FROM Past and Present of the City of Rockford and Winnebago Co., IL, C.A. Church. Chicago: Clarke, 1905, pp 828-831:
Henderson W. COFFIN, a son of Isaac and Peggy COFFIN, was born in Newport, Herkimer County, NY, and there he spent his youth. When a young man he went to Canada, where he learned the trade of brickmaking under the direction of his brother, Horace. On leaving the Dominion he came to IL and located in Winnebago County in 1838. Here he continued in the employ of his brother for a time, but later engaged in farming on his own account. Subsequently he went to Beloit [Rock County], WI, where he established a brickyard, but previous to this time he had become the owner of land in Burritt Township, Winnebago County [IL], having entered a claim from the government. In 1860 he took up his abode thereon and after cultivating and improving the place for several years, he removed to Winnebago Township, where he purchased a tract of land that was his home until his life's labors were ended in death in May 1876. He was married in early manhood to Miss Mary H. KENEAR, who was also a native of NY. They were farming people, energetic and diligent in business affairs, and at all times commanded the esteem of those with whom they came in contact. So successful was Mr. COFFIN in his farming operations and so carefully did he invest his earnings that he was at one time the owner of more than 1,000 acres of land. In his family were 11 children.
Henderson W. COFFIN was born in Oneida County, NY, in 1813, and was married in that State to Miss Harriet KANIER of Buffalo [Erie County], NY. [This surname is given as KENEAR in the above biographies of Fletcher COFFIN.]. There they remained until the fall of 1837, when they determined to seek fame and fortune in the Far West, and with teams they made the journey to IL, which State was then but sparsely settled. Mr. COFFIN had but very little means to assist him along, and he and his thrifty and economical wife experienced many hardships and privations in getting a start. The first night he spent in Winnebago County, Mr. COFFIN purchased one half section of land, giving his only cow, which hehad driven from [New] York State, his gun, his watch, and $320 in a notefor this tract. Mr. and Mrs. COFFIN had a great struggle to keep and pay for this land but they finally obtained a government lease for all butabout 80 acres. This farm of 240 acres is now owned by their son Fletcher.
Mr. Henderson W. COFFIN was a brick maker by trade, and his first brickyard was started in 1840, west of Beloit [Rock County, WI]. He subsequently purchased more land for brickyards, becoming the owner of 28 acres in Roscoe where the depot new stands, and this land is now owned by his daughter. He gave the land for the depot. He and Thomas BALDWIN, an early settler, walked from Rockford to near Beloit, carried their tools,and built a house, taking four trees standing for posts. Three days later they had finished it and were back in Rockford. Mr. COFFIN had men working for him for 50 cents a day and two meals, some walking six miles to and from their work. Many of them owned their own farms but wanted ready money. Mr. COFFIN's trade was more to him than wealth, and men of means, able to buy him out several times, worked for him at 50 cents a day. At that time men cradled grain for 25 cents an acre..
Mr. COFFIN died in Aug 1875, when not quite 63 years of age.
His widow is now residing in Rockford, on Morgan Street. He built the first elevator at the Roscoe depot. This worthy couple reared eleven children: Agnes, Julia M., S. B. (our subject), Esther, William Henry, Horace A., Fletcher, Mary Jane, E. B., Alfred H., and Ruby H. Of these, Horace died at the age of 40 years, and Mary Jane, Mrs. W. B. SCOTT, died when 36 years of age. The remainder are living and well informed people, although they had but common school advantages.
Henderson W. COFFIN, a son of Isaac and Peggy COFFIN, was born in Newport, Herkimer County, NY, and there he spent his youth. When a young man he went to Canada, where he learned the trade of brickmaking under the direction of his brother, Horace. On leaving the Dominion he came to IL and located in Winnebago County in 1838. Here he continued in the employ of his brother for a time, but later engaged in farming on his own account. Subsequently he went to Beloit [Rock County], WI, where he established a brickyard, but previous to this time he had become the owner of land in Burritt Township, Winnebago County [IL], having entered a claim from the government. In 1860 he took up his abode thereon and after cultivating and improving the place for several years, he removed to Winnebago Township, where he purchased a tract of land that was his home until his life's labors were ended in death in May 1876. He was married in early manhood to Miss Mary H. KENEAR, who was also a native of NY. They were farming people, energetic and diligent in business affairs, and at all times commanded the esteem of those with whom they came in contact. So successful was Mr. COFFIN in his farming operations and so carefully did he invest his earnings that he was at one time the owner of more than 1,000 acres of land. In his family were 11 children.
