Harrison Co Genealogy Trails

Coleman, William T., merchant, born in Cynthiana, Ky., Feb. 29, 1824; died in San Francisco, Cal., Nov. 22, 1893. In early youth he engaged in lumbering in St. Louis, went through the full course in the St. Louis University in two years, and began studying law, but was soon compelled by failing health to abandon it. He then spent several years in lumbering in the forests of Wisconsin. In 1849 he became one of a party who made the overland trip to California, and while his companions went direct to the mines he opened several stores for the sale of mining supplies. The assault on Mr. Jansen, a well-known merchant of San Francisco, in February, 1851, led to a determination on the part of the law-abiding citizens to rid the community of its large criminal element, and to the formation of the famous Vigilance Committee, of which Mr. Coleman was one of the foremost members. In 1856 the committee was revived with Mr. Coleman at its head, in consequence of the murder of James King, of William, a conspicuous editor. Mr. Coleman resisted great pressure against interfering with "the people," had charge of the trials, directed the execution of the murderers, and prevented the committee from taking any action that would precipitate trouble with the United States authorities. From 1857 till 1864 he lived in New York city, but continued to direct the business of the firm of William T. Coleman & Co. in San Francisco. While in New York city he aided materially in suppressing the draft riot, contributed liberally to patriotic benefactions, and after the war headed the movement to aid the stricken people of the South. In 1877 and 1878 he left his business affairs at the request of citizens of San Francisco and organized the Committee of Safety to fight Dennis Kearney and his sandlots mob. In this, as in previous emergencies, he was highly successful. In 1888 his firm failed with liabilities of about $2,000,000, but it made a compromise with its creditors, and in 1892 Mr. Coleman personally liquidated his entire indebtedness, more than he was legally bound to pay, with interest.