James Coffey Biography


	This biography appears on page 249 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JAMES COFFEY.  

	James Coffey, who has been successfully engaged in the real-
estate business at Aberdeen since 1902, has also been active and 
prominent in political circles and since September 1, 1913, has held 
the office of United States revenue collector. His birth occurred in 
Jackson, Nebraska, on the 10th of July, 1880, his parents being Patrick 
and Mary Coffey, the former now deceased and the latter a resident of 
Le Mars, Iowa. He acquired his early education at Le Mars, Iowa, and 
subsequently pursued a course of study in Notre Dame College. In 1902, 
when a young man of twenty-two years, he located in Aberdeen, South 
Dakota, and embarked in the real-estate business, which has claimed his 
attention continuously since and teas brought him a gratifying annual 
income.  

	Mr. Coffey has been married twice. On the 11th of February, 1903, 
he wedded Miss Edith L. Sinclair, of Armour, South Dakota, by whom he 
had three children, two of whom have passed away. Following the demise 
of the mother Mr. Coffey was again married, his second union being with 
Miss Bertha L. Parden, of New Richmond, Wisconsin, whom he wedded on 
the 5th of October, 1910. By this marriage there are two sons.  

	In political circles Mr. Coffey is a prominent and influential 
factor. He was the democratic candidate for the office of lieutenant 
governor in 1906 and acted as chairman of the democratic state 
committee in 1912. On the 1st of September, 1913, he was made United 
States revenue collector, the duties of which important position he has 
since discharged in a highly creditable, commendable and efficient 
manner. He is identified fraternally with the Benevolent Protective 
Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus, while both he and his wife 
are devout communicants of the Catholic church. Mr. Coffey has made an 
enviable record for a man of his years and the future is bright with 
promise. Over the record of his public career and his private life 
there falls no shadow of wrong, for he has ever been most loyal to the 
ties of friendship and citizenship and his history well deserves a 
place in the annals of his adopted state.