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CHAPTER 18
ISAIAH DANIEL COLEMAN
by J. P. COLEMAN
(He was the son of Allen Coleman and his wife, Sarah. He was the
grandson of Robert Coleman, died 1809.) Born on Storm Branch of
Beaver Creek, waters of the Broad River, Fairfield County, S. C.,
December 20, 1811. Died at his home about two miles south of
Fentress, Choctaw County, Mississippi, April 8, 1889. Buried,
Concord Cemetery, 6 miles Southwest of Ackerman, Mississippi.
Isaiah Daniel Coleman was a brother of Williams Charles Coleman,
Elizabeth Coleman Gladden, and Rebecca Coleman Gladden. These
sisters were twins.
The first available public record of his life shows that on
November 26, 1833 (Book Z, Page 382, Chester County, S. C.) he
purchased 84 acres of land on the South Fork of Rocky Creek from
Robert Brown. In the same year, when he was twenty-two years of
age, he also bought land from John Gladden.
His first wife was Agnes Ferguson. Their first children were
born and died September 10, 1839, when he was twenty-eight. Agnes
died November 1, 1847. He married again on September 2, 1852. In
the meantime, his mother died May 27, 1839 and his father died June
21, 1848.
On August 2, 1853, for $4,287.25, he conveyed to Alexander B.
Douglas 408 1/2 acres of land on which he then lived. Part of this
was land on which his father lived and died.
This was about two years before the railroad came to Blackstock.
(On February 22, 1865, General Jefferson C. Davis, commanding
the 14th Corps, U. S. Army, had his headquarters "at the Douglas
house, near Blackstock." Page 157, McMaster's History of Fairfield
County).
MISSISSIPPI
Isaiah Daniel Coleman first settled in Mississippi at a place on
the Betheden Road about six miles northeast of Louisville, Winston
N010746" href="namendx_C.htm#N010746">County. On February 6, 1854, (Land Deed Book N, Page 64) for a
consideration
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THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
of $3,000 "to us in hand paid by Isaiah Daniel Coleman, of Chester
District and State of South Carolina" Reese Perkins and Mary
Perkins sold to "the said Isaiah D. Coleman" the West 1/2 of
Section 15 and all of Section 16 (960) acres of Township 15, Range
13, Winston County, As this was near the lands of Williams Charles
Coleman, his brother, it would appear that possibly Williams
selected the land and made the transaction for Daniel in advance of
the removal to Mississippi.
In 1856, according to the personal assessment roll of Winston
County (now on file at Archives and History in Jackson), I. D.
Coleman owned 52 slaves under 60 years of age.
Apparently, he made five crops on this plantation, northeast of
Louisville. Then, on December 15, 1859, for $6,758 cash, he
purchased the 1,763 acre plantation of William Ragsdale (Buck)
Coleman, but he was not to obtain possession until October 1, 1860.
Presumably, he made the 1860 crop at his original location, and
moved to the new place just in time to see the secession of
Mississippi, which occurred January 9, 1861.
The U. S. Census of 1860 for Winston County, shows that on
August 13 of that year B. S. Covington, enumerator, listed the
following:
I. D. COLEMAN, age 49
Real Estate, $5,000
Personal property, $90,000
Born in South Carolina
H. R. (Harriet) age 32
Sara, age 18, female
W. C., age 16, male
M. S. (Molly), age 15, female
J. F. (Jacob Feaster), age 7
H. J. (Henry Jonathan), age 1
All born in South Carolina, except Henry Jonathan, whose
birthplace is listed as Mississippi.
(The writer, in his early boyhood, listened to several warm
arguments between his grandfather, Jacob Feaster Coleman, and
William Charles Coleman, the older half-brother, as to Feaster's
birthplace. Grandfather Feaster contended that his mother told him
he was born in South Carolina. Uncle Bill said that Feaster
definitely "was born after the family arrived in Mississippi." The
1860 Census report, as well as the date of the deed from Isaiah D.
Coleman to Alexander B. Douglas, proves that Feaster was right, but
he died without ever having this proof
- 222 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
made available to him. His official death certificate lists him as
having been born in Mississippi.)
On November 11, 1861, with the War Between the States in full
swing, Isaiah Daniel Coleman (Book S, Page 33) for $5,000, sold to
E. G. Eiland the same land he purchased from the Perkinses.
On August 3, 1861, William Charles Coleman, the seventeen year
old son of Isaiah D. Coleman and his first wife, Agnes, enlisted at
Webster (about ten miles northeast of Louisville) in Reed's Company
of the 20th Mississippi Infantry, CSA. He was in the battles of
Fort Donelson, Franklin, and Nashville. He was captured, of course,
at Donelson and paroled in 1862. He was with Joseph E. Johnston's
Army when paroled at Greensboro, N. Car., April 26, 1865. His negro
servant, Joseph Coleman, drew a pension until his death in Winston
County, Mississippi.
The next public record we have of Daniel Coleman is found in the
personal assessment roll for 1863. He was assessed with one
pleasure carriage, 1 watch, 1 clock, 80 head of cattle, and 76
slaves under 60 years of age.
We are told that Daniel never gave up his belief that the
Confederacy would win, and continued to buy slaves at Columbus
right up to the end of the War. Of course, when the war was over he
was left with nothing but his land, his home, his water mill on
Yockanookany Creek, his gin, and his brick kiln, with no labor with
which to operate them. It seems, however, that he continued to farm
extensively for a number of years, with his former slaves as share
croppers. Later in life he himself plowed on land formerly
cultivated by his slaves. The War, and all its tragic losses would
appear to have come at an extremely unhappy time for him. He was
fifty-four years of age when it was over, and lived for twenty-four
years afterward.
On May 29, 1866 (Book S, Page 385), Daniel Coleman borrowed $800
from Wiley W. Coleman, due January 1, 1867. To secure the repayment
of this debt he gave a deed of trust on all his land, 13 mules, 40
head of cattle, 70 hogs, 2 wagons, 1 carriage, 1 gin, 1 thrasher,
500 bushels of corn, 6000 lbs. fodder, 4000 lbs. of bacon, 24
sheep, and 25 plows. Hard times! This Wiley W. Coleman was Daniel's
first cousin (son of Wylie Coleman and Sarah Ragsdale).
