JAMES HARVEY COLEMAN, an energetic, successful business man, and a representative of one of the oldest families of Canonsburg, is a son of James Coleman, and a grandson of Christopher Coleman. Christopher Coleman was born in Germany, immigrating to America during the last century. He was married to a native of New Jersey, who died in Washington county. He died about the year 1819, in Canonsburg, leaving the following named sons: William, Jacob, James, David and Simpson, some of whom were soldiers in the war of 1812. James Coleman was born in eastern Pennsylvania, and learned the trade of cooper, which he followed at Canonsburg for over fifty years. He as united in marriage with Jane, daughter of William Baxter, of Washington county. William Baxter was a native of Ireland, and first settled in Westmoreland county, Penn., afterward moving to Washington county. He was married to Jane Sealon, and passed the remainder of his life at Canonsburg, dying in 1819. His wife died in 1840, leaving the following: Robert, William, Joseph, James, Jane and three other daughters, all of whom are now deceased. James and Jane (Baxter) Coleman made a permanent home near Canonsburg, where the former died in 1871, at the age of eighty years, and the latter ten years later, aged eighty-two. Their children were William (deceased, who was a resident of California and member of the Senate of that State), David (who served in the Eighth Missouri Regiment as adjutant, then as colonel, coming home as brigadier-general, after participating in twenty-two battles; he was appointed marshal of St. Louis), John P. (deceased colonel of the Thirteenth Missouri Infantry; served in the Civil war, but was not wounded), James Harvey (subject of our sketch), Joseph C. (served in an Ohio regiment, now a printed at Columbus, Ohio), Henry M. (for over thirty-five years a resident of California), Mary Jane (deceased in infancy), Samuel (a druggist, captain of the Thirteenth Missouri Infantry), Frank (lieutenant of Company D, Tenth Pennsylvania Reserves), A. A. (a member of the One Hundred and Fortieth P. V. I.), and an unnamed infant. Of the children who survived infancy, all lived to be over thirty years of age before any death occurred among them. James Harvey Coleman was born February 28, 1829, near Canonsburg, and was reared to manhood in the vicinity. He learned the trade of cooper, and followed it fourteen years. On December 12, 1854, he and his brother Samuel opened a drug and book store at Canonsburg. In 1857 he was married to Miss May Belle, daughter of Robert White, of North Strabane township, whose parents were natives of Ireland. Robert White was formerly a cooper, and afterward followed farming. He was married to Ruth Chubbie, of North Strabane township, and reared a large family, of whom eight are now living, the four daughters living in this county. To the union of James Harvey and May Belle (White) Coleman the following named children were born: Addie Jean (wife of A. C. Bane, of Pittsburgh, Penn.), Ella Mary and Dora (both of whom are living at home), Edward White (a druggist of Pittsburgh, Penn.), George Curtis (living in California), Charles (was employed as a tailor for four years, then opened business for himself at Canonsburg), Robert and John, the latter two being deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman have always resided at Canonsburg, and in religious faith the family are among the early Presbyterians of the county. In politics he was originally a Whig, and in 1856 became a worker for the Republican party; he has served his constituents as treasurer of Canonsburg, and school director.

Text taken from page 337 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed July 1997 by Linda Vourlogianes of Petaluma, CA as part of the Beers Project. Published July 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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