Henderson W. COFFIN was born in Oneida County, NY, in 1813, and was married in that State to Miss Harriet KANIER of Buffalo [Erie County], NY. [This surname is given as KENEAR in the above biographies of Fletcher COFFIN.]. There they remained until the fall of 1837, when they determined to seek fame and fortune in the Far West, and with teams they made the journey to IL, which State was then but sparsely settled. Mr. COFFIN had but very little means to assist him along, and he and his thrifty and economical wife experienced many hardships and privations in getting a start. The first night he spent in Winnebago County, Mr. COFFIN purchased one half section of land, giving his only cow, which hehad driven from [New] York State, his gun, his watch, and $320 in a notefor this tract. Mr. and Mrs. COFFIN had a great struggle to keep and pay for this land but they finally obtained a government lease for all butabout 80 acres. This farm of 240 acres is now owned by their son Fletcher.
Mr. Henderson W. COFFIN was a brick maker by trade, and his first brickyard was started in 1840, west of Beloit [Rock County, WI]. He subsequently purchased more land for brickyards, becoming the owner of 28 acres in Roscoe where the depot new stands, and this land is now owned by his daughter. He gave the land for the depot. He and Thomas BALDWIN, an early settler, walked from Rockford to near Beloit, carried their tools,and built a house, taking four trees standing for posts. Three days later they had finished it and were back in Rockford. Mr. COFFIN had men working for him for 50 cents a day and two meals, some walking six miles to and from their work. Many of them owned their own farms but wanted ready money. Mr. COFFIN's trade was more to him than wealth, and men of means, able to buy him out several times, worked for him at 50 cents a day. At that time men cradled grain for 25 cents an acre..
Mr. COFFIN died in Aug 1875, when not quite 63 years of age.
His widow is now residing in Rockford, on Morgan Street. He built the first elevator at the Roscoe depot. This worthy couple reared eleven children: Agnes, Julia M., S. B. (our subject), Esther, William Henry, Horace A., Fletcher, Mary Jane, E. B., Alfred H., and Ruby H. Of these, Horace died at the age of 40 years, and Mary Jane, Mrs. W. B. SCOTT, died when 36 years of age. The remainder are living and well informed people, although they had but common school advantages.
FROM Past and Present of the City of Rockford and Winnebago Co., IL, C.A. Church. Chicago: Clarke, 1905, pp 828-831:
Henderson W. COFFIN, a son of Isaac and Peggy COFFIN, was born in Newport, Herkimer County, NY, and there he spent his youth. When a young man he went to Canada, where he learned the trade of brickmaking under the direction of his brother, Horace. On leaving the Dominion he came to IL and located in Winnebago County in 1838. Here he continued in the employ of his brother for a time, but later engaged in farming on his own account. Subsequently he went to Beloit [Rock County], WI, where he established a brickyard, but previous to this time he had become the owner of land in Burritt Township, Winnebago County [IL], having entered a claim from the government. In 1860 he took up his abode thereon and after cultivating and improving the place for several years, he removed to Winnebago Township, where he purchased a tract of land that was his home until his life's labors were ended in death in May 1876. He was married in early manhood to Miss Mary H. KENEAR, who was also a native of NY. They were farming people, energetic and diligent in business affairs, and at all times commanded the esteem of those with whom they came in contact. So successful was Mr. COFFIN in his farming operations and so carefully did he invest his earnings that he was at one time the owner of more than 1,000 acres of land. In his family were 11 children.
Henderson W. COFFIN was born in Oneida County, NY, in 1813, and was married in that State to Miss Harriet KANIER of Buffalo [Erie County], NY. [This surname is given as KENEAR in the above biographies of Fletcher COFFIN.]. There they remained until the fall of 1837, when they determined to seek fame and fortune in the Far West, and with teams they made the journey to IL, which State was then but sparsely settled. Mr. COFFIN had but very little means to assist him along, and he and his thrifty and economical wife experienced many hardships and privations in getting a start. The first night he spent in Winnebago County, Mr. COFFIN purchased one half section of land, giving his only cow, which hehad driven from [New] York State, his gun, his watch, and $320 in a notefor this tract. Mr. and Mrs. COFFIN had a great struggle to keep and pay for this land but they finally obtained a government lease for all butabout 80 acres. This farm of 240 acres is now owned by their son Fletcher.
