John C. Coffman (1811 - 1896)

Born 15 Feb 1811 in Washington Co., MD

Husband of Nancy Anna (Artz) Coffmann — married 30 Sep 1837 in Hagerstown, Washington, MD

Descendants

Died 7 Dec 1896 at age 85 in Pine Creek Twp., Ogle, IL

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Biography

John was born in 1811. He passed away in 1896.

Sources

• John C. Coffman was a pioneer settler of Ogle County, Illinois, is of German ancestry and a native of Maryland, was destined to fulfill a large destiny in Ogle County, Illinois. A fact of which he doubtless was ignorant when he journeyed overland to this wilderness in the summer of 1838 together with his brother James and Samuel Hitt, they traveled on horseback to Illinois, and settled on the edge of wide stretch of heavy timber in the vicinty of the present village of Mount Morris, this region was almost a wilderness, as deer, wolves and other animals were abundant as well as various kind of wild fowls. Mr. Coffman entered up 360 acres of praire land, and 40 acres of forest growth adjoining paying the government price of $1.25 per acre. His brother James also purchased 6 quarter section and a mill site in Pine Creek Township 2 miles southwest of the town, Mt. Morris. John C. Coffman soon after returned to his former home in Maryland, and in the fall of 1839 brought back his family. Among whom Henry Coffman, then scarcely a year old. And the spring of 1840, his brother James Coffman and Samuel Hitt built a mill at the head of Pine Creek. Mr. Hitt was an uncle of Robert Hill, for many years a member of Congress of this district. Not only did Mr. Coffman clear and improve his original land but added to it until he owned then a thousand acres of which he gave all but the homestead to his sons, and to his daughter a like amount. He was a great lover of stock, especially horses; he was considered a mechanic and the brick house erected by himself in 1857 still remains a monument to his thoroughness, having weathered the storms of more than half centry. In political afflication he was a Democrat. His religious connection was with the Dunker denomination. [per Ogle County History of Illinois]

1850 Census Pine Creek Twp., Ogle, IL page 6 John C Coffman 41 Farmer MD Ann 28 MD Henry 10 IL Harrison 9 IL John 6 IL Cleget 5 IL Benton 2 IL John Bare 29 Laborer MD John Rudy 28 Farmer MD May E. Watts 16 MD

1860 Census Pine Creek, Ogle, IL page 111 John Coffman 48 M Farmer 10,000/3,000 MD Ann 41 F MD Henry 20 M Farm Laborer MD Harrison 19 M Farm Laborer IL attends school John 17 M Farm Laborer IL attends school Cleggett 13 M IL attends school Josephine 11 F IL attends school Cilicial 7 M IL attends school James B 3 M IL Mary Welty 25 F Servant MD John Roody 48 M Farm Laborer MD

John C. Coffman obit:

John C. Coffman, more widely known as Uncle Johnny Coffman, died at his home in Pine Creek Township Monday evening, December 7th, 1896, aged 85 years, 8 months, and 23 days. Mr. Coffman was an early settler of Pine Creek, having migrated from his native state of Maryland in 1839. He was well known among the early settlers. For the last twelve years, advancing age rendered him feeble so that he seldom left his farm, but he was able to be out up to within a few weeks of his death, indeed he never gave up but was up and about the house to the last. His second wife and nine children survive him. These children are Henry of Pine Creek, Harrison of Lincoln township, John Jr. of Polo, Mrs. Josephine Mumma, of California, James B, Salathiel, and Carl, all of Adams, Nebraska, and Frank and Miss Altha, who reside at home.