Fourth Generation

97. Rev. Reuben A. Coffey³⁰³ was born on 15 September 1785 in Wilkes Co., NC.³⁰⁴ He was received "by experience" at the at Yadkin Grove Baptist Church in Wilkes Co., NC in July 1812 and in August 1812 he was appointed Church Clerk. He was ordained at Yadkin Grove Baptist Church in February 1815.³⁰⁵ He reveived a patent on 14 December 1830 in North Carolina for his invention entitled "Planting Corn and Peas." I believe the invention was a turning plow.³⁰⁶ In September 1832 he and his wife were granted letters of dismissal by the Yadkin Grove Baptist Church in Wilkes Co., NC and the family began emigration, firsr to³⁰⁷ "Monroe Co., then to Owen Co., IN."³⁰⁸ He was on the tax rolls in Richland Twp., Monroe Co., IN in 1841³⁰⁹ He died on 11 February 1854 at the age of 68 in Owen Co., IN and was buried at the Coffey Cemetery in Ellettsville, Monroe Co., IN.^310,311

Reuben Coffey was born in North Carolina in 1790 [sic]. In early life he learned the blacksmith trade. Soon after his majority he began to preach. In 1830 he moved to Owen County, Ind., and after living there for a short time he removed to Monroe County, and, having resided in the latter ten or twelve years, he returned to Owen County and abode there until his death, which occurred in 1854,

Brother Coffey was a pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church for a long series of years; also pastor of Macedonia Church for a long time. He never received pay for his ministerial services, except from missionary funds, which gives evidence that he was in full sympathy and missions. He was noted for soundness in doctrine and earnestness in his work. It is said that he was the first real "missionary: Baptist preacher in his section, and that he was looked upon with suspicion on account of his advocacy of missions and the right of those who preach "to live of the Gospel." In education he was personally deficient, while he saw its importance and did all he could by argument and the bestowal of means to promote it in the denomination by means of educational institutions. He was father of a family of ten children, and a very large number of Baptists in the State bear his name; and, as a family, they are strongly in favor of the college he aided in establishing, and several of them have been members of its classes.

Rev. Reuben A. Coffey and Martha "Polly" Dowell³¹² were married in 1805 in North Carolina. They appeared in the census on 6 November 1850 in Owen Co., IN.³¹³ Martha "Polly" Dowell, daughter of Mr. Dowell, was born on 21 September 1788. Martha died on 11 February 1867 at the age of 78 in Owen Co., IN and was buried at Coffey Cemetery in Ellettsville, Monroe Co., IN.^314,315

Rev. Reuben A. Coffey and Martha "Polly" Dowell had the following children: