Addison Coffman, one of the representative and prominent agriculturists of Ogle County, operates a fine farm of two hundred and eighty-four acres on section 12, Maryland Township, and also has another well improved and valuable farm of two hundred and sixty acres in the same township, which he rents. He is one of Ogle County's honored sons, his birth occuring on the farm where he now resides, August 24, 1843.

His father, Samuel W. Coffman, was a native of Washington County, Maryland, born in 1811, and was a son of John Coffman, who was born on the Atlantic Ocean, while his parents were removing from their old home in Germany to the United States. They were among the pioneers of Washington County, Maryland. There Samuel W. Coffman grew up to manhood and married Catherine Downey, a native of the same county and a daughter of Timothy Downey, also an early settler of the county. Mr. Coffman engaged in farming there until 1840, when he came to Ogle County, Illinois, in company with two other families. He entered a tract of two hundred and eighty-four acres in Maryland Township, on which his son now resides, erected thereon a log house and began to improve and cultivate his land. He also entered other tracts, but later sold these. In subsequent years his first home was replaced by a more commodious and modern residence, and the wild land on which he located was converted into a fine farm. His last years were spent in retirement in the village of Baileyville, Illinois, where he died in 1887. His first wife died in 1876 and he later married again.

By the first union there were ten children, six sons and four daughters, of whom two sons and four daughters reached man and womanhood, namely: John B. who is living retired in Chicago; Mrs. Naomi Dunn, of Freeport, Illinois; Catherine, deceased wife of Valentine Wallace; Susan, wife of S. W. Griffith, of Marshalltown, Iowa; and Matilda, a resident of Freeport.

The subject of this review was reared on the home farm and had very limited school advantages. He remained with his father until reaching manhood and then took charge of the homestead, which he later purchased of the other heirs. His whole life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits and he has met with marked success, his landed possessions now aggregating five hundred and forty-four acres of fertile and valuable land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and well improved. Upon the home farm he has erected a large barn with a basement.

In Maryland Township, June 29, 1876, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Coffman and Miss Sarah Wagner, a native of Ogle County and a daughter of Jonathan Wagner, who settled here as early as 1840. By this union three children were born: Samuel and Jonathan Emery, who assists their father in the operation of the farm, and Eusebia, who died at the age of four years. The wife and mother departed this life in 1885, and Mr. Coffman was again married in Maryland Township, December 5, 1887, his second union being with Mrs. Emma Stover, a native of the township and sister of his first wife. In November 1871, she gave her hand in marriage to John Stover, and they went to New York Cityon their wedding trip. Returning they stopped in Chicago and left that city on the night of the great fire. Mr. Stover located in Sangamon County, Illinois, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in July 1875. He left two daughters, Marian and May, who are both well educated and the former is now a stenographer in Freeport. There is one son by the second marriage: Frank F.

Since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864, Mr. Coffman has been a stalwart supporter of the Republican party, but he has never cared for office, though he has served for three years as commissioner of highways. He is one of the leading and popular citizens of his community and wherever known he is held in high regard.

"Biographical Record of Ogle Co." by S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, 1899

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