Mr. Henderson W. COFFIN was a brick maker by trade, and his first brickyard was started in 1840, west of Beloit [Rock County, WI]. He subsequently purchased more land for brickyards, becoming the owner of 28 acres in Roscoe where the depot new stands, and this land is now owned by his daughter. He gave the land for the depot. He and Thomas BALDWIN, an early settler, walked from Rockford to near Beloit, carried their tools,and built a house, taking four trees standing for posts. Three days later they had finished it and were back in Rockford. Mr. COFFIN had men working for him for 50 cents a day and two meals, some walking six miles to and from their work. Many of them owned their own farms but wanted ready money. Mr. COFFIN's trade was more to him than wealth, and men of means, able to buy him out several times, worked for him at 50 cents a day. At that time men cradled grain for 25 cents an acre..
Mr. COFFIN died in Aug 1875, when not quite 63 years of age.
His widow is now residing in Rockford, on Morgan Street. He built the first elevator at the Roscoe depot. This worthy couple reared eleven children: Agnes, Julia M., S. B. (our subject), Esther, William Henry, Horace A., Fletcher, Mary Jane, E. B., Alfred H., and Ruby H. Of these, Horace died at the age of 40 years, and Mary Jane, Mrs. W. B. SCOTT, died when 36 years of age. The remainder are living and well informed people, although they had but common school advantages.
Henderson W. COFFIN, a son of Isaac and Peggy COFFIN, was born in Newport, Herkimer County, NY, and there he spent his youth. When a young man he went to Canada, where he learned the trade of brickmaking under the direction of his brother, Horace. On leaving the Dominion he came to IL and located in Winnebago County in 1838. Here he continued in the employ of his brother for a time, but later engaged in farming on his own account. Subsequently he went to Beloit [Rock County], WI, where he established a brickyard, but previous to this time he had become the owner of land in Burritt Township, Winnebago County [IL], having entered a claim from the government. In 1860 he took up his abode thereon and after cultivating and improving the place for several years, he removed to Winnebago Township, where he purchased a tract of land that was his home until his life's labors were ended in death in May 1876. He was married in early manhood to Miss Mary H. KENEAR, who was also a native of NY. They were farming people, energetic and diligent in business affairs, and at all times commanded the esteem of those with whom they came in contact. So successful was Mr. COFFIN in his farming operations and so carefully did he invest his earnings that he was at one time the owner of more than 1,000 acres of land. In his family were 11 children.
Henderson W. COFFIN was born in Oneida County, NY, in 1813, and was married in that State to Miss Harriet KANIER of Buffalo [Erie County], NY. [This surname is given as KENEAR in the above biographies of Fletcher COFFIN.]. There they remained until the fall of 1837, when they determined to seek fame and fortune in the Far West, and with teams they made the journey to IL, which State was then but sparsely settled. Mr. COFFIN had but very little means to assist him along, and he and his thrifty and economical wife experienced many hardships and privations in getting a start. The first night he spent in Winnebago County, Mr. COFFIN purchased one half section of land, giving his only cow, which hehad driven from [New] York State, his gun, his watch, and $320 in a notefor this tract. Mr. and Mrs. COFFIN had a great struggle to keep and pay for this land but they finally obtained a government lease for all butabout 80 acres. This farm of 240 acres is now owned by their son Fletcher.
Mr. Henderson W. COFFIN was a brick maker by trade, and his first brickyard was started in 1840, west of Beloit [Rock County, WI]. He subsequently purchased more land for brickyards, becoming the owner of 28 acres in Roscoe where the depot new stands, and this land is now owned by his daughter. He gave the land for the depot. He and Thomas BALDWIN, an early settler, walked from Rockford to near Beloit, carried their tools,and built a house, taking four trees standing for posts. Three days later they had finished it and were back in Rockford. Mr. COFFIN had men working for him for 50 cents a day and two meals, some walking six miles to and from their work. Many of them owned their own farms but wanted ready money. Mr. COFFIN's trade was more to him than wealth, and men of means, able to buy him out several times, worked for him at 50 cents a day. At that time men cradled grain for 25 cents an acre..
Mr. COFFIN died in Aug 1875, when not quite 63 years of age.
His widow is now residing in Rockford, on Morgan Street. He built the first elevator at the Roscoe depot. This worthy couple reared eleven children: Agnes, Julia M., S. B. (our subject), Esther, William Henry, Horace A., Fletcher, Mary Jane, E. B., Alfred H., and Ruby H. Of these, Horace died at the age of 40 years, and Mary Jane, Mrs. W. B. SCOTT, died when 36 years of age. The remainder are living and well informed people, although they had but common school advantages.
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Aged 62 Ys 10 Ms
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