Asa Coleman, a distinguished physician and surgeon of Troy, now deceased, was born in Glastonbury, Connecticut, July 1788, and died in Troy, Ohio, February 25, 1870. He was a descendant of Noah Coleman, an English emigrant to the Pilgrim colony in 1630. For six generations the name of Coleman has been identified with local and general positions in the various relations of church, state, Masonry, medicine and surgery. The same patriotic spirit that led their ancestors to enroll themselves under the Continental flag moved the descendants in later wars to lead the charging column or alleviate distress in the field or the crowded hospital. The line of descent of our subject from this American ancestor is Noah Coleman, first, second and third. Noah Coleman, third, was born in Hatfield, Massachusetts, in 1704, married Mercy Wright, of Colchester, and had a family of seven children, namely: Mary, Sibyl, Noah, Ozias, Daniel, Asaph and Zenas. Asaph, the fourth son, was born in Massachusetts in 1747, married Eunice Hollister, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, by whom he had six children: Julius, Eunice, Asa, Pamelia, Clarissa and Maria. He was a prominent physician and surgeon in the Continental army. Asa Coleman, after receiving an academic education in his native town, turned his attention to medicine and surgery, pursuing his studies mainly under the instruction of his father. May 23, 1810, he received a diploma from the Connecticut State Medical Society. Having made a prospecting tour to the new state of Ohio in the fall of 1807, he resolved to make that his future home, and in May, 1811, left his native state and located in Troy. In November of the same year he received a diploma from the Ohio Board of Medical Examiners and established himself in the town just named, in the practice of medicine and surgery, which he followed for more than half a century with constant success till the close of his career. An enterprising pioneer, he took an active and leading part in all the early improvements of this now beautiful county seat. On September 24, 1808, he had been commissioned surgeon of the Sixth Connecticut Militia, and on the same date of 1811, he was made surgeon of the Ohio Militia. He was constantly on the round of duty, visiting the sick and wounded at the block houses and forts along the northern boundary of Miami county, then the frontier settlement. Other commissions followed as surgeon, as major, May 20, 1816, and lieutenant-colonel, July 27, 1818, from Governor Worthington. In October, 1816, he was elected representative to the state legislature and served in the first session ever held in Columbus, December, 1816. He was re-elected in the following year and served a second term, declining a third, although strongly urged to become a candidate. He was elected associate judge and commissioned February 4, 1827, by Governor Trimble, for a period of seven years. He was also chosen as a director of the Miami County Branch of the Bank of Ohio, at its organization in 1846, serving as an officer till its close in 1866. He was instrumental in the organization of the First National Bank of Troy, was elected its first president, served nearly two years, and resigned through failing health. He was made a Freemason in 1809, was a charter member of Franklin Lodge, Troy, in June, 1812, and was first master of the same; at the time of his death, in his eighty-second year, he was the last surviving charter member. He was also a charter member of Franklin Chapter, R. A. M., Franklin Council, R. & S. M., and Coleman Commandery, K. T., the last named bearing his name in honor of his Masonic worth. For six years he served as director and physician of the county infirmary and submitted the plan for the present building. He was prominent in establishing the Protestant Episcopal church in Troy, was elected first senior warden of Trinity church in 1830, and annually re-elected up to the time of his death,--a continued period of forty years. Fond of agricultural pursuits, he gave much of his time to the operation of his farm and retired thither during the last few years of his life. He was above medium height, straight and well proportioned, and as erect in his advanced years as in his youthful manhood; his hearing was dignified, his step firm, and his hair silvered white as snow. He lived a long, active, useful and blameless life, and died as one, who, wearied with his labors, "wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams."

He was thrice married. His third was Mary Keifer, whom he married October 24, 1822. She was born in Sharpsburg, Maryland, and came with her parents to Clark county, Ohio, in 1812. She survived her husband but a few months, dying December 5, 1870. By the last marriage they reared six children: Horace, Pamelia Hale, Augustus Henry, Asa, George Edwin and Julius Adams. All the above named sons served in the Union ranks in the war of the Rebellion.