Biographies:  Edwin C. COLEMAN, Barron, Barron Co., WI 

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Edwin C. Coleman, first mayor of Barron, veteran of the Civil War, a
leading businessman of Barron county for many years, and a citizen held in 
the highest esteem, was born in the village of Hudson, McLean county, 
Illinois, May 12, 1843, the son of Henry and Alice Coleman. The parents were 
born in Ireland, and came to America  as young people. They lived on Staten 
Island, New York, for a while, and in the early forties came  to Bloomington, 
Ill., and settled at Hudson, some ten miles away. From there they moved to 
Maxwell Prairie, Pepin county,  this state, with the early settlers, and 
there underwent all the experiences of pioneer life in the wilderness. Amid 
such conditions, Edwin C. was reared, educated and grew to manhood.  Aug. 12, 
1862, he enlisted as a private in the 25th Wis. Vol. Inf. in which he 
advanced to corporal. He was offered the command of a colored company, but 
declined. He was honorably discharged June 7, 1865. On Nov. 12, 1867, he was 
married at Downsville, Dunn county, Wis., to Isabella J. Cuscaden, a native 
of the north of Ireland, and a daughter of Wm. and Mary Cuscaden. In 1874, 
Mr. Coleman came to Rice Lake, in this county, in charge of the lumbering 
interests of Knapp, Stout & Co. In 1881 he formed a partnership with A. 0. 
and A. W. Bailey, and the Messrs. Burdick and Boren, under the firm name of 
the Bailey Manufacturing Co., and engaged in the manufacturing business at 
Knapp, in Dunn county, this  state. He sold his interests in this concern 
and with W. H. Phipps as partner he conducted a general store at Rice Lake. 
Later he sold out to his partner, and in 1885 came to Barron and opened a 
general store in partnership with N. S. Carpenter. After a while he bought 
his partner out, and continued the business alone until 1893. Then he went 
to Minneapolis, where he opened a hardware store on Nicollet avenue, and 
operated a wood yard in connection therewith. In 1902, he sold his 
Minneapolis interests and returned to Barron city, where he built a neat
residence, in  which he lived until his death, May 28, 1909. He was a good
business man who had the interests of the community at heart, he served in a
number of public capacities including that of mayor of Barron in 1887, and he
was a useful and praiseworthy citizen in every respect.

--Taken from History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.,
Minneapolis, Minn., March 1, 1922, pp. 83-84