In March, before his death in April, 1889, the sixteen room, two
story home, erected by William Ragsdale Coleman, in which Daniel
had lived for twenty four years, burned to the ground. He was
living in the house at the time, with his youngest son, Henry
Jonathan Coleman, and his
- 223 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
daughter-in-law, Estelle Bruce Coleman. He had become quite
inactive, but continued to read a great deal. He would chew tobacco
and use papers for a cuspidor. Johnnie Coleman had been plowing
that day in the "flat" in front (West) of the house. At noon time,
when he came in from plowing, he gathered up all the soiled
newspapers and threw them in a fireplace on the ground floor. The
chimney soot became ignited, but it was not thought that the flames
had spread. Johnnie went on back to his plowing, but about two
o'clock his wife noticed that the roof was on fire. There were no
ladders long enough to reach to the second story roof. The March
wind was high. The old home and nearly all its furnishings were
totally destroyed. Daniel had to be forcibly detained from entering
the flames. In less than a month he was dead.
Here, in some respects, was a man with an interesting personal
history. In some ways it could be said that he was a strange man.
He belonged to no church, although his second wife is known to have
been a devout Baptist. He would not allow his photograph to be
taken, saying that he did not wish to leave any graven image behind
him for others to look upon. His wife, however, had her photograph
taken, of which several copies are still in existence. He seems to
have been a very frugal man. I have heard it said that while riding
horseback down the road he would dismount and pick up loose ears of
corn lost by others in the roadway. He was a small man in physical
size, which seems to have been characteristic of the Colemans of
that generation. He is reputed to have been a hard taskmaster with
his slaves, which was not commendable.
Many years after the end of the War, he was plowing one day when
Mr. J. P. Blackwood, then a young man, who had been burning a
newground, came across the field. He was black with soot and,
pretending he was a Negro, he began a sassy conversation with the
old man. He laughed all his life about the energetic manner in
which Daniel chased him out of the field.
If rain "set in" while he was plowing he would wrap a blanket
around his shoulders and plow on until it became too muddy to plow.
I am indebted to Hon. Clarence E. Morgan, former District
Attorney, of Kosciusko, for the following story.
Under the Slave Code of 1857, a slave could not leave his
master's plantation without a written pass in his possession.
Violations were punishable by thirty-nine lashes. One morning
Daniel caught the negro butler of Col. Potts, a neighbor, in the
Coleman "quarters" without a pass. He tied a rope on the luckless
negro and marched him back to
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THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
Col. Potts' residence, where he demanded of the Colonel that the
Negro be given the prescribed thirty-nine lashes. The butler was a
favorite of the Colonel's and he did not want to punish him, so he
used diplomatic means to avoid it. He first invited "Mr. Coleman"
in to breakfast, but he said he had already had breakfast. Then the
Colonel suggested other refreshment of a more potent type, to which
"Old Daniel" assented. They tied the offender to a convenient tree
and proceeded to the refreshments, at the close of which both men
agreed that under all the circumstances three licks would be
sufficient punishment. And it is not known whether that three were
ever in fact administered.
Here was a man who for many years knew prosperity and plenty. He
knew misfortune, too. His first wife died when she was only 32. His
second wife died when she was forty-seven, and after a long
illness, which seems to have been what was then known as "dropsy."
He knew adversity, after the war, including the loss of his home
On the afternoon of April 8, 1889, he was at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Bruce. He was attempting to eat an orange, and
strangled to death. This ended his earthly career.
I think he must have been loyal to his father, because he did
not leave South Carolina until six years after Allen Coleman's
death. Daniel was made one of the Executors of Allen's will. His
brother, Williams Charles, had been in Winston County, Mississippi,
for nineteen years when Daniel came. He was eleven years younger
than his first cousin, William Ragsdale Coleman, and outlived him
eight years. William Ragsdale had been resting for that long in
North Grove Cemetery, Hallettsville, Texas, when the house of his
construction went up in flames and Daniel, a few weeks later, went
to his long home at Concord Cemetery. He was buried by his second
wife. His first, and their twins, lie five hundred miles away in
the rock walled burying ground, east of Blackstock.
He was born in the eleventh year of the Nineteenth Century,
while James Madison was serving as the fourth President. He was
twenty-one years of age when Jackson was elected to his second
term: He was still living in South Carolina at the death of John C.
Calhoun. He was well established in Mississippi on the date of
Dredd Scott decision, March 6, 1857, and was there at the time of
John Brown's raid of October 16, 1859, the very day of the birth of
his tenth child, Henry Jonathan. He died one month after the
inauguration of Benjamin Harrison as the 23rd President. His
lifetime covered the entire Nineteenth Century except for
- 225 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
its first eleven years and its last eleven years. He lived during
the administration of 19 Presidents. He lived through the Civil War
and Reconstruction. Yet he seems never to have been an aspirant for
public office. Of his political beliefs and affiliations we are
left not a line of evidence.
Mr. Richard A. Moss, of Ackerman, Mississippi, who was born in
1872 and still alive and active in 1962, told the writer that he
could remember Daniel Coleman well. That he was a tall, raw-boned
man. He wore a big black hat and always rode a big gray horse. He
would ride at such speed that the wind would blow the wide brim of
his hat back against the crown. Daniel Coleman always flatly refused
to allow a photograph to be made, so these memories of Mr. R. A.
Moss are all we have in the way of a personal description.
TABLE OF DESCENDANTS
ISAIAH DANIEL COLEMAN, SON OF ALLEN COLEMAN AND
SARAH COLEMAN
I. MARRIED, first, AGNES FERGUSON, Who was born in 1815,
died November 1, 1847, age 32, and is buried in the Allen Coleman
burying ground, 3.3 miles East of Blackstock, S. Carolina.
Children of this marriage:
1 & 2. Twin children, who were born and died September 10,
1839. Buried beside their mother.
3. Sarah Allen, born June 21, 1842, died March 10, 1921.
Married Andrew Jackson Prewitt, September 23, 1863.
Buried beside her husband, Mt. Mosiah Cemetery, near
French Camp, Choctaw County.
4. William Charles, 20 Miss., C.S.A., born December 6, 1843,
died November 23, 1927. Buried, Concord Cemetery.
5. Mollie S., born June 3, 1845, died March 13, 1925. Married
J. J. Woodward. Buried beside her husband, Bethsalem, ten
miles south of Ackerman, Mississippi.
(Her birth-date appears on the tombstone as June 3, 1843.
This was an obvious conflict with birth date of William
Charles. The Winston Census of 1860 listed her as 15 years
of age. So we use the year 1845. )
- 226 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
II. MARRIED, second, on September 2, 1852, HARRIET DAVIS.
Children of this marriage:
1. Jacob Feaster Coleman, born Sunday, August 7, 1853, Chester
County, S. C. (border of Fairfield, 3.3 miles east of Blackstock).
Died, Ackerman, Mississippi, July 19, 1934. Buried, Enon
Cemetery, Ackerman, Mississippi.
(Tombstone erroneously states birth year as 1854).
