Biography of Morse Coffin, 1836-1913

Morse H. Coffin, one of the most prominent agriculturists of Weld County and one of the early pioneers, resides three miles east of Longmont. A member of an ancient English family, he descends from the Coffeen (as the name was then spelled) family that came from the Netherlands with William the Conqueror in the eleventh century. The head of the family was knighted by the king and was given a grant of land in Alwington County, near Land's End, which was then named Coffeen County. At the present time the eldest member of the family sits in the house of lords. Tristram Coffeen came to America in 1542 and settled near Haverhill, Mass., where he became very influential in local affairs, serving as sheriff and in numerous other positions of trust. Letters written by him are on exhibition in the state house of New York.

One of the sons of Tristram settled on Nantucket Island, where numerous descendants still reside. Another son went up the Hudson River and settled near Albany, founding the branch of which our subject is a member. Edward Coffin (supposed to be our subject's great-grandfather or his brother) was a member of the colonial army during the Revolution, and one of his powder horns is a prized souvenir, now in the possession of our subject. Isaac Coffin, our subject's grandfather, was born at Fishkill, N. Y., in 1773, and was a farmer and hotel keeper throughout his active life; he died February 9, 1839.

Jacob Coffin, father of our subject, was born in Bethlehem, Albany County, N. Y., in 1800, and in youth learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed in connection with farming. In 1843, however, he moved west to Illinois and settled near Belvidere, Boone County, where he afterward devoted his entire attention to agriculture. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and for many years held the office of class leader, also served as superintendent of the Sunday-school. His death occurred at DeKalb, DeKalb County, in 1876, and he was buried in Boone County.

The subject of this sketch, a son of Jacob and Mary A. (Hull) Coffin, was born in Roxbury, Delaware County, N. Y., September 20, 1836. In 1845 he removed with his parents to Boone County, Ill., where his father was a pioneer agriculturist. There during the summer months our subject assisted his father on the farm, while in the winter he attended the district school, acquiring a limited education. At the age of twenty-one he began for himself as a farmer, being given entire charge of his father's farm. In 1859, with two friends, he started across the plains, with three teams of oxen and a wagon, also with $40 in money and a shotgun, which articles, together with his clothes, constituted his entire worldly possessions. Leaving Illinois May 5, they arrived in Boulder July 18. On their westward journey they met many emigrants returning and all gave a very gloomy picture of Colorado. All these reports had their effect on the men. By the time they had reached the Missouri River, their decision had been made to outfit and continue their journey to Oregon or California. However, on their arrival at Fort Laramie, two days after Horace Greeley had made his famous trip to the state, they heard his version of the country, and it decided them in their course, they stopped in Colorado, where Mr. Coffin secured work with Low, Goss & Pell. He whip-sawed lumber until he had paid an obligation to R. S. Low, a member of the firm. Afterward he continued in the same work during the fall and winter, whip-sawing lumber for the first frame house built (by H. C. Norton) in Boulder County.

Coming to Weld County in the spring of 1860, Mr. Coffin took up one hundred and sixty acres on the St. Vrain, three miles east of Longmont, where he settled and began the improvement of a farm. By subsequent purchase he became the owner of three hundred and sixty acres, constituting his present farm. During the late war he enlisted in Company D, Third Colorado Volunteer Cavalry, and is now a member of McPherson Post No. 6, G. A. R., of which he is commander.

The marriage of Mr. Coffin united him with Miss Julia A. M. Dunbar, a native of Otsego County, N. Y. She is a daughter of Andrew B. Dunbar, who was born in Massachusetts and from there, in middle life, removed to New York, where he was engaged in business as a merchant, butcher and farmer. Five children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Coffin, and of these four are now living. Geneva, the eldest of the family, is a graduate of the State University at Boulder and has been successful as a teacher in the high school of Deadwood, S. Dak., and Glenwood Springs, Colo. Merton D. has been engaged in the fruit-growing business in De Soto County, Fla. Adelbert B. assists his brother in the management of his father's farm. Morse H. Jr., is deceased. Julia Etta is attending the Longmont high school, preparatory to a course in the State University.