James P. Coffin was the county clerk and commissioner of public buildings in Powhatan.

In 1879, he was a ruling elder in the Presbytery of Arkansas. ²

1887: Commissioner of Public Buildings - advertises notice to contracts to submit bids to building Powhatan courthouse.³

In 1888, James P. Coffin was sued by Willis M. Ponder for misappropriation of funds. Ponder believed Coffin was using funds from taxing the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway that should have been used for the school fund to build the 1888 Courthouse. (Box 31, Folder 114)

James Park Coffin was elected to the Arkansas College Board of Trustees at 37 years of age. In 1891, he moved to Batesville to be nearer to his daughter. His sons, Charles H. Coffin and Maxwell Coffin both graduated from Arkansas College in the 1880s. (Blevins, Lyon College 1872-2002)

In 1929, he was still involved in banking, traveling from Batesville to Newport to attend a meeting of Arkansas bankers. He traveled with L.B. Poindexter.He was described as "a much loved veteran banker" and despite his advanced aged maintained his physical and mental acuity. 1

Sources

1. Batesville Record (Batesville, Arkansas, United States of America) · 7 Mar 1929, Thu · Page 4 bankers meeti n newport Poindexter Coffin.pdf

2. Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas) · Fri, Apr 18, 1879 · Page 4JP Coffin elder presbyterian.pdf

1. Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock, Arkansas) · Tue, Dec 13, 1887 · Page 6 Coffin invites bids 1887.pdf