Elijah Coffin, deceased, was one of Wayne County’s most prominent and enterprising citizens.  He contributed toward 
the building up of its benevolent societies, assisted in laying the foundation of the banking interests of the county, 
and was one of the most influential members of the Society of Friends.  He was the son of Bethuel and Hannah (Dicks) 
Coffin, and was born in New Garden, Guilford Co., N. C., Nov. 17, 1798.  He received a fair education for the early 
part of the nineteenth century, and taught school some time in his native State.  Feb. 2, 1820, he was married to 
Naomi Hiatt, and settled on a farm in his native county.  In 1824 he came to Indiana and located in Milton, Wayne 
County, and resumed the occupation of teaching.  In 1829 he opened a store in Milton, and his fidelity and ability 
became known to a wholesale firm of Cincinnati, who made him a liberal offer as clerk, and in 1833 he abandoned his 
store and removed to Cincinnati, remaining there a year and a half.  At that time a branch of the Indiana State Bank 
as located at Richmond, and Mr. Coffin was chosen its Cashier, a position he was admirably fitted for.  He therefore, 
in November, 1834, removed to Richmond.  He was the bank’s Cashier, holding the position twenty-four years, the limit 
of the charter.  At a final meeting of the Board of Directors, Dec. 24, 1858, the following resolution was offered by 
Robert Morrisson and adopted: “It is unanimously resolved, That in consideration of the able and faithful services of Elijah Coffin, as Cashier of this branch, from its first organization till its close, and the fidelity and promptitude 
with which he has discharged the various and important duties confided to his care, the board embraces the opportunity 
to express upon our minutes the high sense entertained of his official services and private worth.”  With the closing
 of the bank Mr. Coffin gave up secular business.  His religious affiliations were unabating and unswerving in the 
Society of Friends.  He was at an early age Clerk of the Yearly Meeting in North Carolina, and in 1827 was appointed 
Clerk of the Indiana Yearly Meeting.  Nothing was too arduous for him if it tended to the upbuilding of the society 
and of mankind.  He was a friend of education, Sabbath-schools, and all associations to promote the circulation of 
tracts and the reading of the Scriptures.  He was for many years a life member of the American Bible Society.  His 
death occurred Jan. 22, 1862, and his wife followed him June 14, 1866.  Their children were – Miriam A., Charles F., 
William H., Eliphalet, Caroline E., Mary C., and Hannah, three born in North Carolina and four in Wayne County.  
Charles F. has, during the greater portion of his life, been in the banking business in Richmond.  He was one of the 
original proprietors of the Citizen’s Bank, established in 1853; was Cashier of the Richmond branch of the Bank of the 
State, and been President of the Richmond National Bank since its organization.  After the death of his father he was 
chosen to fill many of the important positions of the church, and the part taken by his father has been continued by 
him with equal interest and ability.  He married Rhoda Johnson, who is also an able and active worker in the Society 
of Friends.  Their children are – Elijah, Charles H., Francis A., William E. and Percival.

History of Wayne County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884. Volume 2. Pages 161 to 163.