The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 156

ZENAS Y. COLEMAN.

Commercial enterprise in Toppenish finds a worthy representative in Zenas Y.
Coleman, who comes to the United States from across the border, his birth having
occurred in Scotstown, Canada, on the 12th of August, 1872. His parents were
William and Flavilla (Knapp) Coleman, the former a native of Canada, while the
latter was born in Maine. Mr. Coleman had lived in the United States for about
twelve years prior to his marriage. Subsequently he returned to Canada, where
the birth of his son Zenas occurred, but when the boy was only about a year old
the parents once more came to the United States and settled upon a farm in New
Hampshire. At a subsequent date they again went to Canada, where they lived for
two years and then became residents of Michigan about 1883. They continued to
make their home in that state until 1891, when they started for the far west
with Seattle, Washington, as their destination. The father was a farmer by
occupation and followed that pursuit in the various localities in which he made
his home. His death occurred in Seattle and his widow is still living.

Zenas Y. Coleman obtained a high school education in Michigan and when his
textbooks were put aside secured a clerkship in a store. In fact he began
clerking while still in high school, being thus employed at Stanton, Michigan,
where he remained in clerical work until 1896. He afterward spent two years as
a clerk in Chicago and in 1898 he came to Washington, making his way to Yakima,
where for three years he was in the employ of the Henry H. Schott Company. He
next took charge of the business of the Moore Clothing Company, remaining as
manager for three years, and subsequently he was half owner of a shoe store in
Yakima. There he remained until 1908, when he sold his interest in that business
and removed to Toppenish. In the meantime or in December, 1905, he had been
appointed register of the united States land office by President Roosevelt and
served in that connection until 1908, when he resigned.

With his removal to Toppenish, Mr. Coleman purchased an interest in the
Toppenish Trading Company and became vice president and general manager, in
which connection he has since continued. The firm has built up a business of
large proportions and Mr. Coleman has been most active in producing this
result. He applies himself with thoroughness and earnestness to the work and
puts forth every effort to please his patrons, while his reliable business
methods as well as his progressiveness have constituted an important force in
the development of the business.

On the 16th of August, 1899, Mr. Coleman was married to Miss Edith M. Moore, who
had been a schoolmate in Stanton, Michigan. They became the parents of five
children but three of the number died in infancy, those still living being:
Zenas Y., Jr., now twelve years of age; and Katherine, a little maiden of eight
summers.

Mr. Coleman is well known in fraternal connections. He belongs to Yakima Lodge
No. 318, R. P. O. E., of which he is a past exalted ruler, is a member of
Toppenish Lodge No. 178, A. F. & A. M., of which he is now serving as master
and he has also taken the degrees of the Scottish Rite of Masonry in Yakima. He
likewise belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Yakima and to the
Toppenish Commercial Club, of which he served as president in 1915 and 1916. His
political endorsement is given to the republican party. He has been a member of
the school board of Toppenish and has served as a member of the state fair board
by appointment of Governor Meade, At all times he manifests a public-spirited
devotion to the general welfare and has cooperated in large and active measure
with movements and projects put forth to benefit community and commonwealth. In
public life, as in business affairs, he is actuated by a progressiveness that
knows no bounds and he attacks everything with a contagious enthusiasm that
easily wins the cooperation and support of others.

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