The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-29
Mrs. Rhoda Coffin and Mrs.
lift Davis, Founders of
Home for Friendless, Noted
Charity Workers.
DEATH Of THE FORMER
RECALLS BANK SMASH
Mrs. Coffin, Wife of President
OF lll-fated Richmond Ma.
tionaI Bank-Two Women
Lovely Characters.

1t is an exceedingly strange coinci-
dence that Mrs. Rhoda Mary Coffin.
formerly of this city. and Mrs. s. A.
lliff Davis. former president and vice.
president. respectively, OF the Home
for Friendless Women in Richmond.
and the original foundsrs>Qf that in
stitution. in 1868. should sdA on the
same day and at almost the pane hour.
Both of these women were lem knowa
for their early p6ilanthropid work in
this city. Mrsf Coffin resigned from
the presidency of the Homo before her
term of office had expired and Mrs
Davis succeeded her. Mrs, Coffin
who has bcen making her home in
Chicago forsa number of years. died
yesterday ii that city at the advanced
age of SS years. while Mrs. Davis, aged
81. succumbed to the grim reaper's call
at her houe. p North Seveith street
In this city. at almost the same time.
Establish the Homo
Mrs. Coffin was a leadinx member
Richmond for number OF years. She.
with Mrs. Davis. was inspired to es-
tablish q home for the triendless by
the sufferings of the families Of SOL
diers who had served insthe civil war;
Later. Mrs. Coffin established a miy-
sion for the care of children and was
one of the first advoq( Yes for the cot
tage system for HOY ing the insane.
She also as instruy1 1ental In founding
the kindefserten educational move-
ment. She Wasa pioneer minister cs
the Friends church and one of the old
school Quaker philanthropists. Hec
charitable work among the sick and
suffering was not only greatly appre-
ciated in this country. but was carried
on extensively abroad where she was
recognized as one of the leading char
liable workers in England.
Echo of Bank Failure.
Mrs. Coffin's husband. Charles F.
Coffin, now residing in Chicago. was
the president of the Inflated Richmond
National bank in this city which was
founded March ). 1873. On account OF
bad debts and speculation. however.
the bank failed in 1884. and was placed
in the hands of a receiver on July -
of that year. The bank was capitalix-
ed at $2Jo,SOO. but the stockholders
were only able to collect s7G.9cs6 New
ertheless. the bank paid 75 cents on
the dollar after its failure. A large
number of Richmond people were
heavy losers. some of them losing
their entire possessions by the insti-
tution's failure. Mr.. Coffin left the
city Immediately after the failure. but
no indictment was ever filed against
him and he was not prosecuted. Peg.
cival and Francis Coffin. two sons.
were sent to the penitentiary from IT,
dianapolis for some fraudulent moasy
making scheme. Another son. WI
liam. Is q leading capitalist at Lon&oa.
Eng. There were also two other sons.
Elijah and Charles F. Jr.
In accordance with Mrs Coffln's
wish she will be buried in Eariham
cemetery. The funeral will take
place from the South Eighth Street
Friends church on Thursday afternoon
| at o'clock. Friends may call at the
Westcott Hotel on Thursday morning
to view the remains.
Sketch Of Mrs. Davis
Mrs. Tiff Davis was born in Oxford.
o., Feb. 10, 1870. She came to this
city when q young girl and engaged In
the millinery business. She was act.
lively engaged in commercial business
for over 30 years. She was . woman
of broad sympafhies and wide chari-
ties and was prominently AFFILIATED 10
philanthropic movements. She was
an active worker in the cause Of char
ity during the civil war Mrs. Davis
was one of the most highly respected
citizens Of Richmond and possessed
a host Of friends who will long cherish
the memory of her lovable disposition
She is survived by three sons. Joseph
p. Tiff. j. Edgar Tiff and VIII g. Tiff:
one daughter. Mrs. Catherine Engle.
and eight grand children and great
grand children
The funeral will take place from the
home Thursday morning ut 1870
O'Clock and will be private. The Rev.
Nelson Of the Grace II. E church WIN
officiate. The burial win be In Eax2
ham cemetery. All members Of IT,
w. R c. are requested TO meet 1t -
home Of Mrs. Lon Cox this evening =
80 O'Clock to attend funeral ssFv1cs
1t the home q Nrs. Davis. q NORTH
Seventh street