Levi Coffin

Levi Coffin HouseMan with a mission, Levi Coffin, whose portrait is held by a costumed hostess before his Indiana home, saw men chained, whipped, and driven to market during his North Carolina youth and realized how he would feel if his father were abducted. Levi was a son of Levi and Prudence Coffin. He and his wife, Catherine, both strong Quakers, moved north and started a crossroads store at Newport (now Fountain City), Indiana, then a stop on the underground. They were the Quakers who sheltered Eliza Harris, the fugitive slave woman mentioned by Harriet Beecher Stowe in "Uncle Tom's Cabin", who crossed the Ohio river near Ripley with her baby on the floating cakes of ice. Soon they were sleeping a dozen or more strangers and distributing clothes donated by friends. (Click on the picture for a larger image.)

Levi said the book was a true story--it being necessary to use fictitious names in some instances. At that time Levi Coffin claims to have sheltered more than three thousand fugitive slaves during his life and never was caught during his life and never was caught with a slave in his possession nor ever told a lie to shield one. He visited Hervey Coffin in Iowa only a short time before the war.

William Bush GraveAmong the runaways assisted was William Bush, who reached Coffin's house wearing wooden shoes he had carved for himself. Settling in Newport, Bush became a conductor for other runaways while following the blacksmith's trade. He won the town's gratitude when during an epidemic he dared to bury the dead. His grave was marked recently by a descendant (right). (Click on the picture for a larger image.)

 

Bethuel Coffin

Bethuel and Hannah Coffin lived near where the battle of Guilford was fought in the Revolutionary war and helped to bury the dead and care for the wounded. Bethuel Coffiin died in Indiana in 1837 and was buried near Greensboro, Henry County, Indiana.

William Coffin

The name of Coffin is closely associated with the history of Dallas county and has always been a synonym for unremitting diligence and for business integrity. For a half century William Coffin has resided in this part of the state and although he has met with various difficulties in his business life he has overcome these by determined and honorable purpose and is today one of the substantial residents of Adel. His birth occurred in Wayne county, Indiana, on the 17th of January, 1835, his parents being Hervey and Rachel (Mills) Coffin. The father was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, on the 4th of August, 1810, and was there reared and married. About 1833 he removed with his family to Wayne county, Indiana, and two years later became a resident of Madison county, that state. He was the third settler in the district in which he took up his abode and thus the family lived amid pioneer scenes and environments, sharing in the hardships and privations which are always incident to the settlement of the frontier. The father entered eighty acres of land, which was heavily timbered. So dense was the forest that he had to clear a place large enough to build a cabin. When this was done and his family were sheltered he continued the task of clearing the land in order to place it under cultivation. There he made a good home of a pioneer character, occupying the farm there until 1856, when he came to Iowa. He had previously made three trips, however, to this state, coming first in 1852, again in 1854 and a third time in the fall of 1855. He was pleased with Jefferson county, its natural resources and its possibilities and he chose a location in Penn township; there he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. There he resided up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 28th of June, 1873. During this period his energies were devoted to general agricultural pursuits. He was a member of the Friends church and lived an upright, honorable life, winning for him the confidence and good-will of all with whom he came in contact. His early political allegiance was given to the whig party and upon its dissolution he joined the ranks of the new republican party. He was an advocate of temperance, of the abolition of slavery and an opponent of all that is opposed to justice, truth and right. His influence was ever on the side of intellectual and moral development and Iowa numbered him among her valued citizens.

The family of Hervey Coffin numbered eleven children, of whom six are yet living, namely: William, of this review; Phoebe, the wife of James M. Jones, a resident of Veo, Iowa; Deborah, the wife of Milton M. Williams, of Adams township; Jeremiah, living near Pleasantplain, Iowa; Henry, residing near Fairfield, this state; and Mary M., the wife of N. J. Williams, of the city of Fairfield.