2. Allen Jones Coleman, born October 21, 1854, died June 2, 1855.
3. Daniel Isaiah Coleman, born July 7, 1856, died January 27,
1857.
4. Isaiah Davis Coleman, born December 26, 1857, died August
29, 1859.
(These three children must have been buried near where I. D.
Coleman first lived in Winston County. Graves so far unlocated.)
5. Henry Jonathan (who later changed his name to John Henry),
born October 16, 1859, died February 19, 1934. Buried, South
Union Cemetery, west of Ackerman, Mississippi.
6. Laura Eugenia, born September 22, 1864, died April 2, 1939.
Married Rufus Bruce, July 14, 1886. He died January 11, 1904.
She is buried in Concord Cemetery.
Thus it is seen that Daniel Coleman was the father of eleven
children, five by the first wife, six by the second, and only six
of them lived to maturity.
TABLE 1--I. D. COLEMAN
CHILDREN OF SARAH ALLEN COLEMAN PREWITT AND ANDREW
JACKSON PREWITT
1. Georgia Virginia Prewitt, born December 1, 1864, married R. S.
(Rob) Weeks, had eight children.
2. Daniel Russell Prewitt, named for his grandfather Isaiah Daniel
Coleman, born April 11, 1866, died of pneumonia 1882.
3. Lena Roberta Prewitt, born February 10, 1868, married A. B.
Reed. Had one son, John, recently living in Houston, Texas.
4. Mary Hattie Prewitt, born April 21, 1870, married T. B. Davis.
Had one daughter, Hattie, presently living in Bartow, Florida.
5. John Henry Prewitt, born December 23, 1871, married first Tede
Montgomery and had five children, Herbert, Thelma, Mary, Andy
- 227 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
and Hilary. Married second, Roberta Boone, and had three chil-
dren, Robert, Sarah, and Homer. John Henry Prewitt died the 11 day
of July, 1945, and is buried in the cemetery at the Fentress
Baptist Church, of which he was a long time Deacon and leader.
6. Andrew Jackson Prewitt, Jr., born December 2, 1873. Married
Maude Hunt. Had two children, Reverend Thomas Oren Prewitt,
now of Jackson, Mississippi, and Andy Maude, who died at about
the age of fourteen.
7. Carrie Savala Prewitt, born September 23, 1875, married William
Emmett Blackwood. Had four children. Three sons, Roy, Doyle,
and James, of the famous Blackwood Brothers Quartet, and a
daughter, Lena, who married Edward L. Cain.
8. Rufus Dudley Prewitt, born March 31, 1877, married Mary Car-
ter, had two sons, Latimer and Jack Russell. Rufus Dudley Prewitt
was once Tax Assessor of Choctaw County, Mississippi, as was his
father before him.
9. Blumer Francis Prewitt, born December 31, 1878, married first,
Susan Moss, and had two children, Etmae and James. After the
death of his first wife, married again and is presently living in At-
lanta, Georgia.
10. Sarah Elizabeth Prewitt, born February 12, 1881. Married Amzi
Robinson. Died recently in Houston, Texas.
11. Charles Dickson Prewitt, born February 20, 1883, married Kate
Carter, sister to the wife of Rufus Dudley Prewitt. Presently lives
in Greenwood, Mississippi.
The birth dates of the "Blackwood Brothers" are as follows:
Roy Blackwood, born December 24, 1900.
Doyle Blackwood, born August 22, l911.
James Blackwood, born August 4, 1919.
Their sister, Lena, was born December 31, 1903.
TABLE 2--I. D. COLEMAN
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM CHARLES COLEMAN
William Charles Coleman's first two wives were McCamerons, twin
sisters, and are buried in Beulah Cemetery, near Weir, Mississippi. His
- 228 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
last wife was Louisa Walker, whom he married on November 20, 1900.
We do not know too much about the children of William Charles
Coleman, or their children. They all left Choctaw County many years
ago and went to the territory around Marked Tree, Poinsett County,
Arkansas.
This is all the information we have concerning the children of
William C. Coleman:
1. Ella, married Walter Barrentine, and killed by a train at
McCrory, Arkansas, 1947.
2. Ney Coleman, never married. Died in McCrory, Arkansas.
3. Lela. Married Sid Smith, and then Bob Simmons. Died in Mc-
Crory.
4. Maggie. Married George Catledge. Died in 1911 in Texas.
5. Plumer. Died in Arkansas, a suicide.
6. Mattie Sue, died single in the 1890's. Buried at Beulah.
7. Sarah, known as Sadie. Married William Ernet Newton. Has lived
at Robinsonville, Tunica County, Mississippi, for many years. Her
children are Paul Ralph Newton and Frank Murray Newton, the
latter a resident of Robinsonville.
Choctaw Census of 1880 reflects the following:
W. C. Coleman, age 36, born in South Carolina, as were both par-
ents.
Wife, Sarah, age 33, born in Mississippi, but parents born in South
Carolina.
E. Y., daughter, age 9.
W. N., son, age 7.
M. L. and W. M., twin daughters, age 1.
Mary McCameron Coleman, first wife of William Charles Coleman,
died July 3, 1868, age 22 years, 3 months, and ten days.
TABLE 3-I. D. COLEMAN
CHILDREN OF MOLLIE S. COLEMAN WOODWARD AND J. J. WOODWARD
1. Ida, born January 11, 1866. (She married John Henry Bowie,
who was born October 8, 1862, and died April 14, 1931.)
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THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
2. Amanda E., born February 8, 1867, died March 3, 1903. Age 36.
3. George L., born January 19, 1869, died June 2, 1894. Age 25.
4. Infant son, born and died March 19, 1875.
5. Infant son, born and died April 3, 1876.
6. Lottie, who married a Starnes, her tombstone states that she was
born December 20, 1875, which is an error, if No. 4 is correct.
She died January 28, 1922, age 47.
7. Minnie L., born July 25, 1878, died August 13, 1898. Age 20.
8. Dick, born June 16, 1884, died September 5, 1886.
9. James Harley, born February 25, 1885, died August 24, 1911. Age
26. He married a Jeffers.
10. Monny, born August 19, 1891, died February 1, 1892.
11. Mott, We do not have the date of his birth and death. He was a
dentist.
J. J. Woodward, husband of Mollie S. Coleman, was born March 27,
1840, and died December 27, 1915.
Graves of all the above, except Mott Woodward, are in Bethsalem
Cemetery, Choctaw-Winston boundary.
TABLE 4--1. D. COLEMAN
CHILDREN OF JACOB FEASTER COLEMAN
Jacob Feaster Coleman married Eliza Jane Bruce, daughter of Berry
Bruce, on April 2, 1876. She was born February 17, 1859, so was 17
years of age at the time of the marriage. She died November 8, 1932,
and both are buried at Enon.
