Jefferson Coates

Francis Jefferson Coates (August 24, 1843 – January 27, 1880) was a soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War and one of 64 men who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Biography Coates was born 24 August 1843 in Grant County, Wisconsin to William Coates and Cynthia Cain. Although born in Grant County, his official residence was listed as Boscobel, Wisconsin.

Coates joined the Union Army on 29 August 1861 (a few days after his 18th birthday), and served with the 7th Wisconsin Infantry. He was wounded while fighting in the Battle of South Mountain and during the Battle of Gettysburg, where he received the Medal of Honor and a brevet promotion to captain for courage in battle. During the Battle of Gettysburg he was shot in the face, causing him to lose both of his eyes. He was mustered out for disability on September 1, 1864, at the end of his term of service.

Despite having become completely blind, Coates learned how to make brooms after the war and married Rachael Sarah Drew April 21, 1867. Together they had five children, and sometime between 1870 and 1873 they moved to Dorchester, Nebraska.

He died of pneumonia in Dorchester on January 27, 1880 and is buried in Dorchester Cemetery.

Legacy The Jefferson Coates County Campus of the Missouri School for the Blind was named after Coates.

Medal of Honor citation Citation: