My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH PERCY COULSTON, a well known citizen of Whitemarsh township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, is a son of James M. (deceased) and Tacy A. (Freas) Coulston. The Coulstons are one of the oldest families of the vicinity, and are of Welsh descent.

William Coulston (great-grandfather) was in his day a prominent farmer of Whitemarsh. His children were Charles, William, John, Thomas, Mary (Mrs. William Kettler) and Sarah (Mrs. Jacob Rorer). Thomas Coulston and Mr. and Mrs. William Kettler owned a fine farm in Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, and resided thereon the greater part of their lives. All died many years ago at an advanced age. William Coulston was a native of Whitemarsh, where he was born August 9, 1797. He married Ann, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Meredith, of another old family of Welsh descent, the immigrant being David Meredith, who came to Pennsylvania in 1700 and settled in Plymouth township, Montgomery county. Ann Meredith was born October 29, 1802. Their children were James M., Elizabeth and Hannah. William Coulston (grandfather) died April 17, 1863, in his sixty-sixth year, his wife having died March 25, 1833, in her thirty-first year.

James Meredith Coulston (father) was born January 27, 1831, in Whitemarsh township. He assisted in farming during the summer months and attended school in the winter according to the usual custom among farmers. He married, April 7, 1857, Tacy Amanda, daughter of Joseph and Ann Freas, of the same township, and granddaughter of George Freas and his wife Barbara. Their children, Ann F. (Mrs. Daniel Maguire), Alice H. (Mrs. Harvey Lentz), William C. (deceased), his widow residing on DeKalb street, Norristown; Lizzie, Sarah R., Francis C., Joseph Percy (subject of this sketch) and Walter. James M. Coulston was an active Republican in politics. He was one of the most substantial and highly respected citizens of Whitemarsh, and was always active in promoting the interests of the community in which he lived. He was one of the most progressive farmers of Montgomery county. He served as school director, and also held other township positions, but was in no sense an office seeker, being guided rather by conscientious principle in his learnings. He died in the year 1900.

Joseph P. Coulston was born on the family homestead in Whitemarsh, April 25, 1870. He was educated in the public schools of the township, and also attended the Norristown High School by way of completing his education, from which institution he graduated. Returning to his home, he assisted in farming the homestead, and afterwards rented a farm on which he now resides. He married, in 1896, Miss Anna M., daughter of George and Mary (Markley) Miller, farmers in Whitemarsh. They have one child, Hannah W. Coulston. Mr. Coulston is a model fanner. He is a Republican in politics, and active in the support of party interests. He and his family attend the Lutheran church at Barren Hill.