1. Harriet Elizabeth Coleman, born October 12, 1877, died October
31, 1933. (unmarked). Buried at Enon.
2. Alma May Coleman, born August 7, 1880 died December 7, 1883.
3. Samuel Finis Coleman, born March 22, 1883, died August 30,
1955. Buried at Hickory, Mississippi.
4. Lether Bell Coleman, born January 19, 1886 died September 10,
1886.
5. Un-named son, born April 13, 1887, died May 10, 1887.
6. Thomas Allen Coleman, born July 29, 1888.
7. Arlando Coleman, born November 22, 1891.
8. Mary Daisy Coleman, born March 2, 1898, died June 27, 1899.
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THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
9. Hilda Coleman, born November 15, 1902. Married Lee T. Mc-
Dowell.
TABLE 5--I. D. COLEMAN
John Henry Coleman, who married Estelle Bruce, daughter of
Thompson Bruce, and niece of Mrs. Eliza Jane Bruce Coleman, died
childless.
TABLE 6--I. D. COLEMAN
CHILDREN OF LAURA EUGENIA COLEMAN BRUCE
1. Samuel F. Bruce, born October 11, 1887.
2. Henry Bruce, born February 24, 1890.
3. Arthur Bruce, born August 24, 1891.
4. Harriet Cornelia Bruce, born March 5, 1893.
5. Russ D. Bruce.
6. Claudia Bruce (deceased).
7. Willie D. Bruce, born November 1, 1903.
Rufus Bruce is buried in Lebanon Cemetery. He was the son of
Baylis Bruce (brother of Berry Bruce) who is buried in South Union
Cemetery. Baylis Bruce was born December 10, 1828, died April 9, 1896.
Children of Thomas Alien Coleman, who married Jennie Essie Wor-
rell, November 3, 1912.
1. James Plemon Coleman born January 9, 1914.
2. Thomas Boyce Coleman, born October 15, 1915.
3. Mary Ellen Coleman, born June 18, 1917, died June 6, 1965.
4. Alvin Reed Coleman, born July 17, 1919, died August 19, 1921.
5. William DeWitt Coleman, born July 22, 1921.
6. Anna Ruth Coleman, born July 16, 1924.
Children of Arlando Berry Coleman, who married Ruth Sanders,
October 28, 1923.
1. James H. Coleman, born August 28, 1924.
2. William Floyd Coleman, born November 29, 1925.
- 231 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
3. Alvin Berry Coleman, born May 18, 1927.
4. Robert Lee Coleman, born January 27, 1929.
5. Kenneth Melvin Coleman, born February 11, 1935.
On February 12, 1922, Hilda Coleman, youngest child of Jacob
Feaster Coleman and Eliza Jane Bruce Coleman was married to Lee T.
McDowell. He was born February 10, 1894. There were eight children:
James Terrell, born Dec. 3, 1923
Lora Kathryn, born Oct. 21, 1925
Mary Jane, born Nov. 28, 1927
Della Louise, born Dec. 24, 1929
Elsie Marie, born Oct. 25, 1932
Marjorie Lucille, born July 30, 1935
Donna, born May 6, 1940
Myron Lee, born May 20, 1945
DEED EXECUTED BY ISAIAH D. COLEMAN TO
ALEXANDER B. DOUGLAS, AUGUST 2, 1853
Isaiah D. Coleman
to DEED
Alexander B. Douglas
The State of South Carolina
Know all Men by these presents that I, Isaiah D. Coleman of Chester
District in the State aforesaid, in consideration of the sum of
four thousand two hundred and eighty-nine 25/100 Dollars to me paid
by or secured to be paid by Alexander B. Douglas of Fairfield
District in the State aforesaid have granted, bargained, sold and
Released and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and Release
unto the said Alexander B. Douglas all that plantation or tract of
land (whereon I now live) containing four hundred and eight and one
half acres; situate, lying and being a part in Chester District and
a part in Fairfield District, on the Southern Branch of Little
Rocky Creek, waters of Catawba River, In the state aforesaid
Bounded on the East by William Johnston's land; on the North East
by Lands belonging to Hugh Davaugh's, on the North West by John
Johnston's land, on the West by lands belonging to James Hutchin-
son; on the South by William Wilson's Land and on the South East by
lands belonging to John Mobely; and hath such shape form and marks, as
- 232 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
is fully Represented by a plat here unto attached, the grave yard
or burying ground is reserved and not included, One half acre being
taken out of the amount of Land contained in the tract.
Together with all and singular the Rights, members and
hereditaments and appurtenances to the said premises belonging or
in anywise incident or appertaining. To have and to hold all and
singular the premises before mentioned unto the said Alexander B.
Douglas, his heirs and assigns forever, and I do hereby bind
myself, my heirs, Executors and Administrators to Warrant and
forever defend, all and singular the premises within mentioned and
Released unto the said Alexander B. Douglas, his heirs and assigns
against myself and my heirs and all other persons lawfully claiming
or to claim the same or any part thereof. Witness my hand and seal
this second day of August in the year of our Lord one Thousand
Eight Hundred and fifty three and in the seventy eight year of the
sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America.
ISAIAH D. COLEMAN (L. S.)
Signed, Sealed and delivered in the
presence of
Jno. P. Lathan
William Douglas
The word Land was inserted before signed.
State of South Carolina }
Chester District }
Personally appeared before me William Douglas and made oath that
he saw the within named Isaiah D. Coleman sign, seal and as his act
and deed deliver the within written Deed, and that he with Jno. P.
Lathan in the presence of each other witnessed the execution
thereof.
WILLIAM DOUGLAS
Sworn Before me, this second day of
August, 1853
Jno. P. Lathan
Magistrate
State of South Carolina }
Chester District }
I, Jno. P. Lathan one of the magistrates for said District do hereby
certify unto all whom it may concern Harriett F. Coleman, the wife of the
- 233 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
within named Isaiah D. Coleman, did this day appear before me and
upon being privately and separately examined by me, did declare
that she does fully, voluntarily and without compulsion, dread or
fear, of any person or persons whomsoever, Renounce, Release, and
forever Relinquish unto the within named Alexander B. Douglas his
heirs and assigns All her interest and Estate and also her Right
and Claim of Dover, of, in, or to all and singular the premises
within mentioned and Released.
HARRIETT R. COLEMAN
Given under my hand and seal this
second day of August Anno Domini
- 1853 - .
