Sixth Generation


1179. Dr. Ephraim McDowell Coffey1076,4603 was born on 26 January 1829 in Hustonville, Lincoln Co., KY.1076 He lived with his parents in Madison Co., KY on 18 August 1850. He lived with his parents. in Platte Co., MO on 26 January 1860. Ephraim served Co. I, 1st Regt., Missouri Cavalry as a Surgeon .4604 He was elected sheriff on 9 August 1874 in Platte Co., MO.4605 On 12 July 1891 Dr. Coffey was appointed State Commissioner to represent Missouri at the World's Fair at Chicago and, was made treasurer of the board.4606 Dr. Coffey died on 6 June 1906 at the age of 77 in Platte City, Platte Co., MO and was buried at Platte City Cemetery in Platte Co., MO.4607,4608

Dr. Coffey's father, Richard, was born in Virginia, and had served as a soldier in Col. Shelby's Kentucky regiment during the War of 1812. Dr. Coffey's paternal grandfather, Osborn, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and had been present at the surrender of Gen. Cornwallis at Yorktown.

Dr. Coffey studied medicine at the Transylvania University in Lexington, KY, and graduated in 1852. He moved to Missouri in March 1854, and settled in Camden Point.

Coffey enlisted as a Private in Co. I of the 1st Regiment, Missouri Cavalry, CSA, and by the end of the war was Chief Surgeon of General Bowen's Division, CSA. He took part in a nmumber of well-known battles.

After he returned to Camden Point in 1865, Dr. Coffey married Miss Helen Barnes in May 1866. In 1872 Coffey was elected Sheriff of Platte County, and moved to Platte City, the county seat. He was re-elected in 1874. He later returned to his medical practice. 

Dr. Coffey was also President of the Confederate Association of Platte County, and a member of Lodge No. 504 A.F. & A.M. 

Ephraim McDowell Coffey, b. in Hustonville, Ky., Jan. 26, 1829; m'd 1st, June 9, 1854, Bettie F. James. She died, childless, April 6, 1865; and he m'd 2d May 1, 1866, Helen O. Barnes, daughter of Allison and Lucy Barnes. After reading medicine with his father, Dr. E. McD. Coffey graduated, in 1854, at Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky., and settled the same year at Camden Point. May 16, 1861, he volunteered under Col. Jeff. Thompson, in the Confederate service, and was appointed surgeon of his regiment. He was at Wilson's Creek, Lexington, Pea Ridge, and other engagements with the 1st Brigade of Missouri Volunteers. He was at Corinth, Grand Gulf, Champion Hill (or Baker's Creek), the siege of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Fort Gaines, and Fort Powell. He was chief surgeon of Gen. Bowen's division, and was chairman of medical examiners for the Board of Conscription, and was paroled May 5, 1865. Returning to Camden Point, he was elected sheriff in 1872, and re-elected in 1874. In 1892-3 he was State commissioner for the World' Fair, and treasurer of the board. He hed the office of county treasurer for one term.

Dr. Coffey possesses intelligence, and his tall and commanding figure, crowned by a head of perfectly white hair, adds dignity to wisdom. He is considerate and cautious in all his acts, punctilious in his dealings, and true in his words. He is an elder in the Christian Church, and has taken the highest degrees in Masonry and Odd Fellowship. The family live in Platte City, where the doctor has a large practice.

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Ephraim McDowell Coffey was a resident of Camden Point, Platte County, Missouri, and a member of the Camden Guards, Missouri State Militia prior to the Civil War. On June 21, 1861, Coffey was appointed surgeon of the First Cavalry Regiment, Fifth Division, MSG [Missouri State Guard] and served in the Guard until January 12, 1862. He later enlisted in the First Missouri Cavalry (Confederate) as a surgeon. During his military service, Coffey was in the Battles of Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Dry Wood Creek and Lexington in Missouri and Pea Ridge in Arkansas, before being moved to the east side of the Mississippi River. At Pea Ridge, Coffey was captured and paroled to tend to the wounded. [OR., Series 2, 3:820; O.R.S. pt 2, vol 38:111; Peterson, 156, Schnetzer, More Forgotten Men, 50.]

Dr. Ephraim McDowell Coffey and Bettie F. James were married on 1 June 1854.4609 Bettie F. James was born on 6 November 1832. Bettie died on 6 April 1857 at the age of 24 in Missouri and was buried at Old Confederate Cemetery in Camden Point, Platte Co., MO.4610

Dr. Ephraim McDowell Coffey and Bettie F. James had the following children:

3976

i.

Waller Coffey was born in July 1855 in Missouri. Waller died on 18 February 1856 at the age of 0 in Platte Co., MO and was buried at Old Confederate Cemetery in Camden Point, Platte Co., MO.4611

Dr. Ephraim McDowell Coffey and Helen Oretta Barnes1076 were married on 1 May 1866 in Platte Co., MO.4612,4613 They4612,4613 moved from Camden Point to in Platte City, Platte Co., MO on 1 December 1872.4614 They4614 appeared in the census on 1 June 1880 in Platte City, Carroll Twp., Platte Co., MO.4615 Ephraim and Helen4615 appeared in the census on 6 June 1900 in Platte City, Carroll Twp., Platte Co., MO.4616 Helen Oretta Barnes, daughter of Alfred Barnes and Lucy Morton, was born on 28 June 1844 in Liberty, MO. She appeared in the census on 25 April 1910 in Platte City, Carroll Twp., Platte Co., MO.4617 She died of acute myocarditis on 17 January 1920 at the age of 75 at home in Kaw Twp., Jackson Co., MO and was buried at Platte City Cemetery in Platte Co., MO on 18 January 1920.4618,4619,4620,4621

Obituary, The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, MO, Sun., Jan. 18, 1920, Page 2

Coffey--Mrs. Helen Coffey, 75 years old, died Friday at her home, 3535 Euclid avenue. She leaves four sons, Alfred W. Coffey of Blanca, Col.; R. J. Coffey of Weston, Mo, and Maj. A. McD. Coffey of Fort Bayard, N. M.

Mrs. Coffey was the widow of Dr. E. McD. Coffey, a pioneer physician of Platte County, Missouri. She was an aunt of Dr. W. H. Coffey, county coroner.

Funeral services will be at 11 o'clock today at Leo J. Stewart's chapel, and at 2 o'clock at Platte City, Mo.

[Fourth son not named in obituary was Dr. Grundy C. Coffey]

Dr. Ephraim McDowell Coffey and Helen Oretta Barnes had the following children:

3977

i.

Alfred William Coffey was born on 2 October 1867. He lived with his mother in Platte City, Carroll Twp., Platte Co., MO on 26 April 1910. He appeared in the census on 2 February 1920 in Blanca, Costilla Co., CO.4622 Alfred died on 14 September 1938 at the age of 70 in Missouri and was buried at Platte City Cemetery in Platte City, Platte Co., MO.4623

3978

ii.

Richard J. Coffey was born on 4 February 1870 in Missouri. He lived with his parents in Platte City, Carroll Twp., Platte Co., MO on 1 June 1880. He appeared in the census on 15 April 1910 in Platte Co., MO.4624 Richard appeared in the census on 12 February 1920 in Platte Co., MO.4625 Richard died on 22 May 1930 at the age of 60 in Platte City, Platte Co., MO and was buried at Platte City Cemetery in Platte City, Platte Co., MO.4626

+3979

iii.

Dr. Albion McDowell "Mack" Coffey.

+3980

iv.

Dr. Grundy C. Coffey.
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