Stephen Coffin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stephen Coffin
Stephen Coffin
Born	1807 Maine
Died	March 16, 1882 Dayton, Oregon
Spouse(s)	Lucina Coffin

Stephen Coffin in 1847

Stephen Coffin (1807 – 1882) was an important person in the early history of Portland, Oregon. He was an investor, a promoter, and a builder. He also served as a military officer. Coffin helped shape Portland in the mid-1800s.

Stephen Coffin: A Builder of Early Portland

Stephen Coffin was born in Maine in 1807. He moved west to Oregon City, Oregon in 1847. In 1849, he bought a large share of the land that became the city of Portland. This made him a key figure in the city's development.

Helping Portland Grow

Coffin was involved in many projects that helped Portland grow. He invested in roads, businesses, and ways to transport goods. His goal was to make Portland a thriving city.

Connecting Communities

One of Coffin's big projects was the Tualatin Plank Road. This was a special road made of wooden planks. It connected Portland to the Tualatin Valley, making travel easier. He also invested in the Oregon Iron Company. This company helped produce iron, which was important for building.

Coffin also cared about transportation on the water. He invested in the People's Transportation Company. This company controlled shipping on the Willamette River in the 1860s. He also supported the Oregon Central Railroad. These projects helped connect Portland to other areas.

Bringing Water to the City

In 1856, Stephen Coffin and his neighbor, Finice Caruthers, started the Pioneer Water Works. This company brought clean drinking water to the people of Portland. This was a very important service for the growing city.

Serving the Community

Stephen Coffin

Coffin was also active in politics and community service. In 1856, he helped start the Oregon Republican Party. This was a new political group in Oregon. A year later, he was elected to the Portland city council. This meant he helped make decisions for the city.

Supporting Education and Parks

Stephen Coffin and his wife, Lucina, were very generous. Coffin gave land to the Methodist Episcopal Church in Portland. This land was used to build a school for boys and a school for girls.

Stephen's wife Lucina lived into her nineties. This portrait was published in Gaston's Portland, Oregon, Its History and Builders, vol. 1.

In 1871, Stephen and Lucina Coffin donated more land to the public. They gave seven park blocks for people to enjoy. They also gave land along the river at Jefferson Street for a public levee. A levee is a raised area that helps protect land from floods.

A Leader in the Militia

In 1863, Oregon Governor Addison Gibbs made Stephen Coffin a brigadier general in the state militia. This was a high military rank. Coffin earned this honor because he provided a steamboat. The steamboat helped send troops up the Columbia River during the Yakima War.

Later Life

Stephen Coffin passed away in Dayton, Oregon, on March 16, 1882. He left behind a legacy of building and community service in Oregon.