Jno. P. Lathan
Magistrate
Recorded December 5th, 1853
Delivered to Wm. Douglas, Jany 10, 1854
Recorded in Book II, page 15, 16, 17 in the Office of the Clerk of Court,
Chester County, South Carolina
DEED FROM WM. R. COLEMAN
TO ISAIAH D. COLEMAN
LAND DEED BOOK R, PAGE 39, WINSTON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI.
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
WINSTON COUNTY
THIS DEED OF CONVEYANCE, Made and Entered into this the
Fifteenth day of December A.D. 1859, between William R. Coleman,
party of the first part and Isaiah D. Coleman, party Of the second
part, for anD in consideration of the sum Of Six Thousand Seven
Hundred & Fifty Eight Dollars to him in hand paid by Isaiah D.
Coleman party of the second part, at and before the enscaling and
delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby
acknowledged, and the part of the second part forever released and
discharged from the same, by these presents, have bargained and
sold, and do hereby grant, alien and convey unto the said Isaiah D.
Coleman party of the second part, and to his heirs and assigns
forever, all the following described tract or parcel of land, to-
wit:
The W1/2, NE1/4--W1/2 NW1/4 & SW1/4 Sec. 35 & S1/2 Sec. 34 & E1/2
- 234 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
SE1/4 Sec. 33, all in Town. 17 Range 10 East in the County of
Choctaw and State aforesaid, and the S1/2 and NW & W1/2 NE1/4 Sec.
1, and the SE1/4 & NE1/4 & E1/2 NW1/4 Sec. 2 & W1/2 NE1/4 Sec. 11,
all in Town. No. 16 Range No. 10 East situate, lying and being in
the County of Winston and State aforesaid and in the Columbus Land
District, containing seventeen hundred & sixty three acres, more or
less, together with all and singular the tenements, appurtenances
and heridatments thereunto belonging, and the said Isaiah D.
Coleman, party of the second part, his heirs or alienees under him,
and the part of the first part do covenant with the said party of
the second part that he will warrant and forever defend the title
of the same to him, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns
of, in and to the above described premises, free from and against
the right, title, interest, claim and demand, of all and every
other person claiming, or lawfully to claim the same by through or
under him or in any other manner whatever.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, The party of the first part have hereunto
set his hand and seal, the day and year first above written.
S/ WILLIAM R. COLEMAN
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
WINSTON COUNTY
Personally appeared before E. D. Hyde, Clerk of the Probate
Court of said county, William R. Coleman, who acknowledged that he
signed, sealed and delivered the foregoing Deed on the day of its
date, for the uses and purposes therein expressed, as his own act
and deed.
Given under my hand and seal of office at Louisville, Miss. this
15th day of December A.D. 1859.
s/ E. D. HYDE, Clerk
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, WINSTON COUNTY
I, E. D. Hyde, Clerk of the Probate Court, in and for said
county hereby certify that the within and foregoing Deed was
received in my office, for record this fifteenth day of December
A.D. 1859 and the same was duly recorded in Book, Letter R at page
39 the fifteenth day of December A.D. 1859.
s/ E. D. HYDE, Clerk
Following is photostatic copy of the original agreement by which
William R. Coleman was to retain possession of the plantation until
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THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
October 1, 1860. This contains the only known signature of isaiah
D. Coleman now in existence.
This instrument remained among the William R. Coleman papers
until presented in 1950 to J. P. Coleman by Frank R. Coleman,
Dallas, Texas, grandson of William R. Coleman.
[PHOTOCOPY SHOWN]
The above photostat reads as follows:
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
WINSTON COUNTY
This is to certify that I have this day purchased of William R.
Coleman of said County a tract of land on which he now resides
specified in a deed executed by him to me this day and that the
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THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
said Wm. R. Coleman is to remain in the peacable possession
and enjoyment of the said tract of land with the tenements and
appurtenances thereunto belonging free of rent until the 1st day of
October, A.D. 1860, at the expiration of which time he is to
deliver the same to me. Given under my hand and seal this 15th
day of December, 1859.
ISAIAH D. COLEMAN, Seal
Following is the obituary of Andrew Jackson Prewitt, son-in-law
of I. D. Coleman:
A. J. PREWITT, SR., was horn August 5, 1839, in Choctaw County,
Mississippi, and died April 25, 1900, being at the time of his
death 60 years, 8 months and 20 days old. He enlisted in the Army
in April 1861 in Co. I, Choctaw Guards, and belonged to the 15th
Mississippi Regt. He was elected Orderly Sgt. and afterwards
promoted to 2nd Lt. He served in the Infantry three years and on
account of rheumatism raised a company of cavalry in 1864 and
served his company as Captain until the close of the war. Mr.
Prewitt was married to Miss S. A. Coleman, daughter of I. D.
Coleman, September 23, 1863, and to them were born eleven children,
six boys and 5 girls, all of whom are now living except the oldest
son, and all married except one, the youngest boy. Mr. Prewitt
served one term as Tax Assessor And was reelected to a second term.
On July 20, 1870, Mr. Prewitt united with the Baptist Church at
Mt. Moriah and to the day of his death lived a consistent,
christian life. Mr. Prewitt was a man of noblest impulses. He was
esteemed and beloved by all.
THE GENEALOGY OF HARRIET DAVIS, SECOND
WIFE OF ISAIAH DANIEL COLEMAN
Harriet Davis was born December 8, 1826.
She was the daughter of Jacob Davis. We are not certain as to
the name of her mother.
On a trip to Washington, D. C., in November, 1953, I at last
found the 1850 Fairfield County Census for Jacob Davis, as follows:
Jacob Davis, 57, (1793) Planter, born Fairfield
Wyatt, 33
Harriet, 23
Nancy, 20
Therefore, Jacob Davis' wife was dead before 1850.
I was informed, however, by Mrs. Eliza R. Wylie, of Richburg, S.
C., in a letter dated October 3, 1950, that Harriet Davis' mother
was a
- 237 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
Hinds. This must be true, since James Darling Davis, brother of
Harriet, named one of his sons Henry Hinds. This son, Dr. Henry
Hinds Davis, wrote the published obituary of Mrs. Harriet Coleman.
Also in the papers of Jacob Feaster Coleman, oldest son of Harriet,
along with a clipping of the obituary, was found the following
penciled memorandum:
"Mch 27th 1876
Sacred to the memory of Jacob Davis, who was born Mch 22nd
1793, and died Nov. 27th 1854. Aged 61 yrs, 8 mo & 5 days.
H. H. DAVIS"
Harriet had brothers named Thomas, Lloyd, Wyatt, Wylie, and
James Darling. She also had four sisters. They were Nancy, who
married William Caldwell, of Chester, South Carolina; Lucy Asenath,
who married James B. Coleman; and Mary, who married a Grant and
moved to Mississippi. Asenath Davis Coleman was born December 5,
1815, and died December 21, 1890. James B. Coleman, her husband, to
whom she was married in 1840, died in 1872.
