Born in Pennsylvania to a Quaker family, Kersey Coates taught high school English for a while before studying law under Congressman Thaddeus Ste-vens. Admitted to the bar in 1853, Coates accepted a position as agent in the Emigrant Aid Society and chose to emigrate to Kansas and advocate for a Free State. While in Kansas, Coates was one of the defense counsels for Free State Governor Charles Robinson who was on trial for treason. Once Kansas being admitted as a free state was assured, Coates moved to Kansas City, Missouri. In December 1862, Coates was appointed colonel of the 77th Enrolled Missouri Militia, mustering out in March 1865.
During Price's 1864 invasion of Missouir, Colonel Coates was in command of the Missouri mililtia preparing the defenses of Kansas City, Missouri.
After the war Coates engaged in business and supported regional infrastructure improvements. Coates was a tireless promoter for Kansas City. Coates worked closely with Robert T. Van Horn and Charles E. Kearney to have an extension of a branch of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad run through Kansas City. They were instrumental in getting the Hannibal Bridge built across the Missouri River to serve this railroad.
Conard, Howard L. “Kersey Coates.” In Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri, Vol. 2, 36–38.
Missouri Adjutant General, Annual Report of the Adjutant General of Missouri for the Year Ending December 31, 1865, 610.
Wikipedia. “Kersey Coates,” November 29, 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kersey_Coates.
Titterington, The Battle of Westport, October 21–23, 1864: A Driving Tour of Battle Sites in Kansas City, Independence, and Northeastern Jackson County, Missouri, 339.]