Orrin and Matilda Coleman were married in North Star, Michigan in 1903. They lived in North Star, Michigan for a while where he was employed as a logger. One day while cutting down a tree, he saw a bear. He had heard if you stare at him he would go the other way - and the bear just stared back and finally turned and went on his way.
Two sons, Lloyd and Leslie, were born in Michigan. Then the Colemans decided to come to North Dakota. They settled on the Frank Quick farm near Dazey, North Dakota, and farmed until a bad storm killed several of his horses. Mr. Coleman and his wife and six children moved to Rogers, North Dakota. He was employed by the Soo Railroad Company for many years. Five more children were born in Rogers. They continued to live in Rogers until 1947 when they had an auction sale and moved to Farmersville, California, where Mr. Coleman passed away in 1958. Mrs. Coleman lived with her daughter in Visalia, California, until her passing in 1970. Four of the seven sons were in Service for their country at the same time. They were scattered from camps in the United States to bases in England and the South Pacific.
Ten of the eleven children are still living in California, North Dakota, Washington, Missouri, Oregon and Texas.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 49