From the Estate Settlement of Thomas Davis, deceased, Box 45,
File 693, Fairfield County, we are fairly certain that Jacob Davis
was the son of Thomas Davis, who died about 1825. In the first
place, Jacob was the Administrator of the Estate. Furthermore,
Strother and Polly Tidwell are two of the heirs named. The only
other marked grave in the cemetary where Jacob Davis lies buried is
that of Charles Tidwell.
Heirs of Thomas Davis named in 1825 were Timothy Davis, Thomas
Davis, Jacob Davis, John Davis, Nancy Ivey, apparently the wife of
William Ivey, Polly Tidwell, apparently the wife of Strother
Tidwell, and David Davis.
Evidently, Thomas Davis' wife was named Elizabeth. Her Estate
Settlement, Box 45, File 702, Fairfield County, shows Thomas Davis,
Administrator, in 1832. It also lists the same identical heirs,
except that Nancy Ivey is mentioned as deceased.
I am indebted to Mrs. Etta Rosson of Shelton, South Carolina,
for these court records.
On a personal inspection of the Fairfield Land Deed Records, I
found that between the years of 1843 and 1853, Jacob Davis, in
various deeds, was the purchaser of lands on Dutchman's Creek and
Cedar Creek, slightly north and east of Ridgeway, totaling 3092
acres.
An amazing consideration is that I could not find in these
records where Jacob Davis ever disposed of these lands. The Probate
records do
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THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
not show that Jacob Davis' estate was administered upon in
Fairfield County, or, if so, the papers are lost. When Sherman came
through Winnsboro in 1865 he did not burn the courthouse.
Jacob Davis was born, as above stated, March 22, 1793, and died
November 27, 1854, just before or about the time the daughter,
Harriet, moved to Mississippi. We know that Isaiah D. Coleman made
a crop in Winston County in the year 1855.
For the information of those who in the future may be interested
in visiting the grave of Jacob Davis, I am indebted to Miss
Margaret Coleman, of Winnsboro, S. C., for the following:
At the intersection of U. S. Highway 21 and State Highway 34, in
Ridgeway, take State Highway 34 for a distance of 4.8 miles East;
turn left and take dirt road; at the first fork keep right (this is
the Dutchman's Creek Road). At 1.5 miles of dirt road there is an
abandoned road to the left which is now little more than a path.
The cemetary is about l/4 mile from the road, in the tallest group
of oaks, and very hard to see for the underbrush. Jacob Davis'
grave is well marked, one of the only two in the cemetery that can
be identified. This area is rattlesnake infested.
Miss Margaret Coleman located this grave in 1952. I visited it
in July, 1953.
On September 2, 1852, at the age of twenty-three years, Harriet
Davis was married to Isaiah Daniel Coleman, then a widower, age 41.
He then had three children, the oldest of whom was ten years of
age. She was eighteen years younger than her husband. Eleven months
and five days after the marriage she gave birth to her first son,
Jacob Feaster Coleman, who was always known by his middle name
"Feaster." There would appear to be little doubt that he was named
for his grandfather, Jacob Davis, and for the Feaster family in
Fairfield County, into which Henry Jonathan Coleman, uncle of
Isaiah Daniel, had married.
James Darling Davis, married Mary Gipson. He was born in
Fairfield District, S. C., on August 27, 1821, and died at
Louisville, Mississippi, January 18, 1901. He is buried there in
the Masonic Cemetary.
According to his great granddaughter, Mrs. Hazie Rodgers Furr,
of Pontotoc, Mississippi, (daughter of the late Judge and Mrs.
Henry H. Rodgers), he moved to Winston County, Mississippi, in
1857, about two years after his sister had arrived in Winston.
JAMES DARLING DAVIS was married to Mary Gipson on October 16,
1850. They had the following children:
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THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
1. Dr. Henry Hinds Davis, born in Ridgeway, S. C., December 18,
1851, died at Louisville, Mississippi, September 24, 1925.
2. Kitty M. Davis, born in Ridgeway, S. C., December 25, 1853.
3. Alice M. Davis, born in Ridgeway, S. C., March 24, 1856, died at
Louisville, Mississippi.
4. Edward F. Davis, born in Louisville, Mississippi, Winston County,
March 22, 1858.
5. Harriet Ella Davis, born in Louisville, Mississippi, Winston
County, May 19, 1860, died Birmingham, Alabama.
6. George W. Davis, born in Louisville, Mississippi, Winston County,
October 31, 1862, died Louisville, Mississippi.
7. James W. Davis, born at Louisville, Mississippi, Winston County,
July 25, 1865.
8. Jacob F. Davis, born in Louisville, Mississippi, Winston County,
March 16, 1870.
DR. HENRY HINDS DAVIS and Miss Lelia Louisa Blumenberg were
married December 28, 1881, in Attala County, Mississippi. They had
the following children:
1. Frederick D. Davis, born in McCool, Mississippi, Attala County,
November 7, 1882, who is now living at Box 52, Rt. 1, Jackson,
Mississippi.
2. Henry S. Davis, born in McCool, Mississippi, Attala County,
March 14, 1884, died Louisville, Mississippi, September 7, 1931.
3. Leita Louise Davis, born in McCool, Mississippi, Attala County,
January 23, 1886, died Louisville, Mississippi, August 12, 1951.
4. Clair Gibson Davis, born McCool, Mississippi, Attala County,
October 1, 1887, died McCool, Mississippi, Attala County,
September 2,1888.
5. Hiram Hanna Davis, born in McCool, Mississippi, Attala County,
March 1, 1890, died Louisville, Mississippi, Winston County;
May 6,1918.
6. James Dwight Davis, born in McCool, Mississippi, Attala County,
August 6, 1893.
7. Richard Blumenberg Davis, born in McCool, Mississippi, Attala
County, December 14, 1895, died May 8, 1947, at Houston,
Texas.
- 240 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
This information was taken from Dr. Henry Hinds Davis Family
Bible, which is now in possession of the family of his son, James Dwight
Davis.
Obituary of Mrs. Harriet Davis Coleman, written by her nephew,
Dr. H. H. Davis:
OBITUARY
Died--At the residence of her husband, I. D. Coleman, in Choctaw
County, Miss., on Friday, March 25th, 1876, Mrs. Harriet R.
Coleman, aged 49 years, 3 months, and 17 days, after a lingering
illness of 4 or 5 months.
