The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-07-08

TO EsTAByIsH COLLEGE
Agricultural Schools for w. sect, to be
Founded In caIlfornls and
lowsyby the Mil
lionaire.


strange and romantic metamorphosis
Mrs. Elizabeth Murray Newman, a
charming young widow residing at a
local hotel, has become Miss Eliza
beth Murray Coffin and the heiress of
millions with which she is to conduct
many philanthropic institutions in the
United States. One, and perhaps the
chief of which, is to be an Industrial
farm and an agricultural college for
young women to be located in Iowa.
The peculiar manner In which this
rich transformation took place. was
through the adoption of Mrs. New
man, who is now Miss Coffin, by I.o-
reno S. Coffin. SO years old, OF Fort
Dodge, Ia, one of the remarkable
philanthropists OF the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries.
Girl Prominent Writer.
The curious rise of Miss Coffin,
newspaper woman and magazine edi-
tor, to daughter and heiress of mil
lionafre and the director of his for
tune in philanthropic enterprises is
no more romantic and promises a ca
reer OF no greater unselfishness than
the life led by the man who adopted
her. Withal, it is an exemplification
OF the saying that truth is stranger
than fiction.
Miss Coffin, who was Mrs New
man, Is the daughter of the late Sem
ator Murray OF Iowa She first met
Coffin in Chicago more than year
ago, when she was interested in So
cial settlement work in that city. She
is known in the newspaper field in
Chicago and other eastern cities for
her special articles on social settle
ment work. She is also the author OF
long series OF short stories and OF
beautiful lyric verse. An admirer OF
her poetry is James Whitcomb Riley.
TO Establish College.
When he first met her Coffin want
ed her to associate herself with him
in establishing an agricultural col
1ege for women in Iowa, to be con-
Quoted in connection with the univer-
sity of that state Her health not
being the best in the middle west she
decided few months ago to answer
a call to become associate editor
the West Coast Magazine in this city.
Here her health was rapidly restored
and here Coffin came to visit her. He
at once fell in sympathy with the
plan of his now adopted daughter to
locate an agricultural college for wo-
men in or near this city as well as
one in Iowa. Her adoption followed
and they will make their permanent
home here. although Coffins interest
will keep him in Iowa part of his
time.
Twice before in his life Coffin has
adopted daughters, but the young wc-
men are now both dead and his only
living relatives are Of the remotest
kinship. He desires to have his many
good works continued il his name
and Miss Coffin is to do everything
possible within her power to see that
his wishes are executed as long as
she shall live.
Lorenzo S. Coffin of Fort Dodge is
one OF the best known social work
ers among the wealthy class in Amer
lea. Graduating from eastern schools
he came to Iowa and secured claim
near Fort Dodge He was soldier
during the civil war. Later he was
a member OF the state railroad com.
mission.
He was the author of national leg
islation compelling the use of safety
devices on trains Another work done
by the Iowan was the founding of the
White Button temperance movement.
He founded temperance association
among railroad men and was its pres.
,ident for a time. He also helped
found home near Chicago for aged
and disabled railroad men, and was
also president OF the Iowa Anti-Saloon
league. Mr.. Coffin was the prohibi,
ton party nominee for governor in
1907 and In 1908 was the United
Christian party nominee for vice
president.