Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 542-545 [Caldwell]

     ROBERT S. COLEMAN, M. D.  Occupying a prominent position both
as a leading physician and representative citizen of Caldwell
county, Kentucky, is Dr. Robert S. Coleman, of Princeton.  He was
born in Stewart county, Tennessee, March 8, 1830, and traces his
ancestry back to England.  Several generations of the Coleman
family, however, have lived and died in this country.  Dr. Coleman's
grandfather, Robert S. Coleman, and his great grandfather, also
named Robert Coleman, were born in Culpeper county, Virginia. 
William H. Coleman, his father, was a native of North Carolina, born
in Rockingham county, whence, about the year 1818, he moved to
Tennessee and settled in Stewart county, where his life was passed
in agricultural pursuits, and where he died in 1850.  He was a
personal friend of David Crockett, and voted for him on one
occasion, this being the only time when his vote was not cast with
the Democratic party.  In Stewart county, Tennessee, William H.
Coleman married Miss Polly Gatlin, daughter of Rev. Ephraim Gatlin,
a Baptist minister, and the only son of James Gatlin.  The Gatlins
are of German origin.  Ephraim Gatlin's wife was a Miss Bruton,
whose father, George Bruton, was a native of Scotland, born of
Scotch-Irish parentage.  William H. and Polly Coleman had an only
child, Robert S., whose name graces this sketch.
     Robert S. Coleman was reared in his native county, assisting
his father with the farm work, and attending school about three
months each year.  He was about twenty years old when his father
died, and after his father's death he remained on the farm with his
mother until his marriage and for some time thereafter.  His mother
died in Calloway county, Kentucky.  In 1860 he moved to Henry
county, Tennessee, where he continued farming until the liberation
of the slaves.  In the meantime, while engaged in farming, he had
taken up the study of medicine, to which he devoted his leisure
time.  Then he went to Nashville, Tennessee, and took a medical
course in the university, where he graduated in 1862.  Shortly after
his graduation he entered the hospital service in the Confederate
army, with which he remained until September 24, 1863.  On that date
he was captured.  He was paroled at Fort Heiman, returned home and
did not again join the army, as he was never exchanged.  He engaged
in the practice of medicine, in part membership with his former
preceptor, Dr. A. J. Weldon, at Buchanan, Tennessee, with whom he
was associated in business for a period of six years, at the end of
which time Dr. Weldon moved to Paris Landing, Tennessee.  Dr.
Coleman remained at Buchanan, conducting a successful practice,
until 1872, when he removed to Murray, Kentucky, and from there, in
1887, he came to Princeton.  All these years he has been actively
engaged in the practice of his profession and has gained high
standing in the medical fraternity.  Dr. Coleman is president of
Kentucky Medical Society, and has membership in other medical
organizations.  Also he is on the Princeton board of health, having
been a member of the same since its organization.
     Dr. Coleman's father was a Mason, and he, too, has for years
been identified with this time-honored organization.  He is a member
of Clinton Lodge No. 82, F. & A. M.; Murray Chapter No. 92, R. A.
M.; and Paducah Commandery [sic] No. 11, K. T.  Also he is a member
of the Knights of Honor and of Jim Pierce Camp, U. C. V.
     Dr. Coleman was married November 7, 1856, to Miss Fannie
Williams, born in Henry county, Tennessee, in 1837, daughter of John
H. and Annie (Williams) Williams.  Sons and daughters to the number
of six have come to bless their home, and with one exception all are
still living.  William C. died in Henry county, Tennessee, at the age of
four years.  The others have grown up to occupy useful and
honored positions in life; J. R. Coleman, M. D. is a practicing
physician of Paducah, Kentucky, and a sketch of his life will be
found on another page of this work; James H. Coleman is a prominent
attorney of Murray, Kentucky; Thomas E. Coleman is a merchant of
Princeton, Kentucky; Mary is the wife of Dr. Van A. Stilley, of
Benton, Kentucky; and Fannie is the wife of Singleton D. Hodge, an
attorney of Princeton.

Coleman Crockett Gatlin Bruton Weldon Pierce Williams Stilley Hodge
=
Stewart-TN England Culpeper-VA Rockingham-NC Scotland Calloway-KY
Henry-TN

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