Biography of W H Coffey, St Francis County, AR

***********************************************************
Submitted by: Paul V Isbell
        Date: 14 Nov 2008
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
***********************************************************

Transcribed by Lisa Hamilton from 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 
Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Judge W. H. Coffey, an eminent lawyer of St. Francis County, widely known and
highly esteemed by his associates on the bench, is originally of Fayette Co.,
Tenn, but was taken by his parents when an infant, to DeSoto, County,
Mississippi, in which state his father died two years later. His mother then
returned to her father's home in Hardeman County, Tenn., and afterward married
John Coates, of that county. In 1861 Mr. Coffey enlisted in the Fourth Tennessee
Infantry, taking an active part in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro,
Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, and a number of others. He was captured and taken
prisoner at the battle of Missionary Ridge, thence conveyed to Camp Morton,
Ind., held in captivity for nine months, when he was exchanged, and receiving a
furlough turned his face toward his native land, walking over 225 miles, and
reaching home a short time before the surrender. He then took up farming for his
livelihood, and in 1869 was married to Miss Mary E. Haris, who died in 1870,
leaving one son, James W. In 1872 Mr. Coffey removed to Arkansas, and settled in
St. Francis Co.,, on a farm nine miles from Forrest City, purchasing the first
160 acres of land, to which he has added from time to time, until know he owns
1, 120 acres, and besides these he has his home farm, 225 acres, which are under
cultivation. Two years after his removal to this county, he was elected justice
of the peace, holding this office until 1886, when he was elected county judge,
and was again elected to this office in 1888, and is now finishing his second
term. In December, 1873, he was agin married to Mary A. Houston, a daughter of
James M. Houston. They are the parents of eight children, five of whom are still
living: Mary E., Martha T., Noma, Nora Belle and Clarence Elbert. Mr. Coffey
affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, in which order he has taken the degree
of Royal Arch., and in the thirteen years of membership, he has not missed but
four regular meetings. He is also a charter member of the County Wheel, being
one of the charter members of this lodge, and was its first president..