William Coffin, whose name introduces this review, was reared upon the old home farm in Indiana, and in his youth was a pupil in one of the primitive log schoolhouses common at that day. He conned his lessons while sitting upon a slab bench, the little room being lighted by greased paper windows. All of the furnishings were very crude and the methods of instruction were primitive. He had the privilege of attending for three months each year, if sugar-making or some other farm duty did not interfere, but although his opportunities for schooling were limited he has learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience, becoming a creditable business man. In 1856, when he was twenty-one years of age, he came with his father to Iowa, spending one year in Jefferson county, while in the spring of 1857 he came to Dallas county. Here he located on a tract of eighty acres of land, on section 3, Adams township, which had been entered by his father for him on his trip to the west in 1852. It was on the 3rd of September 1857, that William Coffin made further arrangements for having a home of his own through his marriage to Miss Rachel L. Shelley, a daughter of John and Melinda Shelley of Jefferson county. He went to that county for his bride and brought her to her new home in a wagon drawn by oxen. For more than a year they did not have a piece of furniture in their plank house thirteen by twenty except that which was made by Mr. Coffin, and some years had passed before store furniture of any consequence was brought to their modest but happy home. With stout hearts and willing hands they undertook the task of developing the farm in the midst of a wild country bravely meeting all of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. In 1861 their home was destroyed by fire and it was not until the following year, owing to the severity of the winter, that Mr. Coffin was able to rebuild. Just after the completion of their new dwelling and immediately subsequent to their removal into it, it was one night struck by lightning during a severe storm and both ends of the house were completely torn out, while their bed, on which they were sleeping was moved some twelve inches from its place and a young man sleeping in one corner of the house was killed. The building was almost completely demolished. It was a considerable loss and Mr. Coffin was badly discouraged, for he had no money with which to repair the ravages of the storm. Yet he took heart and did the best he could under the circumstances -- a course which he has always followed through life.

It was in August, 1862, that he felt the country needed his services and he responded to the call for three hundred thousand men, enlisting in Company C, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry. He continued with that regiment until the close of the war, being mustered out on the 5th of June, 1865. He had proved himself a brave and loyal defender of his country, being always found at his post of duty whether it called him to the lonely picket line or stationed him in the heat of battle on the firing line.

During his absence Mrs. Coffin had been living with her people and also with his father's family. After his return from the war Mr. Coffin took her back to their farm and resided thereon until 1881, when he purchased town property in Adel and removed to the county seat, his son taking charge of the old homestead. Some years later, however, the son purchased a farm of his own, to which he removed, and Mr. Coffin then returned to his old home place, where he remained for nine years. He then again came to Adel, where he has since lived in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. Those who read between the lines will gain a good idea of the life of diligence, perseverance and industry which he has led. He has been unremitting in his labor and his capable management and perseverance brought him a measure of success which now enables him to live retired.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Coffin were born six children, of whom three are yet living: James Henry, a resident farmer of Adams township; Rachel M., the wife of Alonzo McNichols, of Madison county, Iowa; and Miss Jennie, who is with her parents. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which they are taking a deep interest, Mr. Coffin serving as one of the church stewards. In his political views he is a republican with prohibition tendencies, believing that the abolishment of the liquor traffic is the best solution to the temperance question. He has served for several terms as township trustee and in other local offices and in every relation of life in which he has been found he has ever been loyal to justice, truth and right. In early days his life was fraught with many hardships and at times, especially in the destruction of his home by fire and by lightning, it seemed that fate was against him, but he took heart and amid conditions that would utterly have discouraged many a less resolute man he continued on his way, his strong purpose at length winning a triumph over adversity. Wherever known he is held in highest esteem and is best liked where best known.

James Henry Coffin

An excellent farm of three hundred and fifty-five acres in Adams township pays tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon it by James Henry Coffin, who is a highly respected and representative agriculturist of his community. He was born on the 18th of August, 1858, in the township which is still his home, and is a son of William and Rachel L. (Shelley) Coffin, mention of whom is made on another page of this work. The family numbered six children, of whom three are yet living, the sisters of our subject being: Rachel M., now the wife of J.H. Nichols; and Serepta J., who is with her parents.

