Headstone of Milton Coleman

Milton Coleman

1881

Milton A. Coleman.

How He Died
Manner Homicide
Cause Gunshot wound
Mechanism Firearm
What Happened
Undersheriff Coleman and his brother, Deputy Charles Coleman of the Pepin County Sheriff's Department, were shot and killed by two outlaws armed with Winchester rifles. On September 25, 1881, the two suspects shot and killed Sheriff John Lammy, of the Calhoun County, Illinois, Sheriff's Department, as the sheriff and his deputies attempted to arrest them for the murders of Undersheriff Milton Coleman and Deputy Charles Coleman. The two suspects were the notorious Williams brothers, Lon and Ed. Robbers and murderers for years, they were regarded by Wisconsin citizens as being as great as Frank and Jesse James. On November 7, 1881, Ed was captured in Grand Island, Kansas. He was taken to Durand where he was seized by an angry mob and hanged from a tree. On October 29, 1882, Lon was captured in Dodge City, Kansas, and returned to Wisconsin. He mysteriously disappeared from the Durand jail. Undersheriff Coleman was survived by his wife and eight children. He was a Civil War Veteran having served the Union as a private in the 10th Wisconsin Infantry, Company D.
Survivors
Undersheriff Coleman was survived by his wife and eight children.
Photograph of Milton Coleman
Photograph of Milton Coleman
Service Record
Also Served
Dunn County Sheriff's Department
Undersheriff
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier neuraspine_01krbxtpc8gmj3kdqwm151n757
Record added August 2, 2026 neuraweb.nw
Stewarded by neuraweb.nw
Last updated August 2, 2026

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