328 HISTORY OF THK WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



ginia (now West Virginia), March 21, 1848. When 9 

 years of age his father moved with his family to Washing- 

 ton county, Iowa. Not liking the country he remained 

 there but one year, when he removed to Schuyler county, 

 Missouri, where he purchased a farm and settled upon it. 

 Here the subject of our sketch was reared. As Missouri 

 was at that time a comparatively new country his oppor- 

 tunities for attending school and acquiring an education 

 were limited. In 1868 he crossed the plains with a train 

 of wagons. After visiting different parts of the Great 

 West and working at various occupations he finally settled 

 in New Mexico, where he had a brother living. At that 

 time but few Americans lived in the Territory, and law- 

 lessness and crime were common and almost every day 

 occurrences. At times, the few pioneers, who had settled 

 there for the purpose of making it their home and acquir- 

 ing property in a legitimate way, were compelled to resort 

 to arms to drive out lawless characters. In most instances 

 the determined will of the honest frontiersmen prevailed. 

 With the exception of three years spent in California, Mr. 

 Coe has lived in New Mexico since 1869. He has always 

 been a farmer and is proud of his calling. He has always 

 been earnest and persistent in his efforts to elevate and 

 dignify the occupation. In the winter of 1872-73 he 

 returned to his old home in Schuyler county, Missouri, to 

 visit his old friends. While there he improved the time 

 courting Miss Ada Saunders, whom he married in August, 

 1873. Soon after he returned with his wife to New 

 Mexico. He owns a good farm and, besides making a 

 comfortable living, is giving much of his time to Alliance 

 work in the Territory. Mr. Coe has been an active mem- 

 ber of the Alliance since its first advent into the Territory 

 in 1887. Although the obstacles in the way of the pro- 

 gress of the Order in New Mexico have been almost 

 insurmountable, the persistent and untiring efforts of 



