Bernard H. Coleman. The "B" in the B.
H. stands for Barney, Barney H.
Coleman. He was born in Memphis,
Tennessee and died in Boise on April 13,
1911 of pneumonia. He was good
natured generous fellow who thought it
amusing that no one knew his age. He
took it to his grave. Some guessed his
age to be around 60 when he died. His
good friend, James A. Pinney, thought it
closer to 70. Barney came out west as a
young man settling in Colorado,
California, and Oregon before making it
to Boise. In Oregon it appears that he
partnered up with “& Co.”.
The “& Co.” stands for Harry M. Hughes.
Before meeting Barney, Harry had been
a purser on the Coastwise line out of
Seattle. It looks like Barney and Harry
may have met in Astoria, Oregon in
1888. In 1889 Barney, Harry, and Harry’s
wife arrived in Boise. Once in Boise the
partners bought out A. P. Hotaling & Co.
Importers and Wholesale Liquor Dealer
under the name B. H. Coleman & Co.
When Harry died in August 1909 Barney
sold the company.