Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 928
JOHN T. COFFMAN

John T. COFFMAN, was a resident of section 9, Raglan Township, who came to Harrison County in the spring of 1865, locating upon the farm now (1891) occupied by his widow, starting at eighty acres and expanding his holdings until he possessed sixteen hundred acres, five hundred under the plow.

Our subject was born in Tennessee, December 4, 1828, and was the son of Jacob and Rebecca COFFMAN, natives of the Big Bend State -- Tennessee, who had a family of three children -- John T., Marion, and Pleasant (deceased). Our subject lived in Tenn. until ten years of age, when his parents removed to Appanoose County, Iowa, where they bought an improved farm, which they cultivated until 1864. He went to Virginia City, Colorado, remained one season and came to this county.

Mr. COFFMAN was united in marriage in Janury, 1849, to Malinda CROFT, the daughter of John and Margaret CROFT, natives of Virginia, who were the parents of John, Malinda, Louisa and Susan. By this marriage union two children were born -- Josephine and Lafayette. The mother of these children, our subject's first wife, died from a snake bite.

For his second wife John married his first wife's sister, Susan CROFT, April 25, 1858. By this marriage union six children were born -- Don B., Charles Emero, Margaret R., Elmer, William, and Alfred (deceased).
In 1890 while engaged in operating a cornsheller, John caught his hand by the machinery, fracturing his hand and taking off his right finger. This accident resulted in lack-jaw, causing John's death on February 17, 1890.

John and his estimable wife were identified with the Latter Day Saints Church. John was a member of the Magnolia Masonic Lodge, and a Justice of the Peace for many years.

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