Frank R. Coffin, Honored Pioneer, Pays Final Debt. President of Boise City National Bank and Business Man of High Standing in Boise for 30 Years Dies at Ripe Age. Dropping off to sleep in his own home Tuesday, after a quiet chat with his family, including his son-in-law Col. L.R. Holbrook who had arrived from the east the night before, Frank R. Coffin, who has the honor of being one of the first pioneers to enter Idaho territory, passed quietly and painlessly into the great beyond to start his last pioneer journey along the long, long trail.

Except to those who knew him intimately, Mr. Coffin's age will be a great surprise, for none would take him to be 82 years of age, everything about him spelling vigor. Not only was he young in enthusiasm, but his looks and all his actions belied his years.

Mr. Coffin was taken with a sudden attack of acute indigestion just three weeks ago and half hour before that time had been driving his car about the city. From that time on he appeared gradually to fall, rallying one day and weaker the next until the end came.

All of his children were with him at the time of his death. In his death the last of the five pioneers who started the Bolan Artesian Hot and Col Water company have gone. C.W. Moore, H.B. Eastman, Charles Rimrod, Tim Regan and now Frank R. Coffin. He was identified with nearly all of the pioneer industries and at the time of his death was president of the Boise City National bank, with which he had been identified since his retirement from the hardware business which he founded in the early days.

Mr. Coffin was born in Park County, Indiana 82 years ago. Something of his early education was reflected in Mr. Coffin's life and manner. He spent a number of years of his youth in Richmond, Ind., which was a center for the Quaker settlement in that state, and it was in the school conducted under the auspices of the Society of Friends that he attained his early education.

He remained in school until he was 17 and then obtained his first vocational experience as an engineer apprentice on a steamer running between Louisville and Cincinnati on the Ohio river. after two years of this work he went west, and the west was his home and the center of his activities to the end.

In 1861 he left Omaha on the overland route for California, settling at Yreka, where he began work at the trade of a tinsmith, this trade he had leaned in connection with his father's manufacturing plant.

He went from Yreka to Portland, Ore., and then hearing of the discovery of gold at Florence he left for that camp and engaged in placer mining. Another trip was made to Portland and in 1866 he came to Boise. He was engaged by George Twitchell, who was in the hardware and tin business, and in 1873 bought his employer out, and from that time until 1904, a period of more than 30 years, he conducted and extended this enterprise until it ranked among the largest in the state.

Although an ardent Republican, Mr. Coffin cared but little for political offices. He served as the first treasurer of the state, but beyond that accepted no political offices. He was affiliated with the Masonic order, being past grand master of Boise lodge No. 2, and was also a Knight templar.

He was specially interested in anything pertaining to the pioneer history of the state and was an active member of the old Pioneer society. His literary contributions to pioneer history stand out as gems, and he had been urged many times to compile them into a volume.

In 1873 Mr. Coffin married Miss Irene Quivey and to them were born three daughters and one son, all of whom with his widow, survive him, Mrs. B.W. Walker, Mrs. L.R. Holbrook, Mrs. J.E. Clinton, and Craig Coffin.

The funeral will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. from the family home at Grove and Eleventh streets, and will be conducted by Dean Alward Chamberlaine of St. Michael's cathedral.

Madam Coffin, Mr. Coffin's aged mother, is living at present with her daughter Mrs. Furey of Pocatello, she is in her one hundredth year. Mr. Coffin, in addition to his immediate family, is survived by brothers, Mans and Edwin of Salt Lake and Sherman of this city, and four sisters, Mrs. Leonard Logan of this city, Mrs. Furey of Pocatello, Mrs. Crane of Ohio and Mrs. Hamilton of Ottomwa, Iowa.

THE IDAHO STATESMAN (Boise, Idaho), Wednesday, 26 May 1920, p.3

Boise city council at their regular weekly session passed the following set of resolutions:

"Whereas, It is with deep sorrow that we learn of the death of our esteemed fellow citizen, Honorable Frank R. Coffin, and

"Whereas, his honorable and useful life in the community has been an inspiration to all who knew him, and

"Whereas, we feel that in the death of the Honorable Frank R. Coffin this community and state has suffered a great loss especially Boise city, and

"Whereas, we recognize the benefits of his life among us, his valued public service as a member of this body, his efficient business ability and leadership and of the high esteem in which he has been held as one of our oldest and most valued citizens as a leader among us, Now be it

Resolved, that we tender to the bereaved family our sympathy and that a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the meeting."

THE IDAHO STATESMAN (Boise, Idaho), Wednesday, 26 May 1920, p.3