purchased eighty acres of railroad land upon his arrival here.  It was unimproved at the time and one of the first things he did was to put up a board shanty as a shelter for himself and his family.  This remained his home for three or four years, when he erected the frame dwelling which he occupies at present.  He set about clearing his land, making it ready for cultivation, and by his industry has reaped from it plentiful crops.  As an increasing income rewarded his efforts he bought land extensively and now owns six hundred and forty acres, which are being farmed by his sons. 

 

In 1863, while a resident of Wisconsin, Mr. Coulthard was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hutchinson.  She had been born in Yorkshire, England, and was but two weeks old when her parents started upon their journey to America.  They located in Wisconsin, where Mrs. Coulthard grew to maturity.  On the 20th of June, 1900, she was released from the cares and toils of life, when she was almost fifty-six years of age.  She was born September 3, 1844, and during her active life did much good and was well beloved.  From her girlhood she was a church member.

 

Ten children were born to Mrs. Coulthard and his wife.  Robert H., who was brought into the world September 3, 1864, married Miss Minnie Hartzler, and they have three children.  He is a farmer in Holt township.  Henry Dickson, born December 6, 1866, also a farmer in Holt township, wedded Miss Clara Burch, and they have four children.  Mary Elizabeth, born February 14, 1869, is the wife of James Pedley, a farmer of South Dakota.  Joseph William, born May 1, 1871, married Miss Ella Cundy and is now engaged in farming in Holt township.  Sarah Elizabeth, born January 6, 1874, is the wife of Charles Huntington, a farmer of Holt township, and they have one child.  Margaret Ann, born January 8, 1876, is unmarried and lives at home.  George Thomas, born May 12, 1878, wedded Miss Mabel Cundy and they have two children.  He is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Holt township.  Lilly Jane, born September 1,, 1880, is unmarried and lives at home.  James Elmer, born May 27, 1883, wedded Miss Ella Heath and is engaged in farming in Grove township.  Nellie May, born December 1, 1886, is at home.

 

Mr. Coulthard is a firm believer in the principles of the republican platform and cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont.  Since coming to Iowa he has taken an active part in the affairs of his locality, having served as road supervisor, as assessor for two years, as township clerk for eight years and as school director for a long period.  He has also been a member of the county board of supervisors for six years, during which time he was a conservative and fearless official, instrumental in reducing expenditure he deemed unnecessary, and when he resigned his position he held the respect of his fellow members on (page 596) the board and the confidence of the citizens he had served so efficiently.  He is a member of the local Grand Army post.  Although he was reared in the Methodist faith he does not belong to any church now.  Mr. Coulthard came to Taylor county when the pioneers were still struggling to convert it into a rich agricultural district.  His experiences during the first years of his residence here were those of many another man who was determined to make his fortune in the new country.  Through perseverance he conquered the obstacles in his path and through industry and thrift preserved the advantage gained and took another step forward.