BIO: John Coffey, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2011.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

                             CHAPTER LVII.

                         SOUTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP.

547  SOUTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP.

  JOHN COFFEY, farmer, P. O. Shippensburg, was born in Southampton 
Township, this county, February 9, 1830, son of James and Mary 
(Highlands) Coffey; former a native of Delaware County, Penn., of Irish 
descent, latter of this county, of Scotch-Irish descent.  James Coffey, 
a farmer by occupation, served as a soldier in the war of 1812.  He was 
a strict Presbyterian Church member, a man of large stature, and was 
noted for great strength.  He lived to the advanced age of eighty-four 
years, dying in 1879.  He was three times married, and reared a family 
of ten children, our subject being by the second wife.  John Coffey was 
reared on the farm; a strictly self-made man.  He only attended school 
six weeks in his life, and chose farming for his occupation.  When 
first starting out for himself he rented a farm, and has since resided 
on the same for thirty-two years.  He was married, in 1854, to 
Elizabeth Rank, daughter of Samuel Rank, of German descent.  Mr. and 
Mrs. Coffey have five children:  Ella, wife of George A. Reese; J. B. 
and W. J., partners, carrying on a clothing store in Shippensburg, this 
county; Della C. and Charles.  Mr. Coffey is a Democrat in politics; is 
the present assessor of Southampton Township, a highly-respected 
citizen.