When Joseph N. Coffman was born on 8 September 1853, in Fall Creek Township, Henry, Indiana, United States, his father, Joseph Coffman, was 43 and his mother, Rebecca Miller, was 39. He married Saloma E Walters on 16 November 1873, in Delaware, Indiana, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Salem Township, Delaware, Indiana, United States for about 40 years. He died on 22 June 1929, in Delaware, Indiana, United States, at the age of 75, and was buried in Saunders Cemetery, Daleville, Delaware, Indiana, United States.