Sixth Generation

1686. Drury Dobbins Coffey was born on 23 April 1838 in Burke Co., now Caldwell Co., NC.⁶²⁹⁷ Drury died on 16 August 1913 at the age of 75 in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC and was buried at Bellview Cemetery in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC.^{6298,6299,6300,6301}

Death notice, The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC, Mon., Aug. 18, 1913, Page 8, Col. 4

August 13, 1913 – Mr. Drury Coffey Passes.

Useful and Valued Citizen and Brave Confederate Veteran Answers Final Roll Call.

Mr. Drury D. Coffey died at the home of his son, Mr. F.H. Coffey Saturday evening at 6 o'clock after an illness of only a few weeks. For several months Mr. Coffey had been in declining health, but not till recently did his friends and relatives become alarmed about his condition and realize that the end was near. He was one of the old landmarks of Caldwell county, and the announcement of his death will bring sorrow to many homes, especially among the older citizens, who love and honored him, as their comrade and leader.

Drury D. Coffey was born in the Mulberry section of the county in 1838, and was soon recognized as a leader among his people in both social and political life. He was honest as a citizen and always spoke his convictions. As a public servant, he was the champion of the rights of his people and always guarded their interest most zealously. When the Civil War came on, he immediately volunteered and went to the front as a member of Company E, 58th North Carolina Regiment. He was made Sergeant Major of this company and distinguished himself for his prowess and devotion to the cause. He was in many engagements, but was only wounded slightly one time, having a finger shot off.

After the close of the war, he returned to his home, and began life anew as a farmer. He was soon honored by his people by being elected County Commissioner, and so successful and wise was he in handling the affairs of the county, that he was re-elected seven consecutive terms, serving in all sixteen years. In 1857 he represented Caldwell county in the General Assembly of North Carolina, and here he distinguished himself for the boldness and aggressiveness with which he championed the rights and cause of the common people. He moved from this county to the State of Kansas in 1892, where he lived 15 years. In his old days he felt the longing to return to his native county, and in 1907 he returned and took up his residence in Lenoir, where he lived till his death.

In 1868, Mr. Coffey was married to Miss H. E. Collett of this county. She together with two sons, Mr. D. S. Coffey of St. Paul, Minn., and Mr. F. H. Coffey of Lenoir; one daughter, the wife of Dr. Robert Coffey of Portland, Ore., one of the most noted surgeons on the Pacific Coast; and three sisters, Mesdames Charley Coffey and H. C. Coffey of Lenoir, and Mrs. M. E. Moore of Manhattan, Kan., survive him.

He was a member of the Masonic Fraternity and until his death was the oldest living member of Hibriten Lodge, A. F. & A. M. No 262. The burial was with Masonic honors, the funeral services being conducted from the residence of Mr. F. H. Coffey Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock by Rev. C. T. Squires. The body was laid to rest in Belleview Cemetery. The pallbearers were Major G. W. F. Harper, Capt. Edmond Jones and Messrs J. L. Nelson, H. L. Houck, E. F. Reid, C. A. Tuttle, M. N. Harshaw and F. P. Moore.

Drury Dobbins Coffey and Harriet Elizabeth Collett were married on 25 August 1859 in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC.^6302,6303 They^6302,6303 appeared in the census on 2 August 1870 in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC.⁶³⁰⁴ They⁶³⁰⁴ appeared in the census on 1 June 1900 in Jefferson Twp. Geary Co., KS.⁶³⁰⁵ Drury and Harriet⁶³⁰⁵ lived with their son Finley in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC on 11 May 1910. Harriet Elizabeth Collett⁶³⁰⁶, daughter of James Hamilton Collett and Jane Stuart, was born on 25 November 1840 in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC. She lived with her son Finley in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC on 13 January 1920. Harriet died of arteriosclerosis on 13 January 1921 at the age of 80 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC and was buried at Bellview Cemetery in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC.^{6307,6308,6309}

Obituary, The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC, Jan. 17, 1921, Page 3

MRS. HARRIET COFFEY OF LENOIR, DIES AT AGE OF 80

Lenoir, Jan. 16 -- Mrs. Harriet Coffey died at the home of her son, F. H. Coffey, Thursday evening, being 80 years old, and was buried Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock in Bellview cemetery, Rev. A. A. McLean conducting the funeral services.

Mrs. Coffey, whose maiden name was Miss Harriet Collett, was born at Collettsville November 25, 1840, and on August 24, 1859, was married to D. D. Coffey. To this union two sons, F. H. and D. S. Coffey, and one daughter, Ellen Coffey, were born. Mr. and Mrs. Coffey continued to live at Collettsville for a number of years, following which time they went west and lived 14 years. At the end of that time, their son, F. H. Coffey and his family, who were also living in Junction City, decided to return to North Carolina, and Mr. and Mrs. Coffey returned with them to Lenoir where they lived until August, 1913, when Mr. Coffey died. Four years ago last October Mrs. Coffey fell and broke her hip. Since that time she had been confined to her bed.

She was a life long member of the Adventist church, and a professed Christian. Hers was a life of loving service and she will be greatly missed. She did not complain at her lot, but bore with courageous patience her affliction. During the war she knitted sweaters and socks for the soldiers, and seemed so glad to do that much for the boys.

Drury Dobbins Coffey and Harriet Elizabeth Collett had the following children: