Brown County IN Archives Biographies.....Coffey, William L. 1866 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 26, 2007, 11:19 pm Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) PROF. WILLIAM L. COFFEY. The position of superintendent of schools is an important and exacting one, and to fill it efficiently requires not only strong mentality, broad scholarship and especial professional training, but also executive ability of a high order, all of which qualities are happily combined in Prof. William L. Coffey, the present superintendent of schools of Brown county and one of the leading educators and popular school officials of Indiana. Prof. Coffey is a native of Brown county, and was born in Nashville on September 17, 1866. His father, Richard L. Coffey, was born and reared in Monroe county, this state, and when a young man was graduated from the Bloomington School of Law. He came to Brown county some time in the early 'sixties, soon won a commanding position at the Nashville bar and continued to practice his profession in this city until his death, which occurred May 1, 1901. Julia M. Mason, wife of Richard L. Coffey, was a native of Bedford, Indiana, and bore her husband five children, the subject of this review being the oldest of the number. The early life of William L. Coffey was spent in Nashville and he enjoyed the best educational advantages his native town offered. After completing the public school course he devoted five years to the study of medicine, during which time he prosecuted his investigations under the direction of a well known local physician and attended lectures in the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, thus fitting himself for the profession which he proposed making his life work. A limited experience in the practice convincing him that the healing art was not to his taste, Mr. Coffey, in 1889, abandoned the profession and turned his attention to teaching, which line of work he continued with gratifying success until 1891, when he was appointed superintendent of the Nashville public schools. This was a position of great responsibility, but under his efficient supervision many reforms were effected, a number of improvements introduced, better qualified teachers were secured and during his incumbency of twelve years the schools made such commendable progress that the city educational system stood among the best in the state. Severing his connection with the above office, Professor Coffey, in 1903, was further honored by being elected superintendent of the schools of Brown county, in which position he has already achieved marked success as an organizer and manager. Through his instrumentality the course of study has been more thoroughly systematized than heretofore and a number of important features introduced, tending to greater efficiency on the part of teachers and pupils. Believing in the efficiency of general information as a mental stimulous as well as an important auxiliary to regular educational work, he has been untiring in his efforts to put a library into every school within his jurisdiction, with the result that thus far over four thousand volumes of first-class literature have been purchased, and reading circles organized in nearly every district, with a total membership of one thousand three hundred out of one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six pupils. Professor Coffey is an enthusiast in his work and, being a great lover of nature, was wont while teaching to interest his pupils in the various common objects by which they were surrounded, imparting many of his most valuable lessons from trees, flowers and "ways of wood folk," a method he believes to be far superior to the ordinary cramming process, which, to say the least, is dwarfing in its effects upon the mind, as it is unnatural in its application. Since entering upon the duties of the superintendency he has worked diligently to introduce agriculture and nature study into the schools, and that he is succeeding in this laudable endeavor is manifest by the interest and enthusiasm with which the innovation has been received and welcomed both: by pupils and the best teachers. The high character achieved by Professor Coffey as an educator has made him widely and favorably known both as a teacher and official, and in view of his ability, energy and enthusiasm it is safe to assume that there are few more popular or efficient superintendents in Indiana. He is now in the prime of vigorous manhood, possessing genial manners and superior scholarship, and his many years of practical experience in the various lines of educational work, from district school to the city and county superintendency, bespeak for him a long and brilliant career in the noble field of endeavor to which his life is being devoted. In fact, his education is not limited to the common school and high school alone, but, by his earnest endeavor and a desire to be of greater service to his profession, he has reached beyond these in several lines of study through careful self preparation, aided by special tutors. Professor Coffey is a Democrat and, like all enterprising citizens, manifests an abiding interest in political and public affairs. He is identified with the Masonic and Pythian orders and for a number of years has been a consistent member of the First Presbyterian church of Nashville, being an influential worker in its various branches of activity, also a liberal contributor to all enterprises and progressive measures for the material advancement and moral welfare of the city in which he resides. On July 2, 1893, Professor Coffey was united in the bonds of wedlock with Miss Rosa Clark, of Brown county, the union resulting in the birth of two children, Marie and Wendell, aged respectively nine and two years. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. 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