William Coffin Coleman

William Coffin Coleman (May 21, 1870 – November 2, 1957) was the founder of the Coleman Company, a maker of camping equipment.

He was born in Chatham, New York in 1870. His parents moved family moved to Labette County, Kansas in 1871, and in 1881 his father died. William then worked as a salesman.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=William Coffin Coleman |url=http://www.kshs.org/portraits/coleman_w_c.htm |quote= |publisher=Kansas State Historical Society |date= |accessdate=2007-07-21 ]

While he was selling typewriters in Alabama he saw a lantern that used gasoline instead of kerosene. He then switched his sales to lanterns. He then he began to craft his own lantern, which he marketed as the Coleman Arc Lamp. In 1901 Coleman married Fanny Sheldon and they moved to Wichita, Kansas. They had two children Sheldon Coleman and Clarence Coleman. The business was now called the Coleman Lamp and Stove Company. He was mayor of Wichita in 1923 and 1924. Coleman died in 1957 from a heart attack. cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=W.C. Coleman, 87, Stove Maker, Dies. Manufacturer of Utensil Used by G.I.'s Founded Company in Wichita |url= |quote=Wichita, Kansas, Nov. 2, 1957 (AP) William Coffin Coleman, maker of gasoline lamps and G.I. pocket stoves known the world over, died of a heart attack today. His age was 87. |publisher=New York Times |date=November 3, 1957, Sunday |accessdate=2007-07-21 ]

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*Findagrave|7624857