Evening star., 1926-10-14
PRESIDENT STUDIES
. FAM|LY'S HISTORY
Discusses GeneaIogy With
Fred J. Coolidge of At
Ianta, Ga.
BY j. RUSSELL YOUNG.

President Coolidge this afternoon is
taking time off from his work to dis
cuss nealOgy-Coolidge genealogy
"a subject very dear to his heart and
one in which he has always mani
Tested profound interest.
Discussion of the Coolidge family
and record was brought about today
by the visit of Fred j. Coolidge, jr.,
of Atlanta, second cousin of the
President, although the former spells
his name differently from the Ply
mouth Notch Coolidges. This cousin
from the South. who is accompanied
by his wife, was a luncheon guest
after which he and the President be-
came absorbed in the discussion 50
dear to them both.
Fred Coolidge is probably even more
Interested than his iliustrous cousin.
AT least he has given more time to
genealogical research work and while
he is in Washington will collaborate
with another cousin, DIR. Marion r..
Cady of Takoma Park, Nd, with
whom he will visit for several days, in
the preparation of Il new history of
the Coolidge family from the landing in
Massachusetts in 1850 Of Capt John
Coolidge of England to the present
day. Their work will not be merely
a genealogical chronicle, but will in
clude a history of the various
branches Of the family in America and
q biographical sketch of the more
prominent members of the family.
Brings Papers and Books.
hIr. Cooledge has brought with him
a number Of papers and books, 40 well
as letters dealing with the subject.
Both Mr. Coolidge and Dr.. Cady are
related closely to the President
through Capt. John Coolidge, a de-
SCendant of the first Coolidge In this
country, who migrated from MaSSa-
ChuSetts to the hills of Vermont. The
first Coolidge to go to Vermont Sc
lected a spot in Il notch then known
at Salt Ash, named after mountain
nearby. The place is now known as
Plymouth Notch. 1t was 1879 that
Iapt Coolidge, after having served In
the Revolutionary War, moved with
his family from Lancaster, Mass. to
the Green Mountains notch. One of
the log buildings of his original nome
in Vermont is still standing. 1t is up
on the side Of Salt Ash Mountain,
about miles from the President s
home in Plymouth.
Two Summers ago, when the Presl'
dent was spending his vacation on
the north shore of Massachusetts, he
frequently visited some of the older
cemeteries in those parts and dill
gently sought out the graves of the
early CooIidges. AS in the case of
Fred Coolidge of Atlanta, some of
these dead Coolidges used a different
spelling for their name than the one
used by the President. The President
commented upon this at the time.
PFaEtdant
predominated, however.
Finds First Settlers Grave.
One of these pilgrimages to burying
grounds took the President to Water
town, a suburb of Boston. 1t was in
that place that the first American
Coolidge settled, and when the Presi-
dent discovered his grave In the old
cemetery he was greatly interested.
To those who We're with him at the
time he turned enthusiastically and
mentioned how plea sed he was to have
looked upon this grave Of his ancestor,
and then entered upon an interesting
narrative about this first American
Coolidge and the early Coolidges in
general.
The President leaned against the
wall surrounding the old burying
ground and readily and clearly traced
his line of CoOlidges from this first
American Coolidge.
There are several books and pam
phlets in the Coolidge library dealing
with the genealogy and history of
the Coolidge family and it is under
stood the President frequently studies
these Naturally enough, he receives
any number of letters from Cooltdges
from all over the country dealing with
possible relationship.
Fred Coolidge is general manager
bf a chain of stores in the South deal
ing in paints and Varnishes. He is a
native of Georgia. his grandfather
having migrated to that State from
Vermont before the Civil War.