Biography

01/13/1825 - 09/09/1878

G. (George) Dawson Coleman (R16) Dauphin and Lebanon Counties, 1867-1869

Early Life: 

G. (George) Dawson Coleman, born January 13, 1825, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; son of James and Sarah Dawson Coleman; local school education; Princeton University; University of Pennsylvania, 1843; proprietor, North Lebanon Furnaces; philanthropist; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1862; elected, Union Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1863; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1867-1869; gubernatorial appointee, State Board of Charities, 1867-1878; married, Debbie Brown, 1858 children, Harriet Dawson Coleman, Robert Coleman, George Dawson Coleman, Deborah Norris Coleman Brock, Sarah Coleman Brock, James Coleman, Fanny Brown Coleman, William Brown Coleman, Bertram Dawson Coleman, Edward R Coleman; died, September 9, 1878, Lebanon, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania; interment, Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

A third-generation iron business heir, Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Built, North Lebanon Furnaces, Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Owned, part interest with his brother, Cornwall Furnace, stockholder, Pennsylvania Steel Company, Steelton, Dauphin County. During the Civil War, he contributed material support to the Union Army. Organizer, Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteers. Provided large donations to Civil War widows and orphans. President, First National Bank of Lebanon.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1862. 

Elected, Union Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1863.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 16th district, Dauphin and Lebanon Counties, 1867-1869; committee assignments, Accounts, Public Buildings, Railroads. 

gubernatorial appointee, State Board of Charities, 1867-1878.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Cited:

Cox, Harold "Senate Members "C". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull, J.A., (Editor) Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1868) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 276, 280-282.

George Dawson Coleman (1825-1878) - Find a Grave Memorial