PROF. WILLIAM S. COLEMAN was born in Hopkins County, Ky., December 25, 1844, a son of John M. and Martha A. (Oates) Coleman, natives of Kentucky, of Irish and English descent, respectively. He received his early education at the common schools and academies of his native county, and afterward attended the Greenville College, of Greenville, Ky., for four years and a half. His early life, until he was twenty years old, was passed on his father's farm near White Plains, Ky. In 1869 he came to Providence, Webster Co., Ky. where he has since been successfully engaged in teaching. In 1876 he erected the north wing of the Male and Female Academy of that place. This being insufficient, however, to accommodate the rapidly increasing numbers who came to the institution, he, in 1882, in company with Prof. Shelby Hicks, built the south or main wing of the academy. This is one of the most thriving institutions of learning in western Kentucky, the average number of young ladies and gentlemen in attendance being about seventy. In 1884 Prof. Coleman erected a large and commodious brick boarding house near the academy, which will accommodate about twenty boarders. It is well furnished and is situated on the top of an eminence commanding a full view of the town and surrounding country. Prof. Coleman has spent the greater part of his life either as a student or teacher; he is at present local correspondent of four or five newspapers. He was married, December 28, 1871, to Miss Maria A. Givens, a native of Hopkins County, Ky., and a daughter of Thomas K. Givens. Two sons have blessed their union, John G. and William C. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman are members of the United Baptist Church. In politics he is independent.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Pages 1029-1030.