J H COFFMAN

Unnamed Source

[J. H.]COFFMAN, lumber merchant, Crawfordsville, was b. in Botetourt Co
Va July 18, 1824. His father, Christopher Coffman, d. July 18, 1830 in
his 65th year. Frequently in his life the latter boasted of being able
to trace his lineage as far back as the 16th century to Catharine Von
BORA the wife of Martin LUTHER whose mother was a Coffman. His mother,
Margaret LOTTZ was a daughter of George Lottz, a native of Germany.
Having married and wishing to escape conscription, he came to America
and settled in Philadelphia. Soon the war for independence broke out and
he enlisted under Washington, remaining with him till the close of the
war, when he removed to Augusta Co, Va. There he bought a large tract of
land, and raised his family and d. in 1850 at the age of 104 years.
After the death of the father of JH Coffman, the mother, with her
family, returned to Augusta Co, Va. where she had been raised. Here the
subj. of this sketch spent his winters in school and summers in fishing,
hunting and other sports. At the age of 16 beginning to entertain
concern for the future battles of life, he entered Shemaria Va. He next
entered and completed a three years' course in the Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Lexington SC. After graduating he settled in Salisbury, NC,
and soon engaged in the book and stationery business. About this time he
was marr. to Elizabeth Ann LOCKE, dau. Richard Locke of Rowan Co. She
had one son, Harry Locke, but in less than 18 months after marr. mother
and son were laid side by side in the Salisbury Cemetery His second wife
was a Miss Margaret C. ANDERSON, whose mother was the daughter of Capt.
John DICKEY, who greatly distinguished himself in the American
Revolution and was alluded to by Wheeler a southern historian as the
"hero of King's Mountain." By this marr. two children were born: Bettie
Virginia (Minnie) and Margaret Catharine (Maggie). Minnie died a short
time since in Kansas, Illinois, at the interesting age of 20. Maggie is
living at home. In 1854 Mr. C. returned with his two children to his
native state and settled in Rockbridge Co, where he again married. This
third choice was Miss Martha P. EADS, daughter of John W. and Catharine
Eads. Mr. Eads was of French extraction and Mrs. Eads was a daughter of
a Scotch DOUGLAS family, and cousin of Stephen A. Douglas. Mr. Coffman's
family by his third marr. is four children, 3 of whom are dead and one,
Samuel M, living and now at Wabash College in the class of 1882. When
the civil war came Mr. Coffman was bitterly opposed to secession, but
when his state withdrew from the Union he clasped hands with her, and
enlisted in Co. I, 4th Vir. reg in the Stonewall brigade. He followed
Jackson in most of his marches and participated in his battles till at
Cedar Creek, Oct 19, 1865 he was badly wounded and sent home. He
rejoined his regiment in the spring of 1865 at Petersburg. In a heavy
engagement before Petersburg, a few days before the evacuation of
Richmond, he was captured and taken to Lookout, where he was kept till
June 15, when he was sent home. In the spring of 1866 he removed his
family to Kansas, Illinois, and lived there 11 years, and then came to
Crawfordsville in the spring of 1877. Mr. C. at once entered a
co-partnership with Isaac M. KELSEY in the lumber business. At the close
of the first year, Mr. K. retiring, the business was carried on by Mr.
C. alone. He then took as a partner J. L. WILLIAMS an experience
lumberman and who had been with Mr. Kelsey, his father-in- law, several
years, the firm becoming Coffman & Williams. The new firm began business
together Feb 10, 1879 and on the night of July 29 following lost their
stock by fire. Although partly secured by insurance they lost heavily.
However, they immediately made a new start and now carry a business
second to none in the city. Their headquarters are near the New Albany
depot, N. Green St and Mr. Coffman's residence is 21 W.Main St. Mr.
Coffman's parents were members of the Methodist Church, while he and his
family belong to the 1st Presbyterian Church of Crawfordsville.

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Jeffery G. Scism, IBSSG
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