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 An artist rendition is the only likeness in existence of Dr. William Coleman that is left.
SBM minister Cathy Douglas and her assistant Margaret Evans have studied and worked countless hours doing research on Dr. Coleman and his practice. Downey, who lives in Washington State, was thrilled to know that someone was interested in his grandfather’s life. He said his grandfather used to let him ride over to the farm near Streetman to help gather up food to feed the large family back in Corsicana. “There were no less than 20 people at the dinner table each night,” Downey said. “You didn’t eat unless you did some work.”
Downey said times were hard back then, referring to the Depression Era, but his grandfather held a steady practice, which was located atop the present location of Dixie Finance on North Beaton Street. Coleman covered approximately a 60-80 mile radius territory from Valley Mills, Waco, down to Bremond, over to Rusk, up to Tyler, Mineola, Terrell, and across to Wilmer, and back down to Hillsboro to treat and care for sick animals. He was responsible for ending the Bangs Teats disease in Navarro County. The disease affected cattle much like the now famous Mad Cow plague has affected the cattle industry over recent years. Although he helped bring an end to the problem it didn’t mean he was able to do so very easily, as Downey said times were hard back then, referring to the Depression Era, but his grandfather held a steady practice, which was located atop the present location of Dixie Finance on North Beaton Street. Coleman covered approximately a 60-80 mile radius territory from Valley Mills, Waco, down to Bremond, over to Rusk, up to Tyler, Mineola, Terrell, and across to Wilmer, and back down to Hillsboro to treat and care for sick animals. He was responsible for ending the Bangs Teats disease in Navarro County. The disease affected cattle much like the now famous Mad Cow plague has affected the cattle industry over recent years. Although he helped bring an end to the problem it didn’t mean he was able to do so very easily, as a copy of an old letter written in 1948, to then Governor Beauford H. Jester, seeking help to receive accreditation to treat the disease. It seemed that Dr. Coleman had a little pull, along with a phone call from the governor to the Livestock Sanitary Commission of Texas. Coleman was well respected by everyone, and upon his death, several wealthy and prominent white farmers, ranchers, and oilmen such as Pevehouse, Steely, Travis, Davant, Wendorf, Finch, and Breithaupt served as pallbearers at his funeral.In 1986, the descendents of Dr. Coleman erected a historical marker at the old homestead, but since none of the surviving family members lived in Corsicana, the house has fallen upon decay. In 2003, Downey said the home was burglarized, and many of the tools used in his grandfather’s practice, along with the original furnishings, including his diploma he received from a correspondence veterinarian school in Canada in the early 1920’s were missing. SBM, along with Downey, would like to see the old homestead refurbished, but it will take a lot of funding to do so. SBM is hoping to find a way to raise funds and preserve a piece of early African-American history in Corsicana. “There’s a lot of local African-American history that has been lost over time,” Douglas said. “People just didn’t talk about it. If the past was brought up, usually, the kids had to leave the room so the grown-ups could talk, so a lot of that wasn’t passed down to us.” The group hopes this will start a trend to get people involved and to share some of the early African-American history of Corsicana. For more information or if you would like to find out how to help, contact (903) 874-2921. |