Mrs. Harriet R. Coleman was a sister of James D. Davis, and was
born in Fairfield District, S. C., removed to this State in 1855,
since which time she has resided continuously in Winston and
Choctaw counties, up to the time of her death. .
It is said that "Death seeks a shining mark," and if this be so,
the insatiate Archer has, in this instance, fully demonstrated the
truth of the aphorism, for Mrs. Coleman combined within herself,
all that tends to make up the true Christian, the affectionate,
confiding and loving wife and mother, doting sister and truest of
friends; unswerving in any of the duties of life, and with a heart
and hand always open to the necessities of suffering humanity. She
was a strict member of the Baptist church, and like the "breathing
of an expiring Saint" she calmly yielded up the ghost, and passed
over the 'Silent River' amid the weepings of her numerous relatives
and regrets of hosts of friends, Peace to her ashes.
"None knew her but to love her
None named her but to praise."
H.H.D.
OBITUARY OF MRS. ASENATH COLEMAN
(FURNISHED BY MRS. ETTA ROSSON)
The community, relatives, and the Baptist Church at Ridgeway, S.
C., have just been greatly bereaved in the loss by death of Sister
Asenath Coleman, who "passed over the river" Dec. 21st, 1890, at
the age of seventy-five years and sixteen days.
She had been long connected intimately, widely and effectively
with the religious and social life of this community. She was
converted at a tender age, and soon after joined the Baptist
Church, to which she gave warm cheerful, sympathetic and
consecrated service in health and under severe affliction. She gladly
carried out her husband's wishes in giving the lot for the present
Baptist Church. She leaves three brothers, Mr. Wylie Davis and Mr.
Lloyd Davis, of Ridgeway, S. C., and Mr. Jas. Davis, of
Mississippi, and two sisters, Mrs. Caldwell, of Chester, S. C., and
Mrs. Grant, of Mississippi.
In 1840 she was married to Mr. Jas B. Coleman, who preceded her to the
- 241 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
better world 18 years. As the fruits of this union there lives an
honored number of children and grandchildren, including four sons
and three daughters. Three sons and one daughter live here; one
daughter, Mrs. Essie Durham, her husband and two sons, live in
Greenville, S. C.; one son is a professor in the State Institute
for Deaf and Dumb, and one daughter lives in Florida.
Death is a gain to her. May her Christian character descend as a
mantle on her stricken and sorrowing children. May our loss be not
only gain to her, but a blessing in disguise to us. May this
dispensation of God's Providence lead to such increased devotion on
the part of the little church that her place may soon be filled by
other laborers, is the prayer of her pastor.
W. R. BRISCOE
Ridgeway, S. C.
Dec. 23, 1890
The following letters in the original were kept during her
lifetime by Mrs. Laura Eugenia Coleman Bruce and then left to her
daughter, Mrs. Willie Dee Bruce Cooper, who made them available
for this publication.
Mrs. Bruce was the daughter of Isaiah Daniel Coleman and Harriet
Davis, their youngest child.
Dear Brother & Sister 20th Nov. 1855
I now Rais my pen in answer of yours which came to hand yesterday
stating all well and a fine crop which I wold like to look at very
well this leaves us all tolerable well. hoping it may reach you all
enjoying the Saim greate blessing thanking God for all his
blessings; we have maid a very good crop of corn our cotten was
like yours it did not get up before June to a stand it rained heare
about the time it rained there but there was Several rains not
fare of and they did well in the crop way. I did not plant a ful
crop I.htm#N011817">I intendid to get some timber for the rail Roade which I did
and am working at clearing the land and getting the timber $1625
Dollars was the I contractid for and it wil push me to get it
done this yeare but I find it a better way to make money than
making cotton on our pore land I have just bought 347 acres of land
about 6 or 7 miles below me it crosses the Rail Roaid I got it low
and the man that worked it this yeare tels me he maid a waggon
loade of corn to the acre & 800 pounds of cotten on an average and
think that does pretty well for old pore land it was sold for a
devision among of heirs.
(Page 2)
I now inclose the other half of the hundred dollar bil and Send it
to you I have not got any more collectid yet Brother Wiatt has not
maid any collection yet as I no of he has the promise of 1200
next month if he get any
- 242 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
worth deviding he wil doe So I Supose; our country is unusual helthy
Some few caises this summer past and most of them dide but all well
now T B Walker has had a Short Spel but is better the rest of the
conexion well so fare as I no; corn woth 50 cts cash, foder 75 cts
on twelve months credit beef 5 cts bacon 13 to 16 cts cash if I had
cept yours til now I could have done beter with it but two lait now
wheate is worth $1.50 heare and Scarse at that I sold out two soon
for 1.25 per bushel flower worth $10 per barel and we have no hope
oF pork coming heare and if it was to come it wold be so high we
would have no money to buy it we think 6 or 8 dollars pr hundred
grose I close by Sining my Self
to Isaiah D. Coleman Yours Truly
and wife & family J. B. COLEMAN
This letter was written by James B Coleman, whose wife was a
sister of Mrs Harriet Davis Coleman
Steep Creek February 14th 1856
Dear Sister I received your letter on the 10 instant whitch game
mutch pleasure to hear from you but very sorry to of your misfortun
but I hope your loss is its gain Dear Sist I truly simpathise with you
for the loss of your son but we are taught in holy writ thy will be
done o God--Dear Siter be reconciled to the will of Providence--Your
babe is gone to the relms of bliss where there will be no more pain
nor Death--there to enjoy the Smiles of its heavenly Father and await
the finaly faithful--on the banks oF everlasting Deliverence--where the
wicked cease from troubling and where the weary are at rest Dear
Sister you requested me to excuse you for not writing sooner I must
excuse you Dear Siter but doo not neglect me so long again We are
all in fine health and prospects fair the cotton crop was light last
year but plenty
(page 2)
of corn and some to sell Mr. Grant made 38 bales of cotton last
year a falling off of Ten bales--Jessie E Gill was married on 28th
of January to a gentleman in Montgomery by the name of Smith They
seem to enjoy the honey moon with a greateal of pleasure. Salie E.
Gill is teaching in montgomery and board with her sister all of
our reletives are well at this time and send there best respects to
you and your husband the radroad will be in opperation here this
fall Propperty is very high negroes from 1000 to 1400 dollars and
land 15 to 20 dollars per acre--mules from 100 to 175 Dollars Corn
75 cts per bushel, bacon from 11.12 cts cofy 13 cts shugar 10 cts
molasses 60 cts by the barel We have a fine school in a half mile of
us and all of children is going thats large enough Josephine will re-
main in Haynevine this year Dear Sister I would like to write more
but I am not well posted up at this time Our negroes send there love
to you and
- 243 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
your negroes we have only had two little negroes born since you was
here I must close write soon Dear Sister Farewell
MARY E. GRANT
NOTES ON ISAIAH DANIEL COLEMAN AND HIS
OLD HOME
(AS TOLD TO J. P. COLEMAN BY MRS. ESTELLE COLEMAN,
CHRISTMAS, 1950)
Mrs. Estelle Bruce Coleman was the daughter of Thompson Bruce,
and married Henry Jonathan Coleman, son of Isaiah Daniel Coleman,
in 1887. She died February 21, 1953.
