John Calvin Coolidge Sr.

John Calvin Coolidge Sr.
Member of the Vermont State Senate
In office
1910–1912
Serving with Edward A. Davis
Edward H. Edgerton
Preceded by F. Thomas Kidder
Edward B. Flinn
Loyal E. Sherwin
Succeeded by Herbert H. Blanchard
David A. Elliott
Don C. Pollard
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office
1872–1878
Preceded by Charles A. Scott
Succeeded by Alonzo F. Hubbard
Personal details
Born (1845-03-31)March 31, 1845
Windsor County, Vermont, U.S
Died March 18, 1926(1926-03-18) (aged 80)
Plymouth, Vermont, U.S
Political party Republican
Occupation Businessman, Politician, Banker, Farmer
Military service
Allegiance Union
United States
State of Vermont
Service/branch Vermont Militia
Years of service 1860-1869
1900-1902
Rank Colonel
Unit 10th Regiment
Military staff of Governor William W. Stickney
Commands Company K, 10th Regiment

John Calvin Coolidge Sr. (March 31, 1845 – March 18, 1926) was an American politician and businessman from Vermont, and the father of John Calvin Coolidge Jr., the 30th President of the United States. He administered the presidential oath of office to his son at their family homestead on the early morning of August 3, 1923, following the death of President Warren G. Harding.

Born in Plymouth, Vermont, John C. Coolidge was a farmer and store owner, and worked at a variety of other occupations, including banker and insurance broker. In addition, he was a veteran of the Vermont militia, and held the law enforcement posts of town constable and county deputy sheriff. Considered a prominent local leader, he served in numerous Plymouth town offices, and was elected to terms in both the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont State Senate.

John C. Coolidge remained active in his farming and business interests until his death in Plymouth in 1926; he was buried in Plymouth Notch at a village cemetery where several generations of his family are also buried.

Political and business career

From 1894's Men of Vermont Illustrated.

Coolidge was born in Plymouth, Vermont on March 31, 1845, the son of Calvin Galusha Coolidge and Sarah Coolidge.[1] Calvin G. Coolidge was a farmer, and also served in the Vermont House of Representatives.[2][3][4] John Coolidge graduated from Black River Academy, and served in Vermont during the American Civil War as commander of the state militia's Company K, 10th Regiment with the rank of captain.[1][5][6]

Early in his life, Coolidge worked as a woodcutter and wheelwright.[7] He was later active in several occupations; a partial list includes farmer, blacksmith, bricklayer, mason, carriage maker, harness maker, teacher, store owner, and insurance broker.[8][9] In addition, he was a vice president of the Ludlow Savings Bank & Trust Company, and was appointed to its board of directors.[10] Coolidge also served on the Black River Academy board of trustees.[11]

A Republican, Coolidge served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1872 to 1878.[1] He held local offices throughout his life, including town selectman, town meeting moderator, town agent, tax collector, road commissioner, school superintendent, justice of the peace, and notary public.[7][12] For several years, he was Plymouth's assistant postmaster.[13] For nearly 40 years he was both a town constable and deputy sheriff of Windsor County.[14][15]

During the 1900 to 1902 governorship of William W. Stickney, who was related to the Coolidge family,[16] John Coolidge served on his military staff as aide-de-camp with the rank of colonel.[17]

Coolidge served in the Vermont State Senate from 1910 to 1912.[18][19] During his Senate term, Coolidge was chairman of the Committee on Land Taxes.[19]

First Inaugural of President Calvin Coolidge

Upon hearing of the death of President Warren G. Harding the previous day, Coolidge, who was a justice of the peace and a notary public, administered the presidential oath of office to his son at the Coolidge Homestead in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, at about 2:30 a.m. on August 3, 1923.[20]

Death

John Calvin Coolidge Sr. died in Plymouth, Vermont on March 18, 1926.[21] He was buried at Plymouth Notch Cemetery.[22]

Family

In 1868, Coolidge married Victoria J. Moore.[1] They were the parents of two children, son Calvin, and daughter Abigail (1875-1890).[1] Victoria Coolidge died in 1884.[1]

Coolidge married again in 1891.[1] His second wife, Carrie A. Brown, was born in 1857 and died in 1920.[23]

Notes

Sources

Books

Internet

Newspapers

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