Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Coulston, Walter February 2, 1873 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson jpatter@epix.net October 19, 2025, 5:23 pm

Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904
Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor

  WALTER COULSTON. The Coulston family, which is of Welsh 
descent, is one of the oldest and most prominent in 
Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. The earliest ancestor of 
whom there is any authentic information was William Coulston 
(great-grandfather), who was born on the old homestead in 
Whitemarsh township, and was known as one of the most 
successful farmers of the vicinity. His children were 
Charles, William, John, Thomas, Mary (Mrs. William Kettler), 
and Sarah (Mrs. Jacob Rorer), all of whom are now deceased. 
Thomas Coulston and Mr. and Mrs. William Kettler owned a 
fine farm in Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, and 
resided thereon the greater part of their lives.
  William Coulston (grandfather) was a native of Whitemarsh 
township, born August 9, 1797, He was educated in the common 
schools of the vicinity, and his, entire active career was 
devoted to farming pursuits. He married Ann Meredith, who 
was born October 29, 1802, daughter of Joseph and Hannah 
Meredith, the former named having been a descendant of an 
old family of Welsh descent, the immigrant having been David 
Meredith, who came to Pennsylvania in 1700, and settled in 
Plymouth township, Montgomery county. Three children were 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Coulston, namely: James Meredith, 
Elizabeth, and Hannah. William Coulston died April 17, 1863, 
in his sixty-sixth year, and his wife, Ann (Meredith) 
Coulston, died March 25, 1833, in her thirty-first year.
  James Meredith Coulston (father) was born near the old 
homestead in Whitemarsh township, January 27, 1831, and when 
about three years of age he accompanied his parents to the 
farm on which he spent the remainder of his life. He 
assisted in farming during the summer months, and attended 
school in the winter months according to the usual custom 
among farmers. On the death of his father he inherited his 
portion of the estate, and later purchased the remainder 
from his sisters. He was an active Republican, always 
standing by the candidates and the policy of the party. He 
served a number of years as a member of the Whitemarsh 
school board, and also held other township positions, but 
was in no sense an office seeker. He was a director in the 
Montgomery Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and in other ways 
was active in promoting the interests of the community in 
which he resided. He usually attended Plymouth Friends' 
Meeting, although not a member of the society. He was 
affiliated with Marble Hall Lodge, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. On April 7, 1856, James M. Coulston married Tacy 
Amanda Freas, born December i9, 1836, daughter of Joseph and 
Ann (Nyce) Freas, and their children were: 1. Annie F., born 
July 4, 1857, became the wife of Daniel H. Maguire, and 
their children are: Dora, James C., and Edna Maguire. 2. 
Alice H., born October 30, 1858, became the wife of Harvey 
W. Lentz, and their children are: J. Howard, Walter, Joanna, 
Frederick, and Tacy C. Lentz. 3. William C., born June 16, 
186o, married Kate C. Ambler, who bore him one child, Alice 
L. Coulston; William C. Coulston died September 30, 1900. 4. 
Elizabeth C., born January 17, 1862, became the wife of 
William Potts Jones, and their children are Evan D., Frances 
C., and L. Elizabeth Jones. 5 and 6. Thomas C. and Sarah R. 
(twins), born July 12, 1863; the former died in infancy, in 
the autumn of 1863. 7. Frances C., born January 29, 1868. 8. 
Joseph Percival, born April 25, 1870, mentioned at length 
hereinafter. 9. J. Warren, born November 12, 1871, died 
November 18, 1871. 10. Walter, born February 2, 1873, 
mentioned hereinafter. 11. Russell L., born January 12, 
188o, died April 18, 1880. James M. Coulston, father of 
these children, died March 24, 1901. Few men were so much 
respected in their neighborhood as he, his kindly manner and 
genial disposition making him a universal favorite.
  Mrs. Coulston, widow of James M. Coulston, who occupies 
the old homestead with her son, Walter Coulston, is a member 
of an old Whitemarsh family, of German origin, whose name 
was originally spelled Fries. George Freas, grandfather of 
Mrs. Coulston, married Barbara Wolf, and their children 
were: John, George, Samuel, Jacob, Benjamin, Daniel, Joseph, 
William, Mary (Mrs. Samuel Roberts), and Catherine (Mrs. 
William Freas). Joseph Freas, father of Mrs. Coulston, was 
born May 6, 1794, on the homestead in Whitemarsh township. 
His youth was spent on the farm with his parents, he 
receiving such education as the neighborhood schools 
afforded at that time. He decided to learn the trade of 
blacksmith, and became an apprentice to his brother, Samuel 
Freas, at Plymouth Meeting. He remained at his trade for 
some years, but farming being more to his taste he abandoned 
the pursuit of his trade and returned to Whitemarsh. He 
purchased the home farm from his father and cultivated it 
for many years. In politics he was a member of the Whig 
party, but he never sought or held office, preferring to 
devote his time and attention entirely to his business. He 
married, January 15, 1818, Ann Keely, born November 17, 
1792, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Keely, of Philadelphia 
county. Their children were: Henry, born in 1818 ; Joanna, 
born in 1820: Walton, born in 1822; Issachar, born in 1824; 
Elizabeth, born in 1826; John Quincy, born in 1828; Orlando, 
born in 1830; Caroline, born in 1834; Tacy Amanda, born in 
1836, widow of James M. Coulston ; Barbara A., born in 1839. 
Joseph Freas died November 22, 1879, survived by his wife, 
who passed away December 21, 1888.
  Joseph Percival Coulston, third son of the late James M. 
Coulston and his wife Tacy Amanda (Freas) Coulston, was born 
on the family homestead in Whitemarsh, Montgomery county, 
Pennsylvania, April 25, 1870. He was educated in the public 
schools of the township, and also attended the Norristown 
high school, where he completed his education and from which 
institution he was graduated. Returning to his home he 
assisted in farming the homestead, and later leased a fine 
farm in the same vicinity, which he has cultivated and 
improved to a high state of perfection, and on which he has 
resided continuously up to the present time (1904). He has 
won the reputation of being a model farmer, and he is also 
one of the well known and prominent citizens of the 
community, taking an active interest in all enterprises that 
have a tendency toward the progress and development of his 
township and county. He is a Republican in politics, and 
active in the support of party interests. In 1896 Mr. 
Coulston married Anna M. Miller, born June 7, 1876, daughter 
of George and Mary (Markley) Miller, the former named being 
one of the prosperous farmers of Whitemarsh. They are the 
parents of one child. Hannah Coulston, born May 28, 1901. 
Mr. Coulston and his family attend the Lutheran church, at 
Barren Hill, Pennsylvania.
  Walter Coulston, fifth son of the late James M. Coulston 
and his wife Tacy Amanda (Freas) Coulston, was born in 
Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, 
February 2, 1873. He obtained his early education in the 
public schools of Whitemarsh and Norristown, and this was 
supplemented by attendance at the Pierce Business College, 
Philadelphia. After pursuing the course in that institution 
he returned to the farm, where he has since remained, 
engaged in agricultural pursuits, of which he is especially 
fond, and universally recognized as a practical and 
progressive farmer. In politics he follows in the footsteps 
of his father, being a staunch Republican. He is a member of 
the Patriotic Order of Sons of America, and of the Junior 
Order of United American Mechanics. He attends the Lutheran 
church at Barren Hill, Pennsylvania, is a man of the highest 
honor and integrity, is faithful in the performance of his 
duty to his mother, with whom he resides, and is highly 
respected by all who enjoy his acquaintance. Mr. Coulston is 
unmarried.

This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/

File size: 8.6 Kb