Mart Coffman Biography


	This biography appears on page 1201 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				MART COFFMAN.  

	Mart Coffman, filling the position of postmaster at Dallas, is a 
native son of Illinois; born September 4, 1868. His father, Amos J. 
Coffman, was a school teacher and farmer, being identified with 
interests along those lines in Illinois. He has now passed away but his 
widow survives and has homesteaded in Tripp county.  

	Mart Coffman supplemented a public-school education by study in 
the law department of the University of Nebraska, from which he was 
graduated with the class of 1901. He first practiced in Oklahoma and 
also followed his profession in Nebraska and South Dakota. He came to 
this state in 1904, settling at Bonesteel, where he remained for two 
years, and later he homesteaded in Gregory county, near Lucas. He dates 
his residence in Dallas from 1908, at which time he opened an office 
for the practice of law and for the conduct of the real-estate 
business, along both of which lines he has since been active.  

	On the 22d of December, 1908, Mr. Coffman was married to Miss 
Daisy G. Ward, a daughter of Andrew Ward, and they have become the 
parents of two sons, Marshall W. and Amos J. Mr. and Mrs. Coffman hold 
membership in the Methodist church, taking a helpful interest, through 
that channel, in promoting the moral advancement of the community.  

	Mr. Coffman is a third degree Mason and is also affiliated with 
the Odd Fellows. In politics he is a democrat, active in party circles 
since coming to Dallas, and in 1913 he was appointed to the position of 
postmaster, which office he is still acceptably filling, discharging 
his duties in a systematic manner that is highly satisfactory to the 
patrons of the office. He is a supporter of the good roads movement 
and, in fact, is in sympathy with all plans that look to the immediate 
and future benefit of the locality. When the cares of business become 
too heavy he finds recreation in motoring and hunting and is a most 
genial companion on such trips.