George W. Coats Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1054-1055 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				GEORGE W. COATS. 

	George W. Coats, well known in connection with the hardware trade 
at Hill City, being senior partner in the firm of Coats & Roland, was 
born in Dixon county, Nebraska, April 2, 1871, a son of Samuel H. and 
Cynthia C. (Beardshear) Coats, both of whom were natives of Ohio, born 
in 1841 and 1846, respectively. In early life the father became a 
surveyor and in early manhood he removed to Nebraska and surveyed a 
large amount of land in that state. He was elected to the first state 
legislature of Nebraska and was a prominent and influential figure 
there in early times. He invested in land in Nebraska, where he lived 
until 1876, when he came to the Black Hills, settling at Sheridan after 
spending a short time in Custer. In the winter of 1876-7 he removed to 
Battle Creek, near Hayward, and there continued until 1879, when he 
sold his interests in that locality and took his family to Hill City in 
the fall of 1880. He engaged in ranching on the present site of Hill 
City and was thus busily engaged until 1884, when he became an invalid, 
unable to walk. He had served as a soldier in the Civil war, being a 
member of an Indiana regiment for about two years, and he was always as 
true and loyal to his duties of citizenship in times of peace as when 
he followed the old flag upon southern battlefields. He served as 
assessor for a number of years and was one of the first county 
commissioners in Pennington county. He also filled the office of 
justice of the peace in Hill City for many years and made an excellent 
record in office, being prompt and efficient in the discharge of his 
duties. He died in 1894, while his wife, surviving for a number of 
years, passed away in November, 1912. 

	George W. Coats is the second in a family of four children. He 
attended school in Nebraska for two terms and also continued his 
education at Hill City. At the age of about sixteen years he engaged in 
ranching on his father's place, assuming the responsibility of managing 
the business and caring for the family. When seventeen years of age he 
entered the employ of the Harney Peak Company and was engaged in mining 
for four years. He afterward became an employee in the gold mines of 
the J. R. Company and in the fall of 1895 discovered a mine which he 
developed but which he later sold. He then engaged in prospecting for a 
few years and in the spring of 1900 he purchased the hardware store of 
which he is now the proprietor, being associated in this undertaking 
with Charles Roland, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. They are 
also the owners of an excellent ranch devoted to the raising of horses 
and they have mining property beside. 

	On the 26th of December, 1912, Mr. Coats was united in marriage 
to Miss Mae Oliver, who was born in northern Michigan. a daughter of 
Nicholas Oliver, who came to the Hills and was engaged in mining in the 
vicinity of Hill City until his death, which occurred about 1903. His 
widow survives and makes her home in Hill City. Mr. and Mrs. Coats have 
become the parents of two children: Roland Oliver, born August 16, 
1913; and Marianna, August 11, 1914. 

	Mr. Coats is a member of the Elks lodge at Rapid City. In 
politics he is an independent democrat, nor has he ever sought or 
desired office. He thoroughly knows the life of the west with the 
hardships and privations of pioneer times and the opportunities of a 
later day. Employing the advantages which have come to him, he has 
steadily worked his way upward in the business world of Hill City and 
is now regarded as one of the substantial citizens of Pennington 
county.