From History of Grant County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 928.

BENJAMIN M. COATES, deceased. He was born in New Harmony, Ind., in 1819; in about 1837 came to Platteville, followed mining several years, removed to Beetown and continued mining; in 1849, went to California; returned in the winter of 1853, and, in company with Samuel Moore, built a linseed oil mill; ran it about eighteen months, then sold out his interest to Mr. Moore; went to Muscoda, engaged in merchandising with Jonathan Moore; they continued about two years, when he sold out to Mr. Moore, and opened another store; this he carried on till 1863, when he came to Boscobel and commenced business, the firm being Palmer & Coates; they closed out their business about 1866; since then he has been engaged in banking here till his death, which occurred Aug. 27, 1880. He has held the office of Internal Revenue Collector about three years; was member of the Assembly during 1869 and 1874. Married Miss Mildred La Follette March, 1854; she was born in Cincinnati, Ohio; have one daughter - Mrs. Parr.

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