My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

Joseph W. Coffman, a prominent farmer of Duty Township, was born in McLean County, Ky., in 1833. His parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth (Gossett) Coffman, are natives of Virginia, and of German descent. Some of the family were extensive farmers in Virginia, while others had various occupations. The father was born in the year 1802, and came to Kentucky with his parents in 1804, where he grew to maturity, and was married. He died in 1856, from a very painful accident, having his head mashed while moving a hogshead of tobacco. He was a firm adherent of the Universalist Church, and a member of the A. F. & A. M., while his death was a source of sincere regret among a large circle of friends. The mother, who was some ten years younger than her husband, died in 1844. Benjamin Coffman and Elizabeth (Gossett) Coffman were the parents of eight children: William A., Nancy, Ephraim A., Benjamin F., Daniel M., Elisha, Elizabeth, and Joseph W., of whom William A. and Elisha are deceased. Joseph W. Coffman was the third child, and remained on the farm in Kentucky with his parents until his twenty-first year, when he accepted a lucrative position with a large tobacco firm, and commenced his own career. On October 19, 1856, he was married, and moved to the State of Arkansas, where he settled in Hempstead County, on a farm which he rented the first year, but at the expiration of that time was able to purchase a farm of his own. A few years later, that announcement of war, which broke up so many happy homes, also filled him with the desire to aid the Confederacy, and he enlisted in W. H. Prescott’s company, and served for three years. He took part in a great number of engagements, and carried himself through that bloody epoch in history in a manner that won the admiration and respects of his comrades. After the war had ended, he returned to Lawrence County, in 1866, and settled at a point within one mile and a half of where he now resides, and, in 1878, moved to the present place, where he has been employed in agricultural pursuits ever since. Mr. Coffman was married to Miss Rebecca Bowen, a daughter of John W. and Ann (Kenerly) Bowen, natives of South Carolina and Virginia, respectively, who were prominent farmers and large slave-owners before the war. The father was born in 1805, of English descent, and died in the year 1869, while the mother, who was of Dutch origin, was born in 1804, and died in 1864. They were the parents of five sons and three daughters, three of them yet living, and Mrs. Coffman is the sixth child of that number. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Coffman, of whom seven are still living. Their names are: F. Warren, Mary C., wife of B. A. Welbon, living in the State of Washington; John B., Elizabeth, who died in her thirteenth year; Benjamin A., at home; William M., who died at thirteen years of age; Jennie, also dead; Flora, Lena and Josie at home. Mr. and Mrs. Coffman are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which they are active workers, while Mr. Coffman is a trustee, steward, and also superintendent of the Sunday-school, and has represented the church in several conferences. He is a prominent man, and a leader in all enterprises concerning the welfare of his county, and one whose advice and judgment are sought for on many occasions. He is a member of Lodge No. 450, and has belonged to that organization for over thirty years. Mr. Coffman’s father contracted a second marriage after the death of his first wife, and by this wife had nine children: John T., Jacob B., Samuel R., Solomon E., George P. (who met his death at the hands of an assassin), Frank P., Susan F., James Lewis, Ezekiel. Ezekiel, George, Frank, James and Samuel are deceased.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 111 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Lawrence County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Lawrence County, Arkansas family biographies here: Lawrence County, Arkansas Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.