Memories of the Coes 25 - P.T. Lynn
Rev. Phineas T. Lynn is an old friend of the family who still corresponds with E.F. (1936). He visited often at our home, and worked for father some, boarding there, a matter of course, in those days. In a letter to E.F. dated April 1928 he wrote "By the way, I think I have never told you how blessedly I was impressed as a young man with the charming Christian home of your parents out there on the farm. I have used it as an illustration of the kind of homes that make our land great. It was indeed an ideal family life to me." Lynn has always been a fine singer, as well as preacher. He visited us a few years ago, held sister Carrie by the hand for some minutes while he told her what I have written above, to much greater length, in an impassioned way. We were all smiling (behind his back) as Carrie is one of the most carefully modest of women, and she once stole a glance at Frank. Her daughter-in-law, Katherine, was still more amused, because on the drive over here, Carrie said that he was the first man that she thought she loved (at the advanced age of eleven or twelve.) Charles had always though Lynn's singing was the sweetest he ever heard, so he asked him to sing for us. He said he hadn't forgotten, and was not disappointed.
Will Stowell, another intimate friend of E.F. and a frequent caller was equally enthusiastic, if not more so.
When E.F. went to Le Roy (Academy) to school, he promised mother not to play cards and dance. She never asked me to promise, but I felt "Better not," and I think it was the same with the other children.
Mother - Deborah - would quote Grandmother (Elizabeth Sorenberger Coe) as saying "A woman can throw out with a spoon as fast as a man can throw in with a shovel." She used to warn me when I told what the girls would say about other girls, "A dog that will bring a bone will carry a bone." She would say "If you can't say anything good of a person, it is best to keep still." She was very much opposed to slang and would quote "Let communication be yea, yea, - nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these if of the evil one." "A man to have friends must show himself friendly."
I should add that Ezra was particularly good at entertaining. It seems to me we never had quite such jolly times after he went away from home.
I have always dated events in my early life as "before we left the old farm." This occurred in April 1873. Father had not intended to sell, as he had put things in order the way he wanted them, moved and repaired barns, repaired the house, tearing out the old fireplaces, which were now being replaced by stoves, and things which I do not remember, probably didn't understand at the time. The farm was quite hilly to work easily. Two children had been sent to Le Roy to school, which was pretty difficult in those days. There were three more girls whom it was planned to give a good education. Father would say that he hadn't much education, only district school, and he wanted his children to have better than he had.
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Patty's notes on this entry
Rev. Phineas T. Lynn - Phineas Taylor Lynn (1855-1943) son of Elisha Lynn (1832-1908) and Betsy Ann Crossett (1834-1925). He married Ida Moulton (1859-1900) in 1884 and Lulu Nicholson (1975-1955) in 1902. At various points in his career, Lynn listed his occupation in the census as Minister and Superintendent of an orphanage.
E.F. - Ezra Frank Coe (1853-1942), son of Albert Coe and Deborah Prentice. He married Sarah Frances Ward (1856-1941) daughter of Charles Kendall Ward (1819-1898) and Laura Caroline Davenport (1822-1876) in 1883.
parents - Albert Coe (1827-1907), son of Ezra Coe (1796-1869) and Elizabeth Ann Sornberger (1795-1888) and Deborah Prentice (1833-1910) daughter of Southwick Prentice (1800-1876) and Elizabeth Ann Smith (1802-1846), They married on December 31, 1850.
Photo courtesy of Marion Sperry Howe
Carrie - Carrie Evelyn Coe (1864-1948), daughter of Albert Coe and Deborah Prentice. She married Frank Lincoln Walkley in 1894.
Frank - Frank Lincoln Walkley (1867-1961) son of Rosman L Walkley (1838-1930) and Maryetta Peck (1843-1922) He married Carrie Evelyn Coe in 1894.
Katherine - Katherine Louise Percell (1905-1957) daughter of George A Percell (1872 - ????) and Mary (1879 - ????). She married James Harry Walkley (1903-1985) son of Frank Lincoln Walkley and Carrie Evelyn Coe in 1929. So if Katherine was Carrie's daughter-in-law at the time of the visit - it had to have taken place between 1929 and 1936 when the manuscript was written.
Charles - Charles Joslin Call (1859-1939) son of Robert Call (1831-1913) and Charlotte Joslin (1834-1908). He married Elizabeth Ann Coe (1862-1956) daughter of Albert Coe and Deborah Prentice in 1884.
Will Stowell - William Huych Stowell (1855-1949), son of Luther Kinney Stowell (1825-1908) and Jennette McGregor (1836-1862). He married Caroline Dewey Robertson (1860-1926) daughter of John A. Robertson and Adeline Park in 1883. Stowell worked at and published newspapers in Nebraska, before working in the insurance industry in Kansas.
LeRoy Academy - Le Roy Academic Institute founded in 1864 and operated until 1891. The school provided classical and business education programs. Ezra Frank Coe attended Le Roy Academy in the early 1870s.
Mother Deborah - Deborah Prentice (1833-1910) daughter of Southwick Prentice (1800-1876) and Elizabeth Ann Smith (1802-1846)
Grandmother Elizabeth Sorenberger Coe - Elizabeth Ann Sornberger (1795-1888), probably the daughter of John Sornberger (1767-1856) and Deborah Rau (1765 - between 1842 and 1850). Elizabeth married Ezra Coe (1796-1869), son of Jesse Coe (1769-1843) and Oliver Roberts (1770-1854) in 1818
April 1873 - On April 1 1873, Albert and Deborah Coe sold land at Pavilion to Samuel Sprowl for $ 11,000 that his father Ezra Coe had purchased in 1833.
Two children - Albert Coe and Deborah Prentice's two older children, Mary Isadore (1851-1924) and Ezra Frank (1853-1942) attended school in Le Roy prior to the sale of the farm in Pavilion.
three more girls - Their three younger daughters, Elizabeth Ann (1862-1956), Clara Addie (1864-1950) and Carrie Evelyn (1864-1948) all attended school there after the family moved in 1873.
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