Annals of Platte County, Missouri - Paxton
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1867, NOV. 441 REV. COFFEY. court, with Esteb, circuit attorney, Tufts, clerk, and Ogden. sheri. Nov. 12Danl Jenkins killed at Platte City, by a negro called Alfred Hughes, who was indicted for murder, convicted on change of venue to Clinton, and there hung. N. B. Anderson and L. Georgen admitted to the bar. Nov. 16J. A. McGonagle is paid his full bill for building the court-house and jail, amounting, with extras, to $93,852.65. To this was afterwards added discounts on warrants. REV. RICHARD N. COFFEY. Rev. Richard N. Coffey died at Camden Poi11t. He wa.s born in Amherst County, a., July 5, 1795. He was a. son of Osborn Coffey, a soldier of the Revolutionary army, who served at Sara- toga and Yorktown. The family came to Kentucky about 1800, and settled near Danville, where Richard N. studied medicine under the distinguished Dr. Ephraim McDowell. He afterwards received a. diploma from the University of Pennsylvania. He was under Shelby at the battle of the Thames. He practiced med- icine, but his lifework was preaching the gospel of Christ, as a Baptist missionary. He came to Platte in March, 1854. His memory is venerated in the churches of Platte. His wife was Catherine McCormick, daughter of Joseph a.nd Margaret, natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Coffey was born in Lincoln County, Ky., April 9, 1799, and died in Platte September 5, 1875. Children: I. EPHRAIM MCDOWELL COFFEY, b. in Hustonville, Ky.. Jan. 26, 1829: 111d 1st, June 9, 1854, Bettie F. James. She died, childless, April 6, 1865; and he married second. 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 Con- federate service, and was appointed surgeon of his regi- ment. He was at Vilsons Creek, Lexington. Pea. Ridge. and other engagements, with the 1st Brigade of Missouri Volunteers. He was at Corinth, Grand Gulf, Champion Hill (or Bakers Creek), the siege of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Fort Gaines, and Fort Powell. He was chief surgeon of Gen. Bowens division. and was chairman of medical examiners for the Board of Con- scription, 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 Worlds Fair, and treasurer of the board. He held the oice of county treasurer for one term. Dr. Coffey possesses intelligence. and his tall and com- manding gure, crowned by a head of perfectly white hair,