The Coffman family sailed on June 24, 1710 from London and landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that September and went to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in October 1710 where they took up land to help start a new country. This was the beginning of our Coffman pioneer spirit in the new land across the ocean.

Lovell and Catherine, his wife, were true pioneers as they brought their children by wagon and oxen from Madison County, Alabama to the new frontier called the Republic of Texas. Like their fathers and grandfathers who fought in the American Revolution, War of 1812 and before, their battles were just beginning. The Republic was having trouble with the Mexicans and Indians at that time. Remember the Alamo and the battle at san Jacinto was heard.

Back home in Tennessee some of their neighbors had been Davy Crockett and his family. Some of the frequent visitors were Andrew Jackson, who would become President of the United States, and cousins that married into Abraham Lincoln's family. Lovell's uncle was the third Baptist preacher in Tennessee.

Lovell Coffman was the son of Jacob Maryon Coffman and Nancy Walker born 22 August 1800 in Jefferson County, Tennessee.  He had eleven brothers and sisters. Lovell married Catherine Howard on 16 November 1820 in Madison County, Alabama. Catherine was the daughter of Baldwin and Eliza Elizabeth Howard originally of North Carolina/Tennessee.  She was born 17 December 1801 in Kentucky. Her family was Dutch Holland and had 14 brothers and sisters.

Lovell rescinded a land grant on 5 December 1839 in Red River County. They were the proud parents of eleven children; James, Eliza Lusaiza, Nancy, And Infant, Seabern Joseph, Martha Jane, William Washington, Andrew Jackson, Amanda, Mary Frances, and Jacob Warren. They lost two sons in the war between the states.

Lovell was a loving and kind gentleman as well as Catherine a very loving mother. They gave food and shelter to strangers who wondered by in need, as well to other family members. Lovell loved his new country called the Republic Of Texas. He served in the Republic in the following capacities; Surveyor, Justice Of The Peace for two terms, and a Minute Man, which was the beginning of the Texas Rangers. He fought the Indians and Mexicans for the freedom of his family. He was also a Democratic-Republican party committee member and a southern Confederate soldier according to a letter. To his brother, James, he was a tanner, but also known for his abilities as a gunsmith, and one of the finest of wood workmen, building good wagons, plows, spinning wheels, and looms for weaving cloth. He had plenty of fine timber. One of the reasons he and his family settled in Red River County was because of the fine white oak, which abounded so plentiful.

After living there some twenty plus years he had a few slaves when the War Between the States broke out. There were some letters that he wrote to his brother, James, in 1863, telling of buying two slaves, a young negro woman and her son and paid $3,000 for them and seemed to be very proud of them. He also tells in the letter of butchering 4,000 pounds of pork and of the capture of some horse thieves near Shreveport. He always was willing to witness papers for the neighbors. Because of this, the family has his signature for future generations to see. Catherine, like many women back then, did not read or write.

After the war, Lovell helped his neighbors in the surrounding areas and as far away as Sherman with supplies. When the Red River was down, he would go to the port of Jefferson to pick up supplies. This was a two week trip from Bagwell, the community where he lived, to Jefferson by wagon. It was during one of these trips that he was killed by horse thieves who robbed him and his wagon box taking his fine horses and leaving behind their horses. In searching for the truth it was found in the newspaper about his death. It was found that Lovell had an inventory in his pocket signed by H. D. Deberry, his son-in-law and the Red River County Justice Of The Peace, after his  death. 

Lovell died in December 1866 and Catherine in 1884. They are buried at the Bluff Cemetery near Bagwell near their homestead.

Phyllis Bridges & Christina Massey, Descendants