James Heney Coffin

Past and Present of Dallas County, Iowa Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907

An excellent farm of three hundred and fifty-five acres in Adams township pays tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon it by James Henry Coffin, who is a highly respected and representative agriculturist of his community. He was born on the 18th of August, 1858, in the township which is still his home, and is a son of William and Rachel L. (Shelley) Coffin, mention of whom is made on another page of this work. The family numbered six children, of whom three are yet living, the sisters of our subject being: Rachel M., now the wife of J.H. Nichols; and Serepta J., who is with her parents.

At the usual age James H. Coffin became a pupil in the district schools and therein acquired his education. During vacation periods he worked upon the home farm, early becoming acquainted with the methods in vogue in the cultivation and development of the fields. Having arrived at years of maturity he chose a companion and helpmate for life's journey in Miss Mary Jane King to whom he was married in 1882. She is a daughter of J. V. King, one of the well known and worthy pioneer settlers of Adams township. After his marriage Mr. Coffin located with his bride in Greene county, having previously become the owner of a small farm there. They continued to reside upon that place, however, for only about eighteen or nineteen months, after which they returned to Dallas county and took charge of the old home farm, the father removing to the town. Mr. Coffin of this review continued to cultivate the old homestead for six years and in January, 1890, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm, to which he removed on the 15th of that month. He has since added to the property from time to time until now within its boundaries are comprised three hundred and fifty-five acres, situated in sections 4, 5, 8 and 9, Adams township. It is not only an extensive but also a very productive tract of land and the fields have been brought under a high state of cultivation, so that they annually yield rich and large harvests. Mr. Coffin also raises some cattle each year and a large number of hogs and has ample shelter for his stock and for his grain. He uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the farm work and in all his business interests is alert, enterprising and progressive.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Coffin has been blessed with ten children: Mabel Ethel, now the wife of A. C. Gibbler, a resident farmer of Colfax township, Dallas county; Elva Luzena, the wife of Don E. De Camp, of Adams township; James Melvin, who is living on the old homestead in Adams township; Effie Elizabeth, at home; John William, now deceased; Cora Belle, Clarence Burton, Henry Virgil, Harold Lindon and Leona Ruth, all yet under the parental roof. The old homesteads of the Coffin and Couch families (Mrs. Couch having been a Coffin) have remained in possession of these families since they were entered from the government by the grandfather Harvey. The name of Coffin has long been closely and honorably associated with the agricultural interests of this part of the state and the subject of this review has added new luster to an untarnished family name. His political views are in accord with the principles of the republican party and he served for three years as township trustee, while for three years he was justice of the peace. The duties of both positions are faithfully and promptly performed and at all times he is regarded as one of the leading and worthy citizens of the community. He takes an active part in religious work as a member of the United Brethren church and is serving on the church board of trustees. In his business affairs he is always found reliable and he stands for the progressive element in citizenship and for trustworthiness in every relation.

Find A Grave Memorial# 14396517

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@R-1688746074@ 1900 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,7602::0

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Year: 1900; Census Place: Adams, Dallas, Iowa; Page: 6; Enumeration District: 0001 1,7602::14219531

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@R-1688746074@ 1900 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,7602::0

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Year: 1900; Census Place: Adams, Dallas, Iowa; Page: 6; Enumeration District: 0001 1,7602::14219531

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@R-1688746074@ Iowa, Select Marriages Index, 1758-1996 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60284::0

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1,60284::4495794

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@R-1688746074@ 1900 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,7602::0

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Year: 1900; Census Place: Adams, Dallas, Iowa; Page: 6; Enumeration District: 0001 1,7602::14219531

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@R-1688746074@ Iowa, Marriage Records, 1880-1940 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,8823::0

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Iowa Department of Public Health; Des Moines, Iowa; Series Title: Iowa Marriage Records, 1880–1922; Record Type: Textual Records 1,8823::1354020082

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@R-1688746074@ Iowa, Death Records, 1920-1940 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61442::0

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State Historical Society of Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; Iowa Death Records; Reference Number: 101768586 1,61442::600048745

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@R-1688746074@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.

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Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=49645290&pid...