Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Coe, Decius O 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 2:25 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

Decius O. Coe is one of the prominent citizens of Whiteside County, from the 
extent and character of his business relations, and from the fact that he is 
connected by descent and marriage with two of its earliest pioneers. His 
parents, Simeon M. and Mary (Miles) Coe—of whom an extended account is 
presented in connection with the personal narration of S. M. Coe, of Jordan 
Township—came to Whiteside County in 1838, and settled in Jordan Township. Mr. 
Coe of this sketch was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., Nov. 23, 1820, where he 
lived until 1838, when he accompanied his parents to Jordan Township, and was 
a resident there about three years, when he removed to Sterling Township with 
his parents. He located on a farm on section n, which he received by 
inheritance from his father, and on which he resided about 20 years. At the 
expiration of that time he sold his place, and not long afterward went to the 
city of Sterling, where he has resided six years. He has been identified with 
the growth of the city, and was one of the founders of the First National Bank 
of Sterling, in which he was also one of the Directors. He has been a 
Republican since the organization of the party, and was a member of the first 
mass convention held at Springfield, Ill., for the purpose of organizing that 
element in Illinois. He has held the office of Supervisor several years, and 
Justice of the Peace one term and served as Alderman. He has also been active 
in the promotion of the educational interests. He was one of the Board of 
Supervisors when the county seat was removed to Morrison, and served on the 
committee appointed to fix the sites of the county buildings. He was an active 
member of the Agricultural Society of Whiteside County from its organization 
for about 20 years, being a member of the Executive Board most of the time. He 
was President of the society one year. In June, 1872, he settled on the 
section where he now resides, and is the owner of 245 acres of land located in 
the townships of Sterling, Jordan and Hume, which is all in a state of 
advanced cultivation. Mr. Coe is the possessor of a fine estate, for which he 
is indebted to his own energy, perseverance and industry. His marriage to 
Eveline N., daughter of Jonathan and Ellen (Bowman) Stevens, took place Nov. 
8, 1844. Her father was born Dec. 31, 1798, in Stonington, Conn., and he was 
married Jan. 13, 1824. His wife was born Feb. 2, 1807,in Pennsylvania, and 
after their marriage they located in Luzerne County, in that State, where they 
remained until their removal to Whiteside County. They arrived in the Township 
of Sterling on the same day in which S. M. Coe came to Jordan Township. Mr. 
Stevens settled on a farm on section 15, just north of Harrisburg, now 
incorporated within the limits of Sterling. On this he lived 33 years, and 
died Sept. 14, 1870. Mrs. Stevens died Jan. 22, 1876. Mrs. Coe is their only 
daughter and second child. Thomas W. is the name of her oldest brother. 
Marshall S. and John N. are the youngest children of the family. Mrs. Coe was 
born May 8, 1827, in Luzerne Co., Pa., and she is the mother of one surviving 
child, Marcus L., who married Julia A. Galt, of Sterling, Aug. 26,1875. Mr. 
and Mrs. Coe have buried four children: Marcus La Fayette, Augustus J., Ellen 
M. and Albert L. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church, with 
which the father has been many years connected. He has been an Elder many 
years, and is the oldest incumbent of that position in the Church at Sterling, 
and when he was elected he was the third Elder in that body. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Coe are decidedly radical in their temperance views, and adopt the principles 
of the Prohibition element. The brothers of Mr. Coe have been prominent in the 
localities in which they settled. George A. Coe, second eldest brother, went 
to Coldwater, Mich., where he became distinguished in political circles. He 
was a member of the legislature of the Peninsular State, when he was the only 
Whig in the Assembly, all the other members being Democrats. He was afterward 
elected Lieutenant-Governor of the State. He died at Coldwater. Albert S. Coe 
went to Rock Island, and represented that county in the Legislature of 
Illinois. He settled on a township previous to its organization, and when that 
event occurred it was called "Coe" in his honor. He died Oct. 17, 1869.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

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