Coulter, John Ellis, 1861-1947

John Ellis Coulter was a general merchant and operator of fertilizer, lumber, livestock breeding, milling and threshing, farm machinery sales, and other businesses in Burke and Catawba counties, N.C. He was also a justice of the peace, Democrat, prohibitionist, and Lutheran.

From the description of John Ellis Coulter papers, 1849-1960 (bulk 1890s-1930s). WorldCat record id: 24931124

John Ellis Coulter (1861-1947) was the son of Philip Augustus Coulter and Mary Elvira Plonk. He had one sister, Clara, and two brothers, Frank and Philip. Coulter married Lucy Ann Propst and was the father of eight children: Alvin Augustus, who died in Tampa, Florida, in 1959; Beulah Belle, who became Mrs. L.V. Goodman of Asheville, North Carolina; Clyde David Franklin who settled in Connelly Springs, N.C.; Ellis Merton who became a professor of history at the University of Georgia; Laura Elvira, who married Carl Block and, after his death, Jesse M. Teas of Tex.; Ray Daniels of Ojus, Fla.; William Bryan of Washington, D.C.; and Herbert Lee who settled in Connelly Springs.

John Coulter was raised in Bandy's Township, Catawba County, and lived his adult life in Connelly Springs, Lovelady Township, Burke County, North Carolina. His papers were collected by his son, Ellis Merton, who used them for his biography of his father John Ellis Coulter: Small Town Businessman of Tarheelia (1962).

John Ellis Coulter was active in the Lutheran Church and in the Democratic party, serving for many years on the Democratic executive committee for Burke County and as chairman of the Democratic precinct committee of Lovelady Township. He was an ardent prohibitionist and served on the executive committee of the Burke County Anti-Saloon League. He also served at various times as a member of the school committee of Lovelady Township, as justice of the peace, and mayor of Connelly Springs.

Coulter's general store in Connelly Springs became the headquarters for his diversified business enterprises which included lumber, lathes, shingles, livestock breeding, fertilizers, farm machinery, typewriters, poultry, grain, and threshing operations. In his store, he acted as agent for such varied concerns as the newspaper GRIT and the Piedmont Wagon Company.

From the guide to the John Ellis Coulter Papers, 1849-1960, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)