My Genealogy Hound

H. P. Coile, M. D., was born in Jefferson County, September 2, 1852, and is the son of John L. and Mary E. (Bettis) Coile. The father was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., in 1823, and was the son of James Coile. He was a farmer by vocation, and carried on contracting, and at the time of his death, which occurred August 1, 1886, was engaged on a contract for the erection of a college building in Greene County. He served as revenue collector of Jefferson County at the beginning of the late war, holding the same for two or three terms, making a most efficient and satisfactory official. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a man highly esteemed and respected by the community at large. The mother was also born in Jefferson County, about 1825, and was the daughter of John W. Bettis, a farmer of the above county. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a pious, religious woman, and now makes her home in Greene County. Our subject was reared principally on the farm of his parents, and acquired his early education in the schools of his county. He began the study of medicine October 2, 1871, under Dr. J. Nathaniel Lyle, of Dandridge, and in the fall of 1872 entered the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, from which he graduated March 13, 1875. He began practicing his profession in 1873, at Dandridge, and has practiced in the county up to the present. His professional skill and ability are appreciated, and he has built up a good practice, and established a fine professional standing. He was appointed United States examining surgeon for pensions in 1881, and holds that office at present. In 1883 he was appointed, without solicitation, on the special board of examining surgeons at Knoxville, which board examined 422 subjects at one sitting, which was quite a compliment to him. He is an ardent supporter of education, and always lends a helping hand to the advancement of the public schools. He is now one of the public school directors of Dandridge, and trustee of the Greeneville and Tusculum College, of Greene County, one of the oldest institutes of learning in the State, and of which a brother has served as professor of Greek. He was married in 1875 to Hattie S. Snodgrass, who was born in Jefferson County May 13, 1853, and is the daughter of A. M. Snodgrass, a farmer of that county. To this union five children have been born. Both our subject and wife and eldest son are members of the Presbyterian Church.