The morning call., 1893-11-23

actually giving up business, but devoting
himself to the hon orable purpose of liqui-
dating every cent of Indebtedness which
remained from the failure of the colossal
commercial house of w. L. Coleman & Co.
in 1888.
Few who encountered him in the peace
full course of business could overlook his
striking personality. But it was in times
of emergency. such as the early Vigilante
days In San Francisco and the draft riots
In New York that ELECTED the giant quail
ties Inherent in him. He was born lead
or of men; man Of iron nerve and intui-
tive audacity at the required moment. In
the ire of popular or commercial pressure
his daring GOODNESS almost terrified his
contemporaries and associates. His death
will leave a blank in society, where he
lowered an honored landmark.
Mr.. Coleman left widow and two sons,
Carleton and Robert. both residing in this
city. He had also relatives In Vacaville,
this State, and in Oregon.
The funeral will take place from the
family residence next Saturday. The So
ciety of California Pioneers wished to
pay its distinguished member and ex-
president the honors of State funeral.
but the wishes of the deceased for a simple
ceremony will have superior weight with
the bereaved family.
The career of the deceased was peculi-
arly even.ful, and was closely identified
with the history of critical times In this
State and New York City.
William Tell Coleman was born in Gym
thiana. Harrison County, KY. February
%. 1924, making him So years old at the
time of his death. His ancestors were
English and Welsh. and his father was
Napoleon B. Coleman, a prominent Ken
lucky lawyer and civil engineer. His
mother was Miss Chinn. daughter of
John Chinn of Kentucky, the lifelong
friend of Henry Clay.
He first studied engineering under an
uncle, Marcus A ChiDn, and afterward en-
gagged in the lumber business at St Louis
In 1912. having saved sufficient from his
salary 10 pay for two years course, he
entered the st. Louis University, after
reading law and returning to the lum Der
business.
In 1S49 he organized a band of fortune
seekers for an overland journey to Califor-
nias arriving IN Sacramento August IA of
that year. He almost at once engaged in
commerce. and soon accumulated several
thousand dollars. He mined and practiced
law beside trading at Pacerville. and in
January, 1850 opened store on Sansome
street, near Jackson, in this CITY. for a
general merchandise business.
In 1852 he opened up an agency in New
York, and in 1856 started line of clipper
ships between that port and San Francisco.
In 1860 be entered into partnership with T..
M. Robinson. and the great firm of W. T..
Coleman 81 Co. was established. Up to
the time of its failure in 1888 the house
was known throughout the continent for
the scale of its dealings and the probity Of
the partners.
In August. 1852. he went East and mar
ried Carrie M. p. Page. daughter of ID. D.
Page of st. Louis. In 1865 he retired from
the active management of the firm, and in
1870 returned TO California, which he had
visited only at intervals. as he made his
headquarters in New York. He has since
resided constantly in this city and San
Rafael.
Mr.. Coleman was in New York at the
time of the draft riots, and was a powerful
ally of law, order and justice at that time.
But il was particularly with the Vigi-
lance committees of this city that Mr..
Coleman was identified. he himself told
the story in graphic yet modest terms in a
recent magazine article-one Of the last il
not the last of his vigorous literary con-
tributions. 1t was entitled ''San Fran
cisco Vigilance Committees; by the chair.
man OF the committees Of 1851, 1856 and
1877"
The city was being terrorized by organ.
lied bands Of murderers and robbers
known as regulators. The law was power.
less and the respectable citizens banded
together to vindIcate the law for the pro-
lection OF life and property. Mr.. Coleman
was prominent in the movement and ad.
dressed the mob successfully. He was on
the side of regular action and giving OBJ.
jects of popular fury fair trial.
OF the organization of the great Vigt.
lance COMMITTEES of 1856 Mr.. Coleman. in
the article referred TO gave the followinc
vivid account:
When I returned to San Francisco in Jan