STANDARD ATLAS
OF
SCOTT COUNTY, ILLINOIS
1903
Geo. A. Ogle & Co.Publishers & Engravers
134 Van Buren St.
Chicago
Transcribed by Larry Fearneyhough
Page 90
The accompanying illustration represents not only a native of Scott county, but also a representative of the sturday pioneers with which our county was settled in the early days.
Edward Coultas was born June 3, 1839, about three miles east of Winchester, in which vicinity he has always resided - except during that period of our country's history when rent by the horrors of the civil war.
Upon the call for 75,000 volunteers in 1862, by our martyred president, Abraham Lincoln, our subject promptly responded, enlisting with the 129th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers. After doing guard duty in Kentucky for some time under Rosecrans, the 129th was ordered to the front for active duty in Sherman's campaigns around Chattanooga and Atlanta, later taking part in Sherman's march to the sea, during which time the 129th contributed her quota of scouts and foragers. On these details our subject accumulated some never-to-be-forgotten experiences.
At the close of hostilities the 129th was mustered out of service at Washington, D.C. On arrival at Chicago, the members of the regiment were discharged, whereupon Mr. Coultas returned to his old home, resuming his uneventful avocation on his father's farm, after devoting three years of his early manhood in the service of his country.
In the early part of February, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Southwell, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Southwell of Winchester, Ill. They have been blessed with a family of eight children, four of whom died in infancy; four still survive. Like Mr. Coultas, his wife was born in Scott county, and has been a life-long resident here. Both were born of English parents, they (on both sides) being natives of Yorkshire, England.
The best qualities, characteristic of our "kin across the sea," are inter-woven into the family relations of this estimable couple. They are valued members of the First Presbyterian Church of Winchester, and for many years have contributed liberally to its aid and support. Still in the midday of a happy and prosperous married life, our subject is the recipient of sincere and well merited attestations by all who know him, for those sterling qualities which go to make the reliable citizen, the honest, lawabiding, christian spirited and God-fearing man.