Biography of Henry E. Coe, pages 623/624.  History of DeKalb County, 
Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



Henry E. Coe



	Among the men of earnest purpose and useful life whose record has 
been not only creditable to themselves, but has dignified the community 
in which they have resided, the subject of this sketch holds high rank, 
and in the pedagogical profession, to which his lifetime has been 
devoted, he has achieved a record next to none of his contemporaries.

	Henry E. Coe was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, September 24, 
1853, the son of William L. and Ann (Crooks) Coe. William L. Coe was a 
native of New England, his ancestors being of English descent, the 
lineage being traced back to the fourteenth century in the mother 
country.  This subject’s mother was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, and 
is of Scotch-Irish extraction. William L. Coe removed from his New 
England home to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and was there married to Ann 
Crooks, who accompanied him on their removal to DeKalb county in 1858, 
the subject of this sketch at that time being but five years old.  The 
family settled in Union township, where the father followed day 
laboring and where he spent the remainder of his life, his death 
occurring in 1887.  His wife died in 1882. The subject received his 
education in the public schools of Union township, the high school at 
Waterloo and Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, after which he engaged in 
teaching in the district schools of this county.  After following 
teaching in the graded schools for a while, Professor Coe became 
principal of the high school at Waterloo, and was later principal for 
four years of the high school in Auburn.  Then followed one year as 
principal of the schools of Orland, Indiana, after which he returned to 
Auburn, where he taught for four years, at he end of which period he 
was elected superintendent of the Butler schools.  After three years’ 
efficient and appreciated service in this capacity he was elected 
county superintendent of the schools for a two year term, and then, by 
the same board, was elected to the regular four-year term.  A 
noteworthy testimonial to Professor Coe’s ability and standing in the 
community is the fact that, though Republican in his political views, 
he was elected by a Democratic board. He served fourteen years as 
county superintendent, at the end of which period he was called back to 
Butler to take charge of the schools of that place, and where he is 
still actively engaged.  A well-educated, symmetrically developed man, 
Professor Coe takes a deep interest in his profession, keeps in touch 
with the most advanced thought relative to pedagogical matters, and as 
an educator has a reputation which extends far beyond the borders of 
his own county.  A public speaker of recognized ability, Professor Coe 
has make many forceful and effective addresses on educational and 
kindred topics, and is a welcome member of any circle which he enters.

	On November 16, 1875, Henry E. Coe was united in marriage to 
Hattie A. Reed, the daughter of Isaac and Harriett E. (Hackley) Reed.  
Isaac Reed was a soldier in the Civil war and was killed in a charge of 
Union troops at Atlanta.  He was a native of Pennsylvania, as was his 
wife, and was an early setter of DeKalb county.  To Professor and Mrs. 
Coe have been born five children, viz: Jessie, the wife of Spencer Bair 
of St. Paul, Minnesota; Robert, of Burbank, California; Bernard H., 
deceased; George of Auburn; and Earl, who in attending Wesleyan 
University at Delaware, Ohio.  Politically, the subject of this sketch 
is a Republican, while fraternally he is affiliated with the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  His religious connections are with 
the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a consistent member and 
an earnest supporter. Genial and unassuming in manner, Professor Coe 
has a wide acquaintance throughout DeKalb county, and enjoys a large 
circle of warn and loyal personal friends.



Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com