lumberman, b. Northampton, N.Y. In 1840 he moved with his family to Wisconsin. In 1847 the family moved to Fond du Lac, where in 1853 Colman became a partner in a small shingle-manufacturing venture. In 1854 the enterprise was moved to La Crosse and in 1855 Colman bought out his partners. Gradually increasing the scope of his enterprise, he acquired lumber mills and began to saw lumber. Although his mills were repeatedly destroyed by fire (1868, 1875, 1886), they were rebuilt and enlarged, and lumber yards were added in surrounding communities until the Colman Lumber Company (incorporated 1889) became one of the most important firms in the area. A Republican, Colman was mayor of La Crosse and held local political offices. His son, LUCIUS CHARLES COLMAN, b. Fond du Lac, a graduate of Northwestern Univ. (B.A., 1875), took over management of the business after his father's death. Depletion of the timber supply forced the firm to cease production of saw lumber in 1907. Thereafter, Colman served in executive capacities with various business enterprises. He was a member of the State Park Commission, the State Board of Normal School Regents, and president of the State Historical Society (1910-1911). La Crosse Morning Chronicle, July 2, 1901; La Crosse Tribune, Dec. 24, 1925; E. B. Usher, Wis. (8 vols., Chicago, 1914); M. M. Quaife, Wis. (4 vols., Chicago, 1924); Wis. Mag. Hist., 18; WPA MS; H. R. Colman Papers.Learn More
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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]
