Fifth Generation

451. Alfred Alphonso Coffey was born on 10 May 1831 in Wilkes Co., NC.

The 1850 census suggests that Alfred was born closer to 1824.
Alfred served with the 52d Georgia Infantry during the Civil War.¹⁷¹⁴ He lived with his son Starlin in Marion Co., TN on 23 April 1910. Alfred died on 10 December 1915 at the age of 84 in Chattanooga, Hamilton Co., TN and was buried at Forest Hills Cemetery in Chattanooga, Hamilton Co., TN.^1715,1716

"I was borned in Wilkes County, N.C. May 10th, 1831. My father's name was Elijah, a native of N.C. My mother was reared near Nashville in West Tenn. Her maiden name was Heulme. My Father moved to Georgia about the last of 1839 and settled on what is known as Little Betties Creek in Raburn Co., 7 miles north of Clayton. I lived there on the farm until I was 21 years of age, going to school a few months each year at which time I commenced going to school to Philon P. Brown's at the Academy at Clayton at which time I went 4 times through arithmetic, 4 times through English, 4 times through dictionary, and partly geography.

After this, I worked in dry goods store for John Wyley for a time. After this, I went to Atlanta and clerked in the Records office in the State Depot for the W & A RR. Also the Depot at Resaca for a while at which time I went to Running on the Road in the capacity of Conductor. This was in 1854. Continued on the Road until the first of 1856, at which time I left the Road and went West and was in the Kansas Trouble. Was in the Battle at Hickory Point against old John Brown by whom I was captured but afterward relieved by Summers commanding US Troops. I am the only living man I have any knowledge of that was in that battle. Brown kept up his deviltry until captured at Harpers Ferry and was executed.

I returned from Kansas the latter part of 1856. In 1857 I married Julia Dawkins, daughter of John Dawkins of N.C. Her mother was Mary Wheeler. They resided in Habersham County, 4 miles south of Tallulah Falls on Panther Creek. In 1858 and 1859 I clerked in the GA Legislature, one session in the House and one in the Senate. In March, 1862, I enlisted in the Confederate cause. I was mustered in to service at Big Shanty. I was standing nearby when Andrews and his followers stole the engine from Bill Fuller. In the fall of 1866, I came to Walker Co. GA and remained there and Catossa County until 1879, at which time I came to Chattanooga. I have lived here ever since. I haven't gone into detail as I might have done."

"P.S. I was discharged from service on account of disability. I went home and was appointed tax assessor of tax in kind for 3 counties by quartermaster Bacon of Georgia. I taught in the first colored school ever taught in GA."

[The above is a partial autobiography of Alfred Alonzo Coffee. It appeared in the Sep., 1994 edition of the Coffey Cousins' newsletter, and was submitted by Katie Taggart Dunn, a great-granddaughter of Alfred. Alfred Alonzo was a son of Elijah and Polly Hull Coffey.]

Alfred Alphonso Coffey and Julia Ann Dawkins were married in 1857 in Georgia. They appeared in the census on 11 June 1860 in Rabun Co., GA.¹⁷¹⁷ They¹⁷¹⁷ appeared in the census on 15 July 1870 in Rock Spring, Walker Co., GA.¹⁷¹⁸ Alfred and Julia¹⁷¹⁸ appeared in the census on 29 July 1880 in Hamilton Co., TN.¹⁷¹⁹ They¹⁷¹⁹ appeared in the census on 1 June 1900 in Hamilton Co., TN.¹⁷²⁰ Julia Ann Dawkins, daughter of John Dawkins and Mary Wheeler, was born on 17 February 1838 in Georgia. Julia died on 14 March 1906 at the age of 68 in Chattanooga, Hamilton Co., TN and was buried at Forest Hills Cemetery in Chattanooga, Hamilton Co., TN.^1721,1722

Alfred Alphonso Coffey and Julia Ann Dawkins had the following children: