Mennonite bishop; son of Christian Coffman and Anna Wenger Coffman.

Bishop Samuel Coffman of Rockingham, Co., Va., was born in Greenbrier Co., (now West) Virginia, June 2d, 1822, and died August 28th, 1894, aged 72 years, 2 months and 26 days. He came to Rockingham Co., Va., in the spring of 1847. On the 11th of November of the same year he was married to Frances Weaver, daughter of Bro. Samuel Weaver, who as a young man had emigrated from Lancaster Co., Pa., and settled near Harrisonburg, Va. On the 1st of September, 1848, Samuel Coffman was received into membership in the Mennonite congregation near Harrisonburg. In July, 1853, he was ordained to the ministry. In the spring of 1861 he was chosen bishop of the Middle District of Virginia. From this time till his death he had the responsibility of caring for the congregations in this district. The burden of his duties was at times a very heavy one, which is well known to the writer. Frequently did he hear him tell what his predecessor, Martin Burkholder, had said to him on one occasion. Bro. C. had been telling of the serious responsibilities that the work of the ministry placed upon him, when his senior brother said, "My brother, you do not know anything yet of the weight of responsibilities. Should it be your lot ever to bear the burden I have on me, then you might have some reason to complain." It was only a few years until the responsibilities of Bro. Burkholder fell on him. He said, "It was only then that I fully felt the force of the truth uttered by Bro. Burkholder." As time passed and the church grew in numbers the heavier became the burden of responsibility, and the more severe his trials. Often was he seen before his congregation trembling and shedding tears, and was heard to tell of sorrow of heart and sleepless nights occasioned by the heavy duties devolving upon him. The writer heard him say that had it not been for a faithful body of ministers and deacons, his devoted companion who stood by him, and still more, the mighty hand of God that sustained him, he could not possibly have borne the burden. During his last illness, when he saw that the probability was that he would soon be called away from his congregation and his earthly labors, the welfare of the church and the interest he felt for her lay heavily upon his mind. His conversation in his rational moments was mostly concerning matters pertaining to the church. When his ministering brethren visited him this was usually the theme of his conversation. He admonished them to faithfulness in their ministry and especially to stand by the brother who bears the responsibility of caring for his congregation as bishop. Some of the ministers said that they received admonitions of such power and meaning by the bedside of their aged dying brother as they had never received before. In conversations concerning the plan of salvation he emphasized what he had so often taught in the course of his ministry: To Christ all must come; there is salvation alone by faith in Him. Concerning his own hope he said, My only hope is in Christ; all that I have to justify me before God is what Christ has done for me. On the 2d of June he had a severe attack of neuralgia, which was followed by typhoid fever. For nearly three months he lingered, much of the time unconscious, finally passing away apparently without a pain, without a struggle. He was laid to rest in the cemetery at the Bank meeting house, in the presence of one of the largest congregations that ever met at that place. The services were conducted by C. B. Brenneman of Allen county, O., assisted by Christian Good and Jos. F. Heatwole. Text 2 Tim. 4:6-9. The church has sustained a great loss by the death of our brother, yet we mourn not as those who have no hope. We feel assured he is now enjoying his blessed rest in the Church triumphant. We are assured that if the congregation faithfully looks to God for divine assistance He will enable our younger Bishop brother to fill nobly-to the glory of God and the prosperity of the church-the place so long occupied by our beloved departed Brother. E.S.