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John Calvin Coolidge Sr. facts for kids

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John Calvin Coolidge Sr.
JCCoolidgeSr.jpg
Member of the Vermont Senate
from Windsor County
In office
1910–1912
Serving with
  • Edward A. Davis
  • Edward H. Edgerton
Preceded by
  • F. Thomas Kidder
  • Edward B. Flinn
  • Loyal E. Sherwin
Succeeded by
  • Herbert H. Blanchard
  • David A. Elliott
  • Don C. Pollard
Member of the
Vermont House of Representatives
from Plymouth
In office
1872–1878
Preceded by Charles A. Scott
Succeeded by Alonzo F. Hubbard
Justice of the Peace for Plymouth, Vermont
In office
1880–1900
In office
1916–1924
Member of the
Plymouth, Vermont Selectboard
In office
1869–1872
Personal details
Born
John Calvin Coolidge

(1845-03-31)March 31, 1845
Plymouth, Vermont, U.S
Died March 18, 1926(1926-03-18) (aged 80)
Plymouth, Vermont, U.S
Political party Republican
Children 2, Including Calvin
Occupation Businessman, Politician, Banker, Farmer
Military service
Allegiance
Branch/service Vermont Militia
Years of service
  • 1860–1869
  • 1900–1902
Rank Colonel
Unit
  • 10th Regiment, Vermont Militia
  • Military staff of Governor William W. Stickney
Commands Company K, 10th Regiment

John Calvin Coolidge Sr. (born March 31, 1845 – died March 18, 1926) was a politician and businessman from Vermont. He was also the father of Calvin Coolidge, who became the 30th president of the United States. John C. Coolidge gave his son the presidential oath of office. This happened very early on August 3, 1923, at their home in Plymouth Notch. It followed the death of President Warren G. Harding.

John C. Coolidge was born in Plymouth, Vermont. He worked as a farmer and owned a store. He also had other jobs, like being a banker and selling insurance. He was a veteran of the Vermont militia. He also worked in law enforcement as a town constable and a county deputy sheriff. He was an important leader in his local area. He held many town offices in Plymouth. He was also elected to serve in both the Vermont House of Representatives and the Vermont Senate.

John C. Coolidge kept working in farming and business until he died in Plymouth in 1926. He was buried in Plymouth Notch at a village cemetery. Many generations of his family are buried there too.

Life and Career

John C. Coolidge (Vermont State Senator)
John C. Coolidge, from an 1894 book about Vermont men.

John C. Coolidge was born in Plymouth, Vermont on March 31, 1845. His parents were Calvin Galusha Coolidge and Sarah Coolidge. His father, Calvin G. Coolidge, was a farmer. He also served in the Vermont House of Representatives. John Coolidge went to Black River Academy. During the American Civil War, he served in Vermont. He was a captain and led Company K, 10th Regiment of the state militia.

When he was young, Coolidge worked as a woodcutter and made wheels. Later, he had many different jobs. He was a farmer, blacksmith, and bricklayer. He also worked as a mason, carriage maker, and harness maker. He taught school, owned a store, and sold insurance. He was a vice president at Ludlow Savings Bank & Trust Company. He also served on its board of directors. Coolidge was also a trustee for Black River Academy.

Political Roles

Coolidge was a member of the Republican Party. He served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1872 to 1878. He held many local government jobs throughout his life. These included being a town selectboard member and a town meeting moderator. He was also a town agent, tax collector, and road commissioner. He worked as a school superintendent, a justice of the peace, and a notary public.

For several years, he was Plymouth's assistant postmaster. People in town used to joke about this job. They said he held it because he was the only person in Plymouth who knew how to fill out the forms. These forms were needed for the post office's yearly report to Washington, D.C. For almost 40 years, he was both a town constable and a deputy sheriff for Windsor County.

From 1900 to 1902, William W. Stickney was the governor. He was related to the Coolidge family. During this time, John Coolidge worked on Governor Stickney's military staff. He was an aide-de-camp with the rank of colonel.

Coolidge also served in the Vermont Senate from 1910 to 1912. While in the Senate, he was the chairman of the Committee on Land Taxes.

His Son Becomes President

On August 3, 1923, President Warren G. Harding died. John C. Coolidge heard the news. He was a Vermont justice of the peace and a notary public. He gave his son, Calvin Coolidge, the presidential oath of office. This happened at the Coolidge Homestead in Plymouth Notch, Vermont. It was around 2:30 a.m.

Later Life and Family

John Calvin Coolidge Sr. died in Plymouth, Vermont on March 18, 1926. He passed away thirteen days before his 81st birthday. He was buried at Plymouth Notch Cemetery.

Family Life

In 1868, Coolidge married Victoria Josephine Moor. She was born in 1846. They had two children together. Their son was Calvin, who became president. Their daughter was Abigail (1875–1890). Victoria died in 1885 when she was 39 years old.

Coolidge married Caroline Athelia Brown on September 9, 1891. She lived from 1857 to 1920.

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