Coyner - Lucien - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Nearly 3/4 of a century has dissolved in the mists of the irrevocable past since Lucien D. COYNER, venerable farmer of Sugar Creek Towp, first saw the light of day, being a worthy son of a pioneer family, who braved the wilds of Montgomery County when settlers were few and little improvement had taken place. He has lived through one of the most remarkable and in many respects the most wonderful, epoch in the world's history. There will never be another like it, for embraced the period when the strong-armed home seekers from the Eastern states invaded the great Middle West, the Coyners being among the number and redeemed this fertile section of our hemisphere from the wilds, bringing it up through various stages to its present high state of cultivation and civilization. To all these changed in Montgomery County, Mr. Coyner has been a most interested spectator, never by any means sitting passively by and watching others do the work, he having at all times south to do his full share in the work of progress int he locality which his fathe rselected as the spot on which to build the family's future home. He talks most interestingly of the early days when customs and manners were different, men and women were different, everything, in fact, unlike what our cibilization is today. He and others of our patriarchal citizens are of the opinion that those were better, at least happier times than now, and this is, in the main, true. My Coyner was born Oct 13, 1839, in Montgomery County, Indiana and here he has been content to spend his long and industrous life. He is a son of John D. and Delila PETERSON Coyner. The father of our subject was born Aug 3, 1810 in VA from which state he removed to Indiana when a young man, locating in Montgomery County where he married and here spent the rest of his life, and died on his farm here on Oct 17, 1895. The mother of our subject was born in 1818 in Ohio from which state she came to Indiaa when a young girl and here her death occurred in 1844. John D. COYNER was a tanner by trade, which he followed in connection with farming; however, toward the latter part of his life he turned his attention exclusively to general farming. His family consisted of 11 children; 9 of whom are still living: George W. who was a soldier int he Union Army died while in the service at New Orleans, Louisiana; Lucien D, subject of this sketch was second in order of birth; MP was the third; and Delila is deceased; William was next in order; Jacob is deceased; Jesse; Seymour; David; Mary and Joseph are the younger children. Lucien D. Coyner grew to manhood on the old homestead and being a pioneer child, he found lenty of hard work to do in assisting his father develop the farm from the wilderness. He received such education as the pioneer schools of his time afforded. On Oct 6, 1861, he married Martha A. BOWERS, who was born in this county May 20, 1841 her family also being early settlers, seh being a daughter of Edmond and C. DROLLINGER Bowers, who came here form OHio. Mrs. coyner grew to womanhood and was educated in her native community. SIx children have been born to Mr. and Msr. COYNER, namely: Goerge died March 24, 1901; Violet who married W. O. ARMSBY died 1911; Charlotte; WT and Stella, twins; Lel is at home. Mr. Coyner began farming for himself when a young man and he has lived on his present farm in Sugar Creek Twp since 1871, which place consists of 57 and 1/2 acres al tillable well fenced and well tiled. He clared this land and built his own residence and outbuildings. Politically, Mr. Coyner is a Democrat and has voted for 13 different Presidents. He has taken considerable interest in local public affairs and for a period of 16 years was JP of Sugar Creek Twp, discharging the duties of the office in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned and his decisions were always characterized by a soundness of judgement, fairness and faithfulness to duty. - typed by kbz