The Valley Falls Vindicator Jefferson County Wednesday January 15, 1941 John Edwin COFFEY, A.T. and Santa Fe depot agent at Rock Creek for 50 yearss departed this life at a Topeka hospital the afternoon of Dec. 25, 1940. His father, at the age of 19 years, cam eto America from Kildare County, Ireland, Feb. 22, 1820, settling near Philadelphia, Pa., later bought a farm in Wayne County, Pa., where he lived until 1857 when he came West to the land sales being held in Ozawkie. At those sales, he bought the farm west of Rock Creek, known as the old Coffey farm where John was born March 16, 1864, son of John A. and Mary Elizabeth Coffey. Spending most of his earlier life on the farm, he entered service of the Santa Fe March 1879 as night watchman. During his spare time he learned the telegraphy trade and in April, 1887 was appointed agent and operator of Rock Creek, Kans., where he remained for 50 years, 11 months. On Feb. 22, 1938 he retired from service. He helped the road in its pioneer days and watched it grow from year to year, developing inton one of the finest railroads in this or any other countryl. He did his bit during this time. He was Postmaster eight years and telephone operator several years, having both in his home at the same time. On Aug. 2, 1940 he entered the Santa Fe hospital, submitted to an operation August 5th for an intestinal disorder from which he never recovered. Although he knew his time was near, he was ready and willing to go, and had all plans made which were carried out by his family. He was a loving husband and father, was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need and also for all community affairs. He will be sadly missed by home, family, and friends. On March 2, 1886, he was united in marriage to Bell COOL of Meriden, at Newman, Kansas, they having resided in their home near the depot for those years. Besides his wife, he is survived by a daughter and son, Mrs. Blanche DOUGAN of Topeka, Kans. and Mr. Lester T. Coffey of Chicago; a grandaughter, Miss Mary Coffey, who has resided with them since infancy; a sister, Mrs. Laura BECKER of Topeka; a brother, James E. Coffey, Kansas City, Mo.; his parents, 3 sisters and 3 borhters having preceded him in death; 5 other grandchildren, Earl Dougan and Mrs. Marvel Shaw of Kansas CIty, Mo., James and Johnnie Dougan of Aubur, Corp. Robert B. Dougan of Fort Robinson, Ark., Betty Dougan of Topeka; one great-grandson, George Dougan of Topeka. Pallbearers wre Bank Hodges, Mathew Martin, Lois Koehler, Joe Kane, E.M. Webster and Geo. Bond. Services were held in St. Aloysius church in Meriden Dec. 28, with Fr. Egbert Hall officiating. Beautiful hymns were sung by Mrs. Katherine Semon and Mrs. William Lindabury of Topeka. Burial in Meriden cemetery.

Jim thank you for this Obit. John was my Great Grandfather and even tho I had all the dates listed within the obit having the story behind them makes them even more special. Rod ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Laird" <jlaird@bellsouth.net> To: "Jim Laird" <KSJEFFER@rootsweb.com>; "Jim Laird" <KS-FOOTSTEPS@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 4:00 PM Subject: [KSJEFFER] Death: John Edwin COFFEY > The Valley Falls Vindicator > Jefferson County > Wednesday > January 15, 1941 > > John Edwin COFFEY, A.T. and Santa Fe depot agent at Rock Creek for 50 > yearss departed this life at a Topeka hospital the afternoon of Dec. 25, > 1940. His father, at the age of 19 years, cam eto America from Kildare > County, Ireland, Feb. 22, 1820, settling near Philadelphia, Pa., later > bought a farm in Wayne County, Pa., where he lived until 1857 when he came > West to the land sales being held in Ozawkie. At those sales, he bought > the farm west of Rock Creek, known as the old Coffey farm where John was > born March 16, 1864, son of John A. and Mary Elizabeth Coffey. > Spending most of his earlier life on the farm, he entered service of the > Santa Fe March 1879 as night watchman. During his spare time he learned > the telegraphy trade and in April, 1887 was appointed agent and operator > of Rock Creek, Kans., where he remained for 50 years, 11 months. On Feb. > 22, 1938 he retired from service. > He helped the road in its pioneer days and watched it grow from year to > year, developing inton one of the finest railroads in this or any other > countryl. He did his bit during this time. He was Postmaster eight years > and telephone operator several years, having both in his home at the same > time. On Aug. 2, 1940 he entered the Santa Fe hospital, submitted to an > operation August 5th for an intestinal disorder from which he never > recovered. Although he knew his time was near, he was ready and willing to > go, and had all plans made which were carried out by his family. He was a > loving husband and father, was always willing to lend a helping hand to > anyone in need and also for all community affairs. He will be sadly missed > by home, family, and friends. > On March 2, 1886, he was united in marriage to Bell COOL of Meriden, at > Newman, Kansas, they having resided in their home near the depot for those > years. Besides his wife, he is survived by a daughter and son, Mrs. > Blanche DOUGAN of Topeka, Kans. and Mr. Lester T. Coffey of Chicago; a > grandaughter, Miss Mary Coffey, who has resided with them since infancy; a > sister, Mrs. Laura BECKER of Topeka; a brother, James E. Coffey, Kansas > City, Mo.; his parents, 3 sisters and 3 borhters having preceded him in > death; 5 other grandchildren, Earl Dougan and Mrs. Marvel Shaw of Kansas > CIty, Mo., James and Johnnie Dougan of Aubur, Corp. Robert B. Dougan of > Fort Robinson, Ark., Betty Dougan of Topeka; one great-grandson, George > Dougan of Topeka. Pallbearers wre Bank Hodges, Mathew Martin, Lois > Koehler, Joe Kane, E.M. Webster and Geo. Bond. > Services were held in St. Aloysius church in Meriden Dec. 28, with Fr. > Egbert Hall officiating. Beautiful hymns were sung by Mrs. Katherine Semon > and Mrs. William Lindabury of Topeka. Burial in Meriden cemetery. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > KSJEFFER-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message