BIOGRAPHY: David W. COULTER, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 143-4
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DAVID W. COULTER, the present popular and efficient sheriff of Cambria county, 
Pennsylvania, is a son of William and Mary (Walters) Coulter, and was born in 
Johnstown this county, May 10, 1841.
     Sheriff Coulter's grandfather Coulter was a native and life-long resident 
of Centre county, this State, whilst his father, William Coulter, was also a 
native of the same county, born in 1821, and died in Blair county, this State, 
in 1895. He married Mary Walters, and they were the parents of four children: 
David W., the subject of this biography; William, who served in the Federal army 
in Battery B, First Pennsylvania artillery, and was killed in front of 
Petersburg, in June, 1863; Henry, who also served a long term in the Civil War, 
and is now a jeweler in New Orleans, Louisiana; and Mary M., who wedded James 
Simmons, who resides at South Fork, this county.
     Sheriff Coulter and Miss Eliza J. Pringle, a daughter of Daniel Pringle of 
this county, were married December 3, 1857, and to them have been born six 
children: William P., who is engaged in general merchandizing at Conemaugh, 
married Blanche Fisher; David P., who married Leonora Thomas, is also a resident 
of Conemaugh, where he conducts a meat market; Annie married George Parks, who 
resides at Rockwood, Somerset county, this State; Mary E., the relict of Henry 
Fite, resides at Conemaugh, and Izora married James S. Gettemy, of Conemaugh.
     Sheriff Coulter was brought up on a farm, and obtained his education in the 
public schools of his native county. Reared upon a farm, he naturally took up 
the avocation, and followed it until the breaking out of the Civil War. In 
August, 1862, he enlisted in company G, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania 
Volunteer infantry, popularly known as the Pennsylvania “Bucktails,” and served 
until the latter part of June, 1865. The famous “Bucktails” originally belonged 
to the First corps of the Army of the Potomac, but they became so cut up and 
demoralized, that they were finally, in 1863, consolidated with the Fifth corps 
of the army. Sheriff Coulter was a brave soldier and bore himself well, 
participating in all the engagements of his regiment, from Gettysburg until the 
surrender of Lee at Appomattox, which marked the downfall of the Southern 
Confederacy. He saw much hard fighting, and was seriously wounded in the knee at 
Hatche's run.
     Returning from the Federal service, he embarked in mercantile pursuits at 
Conemaugh, and continued successfully in the same until November, 1894, when he 
was elected sheriff of Cambria county. He is a prominent and active Republican 
in politics, and filled various local offices prior to his election to the 
shrievalty.
     He is prominently identified with many secret and fraternal organizations. 
A member of Cambria Lodge, No 278, F. and A. M.; Portage Chapter, No. 95, R. A. 
M.; Oriental Commandery No. 61, K.T., of Johnstown; O'Cyrus Temple, A. A. O. N. 
M. S. of Pittsburg. He is also a member of Corona Lodge, No. 999, I. O. O. F.; 
Castle No. 140, K. of G. E.; Conemaugh Lodge, No. 402, K. of P.; and Council No. 
137, Jr. O. U. A. M., all of Conemaugh. He takes a lively interest in the G. A. 
R., and is a member of Post No. 30, at Johnstown. He is a member of the United 
Brethren church of Johnstown, to which he is a liberal contributor.
     Sheriff Coulter is affable and congenial as a companion, and popular and 
efficient as an official. Public-spirited and energetic, he takes a commendable 
and active interest in all public improvements, which have for their object the 
good of the people.