226.  EBEN 7  COE  (Rev.  Curtis e  (115).  Dea.  Joseph  5,  Capt.  Joseph  4,
Capt.  John3,  Robert2,  Robert1),  born  in  Durham,  N.  H.,  Dec.  6,  1785,
started  his  mercantile  career  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  as  a  clerk  in  the
store  of  Mr.  George  Frost  at  Northwood,  N.  H.  Two  years  later,  in
1804,  he  bought  out  his  employer  and  began  business  there  for  himself,
his  ability  being  recognized  by  the  old  established  Haven  firm  of  Ports-
mouth, N.  H.,  who  advanced  him  on  credit  a  stock  of  general  merchan-
dise. By  his  energy,  shrewdness,  keen  judgment,  and  integrity,  he  soon
developed  a  prosperous  business  in  which  he  was  uniformly  successful
throughout  an  active  business  career  of  nearly  forty  years,  during  the
latter  part  of  which  he  was  president  of  the  Laconia  Bank.
Although  unambitious  for  political  preferment,  Mr.  Coe  was  induced
at  times  to  render  public  service,  and  was  elected  selectman  of  North-
wood  in  1813,  14,  15,  18,  19.  21,  22,  24,  26  and  35;  and  in  1816,  19,  20
and  28,  was  representative  for  the  town  in  the  New  Hampshire  Legisla-
ture.
In  his  later  years  Mr.  Coe  became  interested  in  his  family  history,  and
in  1859  reprinted  the  "  Record  of  the  Coe  Family"  (which  was  published
in  1856  by  Rev.  David  B.  Coe.  D.D.  of  New  York),  issuing  a  small
edition  and  adding  to  it  the  records  of  his  own  branch  of  the  family.
Having  acquired  an  ample  estate  he  retired  from  business  at  the  age
of  sixty,  and  in  1846  removed  to  Bangor,  Me.,  where  he  passed  his
remaining  years,  enjoying  "otium  cum  dignitate,"  and  died  Oct.  26,
1862,  aged   nearly  seventy-seven  years.
