Page 133 - WPA Book
P. 133
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
HOUSES
1. SUBJECT:
Isaac Coffman Home.
2. LOCATION:
On Linville Creek about 7 miles northwest of Harrisonburg, Virginia, on the west side of Route 260, and west
of the old Wenger Mill several hundred yards. From Harrisonburg take Kratzer Road to where it intersects with
Route 260 and turn left (west) to the Wenger Mill and turn west (left) several hundred yards.
3. DATE:
Prior to 1860.
4. OWNERS:
Joseph Kratzer from Jacob Kauffman, July 26, 1784, 284 acres.
Joseph Kratzer from Jacob Kauffman, July 26, 1784, 120 acres.
Joseph Kratzer from Jacob Leair [likely, Lair], April 25, 1796, 23 acres, 2 rods, 5 poles.
Joseph Kratzer from Michael Warren, March 21, 1785, 1 ½ acres.
Joseph Kratzer, 2 surveys, George Huston, 12 ½ acres.
The above are part of patents by Morgan Bryan, 1743; Michael Warren, 1767; Jacob Kauffman, 1784; John
Hughes, 1768. Survey Book A, page 353.
Samuel Coffman from Jacob Kuster, January 24, 1824, $8,896, 472 acres, D.B. 6, page 63.
Samuel Coffman from Joseph Kratzer, record burnt, 1864, B.R.D.B. 9, page 295.
E. Coffman Bros. From estate of Samuel Coffman, 1851, B.R.D.B. 23, page 486.
S.A. and H.D. Coffman from E. Coffman and Bros., Division, December 31, 1860, 894 acres, B.R.D.B. 34,
page 403.
E. and D.W. Coffman from S. and M.D. Coffman, June 12, 1863, for $8,500 and 77 acres of land – 280
acres, D.B. 5, page 470.
A.M. Newman, Jr., from A.M. Newman, Sr., trustee for E. and D.W. Coffman, August 4, 1880, $16,290,
228 acres, D.B. 18, page 392.
Margaret L. Myers by inheritance from father, A.M. Newman, Sr., 1896. W.B. 2, page 208, and D.B. 84,
pages 440-1.
Annie M. Richardson from mother, Margaret L. Myers, by will, May 1900, W.B. 8, page 396.
A.U. Wise from Annie M. Richardson, January 15, 1929, $23.000, D.B. 143, page 164.
J.R. Byerly, present owner, from A.U. Wise, November 12, 1929, $17,508, for 152 acres plus, in two tracts,
D.B. 145, page 284.
5. DESCRIPTION:
The house is rectangular with gabled roof and built of stone. It has a frame extension in the rear and house
fronts east. The porch with its sloping roof is now about fallen down. The cellar, with a dirt floor, is under the
rear.
See form 3686, attached.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
As may be seen from the picture, this old house with the expenditure of a little money and by proper treatment
might be made into a splendid country home. It is located on a splendid farm and far enough away from the
road to insure quiet and not too far as to make it inconvenient. Who built this house seems not to be quite
definitely known, nor whether it is the first house built on this location. It is said to have been built by Isaac
Coffman before the War Between the States. Just across the road leading into this place and not far from the
house are the old slave quarters, built of brick.
The Coffmans, especially in the early years, were of the Mennonite faith and were leaders in that denomination;
they were chiefly farmers but among them were also lawyers and doctors. They took part in the conflict of
1861-5 between the states, on the Confederate side, and the roster shows a number of them
Page 132 of 482
HOUSES
1. SUBJECT:
Isaac Coffman Home.
2. LOCATION:
On Linville Creek about 7 miles northwest of Harrisonburg, Virginia, on the west side of Route 260, and west
of the old Wenger Mill several hundred yards. From Harrisonburg take Kratzer Road to where it intersects with
Route 260 and turn left (west) to the Wenger Mill and turn west (left) several hundred yards.
3. DATE:
Prior to 1860.
4. OWNERS:
Joseph Kratzer from Jacob Kauffman, July 26, 1784, 284 acres.
Joseph Kratzer from Jacob Kauffman, July 26, 1784, 120 acres.
Joseph Kratzer from Jacob Leair [likely, Lair], April 25, 1796, 23 acres, 2 rods, 5 poles.
Joseph Kratzer from Michael Warren, March 21, 1785, 1 ½ acres.
Joseph Kratzer, 2 surveys, George Huston, 12 ½ acres.
The above are part of patents by Morgan Bryan, 1743; Michael Warren, 1767; Jacob Kauffman, 1784; John
Hughes, 1768. Survey Book A, page 353.
Samuel Coffman from Jacob Kuster, January 24, 1824, $8,896, 472 acres, D.B. 6, page 63.
Samuel Coffman from Joseph Kratzer, record burnt, 1864, B.R.D.B. 9, page 295.
E. Coffman Bros. From estate of Samuel Coffman, 1851, B.R.D.B. 23, page 486.
S.A. and H.D. Coffman from E. Coffman and Bros., Division, December 31, 1860, 894 acres, B.R.D.B. 34,
page 403.
E. and D.W. Coffman from S. and M.D. Coffman, June 12, 1863, for $8,500 and 77 acres of land – 280
acres, D.B. 5, page 470.
A.M. Newman, Jr., from A.M. Newman, Sr., trustee for E. and D.W. Coffman, August 4, 1880, $16,290,
228 acres, D.B. 18, page 392.
Margaret L. Myers by inheritance from father, A.M. Newman, Sr., 1896. W.B. 2, page 208, and D.B. 84,
pages 440-1.
Annie M. Richardson from mother, Margaret L. Myers, by will, May 1900, W.B. 8, page 396.
A.U. Wise from Annie M. Richardson, January 15, 1929, $23.000, D.B. 143, page 164.
J.R. Byerly, present owner, from A.U. Wise, November 12, 1929, $17,508, for 152 acres plus, in two tracts,
D.B. 145, page 284.
5. DESCRIPTION:
The house is rectangular with gabled roof and built of stone. It has a frame extension in the rear and house
fronts east. The porch with its sloping roof is now about fallen down. The cellar, with a dirt floor, is under the
rear.
See form 3686, attached.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
As may be seen from the picture, this old house with the expenditure of a little money and by proper treatment
might be made into a splendid country home. It is located on a splendid farm and far enough away from the
road to insure quiet and not too far as to make it inconvenient. Who built this house seems not to be quite
definitely known, nor whether it is the first house built on this location. It is said to have been built by Isaac
Coffman before the War Between the States. Just across the road leading into this place and not far from the
house are the old slave quarters, built of brick.
The Coffmans, especially in the early years, were of the Mennonite faith and were leaders in that denomination;
they were chiefly farmers but among them were also lawyers and doctors. They took part in the conflict of
1861-5 between the states, on the Confederate side, and the roster shows a number of them
Page 132 of 482