The Isaiah Daniel Coleman house burned in March, 1889. The house
was constructed of logs, weatherboarded with plank, and contained
16 rooms. It was situated on the east side of the old Louisville
and Winona Road (which is still used as a public road), and on the
identical spot where the J. P. Coleman tractor shed now stands.
This is approximately 600 feet north of the Southeast corner of the
Southeast 1/4 of the Southwest 1/4, Section 1, Township 16, Range
10, Choctaw County, Mississippi. The house faced west and a hall
ran through it from front to back on the first floor. There were
two chimneys at each end of the house, providing fireplaces on both
the first and second floors.
"I (Mrs. Estelle Coleman) moved to this house in 1887, when I
married Henry Jonathan Coleman, and I lived there until the house
burned in March 1889.
"Isaiah Daniel Coleman was then getting quite feeble. He would
chew tobacco and would spit on newspapers. My husband was doing
spring plowing in the 'flat,' on the west side of the road, in
front of the house. I was doing the family wash. When my husband
came in for dinner he gathered up a bunch of the newspapers that
his father had been using and threw them in the fire which was
burning in a fireplace on the first floor. He returned to plowing
and it was not until about 2 o'clock that it was discovered that
the roof was on fire. There were no ladders sufficiently long to
reach the roof, and no men present except Henry Jonathan Coleman
and Isaiah Daniel Coleman. Henry Jonathan Coleman was then 30 years
of age.
"We were not able to get much out of the house. Henry Jonathan
Coleman did take an elegant mirror out and, in the excitement,
accidentally broke it.
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THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
"After the fire, which was seen for miles around, Henry Jonathan
Coleman and I moved into a cabin on the west side of the road, and
Isaiah Daniel Coleman moved in the home with his daughter, Mrs.
Laura Eugenia Bruce, about a half mile north, on the old Louisville
and Winona Road.
"He died there April 8, 1889, about a month after the fire. He
was never especially sick, but was weak from old age. He was eating
an orange and somehow became strangled on it and died before help
could arrive. Henry Jonathan Coleman, Rufus Bruce, and others were
about three-quarters of a mile away at a log rolling on the John W.
Robinson property (then owned by Lafayette Robinson). Isaiah Daniel
Coleman was dead before they could be notified and reach home.
"I was told that Isaiah Daniel Coleman was never affialated with
any church. It was also said that he was extremely bad to use
profane language in his younger days, but he had quit that when I
moved into the home and I never did hear him use such language. He
would sit around the house and spend most of his time reading. He
always refused to allow his picture to be made. He said he would
not leave an image of his on earth for people to look at after he
was gone.
"For over sixty years there has been a tradition that he
attempted to enter the house when it burned, and desired to be
burned up with it. This is not true. My husband had to lead him
away from the house several times to keep him from getting in it
and being burned. This was due, I think, to the fact that he was
very old, could not see well, was very much excited by the
occurrence, and was not altogether aware of the danger.
"The house could not have been much over 50 years old when it
was destroyed by fire.
"Either William Charles Coleman or William Ragsdale Coleman
built this house. William Ragsdale had lived in it until 1860."
Mrs. Carrie Prewitt Blackwood, daughter of Sarah Allen Coleman
Prewitt, died May, 1963, age 88. A number of years ago she told her
granddaughter, Mrs. Madeline Cain Wood, who now lives in Ackerman,
Mississippi, about the Isaiah Daniel Coleman house. Cousin Carrie
was fourteen years of age when this house burned. She added details
not remembered by Mrs. Estelle Bruce Coleman, previously related.
According to her recollections, a grove of oak trees stood
between the house and the public road, which was the old Winona and
Louisville road. The house contained a basement. The front porch,
extending all
- 245 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
the way across the front of the house, had a stairway leading to
the second floor porch.
NOTE: Henry Jonathan Coleman always insisted that his name
was John Henry and used the initials "J. H."
In December, 1950, Mrs. Estelle Coleman sold to J. P. Coleman
her spinning wheel which John Bruce brought to Mississippi when he
moved here from Georgia. This spinning wheel was later owned by his
daughter, Mrs. Rachel Hood. About 1900. Mrs. Hood sold the spinning
wheel to Mrs. Estelle Coleman for $2.00. Mrs. Coleman and her
half-brother, Floris B. Bruce (Sheriff of Choctaw County,
1944-1948) carried the spinning wheel home with them.
Following is the oldest known letter written by J. P. Coleman.
He wrote it to his Aunt, Mrs. Hilda Coleman McDowell, when he was
eight years of age. Mrs. McDowell kept it for forty years and
showed it to J. P. Coleman in 1962, from which he had this copy
made:
[PHOTOCOPY OF LETTER]
- 246 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
[PICTURE]
J. P. COLEMAN, when a Student at the University of Mississippi, 1933.
- 247 - .
[PICTURE]
THOMAS ALLEN COLEMAN, age 13, wearing the coat of Robert Cole-
man, who died 1809, at the entrance to Clanmore, 1954.
[PICTURE]
J. P. COLEMAN standing in cotton growing, 1950, on the Buck
Coleman-Daniel Coleman land. This ground had then been in
cultivation for 115 years.
- 248 - .
[PICTURE]
This farm implement shed stands on the exact spot of the William
Ragsdale Coleman (later Isaiah Daniel Coleman) home in Choctaw
County, Miss. It was built by J. P. Coleman in 1947. Picture shows
J. P. Coleman and the best farmer who ever lived on his land, Mr.
Walter L. Kemp. Photo taken in 1950 by Frank R. Coleman.
[PICTURE] [PICTURE]
JACOB FEASTER COLEMAN His wife, MRS. ELIZA JANE
(Aug. 7, 1853-July 19, 1934), BRUCE COLEMAN.
when a young man.
- 249 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
[PICTURE]
THOMAS ALLEN COLEMAN, born July 29, 1888. He was twenty years
of age when this picture was made.
- 250 - .
THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY
[PICTURE]
Children of JACOB F. and ELIZA J. COLEMAN, Thomas Allen, Samuel F.,
Harriet E., and Arlando Berry. this picture was taken about 1900.
- 251 - .
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