At the usual age James H. Coffin became a pupil in the district schools and therein acquired his education. During vacation periods he worked upon the home farm, early becoming acquainted with the methods in vogue in the cultivation and development of the fields. Having arrived at years of maturity he chose a companion and helpmate for life's journey in Miss Mary Jane King to whom he was married in 1882. She is a daughter of J. V. King, one of the well known and worthy pioneer settlers of Adams township. After his marriage Mr. Coffin located with his bride in Greene county, having previously become the owner of a small farm there. They continued to reside upon that place, however, for only about eighteen or nineteen months, after which they returned to Dallas county and took charge of the old home farm, the father removing to the town. Mr. Coffin of this review continued to cultivate the old homestead for six years and in January, 1890, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm, to which he removed on the 15th of that month. He has since added to the property from time to time until now within its boundaries are comprised three hundred and fifty-five acres, situated in sections 4, 5, 8 and 9, Adams township. It is not only an extensive but also a very productive tract of land and the fields have been brought under a high state of cultivation, so that they annually yield rich and large harvests. Mr. Coffin also raises some cattle each year and a large number of hogs and has ample shelter for his stock and for his grain. He uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the farm work and in all his business interests is alert, enterprising and progressive.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Coffin has been blessed with ten children: Mabel Ethel, now the wife of A. C. Gibbler, a resident farmer of Colfax township, Dallas county; Elva Luzena, the wife of Don E. De Camp, of Adams township; James Melvin, who is living on the old homestead in Adams township; Effie Elizabeth, at home; John William, now deceased; Cora Belle, Clarence Burton, Henry Virgil, Harold Lindon and Leona Ruth, all yet under the parental roof. The old homesteads of the Coffin and Couch families (Mrs. Couch having been a Coffin) have remained in possession of these families since they were entered from the government by the grandfather Harvey. The name of Coffin has long been closely and honorably associated with the agricultural interests of this part of the state and the subject of this review has added new luster to an untarnished family name. His political views are in accord with the principles of the republican party and he served for three years as township trustee, while for three years he was justice of the peace. The duties of both positions are faithfully and promptly performed and at all times he is regarded as one of the leading and worthy citizens of the community. He takes an active part in religious work as a member of the United Brethren church and is serving on the church board of trustees. In his business affairs he is always found reliable and he stands for the progressive element in citizenship and for trustworthiness in every relation.

Past and Present of Dallas County, Iowa Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907. from Dallas County Iowa Biographies Project

Hervey Coffin

Hervey and Rachel Coffin lived in Guilford County, North Carolina and came to Henry County, Indiana in 1832. They had one child at that time and came in a one horse wagon.

In 1835 they moved to Madison County, Indiana in a heavily timbered country. He, with his brothers-in-law, Henry and Jeremiah Mills, bought the first grain separator ever brought into that county. It had a possible limit of 60 bushels of oats per hour.

He made 2 or three trips into Iowa and entered land in Hardin, Green County, and Dallas County, paying $1.25 per acre.

Rachel Mills Coffin

Rachel Mills, her husband, Hervey Coffin, and family left their home in New Lancaster, Madison County, Indiana, April 14, 1856 and arrived at Pleasant Plain, Iowa, May 12, 1856, a distance of 386 miles, having been four weeks on the road. They had loaded their household goods into two schooner wagons, one drawn by a team of horses and the other by 3 or 4 yoke of oxen and drove some other stock along. Rachel kept a diary of their trip; excerpts are below. My thanks go out to Lynn Reynolds for a more complete copy of the diary. Her copy came from the late Ruth Wicks of Adel, Iowa who descends from Jeremiah Mills, Jr.

Route taken in 1856

April 14, 1856

We left our home half after 9 o'clock. Came to the forks of the road that one went to Perkinsville and fed on the hill and Mary Elliot and Rachael Ault formerly Cook came to us while we were eating dinner. Then we passed through Strawtown 6 o'clock; drove a mile and took up camp and in the night there came up a thunder gust and it rained and the wind blew quite smartly so that some of us were right smartly alarmed but no harm done.

April 15th

Clear morning and warm. We came through Nobbsville in the forenoon stopped and got some cheese and a bucket. Came on through Westfield between 4 and 5 o'clock. Drove on to Aunt Ruth's, took up camp. Henry, Mother, myself and some of the children took the horses and went on to Aunt Ruth's and stayed all night.

April 16th

Aunt Ruth, Macaras and Solomon Bennett came back to camp with us and went to Eagletown and then they went back, only Zack, he went on till noon. Took to dinner with us and then turned back. We fed by a man's house whose name was Canady. We had some very bad roads today. Some times on rough railboard then on dry road and again in chuck holes of mud nearly up to the wagon hub. We camped in a field on the left hand side of the road by an old batchlor farm. It rained a little on us while at supper.

