Samuel U. Coe Biography


	This biography appears on pages 171-172 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				SAMUEL U. COE. 

	As register of deeds of Custer county, Samuel U. Coe is making a 
record that is distinctly creditable to himself and very satisfactory 
to his constituents. He is also connected with agricultural interests, 
as he owns a quarter section of excellent land in the county. Born in 
Independence, Buchanan county, Iowa, on the 5th of March, 1866, he is a 
son of David V. and Almira (Sufficool) Coe, natives of Ohio, who became 
early settlers of Buchanan county, Iowa. The father engaged in farming 
there until 1871, when he removed to Neligh, Nebraska, and resided upon 
a homestead there for about three years. At the end of that time he 
turned his attention to the hotel business, conducting a hostelry in 
Neligh for six or seven years. Upon disposing of his interests in that 
connection he entered the lumber business, and some time later engaged 
in general merchandising. For many years he resided in Custer and other 
towns in South Dakota, but is now living retired in Neligh, where he is 
widely known. He erected a number of houses there and was for a long 
time actively connected with the financial and commercial expansion of 
the city. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in the Ninth Iowa 
Volunteer Infantry, and served for one year, when he was honorably 
discharged on account of disability. His wife passed to her reward in 
1906. 

	Samuel U. Coe, who is one of the older children in a family of 
ten, attended school at Neligh, Nebraska, and completed his education 
by a course at the Omaha Commercial College. When twenty years of age 
he became the manager of a country store in Holt county, Nebraska, and 
after remaining in that connection for about seven years removed to the 
Black Hills in 1890. He became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres 
thirty miles west of Custer and gave his attention to ranching until 
elected county auditor, which office he held for four years. He is now 
register of deeds, and as he is accurate and systematic, prompt and 
thoroughly reliable, the affairs of the office are in excellent hands. 
He still owns his land and supervises the raising of high grade stock 
thereon. 

	Mr. Coe was married on the 27th of October, 1897, to Miss Olive 
M. Gurney, who was born at New Hampton, Iowa, a daughter of Julius H. 
and Sarah (Clark) Gurney, the latter a native of the state of New York. 
The father, who was an attorney by profession, removed to Neligh, 
Nebraska, with his family and there engaged in practice for a number of 
years. He was recognized as one of the leaders in the legal profession 
and for one term served as county judge He also was identified with 
agricultural interests, as he was an extensive land owner. Both he and 
his wife have passed away, but their memory is yet cherished by those 
who knew them intimately. Mr. and Mrs. Coe had five children, Glenn M., 
Inez M., Ralph L., Sadie B. and Raymond, all attending school. On the 
9th of May, 1913, the wife and mother passed away. 

	Mr. Coe is a republican and has been elected to a number of 
positions of responsibility and public trust. He has served as county 
assessor for one term, as deputy assessor for three terms, was county 
auditor for two terms, and is now register of deeds. He has always 
discharged his official duties with a sense of conscientious 
obligation, and his fellow citizens have the utmost confidence in his 
ability. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge, of 
which he served as treasurer for two years, and he is a most loyal 
member of that order. He has the greatest faith in the future of his 
county and state and can always be depended upon to do everything 
within his power to further the interests of Custer county and South 
Dakota.