John Coolidge
Encyclopedia
John Coolidge was an executive with the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
, the founder of the Plymouth Cheese Corporation and the first son of President Calvin Coolidge and Grace Anna Goodhue.
, Hampshire County, Massachusetts
, on September 7, 1906. He was the elder of the two children of Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933), the 30th President of the United States
(1923–1929) and Grace Anna Goodhue (1879–1957), First Lady of the United States
from 1923 to 1929.In the summer of 1924, he was playing tennis with his brother, Calvin Jr.
, on the White House grounds when Calvin Jr. suffered a blister on his toe, which became infected, resulting in his death a week later. John described the loss of his brother as producing a depression in President Coolidge that lasted the rest of his life. As John Coolidge told Life magazine in 1992: Though father was tenderhearted, he rarely showed his feelings. But when they were taking my brother's casket from the White House after the services, my father broke down and wept momentarily. Calvin was my father's favorite. It hurt him terribly. It hurt us all In his autobiography, Calvin Coolidge recorded his impressions of the birth of his first son: "The fragrance of the clematis which covered the bay window filled the room like a benediction where the mother lay with her baby. It was all very wonderful to us."
Coolidge attended Mercersburg Academy
in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
and graduated in 1924. He then enrolled at Amherst College
, his father's alma mater, graduating in 1928.
On September 23, 1929 at Plainville, Connecticut
, he married Florence Trumbull She was born on November 30, 1904, at Plainville, Connecticut, the daughter of Connecticut governor John H. Trumbull
and Maud Pierce Usher. The Coolidges had two daughters, Cynthia Coolidge Jeter (1933–1989) and Lydia Coolidge Sayles. She died on February 15, 1998 at Plymouth Notch, Vermont.
He was an executive with the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
. He served as president of the Connecticut Manifold Forms Company until 1960, when he reopened the Plymouth Cheese Corporation in Plymouth
at the historic village. He helped start the Coolidge Foundation and his gifts of buildings, land, and artifacts were instrumental in creating the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site
.
He was also a director of the Harvard Art Museum.
Well into his 80s, Coolidge was seen shuttling back and forth from his home near the Calvin Coolidge Historical Site to collect his mail at the old post office located on the historic site. He was reportedly a charming and excited talker who would still answer visitors' questions about his father or his family, and who would, on occasion, give a rare personal interview.
He died on May 31, 2000 at Lebanon
, Grafton County, New Hampshire
. He is buried beside his wife, parents, brother and several generations of the Coolidge family in the Plymouth Notch Cemetery at Plymouth, Windsor County, Vermont. He was survived by a daughter, son-in-law, three grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
. His earliest American ancestor, John Coolidge, emigrated from Cottenham
, Cambridgeshire, England, around 1630 and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts
. Coolidge is also descended as follows from Edmund Rice
, who arrived at Watertown in 1638 and settled in Sudbury, Massachusetts
:
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
, the founder of the Plymouth Cheese Corporation and the first son of President Calvin Coolidge and Grace Anna Goodhue.
Biography
John Coolidge, was born in NorthamptonNorthampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
, Hampshire County, Massachusetts
Hampshire County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 152,251 people, 55,991 households, and 33,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 58,644 housing units at an average density of 111 per square mile...
, on September 7, 1906. He was the elder of the two children of Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933), the 30th President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
(1923–1929) and Grace Anna Goodhue (1879–1957), First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
from 1923 to 1929.In the summer of 1924, he was playing tennis with his brother, Calvin Jr.
Calvin Coolidge, Jr.
Calvin Coolidge Jr. was the son of President Calvin Coolidge-Biography:Calvin Coolidge, Jr, was born in Northampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, on April 13, 1908 and was the younger of the two children of Calvin Coolidge , the 30th President of the United States and Grace Anna Goodhue ,...
, on the White House grounds when Calvin Jr. suffered a blister on his toe, which became infected, resulting in his death a week later. John described the loss of his brother as producing a depression in President Coolidge that lasted the rest of his life. As John Coolidge told Life magazine in 1992: Though father was tenderhearted, he rarely showed his feelings. But when they were taking my brother's casket from the White House after the services, my father broke down and wept momentarily. Calvin was my father's favorite. It hurt him terribly. It hurt us all In his autobiography, Calvin Coolidge recorded his impressions of the birth of his first son: "The fragrance of the clematis which covered the bay window filled the room like a benediction where the mother lay with her baby. It was all very wonderful to us."
Coolidge attended Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school for grades 9-12 located in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. The school's mission is:...
in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
Mercersburg is a borough in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Harrisburg. Originally called Black Town, it was incorporated in 1831. In 1900, 956 people lived here, and in 1910, 1,410 people lived here...
and graduated in 1924. He then enrolled at Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
, his father's alma mater, graduating in 1928.