April 17th

We have come through some bad mud holes this morning. We came through Lebanon about 8 o’clock. We had the coccond a pull time or two this morning. For the first time we have found the worst roads between Eagletown and Lebanon any where. We stopped and fed by a school house on the right side of the road three miles from Thorntown. I am writing by the side of the road sitting on a log. We had pretty good roads from Lebanon. Came through Thorntown about 3 o’clock and then divided the crowd and some went to William and some of us came to J. Brown. We got there between 4 and 5 o'clock. Ruth was gone from home to see a sick woman but soon came home and then there was some talking done.

April 18th

Clear and colder than it has been since we started and the wind a-blowing like Iowa, if not worse. Henry and Betty came to Jimmy’s. Hervey, Henry, Nathan, Mother, Ruth, Betty, myself and Abigail all went to Thorntown. Mother, with the rest of us got a dress. We got them all alike. Silk poplin was the kind. We paid for them with the money of our father's estate. I got Sarah, Abigail and Phoebe a dress apiece of silk poplin. Nathan and Abigail got their profiles drawn both in one case, then H. B., William, Mother and myself came to H. and stayed all night, and the rest were scattered round at different places.

April 19th

Cloudy and cold and been raining a little through the night. I am wraiting in Henry P.'s kitchen. Left Henry this afternoon. Hervey, Mother and myself came to Elihue's, want to and seen his steam sawmill which was quite for me to see. Took supper and then came on to William's. Stayed all night.

April 20th

Clear and frosty morning. Some ice. William has apples a plenty. He took his buggy and took Mother, Tabitha and myself at Pleasant Plain to meeting. After meeting we went to Seth Brown and got dinner, then we came to James Brown's, cooked some and repacked our wagon and fixed for starting on next morning. There was quite a number of us stirring around, some of their neighbors and several of the connections.

April 21th

Clear and frosty morning. Henry got the headache pretty bad and some fever. We left J. Brown's between 8 and 9 o'clock, bidding a long farewell to many. I expect it was a trying time to some of us to see an aged mother bidding farewell to so many of her children and starting a long journey to the West not knowing how the country would agree with her. We fed in a bottom of Hazel Creek then on through Darlington, a small town, then on past Kenworthy's Mill, a very large and beautiful building and a little farther on and passed a carding machine as we supposed and then shortly up a very long, steep hill on the banks of Sugar Creek. We have come up and down a great many long steep hills today, but the roads have been dry and dusty most of the time. We met Austin Hodson by Sugar Creek meeting house belonging to the Friends Quaker. Today Mary's little kitten left us. It crawled out at the hind end of the wagon we suppose when we were stopped sometime. We took up camp in the bottom by a creek, I don’t rightly know the name of it, we suppose it was Walnut Fork. We came 15 miles today.

April 22th

Clear and pleasant morning, all tolerable well. We came through Crawfordsville about 8 o'clock. We came through a heap of good country since we left Thorntown, big good buildings, large farms, fat horses. We fed at the fork of the way where the sign board said 22 miles to Attica, then came on past a house where there was a sale on. Came through Pleasant Hill, a small town, passed small patches of prairie, took up camp on the left hand side of the road in a small grove of timber about a mile this side of the white barn at the one eyed tavern so Benny called it. We had dry roads today through this side of Crawfordsville. We came 17 or 18 miles today.

April 23th

Cloudy morning. William not right well. We came by a corn field two miles this side of Pleasant Hill that the weeds were as high as the corn if not more so. Then on through Newton between 7 and 8 o'clock. We have come through some beautiful prairie farms this morning. The roads smooth and even, not a hill scarcely to be seen. Don't you think it very pleasant marching on with a team? Stopped and got a bushel of meal at Shovna Mill Creek. Fed in a long lane in a hollow a mile from Attica, then on to the Wabash River, crossed in a horse ferry then on through Williamport. The roads so hilly this afternoon. Then took up camp on the right hand side of the road by a man's house whose name was (?), over five miles this side of Williamsport.

April 24th

Clear and cool. We came about 6 miles to Samuel Bottoorf. Stopped and stayed the balance of the day and night.

