Fleming G.
Coleman
Fleming
G. Coleman was born January 10, 1872 in
Pricketvill, Calhoun County,
Alabama, son of Benjamin Franklin "Ben"
Coleman (1845-1921) and Ellen
Statina "Bell" Hunter (1846-1907). The
family moved from Alabama
to Denison, Grayson Co., Texas shortly after
his birth. "Flem"
was named for his uncle, Fleming G.W. Coleman,
who died at Johnson's
Island, Ohio, December, 1863, 1st Lieutenant
in Capt. Roberts' Co.,
Seven Stars Artillery.
In 1886 F.G. Coleman drove a delivery wagon
for Hibbard Bros. and did so until 1898. (The Sunday
Gazetteer, December 23, 1900, pg. 1)
In 1898 F.G. Coleman, bought J.D. Yocom's
interest in the grocery
business located at 403 W. Main street.
Mr. Coleman had nearly 10
years of experience in Denison's grocery
houses and was acquainted with
nearly everyone. The firm was changed to
Coleman & Haven. (The
Sunday Gazetteer, Sunday, October
2, 1898, pg. 4)
F.G.
"Flem" Coleman and Miss Florence Oxendale
were married Sunday, May 6,
1900 at the Episcopal church with Rev. John
Benners Gibble officiating.
The wedding was a surprise to
everyone. F.G., aged 29, married
Miss Florence Oxendale, aged 19. She
was the daughter of William
Oxendale and Sara Plumer, born March 1881 in
Brant, Ontario,
Canada. Mrs. Coleman had been a
resident of Denison for 2 years
at the time of her marriage, living with her
grandparents, Mr. and Mrs.
J.E. Jasperson on S. Lamar Street. (The
Sunday Gazetteer, May 13, 1900,
pg. 2)
Shortly
after their marriage, the grocery firm of
Haven & Coleman dissolved
by mutual consent on May 21, 1900 with Mr.
Coleman assuming all
obligations and collections. (The
Sunday Gazetteer, Sunday, July
8, 1900, pg. 2) In December he gave
all his regular customers a
fat turkey as a Christmas gift; the
undertaking required 5 large wagon
loads of birds. (The Sunday Gazetteer,
December 30, 1900, pg. 4)
The newly
weds lived at 801 S. Houston. (Denison
City Directory, 1901, pg.40)
B.F. Coleman's residence and its contents 100
E. Day Street was
destroyed by fire w hen a gas stove
exploded. (Dallas Morning
News, April 2, 1904, pg. 2)
The grocery remained at 403 W. Main through
1903 but the family had
moved to 216 W. Texas (Denison City
Directory, 1903, pg.120)
In
1911 both the groceries and meat business as
well as the family
residence's location had changed. The
grocery was located
at 201 W. Munson and the family resided 1/4
miles southeast of the
Denison city limits. (Denison City
Directory, 1911, pg.73)
The business later moved closer to center of
the city on 207 W. Munson
through 1915.
In 1917 Mr.
Fleming was Mayor of Denison as well as
operated his grocery store at
201 N. Munson with his wife working as the
cashier at the grocery store.
By 1921 F.G.
Fleming was Mayor of the city of Denison and
resided with his wife and
son, Benjamin O., at 205 W. Munson. (Denison
City Directory, 1921,
pg.85)
In November
1921 F.G. Coleman sold the stock of his
grocery store at the corner of
Munson Street and Austin Avenue to E.
Harrell, who continued the
grocery business in the building at 201 W.
Munson. Mr.
Munson stated to the Herald's reporter that
he proposed relocating in
Dallas in the near f uture. (The Denison
Herald, November 27, 1921, pg.8)
The 1930 Denison, Grayson Co., Texas census
lists Flem and Florence
Coleman still living in Denison; his
occupation was "dairyman."
He died in Denison on March 16, 1934
at the age of 62. His
death certificate lists his occupation as
"oil business." His
cause of death was a heart attack while he
was on a truck, 5 miles east
of Lindale, Smith County, Texas. He
was buried in Fairview
Cemetery, Denison, Grayson County, Texas.
Florence returned to live at Denison after
her husband's death.
She died about 10 months after her husband
on January 25, 1935 and was
also buried in Fairview Cemetery.
Biography Index
Susan Hawkins
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