RICHARD FRANKLIN COFFMAN was born March 6, 1834, in Webster County, Ky., where he was reared until 1847, when he removed to Hopkins County, and in 1864 returned to Webster County, his present home. His father, John Coffman, a native of Boyle County, Ky., was born in 1805, and removed with his parents to Hopkins (now Webster) County, in 1808, where he recently died. He was the son of Henry Coffman, a native of Virginia, who died here about 1832, and who was the son of Isaac Coffman, of Pennsylvania. John married Elizabeth I., daughter of Howell Cobb, of Webster County; she is now living at the age of seventy-two years, the mother of the following children: William H., subject, Sarah C. (Girod and Orton), Mary E. (Nance), James P., David H., Theodore W., Leah F. (Slaton), Thomas J., Benjamin C. and Medora J. (Smith). April 20, 1864, subject was married to Miss Annie E., daughter of William H. and Lucy (Finch) Ogden, of Webster County, born May 3, 1841, and to them have been born William W., Mary O. (deceased), Benjamin F. and Mamie F. (twins), Elizabeth, John F., Edward and Jesse H. For many years subject has been engaged in general merchandising and tobacco dealing on a somewhat extensive scale, and although he commenced at the bottom, he has amassed a handsome property. During the late war he held the rank of major. He is a Royal Arch Mason and Council in the K. of H. He is a Methodist, and superintendent of the Sabbath-school. In politics an old line Whig, but has acted with the Democratic party since the war.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 1029.