Patrick Coursey was born in Ireland in 1815 and immigrated to Geneva in 1847 where he engaged in the produce and grocery businesses. In 1864 he built a large tannery on Exchange St which he operated until his death on February 24, 1879. He married Mary Laughran and had six children, two of whom were Thomas and Stephen. Stephen was born Sept 28, 1846 and attended Walnut Hill School, engaging in business with his father after graduation.

He built the Geneva Flouring Mills in 1877, with his father, and operated them for many years while also dealing in wool. Stephen discovered a mineral spring behind the Flouring Mills in 1885. He developed his find into Geneva Magnetic Lithia Mineral Springs; he was supposed to be digging a gas well and ended up hitting the mineral spring which supposedly shot 100 feet in the air. Stephen died December 10, 1919.