William R. Coomler, a gallant ex-soldier of the late Civil war and now a highly respected citizen and prominent politician of Jonesboro, Grant county, Indiana, is a native of Ohio, being born in Montgomery county, near Dayton, May 8, 1841, the son of Jacob and Mary (Hoffman) Coomler. Jacob Coomler moved with his family from their native state of Ohio to Indiana in 1842, selecting a farm in Wabash county as their future home. There William R. spent his boyhood days, assisting his father on the farm and attending school during the winter months. The schools of that day, however, were not like those of today; they were principally conducted in log school-houses, and the pedagogues were not very brilliant. He remained under the parental roof until 1861, when he returned to Ohio, going to Butler county, where he worked out on a farm, remaining there but a few months, as, when the call was given for volunteers to defend the nation's flag, William R. was one of the first to respond, and on June 10, 1861, enlisted as a private in Company G, Twelfth Ohio Infantry, for three years. He went with his company into West Virginia, and first became engaged in the battle at Scarey Creek, and the second engagement was the deadly second battle of Bull Run, in which he was wounded by a minie ball, which, striking him just below the nose, passed through the cheek bone and came out just in front of the right ear. It was a very serious wound and rendered him unconscious for several hours. He was first taken to the Alexandria field hospital, then to the hospital at David's Island, near New York city, where he remained for about four and one-half months, when he was discharged on account of disability occasioned by the wound he received on the 17th day of January, 1863, having spent the greater part of two years in serving his country.

        After receiving his discharge Mr. Coomler returned to his old home in Wabash county, Indiana, remaining there two years; then rented another farm for the term of one year, when he moved on his father's farm, living there until 1880, at which time he removed to Grant county, purchasing a farm of eighty acres in Green township, where he lived until 1892, when he came to Jonesboro.

        Mr. Coomler was engaged from 1892 until 1894 in the hardware business, in which he was successful. Mr. Coomler is a wide-awake and enterprising citizen, always interested in whatever is for the betterment of the general welfare and public interest, and in 1895 he was appointed superintendent of the paving of the brick streets of his native city, and after the completion of the same he became interested in the insurance business, in which he has met with marked success.

        In August, 1863, Mr. Coomler was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Moore, daughter of Thomas and Mildred Moore. To this union have been born twelve children, six of whom are living, namely: Rosetta, who is now the wife of J. L. Morrison, of Normal, Indiana; Morton E., who is following his father in patriotism and is now in the First Light Artillery in the Philippine islands; Elva, the wife of Burton Rush, living in Green township, Grant county; Emma, wife of John Laprell, a merchant tailor of Jonesboro; and Elmer E. and Myrtle, who are still under the parental roof.

        In 1886 Mr. Coomler was elected county commissioner to fill an unexpired term of William Ayers, serving over two years in that capacity, and was rewarded for his attentiveness to business and capability in doing so and was again elected county commissioner, serving from 1891 to 1894, and in 1901 was elected county assessor by thirty-five hundred majority. Politically Mr. Coomler is a Republican, and has always been an ardent worker for his party.

        Mr. Coomler is a member of Magnolia Post, No. 409, G. A. R., of Jonesboro, in which he is a past-post commander and has filled many of the offices in this order. He is also a consistent member of the Christian church, to which he and his family liberally contribute.

        Mr. Coomler has ever been an industrious citizen and a useful one. He has been a good manager, has made a success of his business, and he and his family enjoy the unfeigned eteem (sic esteem) of all who know them.