Lang, H. O., ed. "The History of the Willamette Valley, Being A Description of the Valley and its Resources, with an account of its Discovery and Settlement by White Men, and its Subsequent History; Together with Personal Reminiscences of its Early Pioneers." Portland, OR, Geo. H. Himes, Book and Job Printer, 1885. p. 668. STEPHEN COFFIN Born in Ohio, in _____; came to Oregon, bringing his family. Settled at Oregon City, but two years later purchased a half-interest in the town-site of Portland, it being the Lownsdale claim, now covered by that portion of the city between the Willamette river and Sixteenth street, and A and Caruthers streets. He grew rich by the sale of lots, and manifested immense enterprise in the various projects for building up the city of Portland. Steamship companies, roads and railroads, felt his influence, and the city owes much to his sagacity. General Coffin, as he was commonly known, helped organize the People's Transportation Company in 1860, which, for many years, controlled the traffic on the Willamette, and carried on a fierce battle with the O. S. N. Co, for the control of that of the Columbia. Previously he had, in company with his partners, Lownsdale and Chapman, purchased a controlling interest in the steamer Gold Hunter, which was to run between San Francisco and Portland, in opposition to the vessels of the Pacific Mail Company, which was opposed to Portland and strove to build up St. Helens in opposition to it. The project of the Gold Hunter proved unsuccessful. In 1851 he, organized a company to build a plank road to connect the rising metropolis with the towns of the "west side." The project was only partially successful. In 1860 he was contractor for the bridge work of the Oregon Central Railroad, west side division. Stephen Coffin died at Dayton, Yamhill County, in March, 1883. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.