William Coffin Coleman
Encyclopedia
William Coffin Coleman (May 21, 1870 – November 2, 1957) was the founder of the Coleman Company
, a maker of camping equipment.
in 1871, and in 1881 his father died. William then worked as a salesman.
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 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.
Coleman Company
Coleman Company, Inc., is an American company that specializes in outdoor recreation products. Historically, Coleman is known for camping gear....
, a maker of camping equipment.
Biography
He was born in Chatham, New York in 1870. His parents moved the family to Labette County, KansasLabette County, Kansas
Labette County is a county located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 21,607. Its county seat is Oswego, and its most populous city is Parsons...
in 1871, and in 1881 his father died. William then worked as a salesman.
While he was selling typewriters in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
he saw a lantern that used gasoline instead of kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
. He then switched his sales to lanterns. He then 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
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
. 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.