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Vermont was the birthplace of another prominent pioneer of Muncie, Eleazer Coffeen, a relative of the
above Goldsmith Coffeen Gilbert. Born in 1799. his parents crossed the state of New York to Jefferson
county in 1801. We are not informed what route he took to reach Lebanon, in southwestern Ohio, in 1822,
but it is probable the Ohio river furnished the route for the greater part of the way. Arriving in this
county in 1833, Mr. Coffeen became an early merchant of Muncie, was proprietor of two saw mills, and
at one time had a woolen mill on Buck creek. He lived in Muncie until 1869, and also spent his final
years here. He was concerned in many affairs by which his name is permanently fixed. In 1851 he laid
out a suburb of Muncie called Coffeentown. He was an associate judge, a member of the legislature, and
as long as he lived in Muncie was closely connected with its progress. |