Washington Co., AR - Biographies - Prof. J. W. Coltrane *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** Prof. J. W. Coltrane, of the North western Normal, situated at Springdale, Ark., was born in Randolph County. N. C., June 27, 1852. The Coltrane family are of Scotch-Irish descent, and first came to America in 1665, locating in North Carolina. Here Branson Coltrane, the father of Prof. J. W., was born June 7, 1823, and is still living. His wife, whose maiden name was Martha L. Pool, was born in 1827, and died in 1879, after becoming the mother of nine children. Prof. Coltrane was reared on the old homestead in North Carolina. and after attaining a suitable age entered Trinity College, from which institution he was graduated in June, 1876, with the degree of A. B. Previous to his entering college he had been engaged in teaching, and after graduating he [p.928] determined to seek his fortune in the West, and accordingly came to Boone County, Ark., where he taught some time in Bellefonte, afterward locating in Valley Springs, where he followed the same occupation for over two years. He next located in Salem, Iowa, where he had charge of the Whittier College for three years, and then came to Bentonville. Ark., where he was engaged in teaching for about three years more. Since December, 1886, he has been a resident of Springdale, and has had charge of the Northwestern Normal, which is one of the first institutions of the kind in the State. Prof. Coltrane has arisen to prominence in his profession, and his efforts as an educator have been attended with universal success. In November, 1878, he was married to Miss Sallie Griggs, and by her is the father of three little daughters: May, Tot and Katie. He is a member of the Quaker Church, and in his political views is a Democrat.