April 25th

Partly clear and warm, nice growing weather. We left Samuel B. between 7 and 8 o'clock. The family all came a mile or two with us. Came past railroad where there was several hands at work and some shantys. We had rough crooked road this forenoon. Stopped and fed by the side of the road, not a very delightful place, small timber and middling thick. Had tolerable bad roads all day. Took up camp in a lane by a man's house. His name was Hinton.

April 26th

Clear and very warm; quite a breeze stirring today. Came past the railroad again where there was several hands at work with their carts and horses filling up a hollow. Fed by a new meeting house, I know not the name of it, about a mile from Danville. Mary sick and don't eat. Came through Danville about 1 o'clock, a tolerable small town tho some beautiful buildings in it. Crossed a stream called Verinom, then up a very long steep hill. We have dry dusty roads today so that it has been very disagreeable and wind blowing tolerable hard. We crossed the line this morning out of Indiana into Illinois, camped by an Irish man's house, paid a dime for wood, for we're in a large prairie and timber scarce.

April 27th

First day morning. Cloudy and cooler than it was yesterday. We came by a graveyard this morning on the left hand side of the road with a great many new looking graves in it as if it were a very sickly place. There were some of the largest tomb stones in it I ever saw and among the rest there was a curiosity, a tombstone about 9 inches square with the names of 3 twin babies on it as we thought they were born July 22, 1852 and died the 23rd, two of them, and the other the 26th, being 4 days old and the other two being 1 day old. Their names, Josephine, Emaline and Caroline. There was but one head stone and three at the feet. We supposed there were all buried in one grave if not in one coffin. Came on a little further and heard that the measles was raging in the settlement and killing a great many. Came by Goshon Meeting house where there was a considerable number of people gathering for worship, know not what the society. Came on a little and fed by a fence. Carried our water a good piece for were afraid to stop by any body’s house on account of the measles. Then we soon seen a drove of cattle, a hundred or two. Come on through, Homer drove about 3 or 4 miles and took camp on the right hand side of the road in a small grove or timber about a hundred yards from the railroad very pretty place to camp.

April 28th

Second day morning. Clear and quite cool. Abigail not very well. We came through Sidney about 9 o’clock, a small town. We have been in prairie nearly all day and the wind a blowing like all rip. The little boys have had several races after hats and William has had to drive bare headed part of the time for the wind was blowing so hard that he could not keep it on unless he had a tied it. He said that it pulled his hair till it hurt. There came some movers along with their wagon sheet off. They said the wind blew it off, but it did not blow none of ours off, but it blew hard, I can tell you. I reckon as hard as it ever blows of a clear day. We have been in a large prairie this forenoon. Not a house near the road since a little in the morning. We were in one of Uncle Sam's big fields, a house here and there scattered over it. Some of them looking like a covered wagon at a distance, others did not look larger than a big chicken coop and some not so far off would look like a small house, no timber hardly to be seen on the left hand side of the road and but little on the right, but what looked to be a good piece off wasn't that big a farm. We have had good roads all day with the exception of 1 or 2 places better than I ever saw on Duck Creek, for there is no cross bridging here to jolt a body. We fed not far this side of Urbana in the afternoon saw the cars. It is a very thriving looking place, a great many new houses in it and a heap of business going on. Drove on about 8 miles, took up camp on the left hand side of the road in the prairie just this side of Linsie's Tavern. Let the cows and oxen run out in Uncle Sam's pasture for the first time. None of them left.

April 29th

Third day morning. Clear and pleasant. Came through a small stripe of timber this morning. Came through a little place called M1ddletown, nothing very de1ightful to be seen. Are in prairie again, but pretty thick settled along the road and looks like it might be off the road. We met a drove of cattle this morning some of the biggest and fattest I ever saw. We fed in a lane on the left and the children balled. Came on through a thin settlement this afternoon only right along the road. Came to timber and camped by a creek I know not the name of it.

