Sixth Generation

852. Francis Marion Coffey was born on 27 March 1840 in Jamestown, Russell Co., KY. Francis died in Soldier, Jackson Co., KS on 13 January 1933 and was buried at Soldier Cemetery in Soldier, Jackson Co., KS in January 1933 .^3523,3524

The oldest resident of Soldier, F. M. Coffey, passed away Sunday, January 13, 1933. He was almost ninety-three years of age. Until a fall he had five weeks ago, he was in remarkable good health for one of his age. Three years ago Mr. and Mrs. Coffey moved from Havensville to Soldier. Mr. Coffey was born at Jamestown, Kentucky, March 27, 1840. He was married May 26, 1865 at Stanford, Kentucky to Parmelia Jane Hughes, so this aged couple were in the sixty-eighth year of their companionship.

They were parents of ten children who are:

Charles H. Coffey of Hutchinson, Kansas
Annie C. Fisher of Florence, Kansas
Minnie E. Clapperton of Los Angeles, California
Margaret Differu of Vallejo, California
Francis T. Coffey of Los Angeles, California
Mary A. Achenbach of Soldier, Kansas
James G. Coffey of Leavenworth, Kansas
Arthur K. Coffey of Leavenworth, Kansas
Pearle D. Titsworth of Kansas City, Missouri
Belle Huffman who preceded her father in death

Mr. Coffey was a veteran of the Civil War, a Union Soldier of the 19th Kentucky Infantry, Co., I. He served three years and six months, was engaged in thirteen battles, among which were Bull Run, Shiloh, Vicksburg. He could tell many thrilling experiences of the war. Two brothers were with him in the service.

He came to Kansas in 1880, locating first at Peabody, then living successively at Florence, Holton, America City, Havensville, and Soldier. He was a good husband and father, a friend and neighbor, a brave soldier and a Christian. He united with the Baptist Church at young manhood. He was a member of the Christian Church at Havensville and then at Soldier. He passed away with full confidence of the Christian faith and hope. Besides his wife and children he is survived by thirty-seven grandchildren, forty great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

The funeral was held in the Soldier Christian Church January 17th, the pastor Rev. Mayfield speaking; Rev. Station assisting. Fred Armstrong and John Whistler of America City, singers who Mr. Coffey liked so much to hear, provided the music. Confederate veteran, R. R. Brooks, caring [carrying] the G.A.R.'s American flag, funeral service, firing the salute and sounding Taps at the grave in Soldier Cemetery.

And so was laid to rest the last of the Union Veterans of the town of Soldier, Kansas. His surviving comrade of this community is P. H. Reed, who was not able to attend the service.

Francis Marion Coffey and Permelia Jane "Jennie" Hughes were married on 25 May 1865 in Stanford, Lincoln Co., KY.³⁵²⁵ They³⁵²⁵ appeared in the census on 9 August 1870 in Stanford, Lincoln Co., KY.³⁵²⁶ They³⁵²⁶ appeared in the census on 7 June 1880 in Summit, Marion Co., KS.³⁵²⁷ Francis and Jennie³⁵²⁷ appeared in the census on 4 June 1900 in Lincoln Twp., Pottawatomie Co., KS.³⁵²⁸ They³⁵²⁸ appeared in the census on 25 April 1910 in Red Vermillion Twp., Nemaha Co., KS.³⁵²⁹ They³⁵²⁹ appeared in the census on 12 January 1920 in Grant Twp., Pottawatomie Co., KS.³⁵³⁰ Francis and Jennie³⁵³⁰ lived with their son-in-law Glen Achenbach in Soldier Twp., Jackson Co., KS on 15 April 1930. Permelia Jane "Jennie" Hughes was born on 11 May 1846 in Stanford, Lincoln Co., KY. She appeared in the census on 12 April 1940 in Soldier, Soldier Twp., Jackson Co., KS.³⁵³¹ Permelia died in Soldier, Jackson Co., KS on 28 October 1950 and was buried at Soldier Cemetery in Soldier, Jackson Co., KS in October 1950 .³⁵³²

Obituary, The Soldier Clipper, Nov. 8, 1950

"Permelia Jane Hughes, daughter of Gabriel and Susan Hughes, was born May 11, 1845 at Stanford, Kentucky and died October 28, 1950 at the home of her daughter Mrs. Mary Achenbach in Soldier, Kansas at the age of 105 years, 6 months and 17 days. Her mother was an Adams, descendant of John Quincy Adams.

She was united in marriage with Francis M. Coffeey May 25, 1865 at Frankfort, Kentucky. Mr. Coffey proceeded her in death seventeen years ago at the age of 94 years after a blissful wedded life of 68 years. To this union was born ten children, three of whom proceed her in death. Charley Coffey, Hutchinson, Kansas; Belle Huffman, Leavenwroth, Kansas; and Timothy Coffey, Los Angeles, CA. Those living are Annie Fisher, of Florence, Kansas; Minnie Clapperton, Los Angeles, California; Margaret York, Sites, California; Mary A Achenbach, Soldier, Kansas; Arthur Coffey, Fair Oaks, California; Pearle Titsworth, Kansas City, Missouri.

Mrs. Coffey was blessed with 41 grandchidren, 67 great grandchildren; 25 great-great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-great-grandchildren, 140 descendants. Mr. and Mrs. Coffey moved to Peabody Kansas in 1880 and to Holton, Kansas in 1896, where Mr. Coffey was in the music business. In 1899 they moved to Bucks Grove and in 1900 to America City, then in 1906 to Soldier, Kansas. Mrs. Coffey at the time of her death was believed to be the oldest living Kansan. She lived through several wars and had 20 grandchildren in World War II. Funeral services were held in the Soldier Christian Church at 2 o'clock p.m. Tuesday, October 30, 1950, with the pastor Rev. Vernon Rodgers, officiating. A quartet composed of Clyde and Claude Rieschick and Leonard and Floyd Holliday, sang. Mrs. Irvin Jepson accompanying. The ladies caring for the flowers were Mrs. Florence Bares, Mrs. Emma Starr, Mrs. Sarah Brown and Mrs. Coral Holliday. Pall bearer were B.O. White, Irvin Jepson, Charles Starr, George Randall, Leonard Holliday, Floyd Holliday. Interment was in Soldier cemetary."

Francis Marion Coffey and Permelia Jane "Jennie" Hughes had the following children: