Histories, Obits & Biographies
Please submit Coffin Histories, Obituaries or Biographies.


James Berton COFFIN
Sangamon, Piatt, Illinois
Civil War Obituaries by Platt County Historical
and Genealogical Society:

     James Berton COFFIN was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, Jan. 1, 1840 and passed away at his home Wednesday, March 27, 1912, aged 72 years, 2 months, 26 days.  He came to Illinois with his parents in 1849 and in 1862 he enlisted in Company C. 167th Illinois and was discharged in 1865 at Chester, Pa. 
     In November 1872 he was united in marriage with Nancy ARGO, who preceded him to the other world July 12, 1875.  To them were born five children, three of whom survive, William of Spokane, Washington, John of Butterfield, Minn., and Solomon of Mahomet, Ill.  In June 1880 he was again united in holy wedlock with Isalina BENNETT, to them were born eight children, all of whom survive. 
     Besides his family he leaves a brother F. M. COFFIN of Cisco and a sister, Mrs. Geo. VALENTINE of Monticello, also a host of relatives and friends to mourn his departure.  While he suffered great pain with pneumonia fever which was his fatal disease, he was never heard to mourn or complain about anything.

Dr. Nelson G. COFFIN
Monticello, Piatt, Illinois
Monticello's Oldest Physician Passed Away Tuesday Night.  Funeral This Afternoon.

     Dr. Nelson G. Coffin, after years spent as the family physician in many households in Monticello and vicinity where he carried hope and comfort by his cheering presence and after living a long and useful life passed away at his home in Monticello at 11 o'clock Tuesday night aged ninety years. 
     The deceased was born in North Carolina on Oct. 3, 1820.  He removed with his parents to Vermilion county, Indiana when two years of age residing there until 1845, when they came to Piatt county, making him one of the earliest settlers' in the county.  The family is of English lineage and represented an old southern family that was founded in America in Colonial times. 
     In the spring of 1848 the subject of this sketch was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe D. JOHNSON of Monticello, who was born in Rhode Island and came to Piatt county about the year of 1847.  After their marriage they took up their residence in Monticello, where Dr. Coffin has since lived.  The wife died in 1857 and of the three children born to this union, Dr. Eugene COFFIN of this city is the only survivor.
     Dr. Nelson G. COFFIN prepared for his profession as a student in the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati and entered upon the practice of his profession in Vermilion county, Indiana, in 1843 where he continued in his practice until he came to Piatt county five years later.  His early practice extended throughout the county and often beyond its borders.  He was familiar with all the experience which came to the early physician who located upon the frontier.  The weather was never too bad nor the hardships too great for him to respond to those needing his services. 
     He left his home in Monticello in 1862 in response to his country's call and rendered valuable service to the sick and wounded soldiers in the south.  He became assistant surgeon of the 107th, Illinois Regiment, spending most of his time in the hospitals.  He continued at his post of duty until he was honorably discharged at the close of the war. 
     He returned to Monticello where he continued his practice until 1874 when he retired, devoting his time and energies to his farming interests, having acquired a fine farm of 240 acres.
     The funeral services will be held at the residence at 2 o'clock this afternoon.  Burial in Monticello cemetery.

Prof. William COFFIN
Kane County, Illinois
Biographical and Historical Record of Kane County Illinois 1888

     Prof. William COFFIN, the youngest son of Nathaniel and Mary (PORTER) COFFIN, was born in Wiseassett, Lincoln, Maine, January 19, 1822.  His ancestors on both sides were of English Origin, and came to this country in the first half of the seventeenth century, first locating near Newburyport, Mass., afterward removing to the Saco River country, in the district of Maine, where his parents were both born.  His father graduated at Dartmouth College in 1800, studied law with Chief Justice Mellen, of Portland, Maine, and commenced the practice of his profession in Lincoln County in 1803.  He served through the War of 1812 on the staff of Gen. William KING as quartermaster-general of the Maine Militia.  In the spring of 1836 the family removed to Jacksonville, Ill., and the following year William entered Illinois College, from which institution he graduated in 1841, taking the first honors of his class.  After three years of legal and theological study, he was called by his alma mater to the chair of mathematics, natural philosophy and astronomy.  This position he occupied for eight years, supplementing his educational work with occasional preaching in the college chapel and neighboring churches, and spending his vacations in the office of his father, who was engaged in extensive real estate transactions for himself and others.  Failure of health and other considerations rendering a change of life desirable, Mr. Coffin resigned his professorship in 1852, and after spending several months in civil engineering removed to Batavia, where he still resides.  Since coming to Kane County he has taken an active part and been well known in educational, religious and business enterprises.  In connection with the Congregational Church he has filled the various posistions of trustee, as deacon, superintendent of the Sabbath school, and at several intervals its acting pastor.  In 1856 Mr. Coffin opened a private banking house in Batavia, which was subsequently merged into the First National Bank of which he was president and manager.  He was also senior partner in the banking firm of Coffin & Paddock, in Aurora, and of Coffin & Toplman, in St. Charles.  Mr. Coffin has been an active member of the Republican party since its organization; was the first Republican supervisor of Batavia, and was a delegate to the Republican convention held in Cincinnati in 1876.  In 1877 he was laid aside from active life by an entire loss of sight, since which time he has been engaged in literary pursuits, having now nearly ready for the press several biographical and historical works.
     In 1847 Mr. Coffin married Mary E., eldest daughter of Samuel D. LOCKWOOD, and who was taken from him by death in 1877, leaving seven children: S. LOCKWOOD, who died September 6, 1887,  aged thirty-nine; William K., now cashier of the National Bank of Ean Claire, Wis.; Mary Ellen, wife of Rev. J. W. BRADSHAW, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Galesburg, Ill.; Charles P., secretary of the Minnesota' Iron Company, with office in Chicago; Francis D., who died in 1884, aged twenty four years; Mattie O., a teacher in Miss Hardy's school, in Eau     Claire, and John N., now in New Westminister, BC.  In June, 1883, Mr. Coffin married Sophia M., daughter of Jed and Harriet (WEEKS) SAWYER, of Mattoon, Ill., thus continuing the old family home with its quiet enjoyments. 1850, 1860, 

William D. COFFIN
Bement, Piatt, Illinois
History of Platt County by Emma C. Piatt shows:

Mr. William D. COFFIN, farmer, Bement, moved from Indiana to Piatt county about 1857.  His father came out about that time, but died after three years had passed.  Mr. COFFIN was married in 1866 to Mary HOLTZ, a native of Indiana.  Their children's names are Eva A., Homer and Horace, twins, and Emma A.  Mr. COFFIN has lived on the present home place in Bement Township for about fourteen years.  He went to the late war, was wounded twice, and lost the sight of one of his eyes.  His health was also injured by exposure in the army.