The record-union., 1899-04-09
TuOLuMN NE's FAvORITE SON.
AN INTERESTING SKETCH OF
JIM CoFFROTH.
One Of the Brainy Men Who Fig
ured in Early Califor-
MIA History.
CRu Winfield ]. Davis.)

Some one of the very many friends OF
James w. Coffroth should write IN de-
tail of his life and work. 1t would ada
to American biography a very interest
ing book concerning remarkable ana
original man, who was distinguished
among the brilliant and venturesome
argonauts that were attracted TO call
fornia by the gold discovery. Those
who knew Coffroth hardly realize that
he had lived but 43 years when the
hand of death fell SO suddenly upon
him, on the 9th of October, 1872. He
had brought to this State professional
and political record that he had earn
. ed in the East. and was a leader in poll
tics here since 1851. Men had looked to
him for counsel He was naturally
leader of men-one born to command,
not by iron rule, but by a magnetism
and tact that disarmed all opposition.
After he devoted himself to the prac-
tice of law he gained deservedly nigh
reputation, especially for his skill and
address in the management OF criminal
trials. He was most genial and kindly
in nature, generous to fault, and was
ever ready to extend advice and assist
ance to those who needed it. There was
scarcely a young lawyer in this city
in Coffroths day but who was not at
some time indebted to him for aid and
counsel. In society he was universally
esteemed. Possessing easy and often
brilliant wit, an ineXhaustible fund of
anecdote a winning manner and an
even and plastic temper, he made
friends wherever he went, and few if
any enemies.
Coffroth was born at Greencast1e, Pa,
May 20, 1929. His great grandfather
immigrated into that colony from Ger
many, where the family name was
Kaufrath. Coffroth's father dabbled
some in politics. but was never success
full except that he was elected Sheriff
of his county for one term. He was
poor, and his, sons We're thrown into the
battle of life at early ages. James serv-
ed an apprenticeship in a country print
ing office, and in his fourteenth year
was setting type in Philadelphia He
devoted his spare moments to profitable
study and learned law under David
Paul Brown. Meanwhile he made many
contributions in prose and poetry to- the
press, the first appearing in his seven
teenth year. He took the platform
early, as was evidenced by an item in
a Philadelphia paper of December 2S,
ing been "a handsome intellectual ef-
fort"
In that same year, and when but
eighteen, he became associate editor
of the Spirit of the Times" He pur-
chased a half interest in that paper in
February, 1850, and became chief ed
itor The paper was a daily and cir
culated $1,000 copies. Late in that
wear ha Snld ont and rernoyed to Tn :,
diana and later to Texas. He reached
California by the southern route in 1850
and located in Tuolumne County, where
hei mined for a short time and then was
engaged as associate editor of the So
nora Herald" by Dr. L. c. Gum, its
proprietor.
When the Democratic State conven-
ton met in the fall of 1851 Coffroth was
delegate and the youngest member of
the body, but he looked as mature as
many Of his seniors, being six feet tall,
with broad shoulders and massive head
and frame. This was his first entry
into political life in California, and the
beginning of a brilliant career that was
closed only with his untimely death.
The same year he was elected to the
Assembly from Tuolumne County on
the Democratic ticket. In the Demo-
cratic State convention of 1852 Coffroth
was one of the principal actors in the
first stirring scene that was enacted in
State politics of California. The con-
vention met in this city ON February
o3d. There then occurred the initial
factional fight in the party, and from
it grew the dissensions that We're kept
up until the beginning of the civil war.