Connecticut western news., 1882-08-23
John Al. C0ffimgs

The death of John H. Cofing, which occurred at his home at Van Deusen- vile on Monday morning, removes from South Berkshire one who, though some time since retired from active life, was everywhere recognized as one of her most prominent business men, and from this town & citizen of public spirit and generosity.
 MT. Cof6ng was born at Salisbury, Conn.,, February 3d, 1911, and was one of large family sons and daughters of John c. Cofing of that town. One son, Charles, became farmer and lived for many years in the western part of this town. Another, George, well known manufacturer, was connected with the Richmond Iron works and Monument mills. Churchill graduated at Yale, studied law in the famons Litchfeld school in it's palmy days, re-
 moved to Peru, H., and became distin-
 guished in his profession. Joshua, a
 man of high culture and great refine
 ment, also graduated at Yale, but died
 in early years. Of the four daughSSrs
 of John c. Coffng, one, Maria, died
 young, one became the wife of ex-
 Lieut.. Governor Holley of Connecticut,
 another, Mrs. Bostwick, was the mother
 of Mrs. George Church of this village,
 and fourth is Mrs. J. c. Cable of
 Stockbridge. Of the nine, John H. ! Charles, Mrs. Holley, Mrs. Bostwick, and Mrs. Cable were own brothers and sisters. Their mother was daughter
 of Hezekiah Fitch, high sheriff o, ] Litchfeld county.
 r The subject of our sketch had no de l sire for college degree and profes sional career, but acquired in the com
 mon schools and academies 8 genera , education that was thorough and avail q able for public life. For time h9 wa F in attendance at the Middlebury,' Vt e academy, kept by MT. Partridge
 another of whose pupils was the lat David Ives. MT. Cofing senior an = John M Holley, father of the Lieut. :. Governor, had engaged in iron smeltin :. in Salisbury, in 1909, and they kept als
 store in the village. On leaving scho'
 John became 8 clerk in the store, and II is probable that he acquired at the san A' time some practical knowledge of u al. iron industry.
 Ut Finding his Salisbury furnace prof H. able and it's management to his tast
 Mr. John c. Coffing commenced in 183 .;r in company with Timothy Chittende ,n of Salisbury, the erection of the fu = mace at Van Deusenville. When fl d ished its operation was taken in char - by Phineas Chapin X Co.,, the firm = cluding Messrs. Coffing and Chittende
 In the spring of 1886 John H. Coffin
 who had recently married Rebecca l'S Bostwick, of Salisbury, who survi, him, took up his residence at Van De ol senville to operate the furnace there. ei was about that time, probably, that ru firm became Coffing, Munson X c It'll the members being John c. Coff1
 Timothy Chittenden, John H. Golf zle and Gilbert Munson. A few years lat nt, in 1S44, the property was transferred ur the Richmond iron company. ley many years Mr. John H. Cofing ' ex- the active manager of the affairs put this concern, and they prospered in ply hands His judgment was good, lon his integrity of the strictest type. To- accounts he was an adept, and he co
 often untangle very difficult matt l at. with the facility of an expert. A g De- story is told by our veteran town cl ich and registrar which illustrates his q in- ities as a business man. On cert as occasion, while the civil war was in l own gress, the government advertised the proposals to furnish iron for cam rds, The tests were to be made in the D ing ence of government engineers.