COFFEEN, Olive B. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

for 69 years, died at her home here Saturday morning. Joining the

Covington HS faculty in 1908, she retired in 1931 at the age of 84.  

Born near Lebanon, Ohio, Sept. 12, 1847, she came to Indiana nearly 90

years ago, in a covered wagon and attended her first school in a log

cabin near where Veedersburg now stands.  The family went back to Ohio

where she graduated from Lebanon State Normal College.  Passing teachers

examinations when 14 years old, she was not permitted to teach because o

f her youth, but at 15, obtained a school in Chambersburg (Fountain

County) Ind, at a salary of $14 per month.  In her 69 years she taught

in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kansas and Washington.  She taught

mathematics in the old Indiana State Normal College at Covington from

1888 until it closed; then opened a private normal school before joining

the local high school staff.  After retirement she tutored pupils in her

home until she was 94. Robert Ripley featured her remarkable career in

his syndicated feature.  Mrs. Miranda Rowland Luke, 89 of Covington was

her pupil at Chambersburg during the Civil War and afterwards her

children and grandchildren were pupils of Miss Coffeen.  Eugene Savage,

NY portrait painter was a former pupil and painted her portrait which

hangs in the high school, a gift from the graduating class of 1924.  He

later chose Miss Coffeen to represent the spirit of education in his

mural at the entrance of the Fountain County court house.  The

Coffeenian Club organized by Covington young women in 1936 was named for

her.  Miss Coffeen was a follower of the Swedenborgen religion and was

not affiliated with any church. Only surviving relatives are three

nieces: Miss Mabel Coddington, Crawfordsville; Mrs. Clea Fresh,

Waknnusha and mrs. Maria Young, Arizona, and a nephew, Ray Coddington,

Crawfordsville.

Covington, Aug 14 – Miss Olive B. Coffeen, 96, Indiana school teacher for 69 years, died at her home here Saturday morning.  Joining the Covington HS faculty in 1908, she retired in 1931 at the age of 84.  Born near Lebanon, Ohio, Sept 12, 1847, she came to Indiana nearly 90 years ago in a covered wagon and attended her first school in a log cabin near where Veedersburg now stands. The family moved back to Ohio where she graduated from Lebanon State Normal College.  Passing academic examinations, when 14 years old, she was not permitted to teach because of her youth, but at 15, obtained a school in Chambersburg, Fountain County, Indiana, at a salary of $14 per months.  In her 69 years she taught in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kansas and Washington.  She taught mathematics in the old Indiana State Normal College at Covington from 1888 until it closed; then opened a private normal school before joining the local high school staff.  After retirement she tutored pupils in her home until she was 94.  Robert Ripley featured her remarkable career in his syndicated feature.  Mrs. Miranda Rowland Luke, 89, of Covington was her pupil at Chambersburg during the Civil War and afterwards her children and afterwards her children and grandchildren were pupils of Miss Coffeen.  Eugene Savage, New York portrait painter, was a former pupil and painted her portrait which hangs in the high school a gift from the graduating class of 1925.   He later chose Miss Coffeen to represent the spirit of education in his mural at the entrance of the Fountain County Court House.  The Coffenian Club, organized by Covington young women in 1936 was named for her.  Miss Coffeen was a follower of the Swedenborgen religion and was not affiliated with any church.  Only surviving relatives are three nieces: Miss Mabel Coddington, Crawfordsville; Mrs. Cleo Fresh, Waknnusha andMrs. Maria Young, Arizona and a nephew, Ray Coddington, Crawfordsville.  Services were held at Covington Methodist Church