Jacob H. Coleman


One mention in granddaughter Chattie's writings is that John Coleman was in northern Illinois to witness an earlier time. An Indiana carpenter, Coleman was prevailed upon to travel to the swampy southwestern shores of Lake Michigan to a place called Fort Dearborn. The reason for his trip was to ply his skills in building the first proper house at that location which heretofore was served only by log houses and fortifications. In doing this, he lay claim to having built the first real house in Chicago
In 1850 Macoupin County, Illinois, Jacob is 8, with John 41 and Sarah 31, farming. Harriet is 12, Catharine 10, Mary E. 6, Lydia 4, and Levi 29 .
In 1850 Macoupin County, Nicey L. Farmer is 1, with Henry and Mary Farmer, both 28. Sarah F. is 5.
In 1860 Macoupin County, "Nancy" Farmer is 12, with Henry and Mary - Sarah 14, Lucy 8, and Rebecca 4.
Mary E. Farmer 1821- is buried in Macoupin County # 154520420, with Henry D. 1821-1885 # 154520400.
Nicey's sister Sarah J. (Farmer) McDonald is buried in Macoupin County, too, 1844- # 155537123.

In 1870 Macoupin County, Henry Farmer is 51, with just Lucy 18 and Susan 15.

In 1860 Greene County, John is 51, Sarah 41, Harriet 23, Jacob 19, Mary 16, Lydia 13, Alexander 10, Sarah A. 7, Ella J. 4, and Rachel three months. Father-in-law Ranson Wells 73 is with them, born in Virginia.

Jacob H. Coleman married Nicey Livonia Farmer in Macoupin County, Illinois Nov 7, 1867.
(Nicey's sister Lucy married William F. Wayne, and is buried in Madison County, Illinois 1851-1928 # 110274550.

In 1870 Dallas County, Iowa, John and Sarah are farming, with Lydia 22, Alex 19, Anna 17, Ella 13, and Rachel 11. Harriet with her husband Christ Murray are with them, with John 4, Samuel 2, and Frank 1.
The next household is Jacob Coleman, 28, with Lavina 21, both born in Illinois. They have Ada, 1.

In 1880 Dallas County, John "Colman" is 70, Sarah 60, with Anna 26. Next household is J.H. 38, widowed, with Ada 11 and Chattie 8.

John Coleman 1809-1891 is buried in Polk County, Nebraska, # 28337769, with Sarah A. (Hesser) Coleman 1819-1892.

The family Bible for John and Sarah's kids lists:
Harriet Coleman Christian Murray July 18, 1864
Jacob H. Coleman Nicy Lavonia Farmer Nov. 14, 1867
Mary Coleman Sabastian Jones 1864
Lydia Coleman George Duck Feb. 1 '71
Sarah Coleman James E. Skelton Jan. 1, 1881
Alexander Coleman Kiss [?] Skelton March 18-4
Ella Coleman Grandeson Pitsenbarger 1876
Rachel M. Coleman Joseph C. Heredeen Jan. 29, 1880


Jacob H. Coleman, a farmer, born about 1842 at Illinois City, Rock Island County, mustered in September 1862, mustered out July 1865 at Mobile, Alabama, a resident of Whitehall, Greene COunty, Illinois.

In 1889 Logan County, Colorado, J.H. Coleman was the Precinct 9 representative on the county Republican central committee.
He signed a petition in 1889, with an address of Rockland, attesting that he knew E.E. Armour in York County Nebraska, and that he had a good reputation.

In 1890 he was sowing about 40 acres of wheat - in the Chenoa items.

1890 Sterling "The Republican primary for Precinct 9 will be held at the Stevens school house, at 2 p.m. Sept 12. - J.H. Coleman, Committeeman."
Jacob cash-claimed a quarter in 12, 7N 49W in 1891, and timber-claimed on in 12 in 1902.


He likely is the "J.H. Colman" who was commander of the Fleming G.A.R. post in 1890, serving as a private in I, 91st Illinois Infantry.

July 1899 Lincoln, Nebraska "Miss Ada Coleman, editor of the Stromsburg Headlight, is spending a few days in Lincoln the guest of Dr. and Mrs. George, Twenty-first and K streets."

Jacob was in Polk County, Nebraska in 1900, a newspaper publisher, born Nov 1841 in Illinois, widowed. Ada, Sept 1868 in Illinois, is editor, and Chattie July 1871 is mangager of the newspaper.

JACOB H. COLEMAN, the well-known proprietor of the Headlight, is one of the most popular and influential citizens of Stromsburg, Polk county, with whose business and political interests he has been prominently identified since 1881. He was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, November 5, 1841, his parents, John and Sarah (Hesser) Coleman, being early settlers of that county. With the pioneer history of that state the father, who was a farmer and carpenter, was closely identified, building the first frame house in Chicago, and serving as a soldier in the Black Hawk war. He died in 1891, and his wife passed away the following year. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Mrs. Harriet Murray, Jacob H., Mrs. Mary Jones, Mrs. Lydia Duck, Alexander, Mrs. Annie Skelton, Mrs. Ella Pitsenbarger and Mrs. Rachel Hereendeen.


(Mrs. Mary Jones is Mary E. Coleman born to John and Sarah Hesser Coleman in Indiana June 12, 1844, and married Sadastan Jones, "the wealthiest agriculturalist in Dallas County Iowa")

(One tree said Ella married Jacob Pitsenbarger and died in Benedict, Nebraska)
It also said Lydia married George Duck.