On September 23, 1929 at Plainville, Connecticut
Plainville, Connecticut
Plainville is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 17,328 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.8 square miles , of which 9.8 square miles is land and 0.1 square miles is water...
, he married Florence Trumbull She was born on November 30, 1904, at Plainville, Connecticut, the daughter of Connecticut governor John H. Trumbull
John H. Trumbull
John Harper Trumbull was an American politician and the 70th Governor of Connecticut.-Early life:John H. Trumbull was born in Ashford, Connecticut. Despite his name, he was not related to the previous governors of Connecticut of the same name, but was the son of Irish immigrants who moved to...
and Maud Pierce Usher. The Coolidges had two daughters, Cynthia Coolidge Jeter (1933–1989) and Lydia Coolidge Sayles. She died on February 15, 1998 at Plymouth Notch, Vermont.
He was an executive with the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
. He served as president of the Connecticut Manifold Forms Company until 1960, when he reopened the Plymouth Cheese Corporation in Plymouth
Plymouth, Vermont
Plymouth is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 555 at the 2000 census. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, was born in and is buried in Plymouth...
at the historic village. He helped start the Coolidge Foundation and his gifts of buildings, land, and artifacts were instrumental in creating the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site
Coolidge Homestead
The Coolidge Homestead, also known as Calvin Coolidge Homestead District or President Calvin Coolidge State Historical Site, was the childhood home of the thirtieth President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge and the place where he took the presidential oath of office...
.
He was also a director of the Harvard Art Museum.
Well into his 80s, Coolidge was seen shuttling back and forth from his home near the Calvin Coolidge Historical Site to collect his mail at the old post office located on the historic site. He was reportedly a charming and excited talker who would still answer visitors' questions about his father or his family, and who would, on occasion, give a rare personal interview.
He died on May 31, 2000 at Lebanon
Lebanon, New Hampshire
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,568 people, 5,500 households, and 3,178 families residing in the city. The population density was 311.4 people per square mile . There were 5,707 housing units at an average density of 141.4 per square mile...
, Grafton County, New Hampshire
Grafton County, New Hampshire
Grafton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2010 census, the population was 89,118. Its county seat is North Haverhill, which is a village within the town of Haverhill. Until 1972, the county courthouse and other offices were located in downtown Woodsville, a...
. He is buried beside his wife, parents, brother and several generations of the Coolidge family in the Plymouth Notch Cemetery at Plymouth, Windsor County, Vermont. He was survived by a daughter, son-in-law, three grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
Ancestry and family relations
Coolidge's family had deep roots in New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. His earliest American ancestor, John Coolidge, emigrated from Cottenham
Cottenham
Cottenham is a village in Cambridgeshire, England. It is close to The Fens. Before the fens were drained in the 19th century Cottenham was on the last contour before the waterlogged marshes, with Ely being the nearest dry land around to the north-east....
, Cambridgeshire, England, around 1630 and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
. Coolidge is also descended as follows from Edmund Rice
Edmund Rice (1638)
Edmund Rice , was an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony who was born in Suffolk, England, and lived in Stanstead, Suffolk and Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire prior to sailing with his family to America. He arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in summer or fall of 1638, presumed to be first...
, who arrived at Watertown in 1638 and settled in Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Sudbury is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, population 17,659. The town was incorporated in 1639, with the original boundaries including what is now Wayland. Wayland split from Sudbury in 1780. When first incorporated, it included and parts of Framingham, Marlborough, Stow...
:
- John Coolidge, son of
- John Calvin Coolidge, Jr.Calvin CoolidgeJohn Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
(1872–1933), son of - John Calvin Coolidge, Sr.John Calvin Coolidge, Sr.John Calvin Coolidge, Sr. was an American politician and businessman from Vermont and the father of President Calvin Coolidge.-Political and business career:...
(1845–1926), son of - Sarah Almeda Brewer (ca1820–?), daughter of
- Israel Chase Brewer (1797–?), son of
- Sarah Rice (1750–?), daughter of
- Bezaleel Rice (1721–1806), son of
- Bezaleel Rice (1697–?), son of
- David Rice (1659–1723), son of
- Henry Rice (1617 –1711), son of
- Edmund RiceEdmund Rice (1638)Edmund Rice , was an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony who was born in Suffolk, England, and lived in Stanstead, Suffolk and Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire prior to sailing with his family to America. He arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in summer or fall of 1638, presumed to be first...
(1594–1663)
- Edmund Rice
- John Calvin Coolidge, Jr.
Works cited
- Feldman, Ruth Tenzer. Calvin Coolidge Presidential leaders; Publisher: Twenty-First Century Books, 2006 ISBN 0822514966.
External links
- National Park Service site on the Coolidge Homestead
- President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site - official website
- Biographical sketch of John Harper Trumbull Connecticut State Library
- Harvard Art Museum website