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Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 23 January 2005 |
| Sources: |
The History of Warren County Ohio Part V. Biographical Sketches Franklin Township (Chicago, IL: W. H. Beers Co, 1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1992) |
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WASHINGTON COLEMAN, proprietor of the Coleman House, Franklin, is a descendant of Timothy Coleman, who was a native of England, and who |
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emigrated to America before the Revolutionary war, locating on Sampion Creek, N. J., about six miles from Trenton. Elias Coleman, the father of Nathaniel and grandfather of Washington, the subject of this sketch, came with their families to Ohio in 1829, locating in Franklin. Nathaniel died in 1836. Ann, his widow, whose maiden name was Emmons, departed this life in 1876. Washington Coleman is a native of Trenton, N. J., born Oct. 14, 1811; he received his education in the common schools of Trenton, and, at the tender age of 14, was apprenticed to learn the carriage and wagon making trade, at which he served seven years, completely mastering his trade. In 1829, he came with his parents to Franklin, where he followed his trade fourteen years, meeting with good success; in 1834, he celebrated his marriage with Rebecca S. Gordon, who is a native of New Jersey, born near Hightstown. Feb. 18. 1816. In 1848, he rented a farm and engaged in farming for twenty years, during which time he purchased a farm and improved the same; he sold his farm in 1868, and removed to Franklin and worked at carpentering and millwrighting for several months, after which he engaged in the hotel business, which he has followed ever since, meeting with good success. As a landlord, he has no equal and is held in high esteem by the traveling public, as well as by his many friends and acquaintances. So long a resident of Franklin, and for so long prominently connected with her interests, growth and prosperity. Mr. Coleman is entitled to a place among the representative men and old settlers of the county. He is 69 years old, yet with the use of all his faculties and apparently in the prime of manhood, with the promise of many years of activity and usefulness. He relates many interesting incidents of his pioneer life, one of which we relate in his own language: "In 1836, we celebrated the 4th of July in the spirit of 1776 by having a grand dinner under the broad canopy of heaven; the table was 300 feet long, loaded with all the luxuries the country could afford, and the novelty of the dinner consisted of twenty roasted pigs, standing on their feet about fifteen feet apart. The President of the meeting sat at the head of the table, the Vice President at the foot, and a colored man, by the name of Fredric Wilson, was chosen to carry the toasts from the President to the Vice President, who would read them aloud. Dr. David Beard read the Declaration of Independence; Rev. Arthur Elliot delivered the oration; I furnished the dinner." Mr. Coleman is a temperance man in the true sense of the word, as he does not use tobacco in any form, nor was he ever under the influence of, liquor. His became a member of the Masonic order in 1838, being initiated in Eastern Star Lodge, No. 55, after the Morgan affair. He has accumulated considerably amount of property, in which he has been nobly assisted by his good and amiable wife. They are members of the Baptist Church, he having been appointed one of the trustees at the organization, which office he still holds, and is the only one living of the three appointed. They have had ten children, three of whom are living, viz., Nathaniel, George L. D. and Ruby S. |
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This page created 23 January 2005 and last updated
23 January, 2005
© 2005 Arne H Trelvik
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