Biographical Sketch of Riley Coats, Johnson County, Missouri, Hazel Hill Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Riley Coats, a successful and industrious agriculturist of Hazel Hill township, is one of Johnson county's excellent citizens, born December 12, 1866 in Warrensburg township. He is a member of a fine pioneer family, who came to this county in the early days from Kentucky. Mr. Coats is a son of Ariel and Mary (Bryson) Coats, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. Ariel Coats came to Johnson county in 1835 with his parents. He was then but a mere boy, twelve years of age. His father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Coats, lived for several years on a farm in Warrensburg township and there died. Both parents were laid to rest in the family cemetery, known as the Coats cemetery, which is located two miles east of the Coats homestead. To Ariel and Mary Coats were born eight children: Squire W., deceased; Mrs. Lee Smith, a daugh- ter, deceased; Amos, Hazel Hill township, Johnson county; Mrs. Bettie Cecil, a widow, Cornelia, Missouri; Mrs. Mattie Dunn, Excelsoir Springs Missouri; Robert, Hazel Hill township, Johnson county; Mrs. Katie Gor- man, Wagner, Oklahoma; and Riley, the subject of this review. The father died at the age of seventy-three years, in Warrensburg township, and interment was made in Coats cemetery. Mrs. Coats, who was born in 1831, was burned to death at the home of her son, Amos, the tragic accident occurring in 1906, while she was visiting at his home in Hazel Hill township. Riley Coats attended school at Valley schoolhouse in Warrensburg township. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-four years of age. At that time he began farming for him- self in Hazel Hill township and one year later, purchased a farm of 91 acres of land located near Liberty cemetery. Mr. Coats resided in Warrensburg seven years, 1906-1913, where he was engaged in the meat business. In 1908, he purchased his present home place. This is a farm comprising 180 acres of land, in Hazel Hill township, originally owned by Mitchell Burriss. Mr. Coats has greatly improved the farm since he moved to it. He has built two large barns and put all the farm buildings in excellent repair. The farm is well watered and located, being six miles north of Warrensburg. Mr. Coats is engaged in general farming and he is considered one of the most capable and in- telligent farmers in this county. In October, 1917, Mr. Coats sold 40 acres of land, a part of his farm. August 30, 1891, Riley Coats and Maud Ames were united in marriage. Mrs. Coats' parents, William B. and Clara L. Ames, were residents of Hazel Hill township. A historical sketch of the Ames family appears elsewhere in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Coats have been born two children: Harold R., who was born in April, 1897, and now lives at home with his parents; and Gaylord, who died in 1900, at the age of seven years. Mr. Coats has an established reputation in Johnson county for honesty, uprightness, and fine moral- ity. He and Mrs. Coats are highly respected and esteemed in their community. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================