Stephen Wright COLEMAN

     Stephen Wright COLEMAN, son of Thomas A. COLEMAN and Martha BURT, was born on 9 November 1825 in Autauga County, Alabama.¹

He was probably the male under age 5 to 10 listed in the household of his father, Thomas A. COLEMAN, in the 1830 Federal Census of Capt. Huddleston's District, Autauga County, Alabama.²

He was probably the male age 10 to 15 listed in the household of his father, Thomas A. COLEMAN, in the 1840 Federal Census of Autauga County, Alabama.³ He married Elizabeth Susan McQUEEN on 16 February 1848 in Lowndes County, Alabama; the wedding was officiated by J. W. Brown, She was the daughter of John Pleasant McQueen and Martha C. McLemore.^4,5 From Dr. Smith's history: "Mr. Stephen Coleman joined the M. E. Church [Methodist Episcopal Church] South at an early day and held his membership at Indian Hill and was always a member in good standing. He followed farming, was industrious, persevering and was regarded as the model farmer in his neighborhood. Before the war he had accumulated a handsome fortune. After the war, like many others he attempted to carry on his farm after the old style, made a failure and in a few years, lost all that was left from the wreck of war."⁶

Stephen Wright COLEMAN appeared on a census, enumerated 25 June 1850, in the household of his parents Thomas A. COLEMAN and Martha BURT in Huddleston District, Autauga County, Alabama. He was recorded as a 24-year-old farmer. Also in the household was his wife, Elizabeeth, age 19, and their one year old daugther, Mary E.⁷

Stephen Wright COLEMAN and Elizabeth Susan McQUEEN appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1860 in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. The household was listed as S. W. Coleman, age 34, farmer, value of real estate $6,000; Elizabeth, age 30; Mary, age 11; Thomas, age 10; Martha, age 8; James, age 6; Ila [Ida] age 3; and Female Infant [Lucy] age 0. All were born in Alabama.⁸

James E. L. COLEMAN and Stephen Wright COLEMAN appeared in a newspaper article 9 November 1865 in the The Autauga Citizen, published in Prattville, Alabama. A legal notice was posted by the Probate Court 23 Oct 1865. It stated that Stephen W. Coleman had filed a paper said to be the Last Will and Testament of Thomas A. Coleman, deceased. 20 Nov 1865 was set for hearing testimony as to validity of the document. It listed the next of kin of the decedant residing out of state including: James E. Coleman of Cherokee County, Texas; Alfeus M. Horn of California; and an infant son of Benjamin Horn, deceased, name not known [Samuel Horn], of Union County, Arkansas. They were given notice to appearat the hearing.

Stephen Wright COLEMAN appeared in a newspaper article 5 December 1867 in the The Autauga Citizen, published in Prattville, Alabama. He was named as the administrator of the estate of his father, Thomas Coleman. It set the date for the final settlement of the estate.

Stephen Wright COLEMAN and Elizabeth Susan McQUEEN appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 16 July 1870 in Beat 3, Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. The household was listed as Stephen W. Coleman, a 45-year-old farmer; Elizabeth S. Colemen, 41, keeping house; Mary E. Coleman, 20, without occupation; Martha Coleman, 16, without occupation; James Coleman, 14, farm laborer; Lucy Coleman, 10, at home; Hattie Coleman, 8, at home; Claudius Coleman, 5, at home; and Eugene Coleman, 2, at home. Stephen had real estate valued at $8000 and personal estate $2000.

Stephen Wright COLEMAN died on 25 November 1878 in Washington, Autauga County, Alabama, at age 53. He was buried in Coleman Cemetery, Prattville, Alabama.

Stephen's obituary was printed on 29 November 1878 in the Southern Signal newspaper, published in an unknown place , Alabama. The article said, "Mr. Stephen W. Coleman at his residence at Old Washington last Monday morning. He was buried on Tuesday at the family burying ground about a mile from town. He leaves a wife and five children."⁹