From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 

Contributed by Linda Fluharty.

Pages 604-605

JOHN S. COFFLAND is proprietor of the Horse Exchange, the only place of
its kind in Wheeling, West virginia.  His business is located at No. 955
Market street, and there he has a very flourishing trade.  He was born
in Belmont county, Ohio, June 2, 1862.  He is a son of George and Martha
Ann (Wadsworth) Coffland, also natives of Ohio.
    George W. Coffland became a dealer in live stock when only twenty years
old, and continued in the business until his death, June 2, 1895, at the
age of seventy-five years.  He was united in matrimony with Martha Ann
Wadsworth, who died when forty-nine years, three months and eleven days
old.  Her family was one of the oldest in the county.  Her father was a
sickle-maker by trade, and was a pioneer settler of Belmont county.  To
this union were born eight children, as follows:  Emily E., the wife of
James T. Bentley; William N., who is engaged in the clothing and wood
business in Wisconsin, where he is in the gents' furnishing business, and
handles wool; Charles C., deceased; Elwood, who died in infancy; Mary A.,
the wife of E. E. Pancoast, a resident of Belmont county, who farms near
Belmont; John S.; and James E., who lives in Wisconsin with his brother
Milton T.
     George W. Coffland took little interest in politics.  He was an attendant
of the M. E. church, of which his wife was a member.  Mr. Coffland was a model
man in business, in morals, and in social life.  Although doing business with
those who drank, smoked chewed, and swore, he was never known to do any of
these things.  He was a great favorite among his acquaintances, well known in
his own county and those adjoining, and always respected for his firm stand.
He died without an enemy.
     John S. Coffland obtained his early mental training in the public schools
of Belmont county, Ohio.  After his school days were ended, he embarked in the
live stock business with his father, handling cattle, sheep, hogs and horses,
and continuing in the business in Belmont county until 1896.  In April of that
year, he sold out and came to Wheeling, Ohio county, West Virginia, where he
opened up his present business, at first as a livery, he gave his attention to
buying  and selling horses.  During last year he handled 1,303 head, and expects
to come close to 2,000 head in the present year, as he is doing a splendid
business.  He has the best location that is possible, and employs seven men all
summer in caring for the stock.
     Mr. Coffland was united in marriage with Mary E. Coffland, on January 2, 1885.
Although bearing the same name she is not a relative of her husband.  She is a
daughter of  J. W. Coffland, and is a native of Belmont county, Ohio.  Mr. Coff-
land and his worthy wife have been blessed with two children, - Lois G. and Howard
J.  Mrs. Coffland is a member of the M. E. church.  Mr. Coffland is a member of the
K. of P. fraternity.  In politics he votes for the man he thinks will best fill the
office.