Norman Jay Coleman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Norman Coleman
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 1st United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
| In office as Commissioner April 3, 1885 – February 14, 1889 as Secretary February 15, 1889 – March 6, 1889 |
|
| President | Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison |
| Preceded by | George B. Loring |
| Succeeded by | Jeremiah Rusk |
| 17th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri | |
| In office January 12, 1875 – January 8, 1877 |
|
| Governor | Charles Henry Hardin |
| Preceded by | Charles Phillip Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Henry Clay Brockmeyer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 16, 1827 Richfield Springs, New York, U.S. |
| Died | November 3, 1911 (aged 84) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Clara Porter Catherine Wright |
| Education | University of Louisville (LLB) |
Norman Jay Colman (May 16, 1827 – November 3, 1911) was an important American figure. He was a politician, a lawyer, a teacher, and a newspaper publisher. He is best known for being the very first United States Secretary of Agriculture, though he held the position for only 18 days.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Norman Colman was born in Richfield Springs, New York, in 1827. His parents were Nancy (Sprague) and Hamilton Coleman. As a young man, he moved to Kentucky to become a teacher. While living in Louisville, he also studied law. He earned his law degree from the University of Louisville Law School in 1849.
Teaching in Indiana
In 1850, Colman became the first principal of the Floyd County Seminary in Greenville, Indiana. This school was built with money raised by the community. Local residents contributed to make sure the school came to their town. A large, two-story brick building was built on land donated by Isaac Redman.
Colman worked as the principal in Greenville for two years. In 1852, Indiana passed laws to create a public school system. This meant that older county schools like the seminary had to close. Their resources were then given to the new public schools. About 100 students had attended the seminary, paying a small fee each semester.
The closing of the seminary ended Colman's teaching career. During his time in Greenville, he met Clara Porter. They married in 1851. Clara's father, Daniel Porter, owned a well-known hotel and social spot called Porter's Public House. Norman and Clara had two children: Laura Kate Colman (born 1860) and Francis Porter Colman (born 1862).
Moving to Missouri and Public Service
After his teaching career, Colman moved to Missouri. He intended to become a farmer there. In 1854, he was elected as an Alderman for St. Louis city's 5th ward. An alderman is a local government official.
In 1855, he started his own newspaper called The Valley Farmer. This newspaper helped him become a well-known person in Missouri's farming community. This connection to farming later helped him in his political career. His newspaper's publication was stopped during the American Civil War. However, three years after the war ended, he started a new paper called Colman's Rural World.
His political career continued to grow. He was elected the 17th Lieutenant Governor of Missouri. He served in this role from 1875 to 1877 as a member of the Democratic Party.
Leading Agriculture in the U.S.
President Grover Cleveland chose Colman to be the Commissioner of Agriculture in 1885. During this time, he worked with many agricultural colleges. They wrote ideas for new laws to create special agricultural experiment stations. These stations would help farmers by researching new methods and crops. Their hard work helped pass the Hatch Act in 1887. This law provided federal funds for these experiment stations.
Colman also strongly supported creating a new government department just for agriculture. This new department would be called the United States Department of Agriculture. At the very end of President Cleveland's term, on February 15, 1889, Colman became its first ever Secretary. He served in this important role until March 6, 1889.
Later Life and Legacy
After his short time as Secretary, Colman returned to St. Louis. He continued to run his newspaper. For the next 20 years, he also worked in state public service and was involved in horse-breeding.
Norman J. Colman passed away on November 3, 1911, at 84 years old. He died from pneumonia. He is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
Family Life
Norman Colman married Clara Porter in 1851. They had two children: Laura Kate Colman (born 1860) and Francis Porter Colman (born 1862). Laura Kate later married John Fremont Hill, who became the Governor of Maine. After Clara's death, Norman married his second wife, Catherine Wright, in 1866. They had one daughter, Clara Wright Colman (born 1876), whom he named after his first wife.
Colman was also a member of the Freemasons, a fraternal organization.
