Biography - HENRY M. COFFEE

Henry M. Coffee, one of the largest land-owners and most successful farmers and stock raisers of Hilyard township, Macoupin County, where he owns and operates a farm of 208 acres, situated in sections 33 and 34, was born in Macoupin County, Illinois, October 2, 1846. He is a son of Daniel and Eliza (Culp) Coffee.

James Coffee, the grandfather of our subject, came from Ireland and settled in Livingston County, New York, where he reared these children: Eliza, Clarissa, Matilda, John, Frank, Katherine and Daniel.

Daniel Coffee, father of Henry M., was born in 1816 in Livingston County, New York, in the vicinity of Dansville, and died in Hilyard township, Macoupin County, at the age of 49 years. He came here a young man, seeking employment and was engaged by the month by Vernon King, with whom he remained until his marriage, when he bought the present farm of our subject. He broke prairie with an old wooden plough and did much hard work in the cultivating of land in this country with no assistance from improved machinery. He was a man of ability and judgment and at various times held local office. In politics he was a Democrat. He married Eliza Culp, who was born near Memphis, Tennessee, and was a daughter of Amos and Jane (Davis) Culp, who came to Illinois in 1820 and settled near Woodburn, Macoupin County. Mrs. Coffee died here in 1898, aged 72 years. Their children were: Mrs. Katherine Smith, of Decatur, Illinois; James A., deceased; Henry M., of this sketch; Margaret F., Edward, Elizabeth and Martha, who died young; William E., who died at the age of 28 years; and John W., of Doans, Texas.

Henry M. Coffee was educated in the local schools and has been interested in farming ever since he can remember. He has always had land under cultivation but has not permitted activity in this direction to absorb all his energies. For some 12 years he acted as the traveling representative for several leading business firms — Garr, Scott & Company, of Richmond, Indiana, threshing machines and engines; and the Pitts Agricultural Works, at Buffalo, New York. That Mr. Coffee's ideas about agricultural machinery are very practical has been demonstrated by his invention of a straw stacker, which he had patented in 1882, and which has proved of great selling value.

In addition to his fine farm of 208 acres in Hilyard township, where he engages in general farming and stock raising, he has a cotton and stock ranch of 1,280 acres in Wilbarger County, Texas, and 640 acres in Buchanan County, Virginia. This aggregates 2,128 acres of valuable land and when it is remembered that Mr. Coffee has accumulated this large property through his own efforts, an estimate may be made as to his industry and business ability. Although at present his whole time is taken up in looking after his large farming interests, he has been a very useful citizen and has done much toward the development of his township. As a man of intelligence and broad views, his connection of 25 years with the schools of the township have resulted in benefiting them greatly. He served four years as supervisor of Hilyard township, from 1898 to 1902, has been foreman of the grand jury and has held other offices of honor and responsibility.

Mr. Coffee was married in 1872, to Katherine Elliman, who was born July 28, 1851, near London, England, and was brought to America by her parents when three years of age. She is a daughter of William and Mary A. (Lovette) Elliman, who settled on a farm in Macoupin County, where both died. Mr. and Mrs. Coffee have had six children, viz: Edward, who died in infancy; Daniel, who operates the ranch in Texas — he has one child, Bessie K'athrine; Mary E., who married Dr. C. H. Moore of Shipman, Macoupin County, and has one child — Thirsa; Rosa Nell, who is at home; John E., a traveling man of Peoria, Illinois, who has one son — Lockland A.; and William H., who is at home.

The religious connection of the family is with the Baptist Church. In politics, Mr. Coffee is identified with the Democratic party and has served as a delegate to its various conventions, and on its important committees in this county. Fraternally he is both a Mason and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Coffee is one of the enterprising and progressive men who not only better their own fortunes through their enterprises, but reflect credit upon their communities. He is one of Hilyard township's representative citizens and is highly esteemed by all who know him, not only as a business man, but also as a friend and neighbor.

Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 456-458.