Biography of Henderson W. Coffin

Henderson W. Coffin, son of Isaac Coffin and Peggy Patten, was born 29 Sep 1813 at Newport, Herkimer county, New York, and died 29 Jul 1876; he married 9 Jul 1840 in Winnebago county, Harriet Kenear, born 18 Nov 1822 in New York and died 27 Apr 1893.

Henderson and his brother Horace came to Winnebago county in 1838. The first night they were in Illinois, Henderson purchased a 1/2 section of land and paid for it with his gun, watch, the family cow, and a note for $320.

Henderson and Horace had gone to Canada where they learned the brickmaking trade. Henderson started a brickyard west of Beloit and later extended it to a yard in Roscoe. The latter was located where the C.N.W. Railroad depot was finally located. He donated the land for the depot. Men worked for him for 50 cents per day plus 2 meals, some walking 6 miles to and from work.

In his will, made 13 Apr 1876, filed 3 Aug 1876, he named his wife, Harriet, and the eleven children named below as beneficiaries. During his lifetime, he accumulated some 1,100 acres of land.

Children, all born in Illinois:

Agnes, b. Jan 1841; m. Elmer Hoag. They probably moved to Iowa.
Julia Marie, b. 13 Jun 1842, d. 17 Oct 1907; unm in 1890
Sylvester B., b. 6 Jan 1844, Roscoe, d. 11 Feb 1913; m. 8 May 1873, Anne Addey, b. 1843 in England, d. 19 Dec 1911
Esther, b. Mar 1845, d. 7 Oct 1893; unm.
William Henry, b. 27 May 1846, d. 8 Feb 1905; m. Lunetta Collins
Horace Albert, b. 31 Mar 1848, d. 21 Jan 1888; unm.
Fletcher, b. 6 Nov 1849, d. 28 Jan 1922; m. 22 Dec 1874, Mary Harriett Keeling, b. Philadelphia in 1853, d. 1921, d/o John and Elizabeth (Taylor) Keeling.
Mary Jane, b. 4 Jul 1851, d. 1887; m. 20 Dec 1870, Watson B. Scott.
Emma Bell, b. Dec 1854, d. 1937; unm.
Alfred H., b. 11 Nov 1860, d. 1934; m. 8 Dec 1887, Martha J. Smith, b. 1865, d. 1949
Rubie Hortense, will filed 4 Nov 1896; unm.

Sources: Mrs. R.C. Falconer, Rockford, Ill (gr-granddaughter); Eliza-Beth Nichols, S. Beloit, Ill,; 1840 p. 417; 1850 Roscoe Twp. Dw. 8, Fam. 8; 1860 p. 567; WM; IRAD W-1 p. 358 (Henderson), W-3 p. 452 (Rubie), W-3 p. 107 (Esther), W-2 p. 352 (Horace).