Coleman Highsmith was born on August 1, 1841, in Robertson County, Tennessee, to James and Emily Highsmith. His father was a farmer who owned $250 of real estate by 1850. He grew up in Robertson County.

 

He enlisted in the Confederate army on October 22, 1861, and he mustered in as a private in Company B of the 30^th Tennessee Infantry. The regiment took part in the Battle of Chickamauga and the Atlanta campaign. Union forces captured him at Fort Donelson on February 16, 1862, and he was imprisoned at Camp Butler near Springfield, Illinois, until September 1862. He rejoined the regiment after being exchanged, but he was captured again near Jonesboro, Georgia, on August 31, 1864. He was exchanged about three weeks later. He was captured a third time near Columbia, Tennessee, on December 22, 1864, and he remained in prison until at least February 1865. In March 1865, he was admitted to the hospital in Richmond, Virginia, for “debilitas.”

 

He returned to Robertson County after the war, and he married Tempty Ann Taylor on November 30, 1865. They had at least six children: Iley, born around 1867; Minerva, born around 1870; Fannie, born around 1872; Laura, born around 1876; Sallie, born around 1880; and Mary, born around 1885. Highsmith earned a living as a farmer and merchant. His wife died on February 14, 1913, and he passed away of “Hepatic cirrhosis” in Robertson County on May 13, 1917.

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