The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 232

W. E. COLEMAN.

W. E. Colman is the vice president of the firm of A. B. Fosseen & Company of
Yakima, dealers in building supplies. He was born in Wahoo, Nebraska. January 9,
1885, and is a son of J. E. and Ruth E. (Terry) Coleman, who in 1912 removed
with their family to Oregon. They now make their home at Morrow, that state, and
Mr. Coleman is engaged in the machinery and hardware business there.

W. E. Coleman acquired a public school education and afterward entered the
University of Nebraska, in which he pursued a classical course, winning the
Bachelor of Arts degree as an alumnus of 1910. Attracted by the opportunities of
the growing northwest, he came to Yakima and entered the employ of the
Irrigation Pipe Manufacturing Company, with which business he was connected
until 1913, when he joined A. B. Fosseen of the firm of A. B. Fosseen & Company
and was elected vice president on the 1st of January, 1915. It has always been
the policy of Mr. Fosseen to recognize capability, worth and faithfulness on the
part of those in his employ and to make them feel that they have a real interest
and share in the business.

Carrying out his policy, he has taken several of his employees into the firm,
including Mr. Coleman. The company has earned a most enviable reputation for
honesty and fair dealing and the business is now an extensive one, covering the
territory from Ellensburg to Pasco. They handle all kinds of building supplies
and specialize also in irrigation and drainage supplies, in fencing, in
fireplace materials, oils, paints and hollow clay interlocking blocks.

On July 14, 1918, W. E. Coleman married Miss Harriett Parker, of Yakima, a
daughter of Fred Parker, a well known Yakima attorney. Mr. Coleman is a member
of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Yakima Lodge, No. 24, F. & A. M., and
passing up through the Scottish Rite, he has attained the thirty-second degree
in the consistory and also belongs to the Shrine. He is connected with the
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and his interest in the welfare and progress
of his city is indicated by his membership in the Commercial Club. He is in
hearty sympathy with all of its well defined plans and purposes for the general
good and cooperates earnestly in every measure that tends to advance Yakima's
best interests. On May 20, 1918, Mr. Coleman enlisted in the utility section of
the Quartermaster's department at Camp Lewis. Washington, and was sent east to
Camp Meigs, near Washington, D. C., for training. He was discharged November 27,
1918.

********************************
Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.