April 30th

Fourth day morning. Clear and the wind a blowing right smartly. Came through Mount Pleasant about 7 o’clock not very much of a town. Came on through Leroy about 11 o'clock a very pretty little place for a town and looked to be improving right smartly. We had a shower of rain on us this forenoon though it did not last long but rained right hard a little while it was the first time there had been any rain on us in the day time since we started and but little at night. We fed about a mile this side of Leroy in the prairie on the left hand side of the road and another family of movers on the other side. They are driving our cows and theirs together this afternoon for the first we have traveled with any movers much. We have seen a great many but they still pass us for all have horse teams that we have seen till these that are with us and they have only 1 ox team and two wagons with two horses to each. We are in timber part of the time today and part of the time in prairie. We overtook a drove of sheep there was three flock. They were going West and we stopped at the Six Mile tavern and got some corn and oats and saw the Minnesota wolf. It was not very large with small sharp ears and nose and gray colored. Camped by a branch on a low piece of ground. One of the Kidwell oxen sick this afternoon, unyoked then and drove them with the cows this afternoon. There came up a thunder gust after night. Rained quite hard and the wind blew right smartly and Nathan and some of the rest of the children that were under the tent nearly got wet and beds too.

May 1st

Fifth day morn1ng. Nathan’s birthday, 23 years old. Cloudy and sprinkling rain. Some now and then. Came through Bloomington about 10 o'clock, a large town, quite a striving place. William's sorrel colt got loose in town from us but was found in the street after hunting some for him. Drove 5 or 6 miles and fed in the edge of the timber. Rained a little while stopped. Been very muddy and sloppy today. Came through Pittsburg this afternoon. Almost no town at all. On a little further came through Concord, not much of a town. Camped by a branch a little this side of a meeting house. There was a night meeting and Nathan and some of the rest of the youngsters went to meeting. It was Presbyterian.

May 2nd

Sixday morning. Cloudy and quite cool. Roads muddy and sticky this forenoon. Stopped and fed on a high piece of ground after going up a long red hill. An old man stopped and fed his horse too. He was going to Peoria to see a sick daughter that he had taken there to the doctor. Very poor land that we have traveled over today. Scrubby timber makes me think of North Carolina. Benny and William had to help our McDoll's ox team out of a bad mud hole they were stalled bad enough. The roads have been bad nearly all of the time today. We came through grove land a little before sundown. Stopped at a baker shop and got some bread and butter and matches. Drove a mile or two more to timber and camped on the left hand side of the road, in a very pretty grassy place. It has been quite cool today. We have been going barefooted right smart, but we had to put on shoes and stockings and then did not keep more than warm.

May 3rd

Clear and cool. I do not feel very well. I have a bad cold. Marg had a colt last night and it was dead when we got up this morning. Put in James Shortridge's horse in place of Marg and worked him to the wagon and led Marg. Came on past where the fiddlers and dancers were pictured on the barn. Looked to be very merry. Came on to the steep hill this side of Peoria. Saw some movers going to Iowa, Dallas County. Came over a long bridge. Saw the cars to good satisfaction. Came on through Peoria. Stopped and got some fish and sugar, the biggest I ever saw. Came a mile or two and fed and cleaned our fish. There was a great many movers in sight of us when we stopped to feed, mostly going to Iowa. We have seen a great many movers since we have been on the road most of them going to Iowa that we inquired of. We have had hilly roads most of the time today, but mostly dry camped in a prairie where there was some scrubby timber so that we made out by Benny hauling up a back log.

May 4th

First day morning. Mary L.'s birthday, 5 years old. Cloudy and cold for this time of the year, and the wind blowing right smart. Came through Kickapoo about 9 o'clock, a small town. Saw the Catholic meeting house and grave yard. People were gathering there to meeting. Some of the graves had cross pieces of timber put by them. Crossed Kickapoo River and fed in the bottom. There were 16 wagons all there at once. One was going east on a visit and three had come there over night and were laying by on account of the Sabbath there, so that there was quite a company of us people in the old settlement. Have no knowledge how many people there were on the road at this time. We came on through Brimfield, a right smart town. Heard the church bell ring for 4 o'clock meeting, we supposed. Been in prairie most of the time today, some very good looking country and tolerable hilly. This forenoon came to timber and camped on this side of French Creek. Rained some through the night.

May 5th

Second day morning. Cloudy and still cool. Roads some slippy this morning. Crossed Spoon River on a very high bridge. Quite hilly about the river. Drove to the first house this side of the river, got corn of a man by the name of Pearce that had moved from White River and fed at the lane. A high hill before us looks like a mountain almost. Came on and passed a grave yard on the right hand side of the road that had no fence around it. Some of the graves were railed in and the railing tops painted black. On through Trenton, almost no town. Rained on us before we got to Knoxville. It is a right smart town, a church house with the highest steeple I ever saw. Last night there was some youngsters came over to our camp that had camped a little ahead of us and one by the name of Daniel Barnhile told the girls' fortune by looking in their hands or least they said so. We camped this side of Knoxville, just in the edge of the timber. It rained all night or nearly so. Hervey got a pain in his back. The roads tolerable hilly most of the time today.

