Christopher F. Coffey

CHRISTOPHER F. COFFEY is a native son of the county in which he lives - Wyandotte county, Kansas - and owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Piper.

Mr. Coffey's parents, Barney and Catherine (Smith) Coffey, came to this county from Ireland, where they were born and reared. Arrived in the United States, Barney Coffey found employment on the railroad, and just previous to the outbreak of the Civil war he came to Wyandotte county, Kansas, and engaged in farming. During the war he served the country of his adoption as a member of the Kansas State Militia. He was a Democrat in politics, and throughout his life he was a devout Catholic. He took a deep interest in the general welfare of the community in which he lived, giving both his influence and material support toward the advancement of school and church work. Indeed, he was the leader in the building of a school and a Catholic church in his district. For a number of years he served as a member of the School Board, and at the time of his death he was postmaster at Menager Junction, Prairie township. At the time he and his wife came to this country they had two children, and afterward eleven more were born to them.

Christopher F. was born December 20, 1869; was reared on his father's farm, and received his education in the district schools near his home. When he reached manhood and started out in life for himself he went to Henry county, Illinois, and engaged in the meat business. But the farm and his native county had their attractions, and he came back here and has since devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits. He now has one hundred and sixty acres of choice land near Piper and carries on general farming.

In 1893 he married Miss Mary Deren, of Illinois, whose untimely death occurred in 1901. Their happy union was blessed in the birth of four children: Elsie, Pearl, Madge and Roy.
Politically Mr. Coffey affiliates with the Republican party in affairs of national moment, but at the local polls he votes for the man rather than the party. As a progressive farmer and substantial citizen he is held in worthy esteem in the community.


Another biography from the History of Wyandotte County Kansas and its people ed. and comp. by Perl W. Morgan. Chicago, The Lewis publishing company, 1911. 2 v. front., illus., plates, ports., fold. map. 28 cm. [Vol. 2 contains biographical data. Paged continuously.] p. 633-634 transcribed by Dustin Mullins, student from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, on October 26, 2000