Miami Union

February 26, 1870

COLEMAN, DR. ASA - At his residence in this town, suddenly, on Thursday night, Dr. Asa Coleman, aged about 84 years.  Dr. Coleman was one of the earliest settlers in Troy, and has, for more than half a century, been one of its most prominent and useful citizens.  We met him on the afternoon previous to his death, on the street, and he appeared to be in more than his usual health and spirits.  He was in the Court room on that afternoon, and other persons also noticed the same fact.  In the evening he retired in the same apparent health, and some time before daylight, Mrs. Coleman, who was with him, waked from sleep to find him a corpse.  He had died, it seems without a word, a struggle or a groan.  The remains of Dr. C. will be buried at 2 o'clock to-morrow afternoon by the Knights Templar of Coleman Commandry, assisted by the Dayton Commandry.

Miami Union

March 5, 1870 

COLEMAN, DR. ASA - In Memoriam - Dr. Asa Coleman was born in Glastenburg, Conn., July 2d, 1788; was made a master Mason in Columbia Lodge, No. 25, Stepury, Conn., in 1809 or 1810; was elected Senior Warden of said Lodge 1810; came to Troy, O., in 1811; was charter member and First Worshipful Master of Franklin Lodge No. 14, which Lodge was organized January 10th, 1812; and immediately prior to his death was the only surviving charter member of said Lodge.  On the 16th day of March 1841, he in connection with a number of companions received a charter from the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Ohio, for the instituting of Franklin Chapter No. 24, in which he served as Secretary and High Priest.  On the 15th day of September, 1847, he was name with several other companions in a charter issued by the F and Council of Royal and Select Masters of Ohio, for the instituting of Franklin Council No. 14, in which Council he served as first Deputy Illustrious Grand Master.  He was regularly dubbed and created a Knight of the Valiant and Magnanimous Order of Knights Templar, Knight of Malta or Order of St. John of Jerusalem, by the late Eminent Sir Knight William H. Raper in Reed Commandry No. 6, Dayton, O., November 23d 1847, in which Commandry he remained a member until November 30th, 1868, at which time he joined with a number of Sir Knights in a petition to the Grand Commander of Ohio for a dispensation to open a Commandry in Troy, O., and on the 15th day of October, 1869, a charter was granted by the Commandry, in honor of Sir Knight Asa Coleman.  He was the first Treasurer elected and held that office at his death.  He died Feb. 25, 1870, at 4 a.m.--aged 81 years, 7 months and 28 days.

            Whereas, It has pleased the Allwise and ______ Rather to remove from our brotherhood and from dear and tender ties of family and

                    the Society of friends, our faithful, honored and esteemed brother and Sir Knight, Asa Coleman, M. D., and

            Whereas, The fraternal ties that mutually bound him and us unto our social Society of friends and brothers are severed to be

                    reunited no more till the voice of Immanuel, who "is the resurrection and the Life" shall welcome us to the asylum of the

                    blessed; therefore

            Resolved.  That we sincerely and submissively bow to the mandate of Him, who is too wise to err; too good to be unkind; too

                    merciful to be unjust, and who orders all things well.

            Resolved.  That we will ever keep alive in our memory the truly Christian and Masonic virtues of our deceased brother and strive

                    to imitate his amiable, manly and courteous character, so wrought out by a long and useful life, and which secured to him the

                    love and friendship of all who knew him.

            Resolved.  That we give to the family of our dear brother our sincere and heartfelt sympathy, and assure them that they are not

                   alone in their sorrow; that with their tears and prayers ours are mingled, looking forward to and hoping for a better and higher

                    life with him who has gone before.

            Resolved.  That a copy of these resolutions be furnished the family of our deceased brother.

                                                                                            A. L. McKinney.

                                                                                          O. H. Binkley.

                                                                                         S. A. Cairns.      Committee.

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