A Soldier's Story: Colonel James Ashbury Coffey

 


Colonel James Ashbury Coffey was born on November 18, 1827, in Gallatin County, Illinois. He moved to Kansas in 1855 to open a trading post. He enlisted in the local militia and fought in the border wars before being mustered into the US Army's 4th Battalion 4th Brigade Artillery during the Civil War.

In 1869, he created a trading post that would ultimately grow into Coffeyville, Kansas (read about the town here). After the founding of Coffeyville, Colonel James Coffey would then move to Humboldt to found a trading post then.  Finally, in 1878, Colonel Coffey moved to Dodge City, Kansas, to found the company, Coffey and Marsh.

On January 13, 1879, Colonel James Coffey would die from pneumonia.  He rests in Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City, Kansas.

* Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here*

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to the travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

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Location: Gallatin County, IL, USA

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