Joseph R. T. Coates

Joseph R.T. Coates
Mayor of Chester, Pennsylvania
In office
1887–1893
Preceded byDr. J.L. Forwood
Succeeded byJohn B. Hinkson
Personal details
Resting placeChester Rural Cemetery, Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnion Army
Years of service1861–1864
RankMajor
Commands1st Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment
Battles/wars

Joseph Ridgeway Taylor Coates (died September 21, 1921) was an American lawyer and politician from Pennsylvania who served as mayor of Chester, Pennsylvania, from 1887 to 1893. He was an officer in the Pennsylvania Reserves infantry division of the Union Army in the American Civil War and served in some of the key battles of the war.

Military service

In 1861 Coates was mustered in as a 1st lieutenant to the 1st Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment, also known as the 30th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company C. Recruited out of Chester, Company C was first known as the "Keystone Guards" and then known for a time as the "Slifer Phalanx".[1]

Coates and Company C served at the Battle of Mechanicsville,[2] the Battle of New Market, Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Gettysburg, the Battle of Bristoe Station and the Battle of Bethesda Church.[1]

Coates was promoted from 1st lieutenant to captain in 1862 and to Major by brevet in 1864.[3]

On June 13, 1864, Coates was mustered out with the company.[4]

Career

Joseph R.T. Coates gravestone in Chester Rural Cemetery

Coates was a member of the Delaware County bar.[5] He served as Postmaster of the Chester Post Office from 1865 to 1869[6] and as mayor of Chester from 1887 to 1893.[7] He was succeeded as mayor by John B. Hinkson.

He died on September 21, 1921, and was interred at Chester Rural Cemetery.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Wiley, Samuel T. (1894). Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. New York: Gresham Publishing Company. p. 70. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  2. ^ Ent, Uzal W. (2014). The Pennsylvania Reserves in the Civil War: A Comprehensive History. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-7864-4872-2. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  3. ^ Martin, John Hill (1877). Chester (and Its Vicinity,) Delaware County, in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Wm. H. Pile & Sons. p. 370. ISBN 9785871484241. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  4. ^ Futhey, J. Smith (2007). History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with Genealogical and Biographical Sketches. Westminster, Maryland: Heritage Books. ISBN 978-0-7884-4387-9. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  5. ^ Geary, Alexander B. (1911). Delaware County Reports - Volume 11. Chester, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 21 October 2018.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ "Post Office". www.oldchesterpa.com. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Index to Politicians: Cmero to Coatsworth". www.politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  8. ^ "OldChesterPa.com: Chester Rural Cemetery Interment Index". www.oldchesterpa.org. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
Political offices
Preceded by
Dr. J.L. Forwood
 Mayor of Chester, Pennsylvania
1887–1893 		Succeeded by