For a history of Dr. Josiah Coleman, see the page “Coleman’s Family History Notes” on Facebook.2820 According to this detailed account: “Dr. Josiah Coleman was described to be 6 ft. tall, Dark Complexion, Black Hair, & Hazel Eyes. He was the "raw boned type" meaning lean and slim. He was married 3 times. 3rd wife was a bigamist & a "gold-digger" Breaking many hearts along the way. He had 22 or 23 children and lived to be 82 years old.”

1860 Census of Nodaway, Nodaway Co MO

Name Age
Josiah Coleman 42 PA physician
Martha Coleman 39 OH
John Coleman 18 IL
Robertson Coleman 16 IL
James Coleman 14 IL
Asa Coleman 12 IL
Marcus Coleman 10 IL
Caroline Coleman 8 IL
Louisa Coleman 5 IL
Martha Coleman 2 MO
Mary Coleman 2 MO

1870 Census of Union, Nodaway Co MO

Name Age
Josiah Coleman 51 farmer
Martha Coleman 41
Mark Coleman 21
Louisa Coleman 14
Mary Jane Coleman 12
Martha Julia Coleman12
Josiah Coleman 9
William R Coleman 7
Charley Coleman 5
Clarisa Coleman 1

The following is reproduced from the Coleman Family History Facebook page.2820

JOSIAH AND WIFE AMANDA

Jul. 6, 1871 - Josiah at the age of 55, married Amanda Beaks in Ottawa, Kansas. Only 3 months after Martha died.

Josiah sold his 40 acres and his interest in Pickering, Mo. to Judge Andrew Royal for $3000.

Josiah gave his medical practice to Dr. William Wallace and moved with his wife and his children, Mary, Martha, Josiah (Joe), William, and Charley, to Montgomery Co., Ks.

Why did he move so suddenly? The story was that Benjamin Kinney, who was the next door neighbor, sued Dr. Josiah for some work he did and broke him.

I found no evidence of this. But what I did find out was this.

Amanda (Reed) Beaks was married to Benjamin Kinney the next door neighbor of the Colemans. This was Ben Kinney's 2nd marriage. Ben's daughter Anna Rebecca was married to Dr. Josiah's son James Asbury.

This was Amanda's 2nd marriage also. She was married to Isaac Beaks.
Amanda divorced Isaac while he went away to fight in the Civil War.

However, she forgot to file for divorce.

Now she gets married to Benjamin Kinney and they have a little son William.

Amanda is charged with bigamy as is charged $500. She then gets the divorce from Beaks on Sept. 16, 1868

Amanda happens to hang around the Coleman's house a lot and she just happened to be there the day that Martha Coleman (Josiah's wife) was dying. His son Charley got so aggravated that he kicked her off the porch.

Three months later she and Josiah are running off to Kansas.

They go by train but stop off in Ottowa, Franklin co., Ks. to get married.

Josiah is about 35 years older than Amanda. He is 55 and she is about 23. But the ages on the marriage license are Josiah 51 and Amanda, 45.

They move to Coffeyville, Montgomery Co., Ks. Amanda now goes by the name of Indiamona Coleman.

I don't know why Montgomery Co. Ks was picked to move to but I did find a distant Uncle, William Coleman living there and the Dalton's lived there. I found evidence that Dr. Josiah knew the Dalton's. At this time I don't know if the families were related.