Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 3. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 100. JAMES COUGHTRY who since 1909 has lived retired at Yamhill, is now spending the evening of life in the enjoyment of a competence which he acquired in the course of an active and successful business career. His birth occurred in Scotland on the 22d of November, 1840, his parents being Nathan and Jean Smith (Candlish) Coughtry, who were born, reared and married in that country. The mother passed away in the land of hills and heather on the 1st of February, 1850. She was the niece of the famous Scotch clergyman, Dr. Candlish, who originated the Free Church of Scotland in association with Dr. Thomas Guthrie. Nathan Coughtry crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1858, first settling near Rockford, Illinois, where he made his home until 1863. In that year he removed to Iowa, continuing to reside in the hawkeye state until his demise, which occurred at Waterloo on the 13th of March, 1890. Unto him and his wife were born six children, as follows: Henry M., living in Waterloo, Iowa; Thomas, who passed away at Montreal, Canada; William, who was killed in the battle of Shiloh on the 6th of April, 1862; Isabelle, who passed away in Scotland on the 16th of August, 1857; James, of this review; and Ann, the wife of T. O. Scougall, of Portland, Oregon. James Coughtry acquired a practical and thorough education in the schools of his native land and was a youth of eighteen when he accompanied his father on his emigration to the new world. At the time of the outbreak of the Civil war he was residing at Rockford, Illinois, and there volunteered for service in the Union army, joining the Fifteenth Illinois Infantry and remaining with that command for four years with the exception of a two months' furlough. On the 6th of April, 1862, however, at the battle of Shiloh, he received a wound which disqualified him for further service. After being honorably discharged in 1864 he joined his father at Winthrop, Iowa, where the family home had been established while he was in the army. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits until 1872 and then removed to Nebraska, where he maintained his residence until 1886. In that year he came to Portland, Oregon, and during the six years of his residence in the Rose city was engaged in contracting for street grading and excavating throughout the summer seasons, while in the winter months he worked in a cannery. Subsequently he took up his abode in Washington county and for six years cultivated rented land in that county and also in Yamhill county. In 1898 he returned to Dakota county, Nebraska, and there followed farming for ten years. In 1909 he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in Yamhill, Oregon, where he owns a handsome residence and is now enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned ease. On the 26th of July, 1866, Mr. Coughtry was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Jane Beith, a native of St. Charles, Illinois, and a daughter of Thomas and Jean (Russell) Beith, who were born, reared and married in Scotland. In 1846 they emigrated to America, first settling at St. Charles, Illinois, while in 1857 they removed to Winthrop, Iowa. Thomas Beith there passed away in 1883. His widow, who still makes her home at Winthrop, has now attained the age of ninety-five years. Their children were ten in number, namely: Robert, who passed away in June, 1864, while serving as a soldier in the Union army; Hannah, the wife of Robert White, of Winthrop, Iowa; John and Margaret, twins, both of whom are deceased; Mrs. Coughtry; Thomas, living in Wakefield, Nebraska; Charles, of Wakefield, Nebraska; Agnes, the wife of Dr. Hoag, of Weir, Kansas; and one who died in infancy. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Coughtry was blessed with twelve children, as follows; Robert B., born July 5, 1867, who is now a resident of La Fayette, Oregon; Nathan T., born December 6, 1868, who makes his home at Allen, Nebraska; Henry W., whose birth occurred on the 9th of October, 1870, and who is now a resident of Pike, Yamhill county, Oregon; James C., born November 7, 1872, who is married and lies at Yamhill, Oregon; Jean C. Candlish, born August 12, 1874, who is still under the parental roof; George H., whose natal day was April 15, 1876, and who is now living at Emerson, Nebraska; Hannah N., born January 25, 1878, who is the wife of Henry Englen, of Kadoka, South Dakota; Wheeler W., born November 15, 1879, who is still at home; Ernest E., born October 2, 1882, who passed away in the city of Dakota, Nebraska, on the 20th of September, 1901; Archie R., whose birth occurred on the 12th of August, 1884, and who is now living in Dakota county, Nebraska; Anna B., born March 31, 1886, who is still under the parental roof; and Flora E., born April 14, 1888, who is the wife of Eric M. Bierman, of Nebraska. In politics Mr. Coughtry is a stanch republican, while his religious faith in indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife and children also belong. The salient qualities of his life have ever commended him to the confidence, good will and friendship of those with whom he has come in contact and he has always enjoyed the warm regard of a host of friends. Transcriber's additional notes: Census 1870, July 1; Buchanan Co, IA; Byron Twp, p 376 James Coughtry, 27, Scot, farmer Mary, 24, IL Robert, 3, IA Nathan, 1, IA 1880, June 14; Dakota Co, NE; Dakota, p 318 James Coughtry, 39, Scot, Scot, Scot, common laborer Mary J, wife, 34, IL, Scot, Scot Robert, son, 12, IA, Scot, Scot, att. school Nathan, son, 11, IA, Scot, Scot, att. school Henry, son, 9, IA, Scot, Scot, att. school Charles, son, 7, NE, Scot, Scot, att. school Jean, dau, 5, NE, Scot, Scot George, son, 4, NE, Scot, Scot Hannah, dau, 2, NE, Scot, Scot Warren, son, 6/12, NE, Scot, Scot 1900, June 1; Dakota Co, NE; Dakota Pct, p 171 James Coughtry, 59, Nov 1840, Scot, Scot, Scot, mar 34 yrs, to US 1858, school janitor Mary J, wife, 53, Oct 1846, IL, Scot, Scot, mar 34 yrs, 12 children-12 living Hannah, dau, 22, Jan 1878, NE, Scot, IL, single, saleswoman, general merch. Archie, son, 15, Aug 1884, NE, Scot, IL, att. school Anna, dau, 14, march 1886, NE, Scot, IL, att. school Flora, dau, 12, April 1888, OR, Scot, IL, att. school 1910, April 15; Yamhill Co, OR; Checowan Pct, Yamhill City, p 150 James Coughtry, 69, Scot, Scot, Scot, 1st mar, mar 43 yrs, to US 1858, no occ., owns home free Mary J, wife, 63, IL, Scot, Scot, 1st mar, mar 43 yrs, 12 children-11 living Jean C, dau, 30, NE, Scot, IL, single, no occ. Anna B, dau, 22, NE, Scot, IL, single, no occ. 1920, January 3; Yamhill Co, OR; Yamhill Pct 23, p 200 James Coughtry, 79, Scot, Scot, Scot, Wd, to US 1858, Na. 1861 Jean, dau, 45, NE, Scot, IL, single, no occ. Oregon Death Index http://www.heritagetrailpress. com/DEATH_INDEX/ James Coughtry, died November 8, 1927; Yamhill Co, OR; cert. # 205 Mary Jane Coughtry, died June 15, 1916; Yamhill Co, OR; cert. # 99 ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.