COEN-Edward L. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

A prominent figure in Ohio banking affairs and one specially influential in the furtherance of financial and other business activities in Erie Co is Edward L. Coen, who has been the chief exectuvie of the Erie County Banking Company of Vermilion during the entire period of its existence. He was formerly casheir of this solid and well ordered banking institution, and is now its first VP. The greater part of his time and attention is still given to the direction of this bnak one of the best in Erie County. Born in Fountain County, Indiana Jan 24, 1864, Edward L. Coen is a son of William S. and Caroline Hosler Coen, the former a native of OH and the latter of PA. His mother died in 1886. His father, now in venerable years lives at Rensselaer, the county seat of Jasper County, Indiana and celebrated his 85th birthday in 1915. His active years were given to agriculture and stock growing and he has been a wellknown and honored citizen of Jasper County. T he grandfather, John Coen was an early settler in the state of Ohio. Edward L. Coen was about 3 when his parents removed from Fountain Co to jasper co IN the new family home being a farm in Marion Twp near Rennselaer. Thus he had the fine and wholesome discipline of the country during his boyhood and youth. His early educational advantages were those of the public schools of his home township and the high school at Rensselaer. He was a good student, made the most of his opporunities and on a reading high school he did some very promising work for 4 years as a teacher in thecounty schools of his home county. Soon after he reached his majority he went to southwestern KS and for nearly 4 years was engaged in the real estate and farm loan business. He was also one of the progressive, citizens who founded the town of Bucklin, Ford Co KS during the late 80s. After leaving Kansas Mr. Coen spent a year in the general offices of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific RR in Chicago and in April 1891, came to Erie County, Ohio. Here he effected the organization of the Big Erie County Bank of Vermilion. The following year this insitution was incorporated as a state bank and the present title of the Erie County Banking Company was adopted. From that time to the present the practical management of the bank has devolved upon Mr. COen, who is in many ways an exemplary banker and an expert financier. When the bank was organized he became cashier, a position he held until 1911. Since 1909 he has been first vice president and has given the bank the benefit of his broad experience even after resigining his post as cashier. Mr. Coen is also a recognized leader in Ohio banking circles. Form 1907 to 1910 he served as sec-treas of Group 6 and from 1910-1913 as chairman of Group 6 in the Ohio Bankers' Association. During his term as group chairman he was also a member of the council of administration and served as its chairman during 1913. He served as vp of the Ohio Banker's Association in 1914 and honored as president in 1915. He was also a primary force in effecting the organization and incorporation of the Vermilion Telephone Company of which he has been president and director since its organization. He is also a director and treasurer of the Gallia Telephone Company at Gallipolis in Gallia County. Broad minded, liberal and public spirited, as a citizen Mr. Coen has always been found ready to give his cooperation and support to measures and enterprises tending to advance the general welfare of his home city and county. He has served 15 years as a member of the Vermilion Board of Education of which boar dhe has been president several years. His political allegiance is given to ther republican party and and he and his wife are valiant members of the Congregational Church in their home city. For full 20 years he has served as a member of the board of trustees and has been chairman of the board a greater portion of the time. His course has been in all respects guided and governed by the highest principles of integrity and this fact, combined with his unfailing courtesy and consideration has gained him the high regard of his home community and of all with whom he has otherwise come in contact. In 1893 Mr. Coen married Miss Cora S. Lawless. She was bor and reared at Vermilion and is a daughter of Capt. James Lawless and Laura E. Harris Lawless both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Coen are parents of two sons: Edward m. is a member of the class of 1918 in Yale University at New Haven, Conn. Clarence L. died at the age of four and a half years.