Coffey, Patrick 1852-1901

COFFEY, ROACH

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/5/2008 at 11:39:24

LeMars Sentinel
September 2, 1901

DEATH OF PATRICK COFFEY.

Patrick Coffey died at his home on Fifth street on Thursday morning after a
long and painful illness. For nearly three years he had been a sufferer from
cancer and for the past year he has suffered terribly and death came as a
welcome relief. He had sought and obtained the best medical skill but his
malady was beyond human aid and for the past few months his life has been
hanging on a thread.

The funeral was held on Saturday morning and was largely attended by friends
and old neighbors. The family have the sympathy of the community in the loss
of a good father and husband.

Deceased was prominent in the Catholic church being a member of St. James
church in this city. He was born in Ireland on April 17, 1852, and came to
the United States with his parents when but a lad of nine years, locating
with the family at Louisville, Kentucky, where they lived until 1866, when
the family went to Caledonia, Minnesota, where they resided until 1878. He
was united in marriage in 1875 with Miss Mary Roach of Caladonia and eleven
children were born to them, two having died in infancy. For several years
after 1878, he followed railroad contracting and did not maintain a
permanent home until coming to Plymouth county in 1884 when he purchased a
farm of 240 acres in Johnson township which is now among the fine farms of
this county. The family moved to LeMars in 1889 which has been their home
since.

The surviving members of the family are the widow, Miss Nellie who is now a
sister of charity in Omaha, and Catherine, James, Mary, Anna, Patrick,
Thomas, John and Leona, all whom are living at home.

Deceased was a member of a family of six children, five boys and one girl,
and the boys all survive him, the sister having died some time ago. The
mother of deceased died some years ago but the father is living in South
Dakota. All of the relatives of deceased were notified of his death but as
all live a great distance they could not reach here in time for the funeral.