Born in Licking, county, Ohio, August 26, 1845. At the age of eleven years, he came to Iowa with his parents, who settled on a farm in Jasper County near the present town of Colfax. He attended district school in the winter and worked on the farm and in his father's pottery during the summer. The winter of 1860, he entered Iowa College with the intention of taking a collegiate course, but, after a few months, conditions compelled him to quit college and return to the farm. In 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Addie Kellogg. Mr. Coomes came to Cass County in the fall of 1870, locating on a farm in Franklin Township, which was his home for many years, until taking up his residence in Atlantic. In addition to making a success as a farmer and stock raiser, Mr. Coomes was a writer of recognized ability and many of his articles and stories of fiction, based or western romance, were supplied to The New York Weekly, The Saturday Journal of New York, and other publications, to which he was a regular contributor. During his long residence in Cass County, Mr. Coomes was closely identified with every movement for the up-building of his state, county, town and community. In politics, Mr. Coomes was a Republican, serving his county, faithfully and with great credit in the State Legislature, from 1877 to 1880; having been elected, over his Democratic opponents. Mr. Coomes was a charter member of Anita Lodge, No. 22, I.O.O.F. He was a member of the Wiota Lodge and Methodist Episcopal Church.

Born in Licking, County, Ohio, August 26, 1845. At the age of eleven years, he came to Iowa with his parents, who settled on a farm in Jasper County near the present town of Colfax. He attended district school in the winter and worked on the farm and in his father's pottery during the summer. The winter of 1860, he entered Iowa College with the intention of taking a collegiate course, but, after a few months, conditions compelled him to quit college and return to the farm. In 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Addie Kellogg. Mr. Coomes came to Cass County in the fall of 1870, locating on a farm in Franklin Township, which was his home for many years, until taking up his residence in Atlantic. In addition to making a success as a farmer and stock raiser, Mr. Coomes was a writer of recognized ability and many of his articles and stories of fiction, based or western romance, were supplied to The New York Weekly, The Saturday Journal of New York, and other publications, to which he was a regular contributor. During his long residence in Cass County, Mr. Coomes was closely identified with every movement for the up-building of his state, county, town and community. In politics, Mr. Coomes was a Republican, serving his county, faithfully and with great credit in the State Legislature, from 1877 to 1880; having been elected, over his Democratic opponents. Mr. Coomes was a charter member of Anita Lodge, No. 22, I.O.O.F. He was a member of the Wiota Lodge and Methodist Episcopal Church.