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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 © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |