Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Coffman, Jane Gibson May 19, 1826 - ????
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Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892.
Author: Samuel T. Wiley

JANE (GIBSON) COFFMAN,  
widow of Curtis Coffman (the latter a descendant of the old Coffman family of
Blair county), is a daughter of James and Jane (Miller) Gibson, and was born
in Scotch valley, Blair county, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1826.  Her paternal
grandfather Gibson was one of the early settlers of the county, and had
several narrow escapes from the Indians.  He lived in those frontier days
when the settler carried his trusty flint lock gun with him to the field to
protect himself from the Indians, whose war parties frequently raided the
settlements for plunder and scalps.  Often when he or any of his neighbors
would be called away for a few hours they would hide their children in the
woods and cover them with leaves, where they would remain without making any
noise until their parents' return.  His son, James Gibson (father), was born
near Frankstown, and removed, in 1857, to Reedsville, Indiana, where he died
in 1864.  He was a Lutheran in religion, and a republican in politics, and
married Jane Miller, who is now dead.  Mr. And Mrs. Coffman were the parents
of nine children:  Mary A., Catherine, William, Mrs. Jane Coffman, Elizabeth,
James, Sarah, Jacob, and Agnes.
   Jane (Gibson) Coffman was reared to womanhood on her father's farm, and
received her education in the subscription schools of that day.
   She was united in marriage with Curtis Coffman, who was born in 1809, in
Juniata county.  He came in early life to Franstown township, and by hard
labor and careful management, in which he was ably assisted by his wife, he
acquired a farm of eighty acres of well improved and very desirable land.  He
was a republican in politics, and died in 1876.  To Mr. And Mrs. Coffman were
born five children: James L., born December 14, 1855, married Annie Hetrick,
and is engaged in the general mercantile business at Yellow Springs, of which
place he is postmaster; Curtis, born in 1857, married Rebecca Keller, and is
now engaged in farming; William B., born in 1859, is now engaged in
cultivating the home farm; Banks, born in 1861; and Mary.
   Since her husband's death Mrs. Coffman has resided on the home farm, which
she has managed very successfully.  She has erected a good barn, and made
many other useful and valuable improvements which have added greatly to the
appearance and much to the value of the farm.  Mrs. Coffman was a helpmeet in
the true sense of the word to her late husband.  She is pleasant and agreeable, 
and her children's happiness and prosperity are now her greatest care.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Eileen.

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