Mr. John O. Coan, an old and highly respected citizen of Ridgeway, this county, died at his home early this morning. Death was caused by a stroke of paralysis, which he suffered on Friday last. He was 77 years old and is survived by his wife and two sons and four daughters. The sons are Messrs. George W. Coan, secretary of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and John Coan of Winston, N.C., and daughters: Mrs. Len Sheffield and Mrs. A. H. Bousman of Ridgeway; Mrs. J. J. Cox of West Virginia and Miss Birdie Coan of Ridgeway. The funeral services will take place at Ridgeway tomorrow afternoon.

[DANVILLE REGISTER, Danville, Va., Tue., March 16, 1909, p. 5, col. 3 [edited]. Martinsville, Va., March 15. ]

From South Carolina, husband of Mary Ann Jones Coan. He was a farmer, but also had a mercantile business in Ridgeway. He was a popular teacher and was chosen the first mayor of Ridgeway and had been re-elected several times.

8 Children born with total 6 alive on 1900 census:
Bettie/Billie/Mary? (1855 - )
Louise "Loula/Loulie" F. (1862 - 1929) Married name Bousman.
George William (Willie), Sr. (10/28/1867 - 11/23/1939) Buried at Salem Cemetery, Winston Salem, NC
Posey (1876 - )
John Otts (1877 - 1879) Another son named same in 1882?)
Birdie Otts Coan (10/12/1879 - 12/23/1971) never married. Buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Ridgeway, VA
John Otts, Jr. (5/26/1882 - 4/15/1962) Buried at Salem Cemetery, Winston Salem, NC
Caleb (1887 - )?? 1900 census shows him as a black servant, but suspect he is the son of the Coan's)

"History of Patrick and Henry Counties, Virginia" book shows he died in 1809 (before he was born), which apparently is a typographical error.




U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865
Name: John O. Coan
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: Virginia
Regiment Name: 16 Virginia Infantry
Regiment Name Expanded: 16th Regiment, Virginia Infantry
Company: F
Rank In: First Lieutenant
Rank In Expanded: First Lieutenant
Rank Out: First Lieutenant
Rank Out Expanded: First Lieutenant
Film Number: M382 roll 11