"Rufus' mother, Artiemisia Grounds, first married a man named Coleman but later married Harvey Neal Jacobs January 1848 in Hunt County, Texas. After marrying Harvey the family moved back to HempsteadCo., Arkansas where two of their children were born: John B. and Mildred Susan Jacobs. Rufus was not with them in the 1850 census but returned in the 1860 census at the age of 15. The family had moved to Halletsville, Lavaca County, Texas in the 1860 census having more children Mary, Thomas, Wesley and Alfred Jacobs.
Rufus Coleman enlisted November of 1864 at Brownsville, Texas and served in the Confederate Army with Company E of Mann's Texas Calvery. He served until June of 1865 and was discharged at Columbus, Colorado County, Texas.
In the 1870 census for Lavaca Co, TX, Artiemisia Grounds and her husband Harvey Neal Jacobs, were no longer with their children (possibly they had passed away). Rufus Coleman was listed as head of household with surviving children John, Mildred, Mary E., Thomas and Apper W.(Apperwhite), Jacobs.
Rufus Coleman and siblings lived next door to the Rebecca Ford family in Halletsville, Lavaca Co., Tx and on February 8, 1872 he married Catherine, the daughter of Rebecca Ford, the girl next door. By 1880, Rufus Coleman had moved his family to Bexar County, Texas and they had Rebecca, John and Presley Coleman. Catherine's brother, Presley Ford and his family lived next door to them. In the year 1900 still in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas they had another daughter Mildred Susiana born June 19, 1887. Catherine died between 1894 and 1900 probably in Bexar Co.
In 1910, Rufus was in his sixties and moved to Travis County, Texas with his daughter Rebecca, her husband Henry Lee Daugherty and seven of their children Rufus N., Vardamon L., Nancy, Bailey (my father), George, Roy N., and Alvin (along with Rufus's daughter Mildred Susiana Coleman and her nine month old son Virgil Coleman who later in life changed his name to Virgil Baccus).
Rufus Coleman stayed with family until his death.
Written By: Billie Blackstock"
