BIOGRAPHY: Samuel D. COLDREN, Mifflin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Frank Copyright 2006-2008. All rights reserved. http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/ http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/1picts/runk1897/runk-bios.htm __________________________________________________________________________ The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 418-19. __________________________________________________________________________ SAMUEL D. COLDREN, Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pa., was born in Armagh township, Mifflin county, March 14, 1857, son of Isaac and Mary M. (Graham) Coldren. The Coldren family is of Scotch-Irish descent. The parents of Isaac Coldren having removed from Lancaster county to Walker township, Juniata county, at an early date, he was born in the latter place, January 6, 1820. He passed his boyhood in Juniata county, and was early trained in agricultural business. When about twenty years of age he left home, and resided for the remainder of his life in Milroy, Mifflin county, where he learned carpentry, and continued always in the same vocation; he was for many years in business for himself. On February 23, 1864, he enlisted, and was assigned to Company I, Fifty-third Pennsylvania (Veteran) Volunteers; he served gallantly until the close of the war, a period of eighteen months, and was mustered out and finally discharged at Alexandria, Va., June 30, 1865. His marriage with Miss Graham, who was native of Reedsville, Mifflin county, born in June, 1823, took place at Milroy in 1848. Their children are as follows: Catherine F., widow of Charles B. McClenahan, Milroy, Pa.; Valetta Jane (Mrs. Isaac R. Hetrick), died February 5, 1896; James W., resides at Hastings, Cambria county, Pa.; William F., of Phoenixville, Chester county, Pa.,; Samuel D.; Charles E., died in childhood; Elizabeth M.; Sarah A.; and two that died in infancy. Isaac Coldren died at Milroy, February 8, 1896, Mrs. Coldren surviving him. Passing his boyhood in Milroy, Samuel D. Coldren was educated in the common schools of that borough. At the age of nineteen he began teaching, and for fourteen years he taught during every winter, and always in Mifflin county. During the last four years of that time Mr. Coldren was also justice of the peace. His present position is that of register and recorder, and clerk of the orphans' court of Mifflin county. He was elected to this office in November, 1888, at which time he resigned the magistracy. He is now serving his third term in his present position having been re-elected in 1892 and 1895, his majority being doubled at each election. These facts speak for themselves. Mr. Coldren is a Democrat. He is a member in good standing of Milroy Lodge, No. 213, I. O. O. F., and of Milroy Castle, No. 275, both at Milroy; also of Lewistown Encampment, I.O.O.F., of Lewistown. Samuel D. Coldren was married in Bedford, Pa., November 28, 1889, to Annie E. Hamer, born in Dauphin county, Pa., Mrs. Coldren is a member of the Lutheran church.