Biography - George W. Coonrod
GEORGE W COONROD was born in Wayne county, Ill., in 1827. He is the son of Elder Stephen Coonrod, who settled in Illinois in 1818, and came to Greene county in 1829 with four children, George being the eldest. Mr. C. located one mile north of the present site of Greenfield. George, in his youth, attended school in the winter and worked on the farm during the summer. He studied so faithfully that in a few years he was enabled to teach, which, accordingly, he did, not only in Greene, but also in the adjoining counties. He was quite a skillful penman, and had several writing and commercial schools under his charge. He had quite an extensive career as a teacher in Texas, both in the public schools and as an instructor of writing classes. He saved sufficient from his salaries, that, in 1855, in company with Mr. Guy Kincaid, he opened a general merchandise establishment at Greenfield. In 1858 he was married to Miss Mary A. Parks, daughter of James Parks, of Pittsfield, Pike county. In the same year he was appointed postmaster at Greenfield. He disposed of his interest in the establishment above mentioned, and opened a grocery and provision store in connection with the post office. In 1864 he was elected by the democratic party sheriff of the county. His majority exceeded thirteen hundred, the largest any candidate ever received. He was a very popular official, and the citizens generally regarded him as an honest, efficient, and capable executive. Upon the close of his term he at once entered business as a merchant at Carrollton. He was in the grocery and provision line several years at Carrollton, and then removed to his old home, Greenfield. In June, 1870, his wife died, at the age of thirty-two, after a long and lingering illness. Four children were left to mourn her untimely decease. In the fall of 1870 he again entered business in the grocery and provision line. In the spring of 1871 he took as a partner Mr. J. W. Piner, an old resident of Greene County. Their business continues with uninterrupted success. On the 25th of December, 1871, he was again married to Miss Mattie E. Nutting, formerly of Portland, Maine. Mr. Coonrod is one of those warm-hearted gentlemen who are regarded by all as friends. Of an energetic character, he is ever on the outlook for improvement, and to whatever he attaches himself, the business or profession is certain of success. He has been an efficient member of the school board of Greenfield, and to him great credit is due for their thorough course of study.
Extracted 07 Sep 2018 by Norma Hass from Atlas Map of Greene County Illinois, 1873, page 47.
