Person:William Coup (3)

Buried in Lot 25, Section 13, Grave 2.

"He succeeded his brother, Cyrus Strickler Coup, as manager of the Mount Vernon mill in 1901 and served without interruption until his death in 1931. His outstanding contribution was the development of a department of stock and poultry feeds. Also launched Taylor's wheat cereal which was sold throughout the nation. Highly successful in keeping the affairs of his company right in step with progress, he was highly successful as a citizen. He had a sense of public service and was to the fore in anything contributing to the well-being of the community. A man of unbounded enthusiasm, he probably found the greatest outlet in music. A tenor singer of local note for some years, he discovered his true medium of musical expression lay in directing. He organized and directed for some years in the Mount Vernon Festival Chorus and his annual spring recitals with artists of contemporary national fame as soloists was eagerly awaited. He was deeply interested in the spread of singing. For this reason, he welcomed into his chorus young girls and boys and gave them a training which would never had been possible had he selfishly thought only of polish and perfection in his chorus. Strangely enough, there was, withal, a polish and perfection despite these immature voices. His direction to the chorus was inspiring, both to the singers and the audience. He attained heights of enthusiasm which, with gleaming eye and expressive fingers, he was able to transmit to the chorus. As a result, he drew from that chorus as few amateur directors are able to draw. Another musical attainment was his organization, in 1912, of a Masonic chorus. This fine 30 voice group of singers is still in existence." The preceding paragraphs are also taken from the Centennial edition of the Mount Vernon newspaper in June 1955, as was some of the information about William Marshall, Sr.

That same enthusiasm was in everything in which he was interested; from skipping the office and going with his children, nieces and nephews to watch the circus raise its tent with the help of the elephants and being scolded by the trainer for feeding Nell so many peanuts that she wouldn't do her job; to acting in skits at the country club; to being so enthralled with a self-rising flour he developed and had to try out by making some tortes and ended up with the kitchen such a mess that his wife was exasperated; to selling War Bonds during World War I; to Christmas, Christmas trees and singing carols.

These notes and comments were made by Virginia Spearman to William A. Coup.

An obituary from a Masonic Program, date unknown.

Two decades ago Kinsman Council, No. 76, R. & S. M. began the presentation, in its then newly-dramatized form, of the beautiful, Impressive and reverential Super Excellent Master degree of Cryptic Freemasonry. The presentation immediately took rank as the crowning feature of the annual reunions of the Council. Appropriate music is essential to the colorful and dramatic exemplification of the Super Excellent degree, the closing segment of "The Circle of Perfection" of Ancient Craft Masonry. Music, adding to the dignity of the Royal and Select Master degrees, is especially inspiring to Super Excellent Masters, and to companions who are in the process of becoming Super Excellent Masters. Companion William M. Coup, talented musician, whose fame as a conductor of choruses had "spread both far and wide" because of his superb handling of the ambitious programs of the Mt. Vernon Music Festival association and other musical organizations, was invited to act as Kinsman's musical director and chorister. Without the hope or expectancy of or the desire for "fee or reward" he enthusiastically entered upon his arduous work and for the remainder of his life continued in it with that fervency and zeal that was characteristic of him in all his numerous and varied undertakings. Faithful and loyal, with a genius for organization and conducting, his sympathetic, virile and dominating but always kindly personality inspired every individual under the sway of his baton to give his or her best to the conductor's accurate interpretation of the composition being sung. Words are inadequate to more than feebly express Kinsman Council's appreciation of Companion Coup's unselfish, fine and effective service - service that ended only with his fatal illness just previous to last year's reunion. "Though her were dead, yet shall he live." Companion William M. Coup, though absent in body, yet lives and shall long live in the hearts and loving memories not only of his Masonic brethren and companions, but of all others with whom he came in contact. As the Rev. Dr. Shields said of him, "He was a civic and Masonic asset." Here is Rosemary - "that's for remembrance.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Coup Genealogical Chart by Lucy Hall Pancoast, May 1959. Copy in the possession of William A. Coup, Boca Raton.
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 United States Government, Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census. 1870 Census, Ohio, Wayne County, Baughman Township - William Coup. (Name: 1870 Census, Series M593, Roll 1280, Page 241; Ohio, Wayne County, Baughman Township, Village of Orville, Chippewa Post Office, Page 14, 29 June 1870, Line 4, Dwelling 106, Family 114;).
3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 United States Government, Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census. 1880 Census, Ohio, Ashland County, Green Township, Loudonville - William M. Coup. (Name: 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 991, Page 38; Ohio, Ashland County, Green Township, Loudonville, Page 43D, Supervisor's District 6, Enumeration District 80, 28 June 1880, Line 3, Dwelling 434, Family 447;).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} United States Government, Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census. 1900 Census, Ohio, Knox County, Mount Vernon - Rebecca Coup. (Name: 1900 Census, Series T623, Roll 1291, Page 95; Ohio, Knox County, Clinton Township, Mount Vernon, Ward 4, Page 11A, Supervisor's District 13, Enumeration District 49, 8 June 1900, Line 1, 20 West Chestnut Street, Dwelling 235, Family 248;).
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} United States Government, Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census. 1910 Census, Ohio, Knox County, Mount Vernon - William M. Coup. (Name: 1910 Census, Series T624, Roll 1199, Page 71; Ohio, Knox County, Clinton Township, Mount Vernon City, Ward 3, 15 April 1910, Supervisor's District 13, Enumeration District 59, Sheet 1B, Line 68, 105 Gay Street, Dwelling 14, Family 21;).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} United States Government, Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census. 1920 Census, Ohio, Knox County, Mount Vernon - William M. Coup. (Name: 1920 Census, Series T625, Roll 1403, Page 111; Ohio, Knox County, Clinton Township, Mount Vernon City, Ward 3, Precinct A, 16 January 1920, Supervisor's District 13, Enumeration District 97, Sheet 13A, Line 25, 105 N. Gay Street, Dwelling 332, Family 457;).
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} United States Government, Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census. 1930 Census, Ohio, Knox County, Pleasant Township - William M. Coup. (Name: 1930 Census, Series T626, Roll 1826, Page 187; Ohio, Knox County, Pleasant Township, 15 April 1930, Supervisor's District 13, Enumeration District 42-32, Sheet 2A, Line 14, 31 New Gambier Road, Dwelling 31, Family 31;).
8. ↑ Internet: Ohio Death Certificate Index, William Coup, Franklin County, Volume Number 6585, Certificate Number.
9. ↑ William M. Coup, Jr. Burial Record. (Name: Cemetery Records, Moundview Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Knox County, Ohio, page 189;).