During his boyhood and youth, Jacob H. Coleman accompanied his parents on their removal to Madison county, Illinois, and later to Macoupin and Green counties, the same state. He was reared to farm life and acquired a fair education in the district schools. On the 9th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Ninety-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was first sent to Louisville, and afterward to Perryville, Kentucky. At the battle of Multro's Hill, he was captured, and sent as a paroled prisoner to the parole camp at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, where he was subsequently exchanged. Later he took part in the siege of Vicksburg and then went to Port Hudson, New Orleans and Chaplie river, participating in the skirmish at the last named place. He went on the Banks expedition to Brownsville, Texas, and then returned to New Orleans. He spent one year in the Lone Star state as a cowboy in the employ of the United States government, and afterward participated in the Mobile campaign, and the siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely. His term of enlistment having expired, he was mustered out at Mobile and returned home.

For three years Mr. Coleman continued a resident of Illinois, and then removed to Dallas county, Iowa, where he was first engaged in farming and later in the drug business until 1881. That year witnessed his arrival in Stromsburg, Polk county, Nebraska, but after working for seven years at the carpenter's trade there he went to Colorado, where he secured and improved a homestead, making that state his home for three years. During his residence in Stromsburg he organized Company I, of the Second Nebraska Militia, but resigned his commission as captain at the end of one year. On his return to Polk county, he engaged in farming until 1892, when he purchased the Headlight plant, and has since engaged in the publication of that journal. The paper was established by I. D. Chamberlin, May 14, 1885, and is now one of the leading newspapers of this section of the state. Mr. Coleman has two children: Ada M. and Chattie.

Fraternally Mr. Coleman is a member of the blue lodge of the Masonic Order, in Stromsburg; the Knights of the Maccabees, in which he has served as sergeant; the Home Forum, of which he has been president since its organization; and the Business Men's Fraternity, of which he is vice-president. He is one of the "charter members" of the People's party, and is one of its most active and influential workers in this section of the state. He has been honored with a number of official positions, having been a member of the city council, mayor of Stromsburg two terms, police judge six years and justice of the peace fourteen years.

In 1920 Polk County, Chattie is 48, running the newspaper, with Jacob H. 78 and sister Ada M. 50. They have a servant, Ellen Haverland 14.
Ada died in 1921, Jacob in 1922, both buried in Polk County, # 87168647.
"Jacob lost his wife Nicey L. Farmer Coleman when his two girls Ada May and Chattie were both under 5 years"

July 29, 1922 Lincoln, Nebraska "STROMBBURG. Neh.. July 29. Jacob Coleman, 80, who came to this city from Illinois more than forty years ago. and who was active in building of this county, died here after an eight weeks' illness."

In 1930 Polk County, Chattie is an editor, 58, married to John A. Westinius, 70, a printer.
Chattie (Coleman) (Westinius) Swalley is buried in Polk County 1871-1951.


February 1930 "Mr. and Mrs J. C. Herendeen of Giltner, Nebraska, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Wednesday, January 29. Joseph C. Herendeen and Rachel M. Coleman were married in Dallas county, Iowa, January 29, 1880, remaining there the first five years of their married life, after which they moved to Nebraska and located in Polk county. A few years later they moved to Kansas, then back to Nebraska. They have lived forty-five years in Nebraska, the past eighteen years in Giltner. Mr. and Mrs, Herendeen are the parents of eleven children and as they are scattered from Ohio to the Pacific coast, but one was able to be present at the anniversary celebration. Open house was held at their home on Wednesday afternoon, when many friends called to extend congratulations and partake of refreshments. The couple receiving a number of mementoes of the day. Among those present was a niece of Mrs. Herendeen, Mrs. Chattie Coleman Westenlus, who attended their wedding fifty years ago, and with one other person, is the only one living of the original wedding guests."

WESTENIUS, CHATTIE COLEMAN: Editor & Publisher; b Dallas Co, Ia July 5, 1871; d of Jacob H Coleman-Nicey L Farmer; ed Dallas Co Ia; Polk Co; Bryant Bus Coll, Stromsburg, 1891-92; m John Albert Westenius Feb 17, 1922 Omaha; when she was 2 1/2years old mother died; 1881 came to live with sister & aunt on farm SW of Stromsburg; 1888-90 lived with father on homestead in Logan Co Colo; 1889-90 tchr in Colo; 1891 returned to Stromsburg to help care for grandparents; 1892-97 with sister oprd Stromsburg Headlight, owned by family; 1897- sister ret; 1897- owner & with J A Westenius, editor & publisher Headlight; org ARC in Stromsburg, active mbr during World War, now pres Polk Co ARC & secy Stromsburg unit; recognized in Who's Who of Amer Women in 1935-37 & in Internatl Blue Book 1939 also in Blue Book of Neb Women 1916; VP & dir Stromsburg Bank; org & regent of Stromsburg DAR; Sons & Daughters of Pilgrims; OES, past secy 11 years; org & 1st pres Garden Club; hobby, collecting old glass; off Headlight; res Stromsburg.

Chattie wrote in 1942 "I belong to a family of pioneers that since their settlement in America nearly 200 years ago -has constantly moved west. When I was a child, our father moved to California where we lived two years where there was no school.
Later our father took a homestead in Colorado. We moved to Nebraska fifty years ago."




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