Yuma County, Colorado Photographs

Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

William and Elbert Coats, Bryant

Alfred Dillingham proved up a quarter in section 18, 5N 48W in 1914. "Claimant names as witnesses: William A. Coats, of Sterling, Colorado, Elbert Coats, of Bryant, Colorado, Sam J. Warren, of Burdett, Colorado, George Gould, of Burdett, Colorado."

WILSON B. COATS (close neighbors in Hopkins County, Kentucky, if not relatives.)

He built a dugout, one room, excavated a few feet, then built up sod walls around, roofed it with rough boards, covered the boards with tarred paper, and covered that completely with sod. For light and ventilation they left window openings in which they installed glazed sash.
Elbert Coats was in Hopkins County, Kentucky in 1880, 4, with parents Wilson B. 34 and Matilda 28. Eli is 11, Hyram 8, Ann Mary 6, Elbert 4, and William A. 1.

Wilson B. Coats proved up a quarter in 6N 47W, Phillips County, Colorado in 1893 - about ten miles from Alfred's claim. He timber-claimed another in 6N 47W in 1899.

Matilda Jane (Howton) Coats 1852-1899 died in Colby, Kanss? per # 133185807.

Wilson is widowed in 1900 Phillips County, born Jnuary 1846 in Tennessee. Clarence is 18, Bryant 15, and James R. 12 all born in Kentucky, Etta M. 9 and Charles L. 6 in Colorado.

Wilson is in Smith County, Kansas in 1910, 64, with etta M. 18 an Charley S. 15.

Wilson is buried in Akron, Colorado 1845-1918 # 15203643.


When he was 16, Elbert, not satisfied at the prospect of no education at Bryant, contrary to the wishes of his father, returned to Kentucky, working part time a puttin himself through normal schook, and studied law at Southern College in Bowling Green. He married Grace Castleberry on July 4, 1900, returning to Bryant in 1901. Elbert taught the Bryant school 1901-1903, while serving as postmaster and running a grocery store.
Elbert returned to Bowling Green in1903 to finish law, and was admitted to the bar in 1904.
In 1908 Elbert filed on a homestead in Logan County three or four miles west of Bryant, moving to Sterling in 1913.

Elbert is farming in 1910 Logan County, Rockland precinct, 33, married ten years to Gracie 31 and Gracie 5, all three born in Kentucky. Elby is 3, born in Kansas.

Elbert proved up a quarter in section 27, 6N 48W in 1913 - five miles away from Alford's claim.
Then he cash-claimed eithty acres in 8N 52W, near Sterling, in 1915.

Elbert 1876-1930 is buried in Sterling # 55450179, Hannah Grace Coats 1878-1965 # 55812117 in the same cemetery.

WILLIAM A.

1902 Bryant items in the Yuma Pioneer "W.A. Coats has been released from the quarantine and is again arrying the mail."

September 1913 "Horace Coats, eight, son of W.A. Coats a dairyman and school teacher , living two miles east of Sterling, was bitten by a rattlesnake as he asn several children were entering the school house."

In 1914 William applied to buy eighty acres in section 33, 5N 49W (Washington County, Colorado)

1924 Plainview items in the Yuma Pioneer "W. A. Coats killed a horse recently with the symptoms of being locoed. He has three more animals which he fears are in the same condition."

later in 1924 "J. R. Majors assisted W.A. Coats picing corn Tuesday of last week."

William Absalom Coats 1879-dying 1929 in Hopkins County, is buried in Akron, Colorado # 34560891

ETTA

Etta M. (Coats) Freatman 1891-1970 is buried in Sterling, with Roy A. 1888-1959.

CHARLES

Charles Louis Coats 1894-1964 is buried in Sterling, with Kittie V. (Marsh) Coats 1896-1972.

JAMES

Russell J. Coats 1887-1970 is buried in Sterling, with Lucy (Breeer) Coats 1907-1978.

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