L. W. Coggins Papers

Lewis Wilfred Coggins, Mayor of Phoenix and businessman, was born to Luther D. and Mary (Durfee) Coggins in Lamoine, Maine on January 15, 1869 and was educated in the public schools at Greeley, Colorado. In 1892 Coggins established an abstract of title firm with Z. O. Brown named Coggins and Brown. This firm was the predecessor of the Phoenix Title and Trust Company and the Phoenix Title Guaranty and Abstract Company. Coggins became sole owner of the latter company in 1908.

Coggins was elected mayor of Phoenix in 1906 and was re-elected in 1907. During his tenure the municipal water works were established, a major sidewalk building program was initiated, the municipal deficit was eliminated, and the budget was balanced. Coggins also had a significant career in the Arizona National Guard and was a charter member of the Arizona Society Sons of the American Revolution. Coggins married Sarah Eva Mason (1869-1946) on January 15, 1896 in Greeley, Colorado and the couple had five children: Ruth Mason (1897-), May Angeline (1898-1985), Ralph Luther (1900-1980), Milton Durfee (1902-1994), and Alice (Coggins) Marshall (1909-1994). Lewis W. Coggins died of heart disease in Phoenix on May 10, 1953.