My Genealogy Hound

Judge W. H. Coffey, an eminent lawyer of St. Francis County, widely known and highly esteemed by his associates on the bench, is originally of Fayette County, Tenn., but was taken by his parents when an infant, to De Soto County, Miss., in which State his father died two years later. His mother then returned to her father’s home in Hardeman County, Tenn., and afterward married John Coates, of that county. In 1861 Mr. Coffey enlisted in the Fourth Tennessee Infantry, taking an active part in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, and a number of others. He was captured and taken prisoner at the battle of Missionary Ridge, thence conveyed to Camp Morton, Ind., held in captivity for nine months, when he was exchanged, and receiving a furlough turned his face toward his native land, walking over 225 miles, and reaching home a short time before the surrender. He then took up farming for his livelihood, and in 1869 was married to Miss Mary E. Harris, who died in 1870, leaving one son, James W. In 1872 Mr. Coffey removed to Arkansas, and settled in St. Francis County, on a farm nine miles from Forrest City, purchasing first 160 acres of land, to which he has added from time to time, until he now owns 1,120 acres, and besides these he has his home farm, 225 acres, which are cleared and under cultivation. Two years after his removal to this county, he was elected justice of the peace, holding this office until 1886, when he was elected county judge, and was again elected to this office in 1888, and is now finishing his second term. In December, 1873, he was again married to Mary A. Houston, a daughter of James M. Houston. They are the parents of eight children, five of whom are still living: Mary E., Martha T., Noma, Nora Belle and Clarence Elbert. Mr. Coffey affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, in which order he has taken the degree of Royal Arch, and in the thirteen years of membership, he has not missed but four regular meetings. He is also a member of the County Wheel, being one of the charter members of this lodge, and was its first president.