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Below is a family biography included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Judge Anderson J. Coleman, a prominent citizen of Franklin County, Mo., was born in that county September 20, 1823, and is the son of Anderson and Sarah S. (Barnes) Coleman, natives of Charlotte County, Va. They came to Missouri in December, 1822, and lived in Franklin County the remainder of their lives, which was but a short time, he dying the next year and she seven years later, or in 1829, and both when quite young. After the father’s death the mother married Dr. Samuel Holland. Anderson Coleman was a farmer, and to his marriage were born three children, two sons and a daughter. To the second marriage of the mother were born two children, a son and daughter. Anderson J. is the only one of these five children now living. When about seven years of age he went to live with his grandfather Barnes, who was a resident of Franklin County, Mo., and here he remained until about fifteen years of age, when he began to learn the saddler’s trade under his brother. After working at that a short time he began to farm, and has continued the same ever since. In the year 1845 he purchased the farm that he now owns, which consists of 270 acres of well-improved land. His educational advantages were limited, but, having been a student all his life, he is well informed on all subjects. In 1864 he joined the Confederate Army, and remained in the service until taken prisoner, near Sugar Creek, Ark., where he was retained over four months. During his service he was in several battles, and was in the engagement when Gen. Marmaduke was taken prisoner. In 1878 he was elected to serve as judge in District No. 2, and served that term and the next, but would not be a candidate the third time, on account of the bad health of his wife. During his term of office the celebrated Bud and Decker bond suit was compromised, an account of which appears in another part of this volume. January 28, 1847, Mr. Coleman married Martha V. Wilkinson, a daughter of Samuel and Martha Wilkinson. She was born in Halifax County, Va., August 17, 1825, and to her marriage were born two children, only one now living, named Samuel W. The one deceased was named Sarah S., wife of Edward Beasley at the time of death. Politically, Judge Cole man is a Democrat. Mrs. Coleman has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. M. A. Coleman, presiding judge of the Franklin County Court, was born in what is now Lyon Township, Franklin Co., Mo., October 9, 1843, and is the son of John G. and Harriet (Smithson) Coleman. The father was born in Virginia, in 1816, and learned the tanners trade in Union, then the harness or saddle maker’s trade. He then began tilling the soil and this continued until his death, which occurred in 1885. He was the son of Anderson Coleman, also a Virginian, who immigrated to Missouri at an early date. The mother of our subject was born in Virginia. Her death occurred in 1852. M. A. Coleman was reared on the farm, and secured a limited education in the country schools. He, being the only surviving child, remained on the farm with his father, and when about twenty-seven years of age his father gave him the farm and then lived with his son. The latter was married in 1868 to Amanda J. Hargess, a native of New Haven, Franklin Co., Mo., born in 1852, and the daughter of James Hargess (deceased). To this union five children have been born, all living. Mr. Coleman entered public life in 1882 as district judge of the second district of Franklin County, Mo., and was re-elected in 1884. Two years later he was elected by the county as presiding judge of the county court, which honorable position he holds at present.

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This family biography is one of 305 biographies included in The History of Franklin County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Franklin County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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