BIO: George Dawson COLEMAN, Lebanon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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Biographical Annals of Lebanon County Pennsylvania.
Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1904
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Pages 1-3

GEORGE DAWSON COLEMAN.  With very few exceptions the business of the city of 
Lebanon is carried on by descendants of old and worthy families, whose 
individual members in their time were prominently identified with the 
institutions of the county.  Ever since the name of Lebanon was attached to a 
county organization the family of Coleman has been through its different members 
very prominently identified with the advancement and progress for which this 
section of the State is so distinguished.

Robert Coleman, the progenitor of the family in America, was one of the most 
successful ironmasters in Lancaster county, Pa., during the latter part of the 
eighteenth century, and was not only prominent in the business world, but became 
a man of distinction in the public life of the State, having been a member of 
the Pennsylvania Assembly as early as 1788.  He was also for many years 
associate judge of Lancaster county.  Robert Coleman was born November 4, 1748, 
near Castlefin, in County Donegal, Ireland, and came to this country in 1764, 
arriving at Philadelphia.  He carried letters to Blair McClanaghan and the 
Messrs. Biddle, who recommended him to Mr. Reed, then prothonotary of Reading, 
Pa., who employed him for two years.  At the end of that time he became a clerk 
for Peter Grubb, at Hopewell Forge, with whom he remained six months, leaving to 
take a place at Quinttapahilla Forge, near Lebanon, Pa., owned by James Old, who 
had large iron works near Reading and Norristown for some time.  Some time 
later, when Mr. Old removed from Speedwell Forge to Reading Furnace, he took Mr. 
Coleman with him, and they were associated in business for some years.  While at 
the Furnace Mr. Coleman married Mr. Old's eldest daughter, and not long 
afterward he rented Salford Forge, near Norristown, where he continued for three 
years.  In 1776 he moved to Elizabeth Furnace, in Lancaster county, where he 
first rented, afterward buying it gradually from the different members of the 
firm who owned it – Stiegel, Stedman & Benezet.  There he manufactured 
ammunition for the Government during the Revolutionary war, and it is of 
interest to note that the iron chain which was stretched across the Delaware 
river below Philadelphia, to prevent the approach of the British warships at the 
time that city was threatened by Gen. Clinton, was manufactured by him.  He was 
the first of his family to obtain an interest in the ore bank of Cornwall, 
Lebanon county, which he purchased from the Grubb family.  Mr. Coleman was a man 
possessed of a penchant for hard work, which, coupled with fine business 
judgment, soon caused him to forge to the front as a leading man in the iron 
business.  On October 4, 1773, he married Anne Old, who was born May 21, 1756, 
and they had four sons, William, Edward, James and Burd.  Mr. Coleman retired 
from business and removed to Lancaster in 1809.

James Coleman passed his life in the iron business in Lancaster and Lebanon 
counties.  He married a Miss Dawson, of Philadelphia, who bore him the following 
children:  George Dawson; Ann; Sarah; Harriet; and Robert.

George Dawson Coleman was born in Philadelphia January 13, 1825.  He received 
his preparatory education at Princeton, N. J., and then matriculated at the 
University of Pennsylvania, Collegiate Department, from which he graduated in 
1843.  In 1846, together with his brother Robert, he came to Lebanon county and 
erected the North Lebanon Furnaces (the first anthracite furnaces built in 
Lebanon county), where they began the manufacture of pig-iron.  The brothers 
owned together a 15-48 interest in the Cornwall ore deposit.  In 1852 Robert 
withdrew from the firm, and from that time until his death the North Lebanon 
Furnaces were owned and operated by George Dawson Coleman, and were left intact 
to his heirs.  During his life Mr. Coleman was a successful and enterprising 
iron manufacturer, and was well and favorably known in that connection 
throughout the State.  He was a large stockholder in the Pennsylvania Steel 
Company, at Steelton, Dauphin county.  He was a warm supporter of the Government 
during the Civil war, and was one of that noble band of capitalists who 
furnished the sinews of war freely, and without whom the Government could not 
have prosecuted a successful fight against rebellion.  He contributed liberally 
of his own means to the organization and equipment of the different regiments 
from his section of the State, and especial mention should be made of the 
Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, which regiment he was instrumental in 
raising, contributing over $10,000 for its equipment, and whose subsequent 
military career he watched with intense interest and solicitude.  He also gave 
liberally to the assistance of the widows and orphans of those who fought in the 
ranks.  Mr. Coleman was an active member of the Sanitary Commission, and 
frequently in person distributed its stores upon the battlefield.  He was deeply 
interested in and cheerfully aided all movements tending to develop and improve 
the community.  He was a member of the State Board of Charities from the time of 
its organization, in 1869, and was president of the same at the time of his 
death.  For a number of years he was president of the First National Bank of 
Lebanon.  In his earlier life he was prominent in the political affairs of the 
State, as a matter of duty serving during the Civil war in the State Assembly, 
and subsequently serving three years in the State Senate.  His course as a 
legislator was marked by the faithful and conscientious discharge of all his 
duties, and he was recognized as a valuable coadjutor in the important work of 
legislation.

In his religious character Mr. Coleman was most exemplary.  He took a deep and 
personal interest in the religious welfare of those in his employ, and erected 
and supported churches for them at Elizabeth and Lebanon Furnaces.  Several 
years before his death Mr. Coleman presented his grandfather's residence, at the 
corner of Front and Pine streets, Philadelphia, to St. Peter's Church, 
contributing in addition a large sum for the purpose of altering and arranging 
the house for their mission work.  His whole life was an example of generosity 
and kindness of heart, and in the community in which he lived and labored no man 
was more universally respected and beloved.  His home life was a model of 
excellence and conjugal felicity.  He married in 1852 Miss Deborah Brown, a 
native of Philadelphia, daughter of William and Deborah (Norris) Brown, who are 
now deceased, and she survived him, as did also two sons and five daughters.  
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Coleman:  Robert, Harriet, 
Debbie N., Sarah, James, Frances, William, Bertram Dawson, Edward and Annie.

George Dawson Coleman died at Lebanon September 9, 1878, after a long and useful 
life, mourned by a very large concourse of friends and neighbors, who were 
unanimous in the opinion that his death was a distinct public calamity.