Most Wanted

Coleman family genealogy is pretty clear going back to Jefferson Coleman, and then the trail ends with clues but no "hard evidence. Jefferson was born around 1805, probably around Elizabethtown, KY, and passed away around 1872 in Coles County, IL. He was the husband of Eliza Yocum, and one of the first pioneers of the county - arriving around 1830 along with the Hart, Cunningham, and Yocum families.

A clue is the later arrival of John Shirley Coleman, son of Thomas Coleman of Virginia. One of Jefferson's sons, John Coleman, named one of his sons "James Overstreet Coleman" - a connection to the Overstreet line that traces back to the Wheat and Overstreet families of Virginia. The Wheat family also marrying with the Thomas Coleman family, and in fact another of Jefferson's sons - Edwin - also marrying Elizabeth Wheat (part of the same extended Wheat family).

So who were Jefferson's parents? Was John Shirley Coleman a brother? A cousin? Was Jefferson's father Thomas, or perhaps Farish Coleman (Thomas' brother)?

At present it is...a mystery.