Coats Chamber of Commerce

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For several years after the War Between the States, people in all walks of life had trouble adjusting to their new conditions. It was hard, even then, for young people to decide what to do for a living where to make their homes. One James T. Coats of Johnston County, lately of the confederate Army, decided to move west. He bought something over 700 acres of land for farming purposes in Grove Township in Harnett County and in 1875 moved to this tract. He was a settled young man of twenty-six at that time, and the land was good. He was a forceful, energetic person, one who could think ahead and translate his dreams into reality. James T. Coats soon set up a general store on his property and other farmers moved nearer for convenience. There was talk of a railroad coming through the county, and in the summer of 1901 surveyors for the new line dropped by Coats' Store to pass the time of day. Construction workers along the railroad in 1902 and 1903 came by the farm for purchases and to talk. James Coats gave the railroad right-of-way through his property and donated land for a depot. He rejoiced with others in the fall of 1903 when celebrations were held all along the line of the new railroad. It was the first time a train had completed the trip on the new tracks all along the lines of the Durham & Southern and entered Dunn. A stagecoach stop in Harnett County was Troyville, and J. A. Stewart had been in charge of the mail being left there...

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