Biography of Rev. Thomas I. Coultas

From History of Bond & Montgomery Counties, Illinois
author unknown, O.L. Baskin & Co., Chicago, 1882

Page 100, et. seq.

REV. THOMAS I. COULTAS, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Hillsboro, is a son of George and Eliza (Wilson) Coultas, natives of Yorkshire, England. George, with three of his brothers, sailed for America and landed at New York April 14, 1830. They went from there to Rochester, N.Y., where they remained for a few months. From there they went by boat to Cleveland, Ohio, and from there to Jacksonville, Ill., by the way of Cincinnati, Ohio, Louisville, Ky., and St. Louis, Mo., living for a brief time in each of these places. Near Jacksonville, Ill., he formed the acquaintance of Eliza Wilson, also a native of Yorkshire, England, and who preceded him a few years to this country. Their acquaintance ripened into a greater intimacy, and on July 8, 1835, they were married. Shortly after this, Mr. Coultas purchased from the Government a tract of land near Winchester, then in Morgan, now the county seat of Scott County, Ill. Here he lived, following agricultrual pursuits to the time of his death, June 10, 1859. Mrs. Coultas, Sr., died October 26, 1875. Thomas I. is the youngest of a family of five sons and two daughters, and was born May 5, 1853. He lived on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, spending most of the time in school, first in the country schoolhouse, afterward in the high school in Winchester. In September, 1869, when he was but a few months past sixteen years of age, he was regularly licensed as a minister, and received into the traveling connection in the Illinois conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, perhaps the youngest man ever thus received and put into the regular work. After serving churches in Sangamon and Champaign counties respectively for two years, he left the regular pastorate to further prosecute his studies. In September, 1871, he entered the Illinois Wesleyan University, of Bloomington, Ill., and was graduated from that institution in June, 1875. While a student, Mr. Coutas distinguished himself and brought honor to his alma mater by representing this institution in an inter-college contest in oratory, where eight of the leading colleges of the State contested in original oration, the judges declaring him to be the champion. By virtue of his success, he represented the State of Illinois in an inter-State contest in oratory, held at Indanapolis [sic], Ind. in May, 1875, where the champions of six States, which had held similar contests, met, and here also Mr. Coultas won the gold medal over all his competitors. After his graduation, he entered immediately upon the work of the ministry. After serving the church at Barry, Pike County, for four months as a supply, he was re-admitted into the conference, and returned to this church for two years in succession. After this pastorate, he very acceptably served the church in Pittsfiled, the county seat of Pike County. From this church he was sent by his Conference to the Trinity Church, Quincy, Ill. Here he was largely instrumental in removing from this church a heavy debt, which for years hung as a shadow over it. The church in other respects greatly prospered under his pastorate. In September, 1881, he was made pastor of the church in Hillsboro, and, although he has been here but a short time, he is held in high esteem by his congregation and the community. Mr. Coultas was married, November 23, 1875, to Miss Angie Morrison, the duaghter of Henry B. and Caroline (Sears) Morrison, then of Bloomington, now of Monticello, Ill., and the neice of Washington Sears, of Scott County, and Rev. Hiram Sears, of East St. Louis, one prominent as a legislator, and the other as a minister and educator. Mrs. Coultas was also educated at the Illinois Wesleyan University. There have been born unto them Aldo Bliss Coutas, March 10, 1877, and Edna Bernice Coultas, March 16, 1879. Mr. Coultas is a Republican in politics. He belongs to the I.O.O.F., and is also a member of Union Chapter. no. 10, A.F.& A.M.