STANDARD ATLAS
OF
SCOTT COUNTY, ILLINOIS
1903
Geo. A. Ogle & Co.Publishers & Engravers
134 Van Buren St.
Chicago
Page 120
Scott county can boast of a number of married couples who, together have traveled life's rugged pathway for fifty years or more. To this class belongs the subject of this sketch. James Coultas is the son of James and Mary (Foster) Coultas, and was born at Pickering, Yorkshire, England, March 4, 1830. When he was a babe in his mother's arms (six weeks old) his parents sailed from Liverpool for the United States and came via Naples, directly to Scott (then Morgan) county, settling five miles northeast of Winchester. Mr. Coultas is the oldest of a family of three children - a sister, a brother and himself. The sister died in childhood and the brother, T. F. Coultas, is now a resident of Virden, Illinois. His father died, February 2, 1859, and his mother passes away, April 18, 1872.
James Coultas was reared upon the farm in the neighborhood of Winchester, was educated in the country schools. March 14, 1855, he married to Miss Margaret Ann Frost, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Peach) Frost, who was born in Sheffield, England, May 13, 1833, and came with her parents to Scott county in 1840, settling upon a farm four miles east of Winchester. Mr. And Mrs. Frost were the parents of five children, two died when quite small, and the remaining three are: Mrs. James Coultas, Mrs. George Hurd and Mrs. Henry North, all of Winchester. Mr. Frost died November 15, 1844, and Mrs. Frost died, November 20, 1884. Mr. And Mrs. James Coultas are the parents of seven children, all of whom are living. They are: Warren E., Irwin F., Elbert J., Mary E., now wife of J. B. Campbell of Hancock county, Elizabeth I., Grant L. And Margaret G., now Mrs. Joseph Roark.
After his marriage Mr. Coultas purchased the tract of land entered by ‘Squire Clark when he came to Illinois in 1829, and there set up his home. He was a good manager, worked very hard, kept adding to his land holdings from time to time and now owns in Scott county about 1000 acres of choice land. In the latter 90's he retired from his active labors, bought nice property in Winchester and is quietly enjoying life in that city at the present time.
Mr. And Mrs. Coultas are consistent members of the Methodist church, uniting with that body in 1860. Mr. Coultas is a republican of the strictest sect and cast his first presidential vote for General Scott in 1852. In ‘56 he voted for Fremont and since 1860 has voted the straight republican ticket. He is not a believer in "scratching" and is willing to trust to the judgment and good sense of the men who make the republican platforms and republican tickets. Mr. Coultas was county commissioner on several different occasions and was holding that office when the present Scott county court house was built.
In fact James Coultas is one of the foremost citizens of the county. He has given to its development and material advancement the years of his life and now, at the age of seventy-three, can but feel that he is entitled to rest from his labors and spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of a sacredly-sweet companionship which has existed for more than fifty years.