J.M.Coffman

Brother James M. Coffman was born to William Humphrey Coffman and Mary Ann White on October 12, 1845 in Russellville, Jefferson County, TN. He married Sallie Francis Arvin on September 3, 1868 in Estell County Kentucky. The Coffman children included: Lula Olive (Lou) Coffman Nations, Bill Coffman, Rose Etta Coffman Baum, Laura Elsie Coffman Gilbert, and Kentucky Blanch (Kennie) Coffman McGowen.

After a year they returned to Tennessee where they remained until 1873. Jim Coffman, with Sallie Arvin Coffman with her brother Andrew Jackson (Nuff} Arvin, W. M. Coffman and other family members came to Texas from Tennessee and Kentucky by covered wagon. They endured all manner of hardships including hostile Indians. Homestead or inexpensive land and open ranges may have been reason for their moves. They settled near Melissa, Collin County, Texas. The J. M. Coffmans moved to Brown County, near Cross Cut, in 1876. The Nuff Arvin family settled near Cottonwood, Texas. The Coffmans moved to Cross Plains in 1882. Sallie was a member of Eastern Star.

Brother Coffman's Masonic record is still being researched. It is known that he was the first Junior Warden when the Cross Plains Lodge was chartered in 1886. He served in these offices and stations: Secretary 1897-98, Senior Steward 1898-99, 1892-93 and 1900-01, Treasurer 1896-97, and 1893-96, Tiler 1899-1900 and Junior Steward 1890-92 . He and J. A. Wagner were authors of the brief history of the Lodge listed in our "Archive" page. He and Sallie are buried in the Cross Plains Cemetery where a prominent markers with Masonic and Easter Star logos mark their graves.

James M Coffman; Name often appears as "J. M. Coffman" also went by the name of Jim. He was born on 12 October 1845 in Russellville, Jefferson Co., TN. He began military service circa 1862 Confederate Calvary, Company "D" 12th TN Battalion. Geo. W. Day was Major. He was not transferred to another command He ended military service on 12 April 1865; Honorably discharged at Newborn, VA, after Lee's Surrender, according to statements by J. M. Coffman. The War Department, Adjutant General's Office claim J. M. Coffman swore to an oath of allegiance to the United States on 21 April, 1865 in Knoxville, TN. His place of residence having been given as Jefferson, TN. The following remarks appear on said oath relative to him: "Deserted the Rebels at Newbern, Va., Apr. 12,1865. Sent North." Apparently this simply meant that he was disband from his company on 12 April 1865 and sent north (to Knoxville, TN. He married Sarah Frances Arvin, daughter of William Arvine and Sallie Ann Oldham, circa 1868; Possibility of how this couple met:

The 1880 Fed . Census gave Cross Plains a population of twenty-five and included J . M. Coffman as postmaster; Coffman and Raymond Gin and Grist mill , etc. Cross Plains Post Office established 21 NOV 1882, James M. Coffman early postmaster. Member of the Camp and Confederate Veterans in 1904, J. M. Coffman, Co . D, 12th Tennessee Battn. Cavalry, Baird. Cross Plains Lodge N o. 627 granted charter by Grand Lodge of Texas DEC 1886. J. M. Coffman was charter member and charter officer, office title, J. W.

From his obituary, Nov. 13, 1925:

     J. M. Coffman, one of the old settlers of Callahan County, died suddenly at Cross Plains last Friday, November 13^th and was buried with Masonic honors at Cross Plains beside his wife, by Cross Plains Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Dick Pentecost, Acting Master, C. S. Boyles, of Sweetwater, as Marshal.
     The following old friends of the deceased were the pall bearers; T. E. Powell, W. E. Gilliland, Dr. R. G. Powell, B. L. Russell, Senator Melvin Farmer, J. Y. Gilliland, all of Baird, Sam Strahan of Cottonwood, and Mr. McDonald of Pioneer. Rev. P. D. O’Brien, of Monday, conducted religious exercises at the grave.
     There was a large crowd present at the funeral – many old friends from Baird, Cisco, all near-by towns, and from the county at large.
     J. M. Coffman was born near Russellville, Jefferson County, Tennessee, October 12, 1845. He served in the Confederate Army, in Tenth Tennessee Cavalry, first under General Nathaniel Bedford Forrest and later under General John H Morgan, taking part in the battle of Greenville, Tennessee, where General Morgan was killed. Mr. Coffman was a member of Albert Sidney, Johnston Camp, U. C. Victor Baird. At the close of the War Between the States, Jim went to Kentucky, where he married Miss Sallie F. Arvin, of Estell County, that State.
     At the expiration of a year he returned to Tennessee, where he remained until 1873, when he moved to Collin County, Texas, near Melissa and removed to the north part of Brown County in 1876.
     The Writer became aquatinted with Mr. and Mrs. Coffman after they settled on Turkey Creek, in Brown County. In 1882 they moved to what is now Cross Plains.
     There were seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Coffman, five girls and two boys. Five of them are living, viz.: W. J. Coffman, and Mrs. John Baum of Ada, Oklahoma; Mrs. J. R. Nations, of Brownsville, Texas; Mrs. Scott Gilbert of Woodson, Texas, and Mrs. W. A. McGowen of Cross Plains.
     He is survived by 21 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren, and one brother, W. M. Coffman, of Baird. Mrs. J. M. Coffman died February 23, 1923 and is buried at Cross Plains.
     J. M. Coffman was a good, noble hearted, generous man, and I always numbered him and Mrs. Coffman among my best friends. We all came from Brown County to Callahan the same year, 1882. Now both are dead and gone.

Green be the turf above thee,
Friend of my better days;
None know thee but to love thee
None named thee but to praise
(Unreadable line) –Halleck

The sentiment expressed by this poet can truthfully be applied to Jim Coffman and his wife. They served their day and generation faithfully and well and have passed on, leaving many old friends along with their children, grand and great grandchildren to mourn their going.

W. B. G. (Baird, Tx)