FRANK COYNE

COYNE, OBERLY, CALE

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 9/13/2022 at 20:43:58

FRANK COYNE

One of the prominent representatives of practical agriculture in Lee county, is Frank Coyne, a resident of Jefferson township, where he has a beautiful home and a well-improved farm of 320 acres. Mr. Coyne traces his ancestry to Ireland, his paternal grandfather having been a native of that country, but his own place of birth is Springfield, Missouri, and the date November 6, 1854. He is the son of William and Lavina (Oberly) Coyne. The father was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and there grew to manhood, acquiring meantime the trade of plastering. Hearing of the superior opportunities to be found in the great West, and wishing to avail himself of its advantages, he came to Iowa some time between 1840 and 1850, locating at Fort Madison, Lee county, where he successfully followed his trade, and later met and wedded Miss Oberly, who was also a native of Pennsylvania. She came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Oberly, to Fort Madison in 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Coyne removed after a time to Springfield, Missouri, where they continued to reside until the father of our subject was appointed, under the administration of President Buchanan, to a position in the office of the auditor of the postal department at Washington. The family then returned to Lee county, locating upon the farm now owned by Mr. Coyne. At the beginning of the Civil War the father became a member of the Confederate Army, but at its close returned to a position in Washington, which he held until 1870, when he came to live with his family in Jefferson township. His death occurred here in 1875. The mother still survives, and is living with her son.

Frank Coyne, the subject of this review, secured a good education in the public schools, and enjoyed the additional advantage of learning the work of the farm by practical experience with its details. When the farm on which he resides was acquired by his mother in 1870, he assumed sole charge of its management and operation, and in 1900 he himself purchased it. This he was enabled to do by the success which had come to him as a result of his energy, care and foresight in the conduct of the business. All the improvements have been made under his supervision, and the farm is one of the finest and best equipped in this portion of the county. Here Mr. Coyne conducts general farming and stockraising and is also somewhat interested in buying and shipping grain and live stock. On January 25, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Cale, of Jefferson township, daughter of the late Joseph Cale, who died in 1904. They have two daughters and four sons, these being Mable, William, Howard, Nellie F., Frank, Jr., and Harry.

In his political faith Mr. Coyne is a firm believer in the declared principles of Democracy, and has served his party as a delegate in various conventions, but has never aspired for public office. He feels a deep interest in the cause of education, taking an active part in the betterment of the public schools, and his been a director of Liberty district, No. 4, for a period of twenty-five years. He was reared in the Episcopal church, and still holds membership in that body at Montrose. He is enterprising, public spirited and progressive, and his loyalty to his convictions and absolute integrity in his dealings have inspired respect for his character on the part of all with whom he comes in contact.

Source:

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF LEE COUNTY

CHICAGO, HOBART PUBLISHING COMPANY – 1905
 
Transcription typed/proofed as article was originally published in 1905