From History of Greene & Jersey Counties, Illinois:
"The next to fill this position (of sheriff) was G. W. Coonrod, whowas e lected in 1864, and served two years most efficiently. GEO. W.COONROD, o f Greenfield, Ill., an old settler, and one of theprominent men of Gre ene county, was born in Wayne county, Illinois,September 3, 1827. He i s the son of Stephen and Candis (Lee) Coonrod,both natives of Kentucky , his father being born in 1798, and hismother in 1800. His father was a B aptist preacher. In the year 1829he moved his family from Wayne county t o Greene county, where he madehis first entry of land, on the northeas t quarter of the northwestquarter of Sec. 33, T. 11, R. 10, on which h e built his first cabin,afterward entering the 40 acre tracts, adjoini ng the first entry,north and south, and purchasing the 40 acres adjoin ing east, where hebuilt a more commodious house, and moved into it, in t he year 1835,where he died in 1872 of that dreadful disease - small po x, his wifesurviving him, dying at her son Jefferson Coonrod's in Gree nfield, inthe fall of 1879. George W. was the fourth child in the fami ly of 11children. He received his education in the common schools of t hatearly day, becoming proficient enough in the branches then taught t oteach, himself, and followed the profession of common school teacher,i nterspersed with teaching classes in penmanship in Greene and theadjoi ning counties, from 1847 to 1852, when he went to Texas andfollowed th e same calling until 1855, when he came back to Illinoisand engaged in t he fall of that year in the mercantile business, incompany with G. N. K inkead under the firm name of Kinkead & Coonrod,at Greenfield. In 1858 h aving been appointed postmaster, he retiredfrom the firm and connected w ith the post office a confectionary,notion and grocery business in com pany with a younger brother. In1861 he resigned the postmastership, co ntinuing the mercantilebusiness. In February, 1858, he was married to M ary a. Parks, bornDec. 28, 1837, in Meredosia, Morgan county, Ill. By t his union theyhad five children, four of whom are living - Arthur G., b orn Jan. 6,1859, at Greenfield; Louis P., born Oct. 5, 1860; Catharine E ., bornApril 17, 1863, died Oct. 8, 1864; Mary E., born at Carrollton, J uly12, 1865, and Helen G., also born there, Dec. 14, 1868. Mrs. Coonro ddied at Greenfield, Ill., June 2, 1870. Mr. Coonrod was again marriedD ec. 25, 1871, to Mattie E. Nutting, a native of Portland, Me., bornMar ch 3, 1847. By this union there were four children, three of whomare l iving - Edith J., born Jan. 3, 1873, died Nov. 22, 1873; CurtisM., bor n June 24, 1875; William J., born Aug. 5, 1877; Guy N., bornFeb. 14, 1 879. Mr. Coonrod in 1864 was elected sheriff of Greenecounty on the de mocratic ticket, and in November of that year movedto Carrollton. Afte r his term of office expired he engaged in thefamily grocery business a t that place, closing out the same in thespring of 1875, and moving ba ck to Greenfield he engaged in the samebusiness in partnership with J. W . Piper, under the firm name ofCoonrod & Piper. In 1876 he retired fro m mercantile business. He hadheld several positions of trust in the ci ty, having served many yearson the board of education; was twice elect ed president of the towncouncil; in 1877 was elected police magistrate , and served fouryears. In 1883 he was appointed, by the governor, a n otary public,which office, with insurance and general agency business n ow occupieshis time, together with seeing after his farming interests i n Greenecounty, Illinois, and Bates county, Missouri. He was elected i n 1884,the attorney for the city of Greenfield on its adopting a city government and compiled the code of ordinances governing that youngcity . Was one of the commissioners to divide the county intopolitical town ships after the adoption of township organization. Inpolitics he has u sually acted with the democrats, but votesindependently for the man he c onceives to be the best qualified forthe office. He belongs to no chur ch, believing more in practicalchristianity than creeds and dogmas of s ects. Independent in thoughtand action, regardless of popularity, pref erring always to be rightas his best judgment dictates. He belongs to n o secret organization,and by strict attention to business has made lif e a successfinancially."
1850 Greene Co, IL. According to the census, he was still livingwi th his parents and was
a school teacher.
1852 TX. While there he also taught school.
1855 Greenfield, Greene Co, IL. He returned home and "engaged in thef all of that year in the mercantile business, in company with G. N.Kink ead under the firm name of Kinkead & Coonrod.
1858 He was appointed postmaster and so "retired from the firm andcon nected with the post office a confectionery, notion and grocerybusines s in company with a younger brother."
1861 "He resigned the postmastership, continuing in the mercantilebus iness."
1864 He was elected to the office of sheriff "on the democraticticket " and "served two years most efficiently."
Nov 1865 Carrollton, Greene Co, IL. After serving his term ofsheriff , he "engaged in the family grocery business at that place,closing out t he same in the spring of 1875.
1870 Greenfield, Greene Co, IL. The census that year said he was a42 y ear old grocer with property worth $1000/4000. His householdincluded: A rthur, 11; Louis, 9; Emma, 4; and Helen, 1; besidesMargaret Parks, 62 y ear old housekeeper, and Lavina Crawford,domestic servant.
Spring 1875 Greenfield. Again returning home, he "engaged in thesame ( grocery/mercantile) business in partnership with J W Piper,under the f irm name of Coonrod & Piper.
1876 He retired from the store. "he had held several positions oftru st in the city, having served many years on the board ofeducation; was t wice elected president of the town council.
1877 He was elected police magistrate for a 4 year term.
6/19/1880 Greenfield, Greene Co, IL. In that census George was 52and a J ustice of the Peace. Second wife, Mattie was 33 and they hadchildren: A rthur G, 21; Louis P, 19; Emma, 14; Helen G, 11; Curtis,4; and William J , 2 and Guy N, 1. Mattie's mother, Eliza Nutting,75, was also there.
1883 The governor appointed him a notary public "which office, within surance and general agency business now occupies his time, togetherwit h seeing after his farming interests...."
The same local 1885 history said he was an old settler and one of thep rominent men of the county.