May 6th

Cloudy and misty rain. Came through Gailsburg, a very large town, looked to be improving very fast. Came on a few miles, got corn of a man by the name of Mithel and fed. Saw two trains of cars passed while we were stopped. We can see a great ways in these large prairies. We camped on the left hand side of the road in the timber. It rained a little while at supper.

May 7th

Fourth day morning. Cloudy and very cool so that we suffer unless well rapped up. Came through Mammoth about 10 o'clock, got some flour. A heap of new houses in it. We have been so we could see cars when we stopped. They passed last evening, again this morning and while we were at dinner today. There was the longest train passed that we have seen. We fed in one of Uncle Sam’s fields, another family of movers by the name of Camel fed by us. We fed close by a flat roofed house. Saw two teams of oxen breaking prairie with their plows fixed to wagon wheels. We camped on a high hill this side of a scrubby hickory grove. There were hills and hollows all around us. William and Benny had to help McDolles out of a mud hole again today. William swapped Nathan's black filly for a yoke of oxen, 10 dollars in money.

May 8th

5th day morning. Clear and pleasant. Came up a long hill through hazel brush then in pretty prairie again. Came to the railroad, saw them loading cars with (some missing)

End of diary on the trip.

“The above Diary was written by Rachel Mills Coffin as she and Hervey and family migrated from Elwood, Indiana to Pleasant Plain, Iowa. Obviously, others have added further information about the Coffin Family. Ila Jones Johnson copied this diary from one which her cousin Faye loaned her and which had been in Effie Jones Allen's family. Faye now lives in Laguna Hills, Calif., and is the wife of Dr. G.J. Fleig (as of 1973).”

The following paragraphs are ones Ila Jones Johnson had in a notebook that her mother, Stella Wikoff Jones had.

James M. and Phoebe Coffin Jones lived with James' parents until Leila was a year old. They bought 80 acres with the “log cabin” on it. It was 1/4 mile south of his parents. They lived in the log cabin until Faye’s mother, Effie Jones Allen, was 3 years old, then moved to the farm at Veo, where they lived until his death in 1911.

My great grandmother (Elizabeth Ramsey) lived as a child near the Mammoth Cave, and when a young girl she would go there and “holler” in to hear her voice echo back.

The following paragraphs and dates are ones mother copied from the same diary but written in years following their trek into Iowa.

July 13th

Request was made today for a meeting in Dullege for the western part of the settlement.

May 9

Benjamin Maras and family started for Kansas this morning, 10 minutes past 10, they left our house. We had a family meeting. Mary, Andrews, Phebe Jones and myself appeared in supplication, a solom time indeed it was.

November 6, 1872

My dear mother deceased this morning about 5 o'clock. Shall miss her very much, as she has been here most of the time since we have been here in Iowa. My desire is so to live as to be prepared to meet all the loved ones who have gone before when time to me shall be no longer.

September 16

We started to Dallas this morning. We were gone 4 weeks--underwent many hardships, had not very good visit on account of cold weather and sickness.

