BIOS: Alexander COLEMAN, Althouse, Somerset County, PA

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History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. 
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis 
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 308/9

Alexander COLEMAN.

Alexander Coleman, a prosperous farmer near Althouse, Somerset county, 
Pennsylvania, was born in Brothers Valley township, May 27, 1851, a son of 
Jacob J. and Mary (Musser) Coleman.
John Coleman (grandfather) was born January 15, 1777, and was of German 
origin.  He settled in Brothers Valley township, and followed the occupation 
of a farmer and blacksmith.  He was a Whig in political proclivities, and 
served his township as justice of the peace.  In church connections he was a 
Lutheran.  He married, October 28, 1800, Elizabeth Maurer, and to them were 
born nine children, seven sons and two daughters, namely: William, Joseph, 
Samuel, Daniel, David, Maria, Philip, Jacob J., and Rachel.  These children 
are now all deceased.  John and Elizabeth Coleman died at an advanced age.
Jacob J. Coleman (father) was born February 3, 1817, son of John and 
Elizabeth (Maurer) Coleman.  He was educated in the subscription schools of 
the period and always followed the occupation of a farmer.  He was a 
Republican in politics, and held at various times the offices of school 
director and justice of the peace.  In religious faith he was a member of the 
Lutheran church, in which he held the office of deacon.  Mr. Coleman was 
twice married, first to Susannah Miller, who died December 23, 1847; and 
secondly, November 5, 1848, to Mary Musser, born February 5, 1829, and lived 
on the adjoining farm.  She was the daughter of Henry Musser who was a farmer 
and blacksmith.  Of this marriage the following named children were born: 
Sarah died in infancy; Alexander, of whom later; John, died in infancy; 
Eliza, born October 13, 1854, married C. F. Zimmerman, and lives in 
Stoystown, Pennsylvania; Henry F., born November 28, 1856, married Mary J. 
Kimmel, and they live on a farm in Brothers Valley township; Emma S., died in 
infancy; Ada E., born April 4, 1864, married J. M. Shober, died May 28, 1902; 
Alice J., born July 2, 1866, married Charles Baldwin and lives in Meyersdale, 
Pennsylvania.  The death of Jacob J. Coleman occurred in 1890, and that of 
his wife in 1892.
Alexander Coleman obtained his initial education in the common schools of 
this section, and later attended the normal school.  He assisted his father 
with the farm work until he was twenty-two years of age, and for the four 
succeeding years was engaged in teaching in the Plank Road school, the same 
one that he had attended when a boy.  Relinquishing this occupation, Mr. 
Coleman again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and engaged in 
farming on shares with his father-in-law.  In 1882 he purchased his present 
farm, which comprises two hundred and sixteen acres, with large orchards of 
apple, cherry and pear trees.  The farm is one of great value, being 
underlaid with the rich coal deposits of this section.
Politically Mr. Coleman accords allegiance to the Republican party, and is an 
earnest, active party worker.  He has held the office of school director, and 
is now serving as justice of the peace.  Mr. Coleman is treasurer and a 
director in the Farmers' Union Association and Fire Insurance Company, of 
Somerset county, which office he has held for ten years.  Fraternally he 
holds membership in the Valley Grange, No. 878, at Beachdale, of which he has 
been master for eight years and representative to the state Grange.  For six 
years he has been a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, also the Maccabees, 
Buffalo Tent No. 367, Garrett, Pennsylvania.  He is a member of the Lutheran 
church of Berlin, with which he became connected when a young man.
Mr. Coleman married, December 2, 1877, Laura V. Shober, born April 3, 1858, a 
daughter of George W. and Leah B. (Berkley) Shober.  George W. Shober was a 
farmer and died June 15, 1897.  Leah, his wife, is still living at the age of 
seventy-three, and is a remarkably active, well-preserved woman.  Mrs. 
Coleman obtained her education in the county public schools.  Of this union 
one child was born, Hilda L., and married Joseph Stahl, April 17, 1901.  Mr. 
Stahl is a carpenter by trade.  One child, Centureena Mazelle, was born to 
them, January 11, 1902.  Under Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Coleman's hospitable 
roof may be found four generations: Mrs. Shober (great-grandmother), Mr. and 
Mrs. Coleman (grandparents), Mr. and Mrs. Stahl (parents), and little 
Centureena Mazelle Stahl.