AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL^ 



139 





No. 67. -Hon. H. F. Coleman. 



During the past year a somewhat new 

 apiarian writer appeared in the columns 

 of the Bee Jourxal. Although his 



H. F. COLEMAN. 



name seemed new to the bee-fraternity 

 at large, yet his writings on the subject 

 of bee-culture showed that he was not a 

 stranger to the practical care of the 

 little honey-gatherers. 



Further than a pleasant "correspond- 

 ing" acquaintance with the subject of 

 our picture and sketch this week — Hon. 

 H. F. Coleman — we are unable to say in 

 regard to him as a man, as a friend, or 

 ad a bee-keeper. But through the' kind- 



ness of a friend both to Mr. Coleman 

 and to the Bee Journal, we are per- 

 mitted to present to our readers the fol- 

 lowing entertaining life story, written 

 by Prof. H. J. Bostic, Principal of the 

 McKinney High School, at Sneedville, 

 Tenn.: 



A large man, finely proportioned, with 

 a most graceful carriage and self-poise, 

 and withal handsome — thus has nature 

 endowed Henry F. Coleman, who was 

 born in Hancock county, Tenn., on May 

 13, 1847. 



As a lad, Mr. Coleman was trained in 

 public schools accessible to him, at an 

 early age ; in fact, he says he does not 

 remember a time when he did not know 

 the alphabet, or how to read in small 

 primers used in the schools of his day. 



His father was a well-to-do farmer, 

 but his wealth was consumed by the 

 Civil War, at the close of which my sub- 

 ject was in poverty, and thrown out on 

 the broad waves of stern life to pilot his 

 ship over its unfriendly seas and adverse 

 circumstances, with his health some- 

 what broken. 



In time of the War, he enlisted as a 

 private in 11th Tennessee Federal Cav- 

 alry, and in a few days from his enlist- 

 ment, while in battle, was thrown from 

 his horse, receiving injuries from which 

 we date the turning point of his career. 

 He, from his youth, had been fond of 

 books and reading, but these now be- 

 came his constant companions. 



At the age of 21 he y^as elected mag- 

 istrate, and became an active member 

 of the county court of Hancock county, 

 doing much and permanent good for his 

 county. He exhibited such a desire for 

 tlie right in these courts, that at the age 

 of 25 he was elected tax assessor — a 

 very important position for one so 

 young. 



About this time he began the study of 

 law, and after completing the course, 

 was admitted to the bar, and almost at 

 one bound went into the first ranks of 

 attorneys, which position he still occu- 

 pies. It is said that he has appeared as 

 counsel in as many, if not more, murder 

 cases than any other attorney of his age 

 in the State of Tennessee, and perhaps 

 any other State of the Union ; and as a 

 land lawyer, he has few peers; he is 

 also well versed inequity jurisprudence. 



He was elected to the State Senate in 

 1880, and became noted, while a mem- 

 ber of the Senate, as a constitutional 

 lawyer, and made a good reputation 

 otherwise. 



The pay of only $4.00 per day, allow- 