Our dear father took sick soon after they got home from Dallas. We sent for the doctor. He sent some medicine, said he thought it was lung fever, but when he came to see him the next morning he said it was not the lung fever but was just a deep cold he had taken and he thought he would soon be better. This was not far from the 20th of March and he never got so as to go out of the house until warm weather, then only a few times around the house. When he had been sick, something like 6 weeks, Aunt Phebe Rawles came to see him. He said that he had had warning that she would be there that evening although he had had no word. He seemed very closely attached to her and often said he hardly knew how to give her up, she had been so good to wait on him and he never expected to see her again in this world. He seemed very lonely the morning she left which was the 19th of the 5th month. That morning there were some friends came to see Anna White and three others and they had family meeting which seemed to cheer him considerable. The next morning Elwood Osborn and some others came to see him, and had a meeting which he enjoyed very much. That evening I went home after being there two days and nights and Abby went to stay with him. The day I came home it cleared off after having been raining for several days. He said he thought if he had his shoes tied on he could walk out some. I tied his shoes and gave him to canes. He went first to the woodpile and stood, gazing around for some time at things around him. O, that look, I feel I shall never forget--he then turned and went to the smoke house, looked in there, then went to the north east corner of the yard, then south west corner, then to the garden and stood looking over the railing for sometime, then came in and rested awhile, then went on into the garden. Said he didn't feel much worried. Said he felt like if the weather was favorable he could soon go as far as the bridge between there and Westland Meeting house. The next day he again went to the garden and stood leaning over the railing for some time. Mother said he seemed to be in deep study, then came in--never more to go out until he sat down close to the door and leaned his head on his cane as if rather discouraged, then went to bed, pulled off his coat, hung it on the bed post, then leaning his head on the bed post for sometime, then prayed vocally for the Lord to give him a bright evidence of his experience with him and if it was his will to call him from work to reward to give him an easy passage through the dark valley and shadow of death and some other things I don't remember. He then laid down after which Mother said she felt it her duty to pray for him. She went to his bed side took his hand in hers and prayed for him after that Abby said he seemed like a different man. He seemed so much more cheerful that evening. The general meeting broke up and some of the friends came by as they went home. He told them that they hadn't all the good of the meeting, for he had some at home. This was that day the swelling seemed to be going into his feet, having been swelled near three weeks and by morning it was plain to see that his body was swelled. I went down again that morning, found William there, Ruth at the depot waiting for someone to go after her. They said he seemed a good deal overcome when William came in. We were not looking for hiim. Father said he thought the Lord was very good to put it into those hands to come to wait on him now that Aunt Phebe was gone.

August 26, 1864

Bartholamen and Abigail started for Kansas--a day long to be remembered by me for it was a sore trial to give them up.

June 15

Our dear son, William, got home from the war. How thankful I feel to think he as been spared to return to his family and friends for many there are that were not so highly favored. He left here this morning with his little family for his home in Dallas County. This was the 26th of 6 month 1865.

September 16, 1864

Hugh Woody had a meeting at Pleasant Plain and a good meeting I think we had.

April 25, 1865

Quarterly meeting today. Asenith and Samarh Clark met a meeting with Nisnits to visit the quarterly meeting in Iowa. They were from Indiana.

June 24

Pleasant Plain quarterly meeting. Elwood Osborn from Salem attended. Joseph Pernel from Lyna Grove was also at meeting. Phebe Bowerman from New York.

July 15

William Jenkins from Ohio had appointed meeting at Pleasant Plain today. Hannah Fry and Phebe Bowerman had appointed meeting at Pleasant Plain today. Hannah had considerable to say. Phebe was silent. Both from New York.

Joseph Hobson and Eunice Winslow both from Ohio. The time they were I have forgotten. They were not together.

September 3

Samuel Loid at Pleasant Plain today on his way to yearly meeting. Had a great deal to say and several others spoke.

25th

Quarterly meeting. Luis Bedell, Luke Woderd, and Hannah Mann were all at meeting. All spoke.

July 31

A meeting at Hickory Grove school house. Appointed by Peace and Mary Jones.

Robert P. Tristram Coffin

"I am a New Englander by birth, by bringing up, by spirit," says Robert Peter Tristram Coffin, and his poetry proves it. For more than thirty years this descendant of Nantucket whalers has been expressing the New England tradition in poems, many of which have appeared first in the Post. Since 1922 he has been professor of English at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, and he has read and lectured about poetry in every part of America.

VERMONT PRAISE

The young new preacher had an edge
Like a well-whet knife;
His eyes were full of stars as he
Spoke of eternal life.

He liked this little town in white,
The steady, sober people;
He loved this church that might be his,
With mountains by its steeple.

He gave his listeners all he had,
Voice and brain and heart;
His sermon warmed him so he felt
The teardrops burn and smart.

He finished, and the hush was deep
In the little place.
A gray-haired deacon rose with calm
Vermont upon his face.

He came forward, put his hard
Hand on the preacher's arm.
"Young man," said he, "you didn't do
That text you took no harm."

The young man's face was like the sun,
The church was his, he knew;
He knew rapture when he heard it--
He was a Vermonter too.

From The Saturday Evening Post Treasury, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1954

If you have questions about any of the information found here, please contact me.

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