Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa, (Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 617: "S. W. COFFEY, section 6, Grand River Township, andone of its pioneers, is a native of Vermont, born in Belvidere, Franklin County,November 14, 1808, a son of Samuel and Cynthia (Beals) Coffey, also natives ofVermont. When he was eight years of age his parents moved to Essex County,New York. When he was seventeen years old he went to Orleans, New York,and from there, in 1838, to Washtenaw County, Michigan, where he lived until1856, when he moved to St. Joseph County, Indiana, and thence a year later toWarren County, Iowa, where he lived seven years. In 1864 he moved toDecatur County, and located in Grand River Township, on the farm where he nowlives. About forty acres of the land were ready for cultivation, and aplank house had been built. He now has a good story-and-a-half house, and200 acres under cultivation. His farm is well adapted for stock-raising,having plenty of timber, and Elk Creek running across his land. Itis located two and a quarter miles west of Grand River station, thus making itconvenient to a shipping point. Mr. Coffey was married in 1839 to MissLouisa Schofield, who died August 28, 1874. To them were born six children-- Julietta, wife of Jacob Ross; Levina, wife of Henry Boyd; Samuel, Eugenia,Charles Sumner and Elmer. Eugenia is acting as housekeeper, and Elmer nowhas charge of the farm. In politics Mr. Coffey is a Democrat, but duringthe war he was a strong Union man."

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)