John was born to John Hanna Coffee and Nancy C. (James)--both from families who made their homes in Missouri's Morgan and Moniteau Counties. John's parents lived near Versailles, Missouri until Nancy's death in 1895.
WIVES and CHILDREN: A justice of the peace married John to Daisy Johnson as recorded in Morgan County (Missouri) Marriages (Book V): "COFFER, J.W. to JOHNSON, Daisy M. on November 21, 1897." She was 19, he was 22. The 1900 Census finds Daisy and John living with her mother, Susan Boggs, and their two children: "Guy Price" (b. Jan 1896) and "Umareela Coffee" (b. Dec 1897). The census page shows Daisy as "adopted." And, John is shown as a "boarder." John traveled frequently, seeking employment on ranches in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, and Indian Territory. Young Daisy raised their children in Versailles. Correspondence indicates he wasn't home much. On Dec. 23, 1903, John divorced Daisy, and apparently had no further contact with her nor the young children.
On April 24, 1904 in Gibson City, Ford County, Illinois, John married Elta Dorothy McCormick, whom he had met while working on her father's ranch in Drummer, Illinois. Between 1905 to 1907, several of Elta's extended family left Illinois for New Mexico Territory. John and Dorothy followed. They homesteaded in DeBaca and Chaves Counties. Their five children were: Audrey Alice; John Laurence; Elisabeth Nancy; Helen Evelyn; and John Hanna Coffee (1923-1998). They loved their "Papa" and knew nothing of their half-brother and sister living in Missouri.
After Dorothy's death, John married Danish immigrant Elna Marie (Liljegren) Albertsen in Lodi on March 17, 1955. Two nieces told this writer that Elna and John could be seen at family gatherings, heads together laughing over some memory shared. They so enjoyed one another's company. John died one day after his 93rd birthday. Elna survived him, and is buried nearby--next to her first husband, Albert.
John loved horses and baseball. When he was 91 years young, Carl Anderson, Elna's young grandson, dropped by early one day en route to San Francisco where Carl had tickets to the Giants' baseball game at Candlestick Park. After a short visit, Carl told his grandparents of his plans.
John's eyes lit up. "YOU have tickets to a Giants' game?"
"Sure," Carl said, "You want to come along?"
"Just let me change my shoes…" replied John.
He put on a comfortable pair of tennis shoes and off they went to "The City." Carl reports they had a splendid time (it was a double-header!) and that John talked about that game for months following. Carl also told this writer that "John was one of the kindest men I've ever met."
(Click "view All Images" to see John's obit)
WIVES and CHILDREN: A justice of the peace married John to Daisy Johnson as recorded in Morgan County (Missouri) Marriages (Book V): "COFFER, J.W. to JOHNSON, Daisy M. on November 21, 1897." She was 19, he was 22. The 1900 Census finds Daisy and John living with her mother, Susan Boggs, and their two children: "Guy Price" (b. Jan 1896) and "Umareela Coffee" (b. Dec 1897). The census page shows Daisy as "adopted." And, John is shown as a "boarder." John traveled frequently, seeking employment on ranches in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, and Indian Territory. Young Daisy raised their children in Versailles. Correspondence indicates he wasn't home much. On Dec. 23, 1903, John divorced Daisy, and apparently had no further contact with her nor the young children.
On April 24, 1904 in Gibson City, Ford County, Illinois, John married Elta Dorothy McCormick, whom he had met while working on her father's ranch in Drummer, Illinois. Between 1905 to 1907, several of Elta's extended family left Illinois for New Mexico Territory. John and Dorothy followed. They homesteaded in DeBaca and Chaves Counties. Their five children were: Audrey Alice; John Laurence; Elisabeth Nancy; Helen Evelyn; and John Hanna Coffee (1923-1998). They loved their "Papa" and knew nothing of their half-brother and sister living in Missouri.
After Dorothy's death, John married Danish immigrant Elna Marie (Liljegren) Albertsen in Lodi on March 17, 1955. Two nieces told this writer that Elna and John could be seen at family gatherings, heads together laughing over some memory shared. They so enjoyed one another's company. John died one day after his 93rd birthday. Elna survived him, and is buried nearby--next to her first husband, Albert.
John loved horses and baseball. When he was 91 years young, Carl Anderson, Elna's young grandson, dropped by early one day en route to San Francisco where Carl had tickets to the Giants' baseball game at Candlestick Park. After a short visit, Carl told his grandparents of his plans.
John's eyes lit up. "YOU have tickets to a Giants' game?"
"Sure," Carl said, "You want to come along?"
"Just let me change my shoes…" replied John.
He put on a comfortable pair of tennis shoes and off they went to "The City." Carl reports they had a splendid time (it was a double-header!) and that John talked about that game for months following. Carl also told this writer that "John was one of the kindest men I've ever met."
(Click "view All Images" to see John's obit)
John was born to John Hanna Coffee and Nancy C. (James)--both from families who made their homes in Missouri's Morgan and Moniteau Counties. John's parents lived near Versailles, Missouri until Nancy's death in 1895.
WIVES and CHILDREN: A justice of the peace married John to Daisy Johnson as recorded in Morgan County (Missouri) Marriages (Book V): "COFFER, J.W. to JOHNSON, Daisy M. on November 21, 1897." She was 19, he was 22. The 1900 Census finds Daisy and John living with her mother, Susan Boggs, and their two children: "Guy Price" (b. Jan 1896) and "Umareela Coffee" (b. Dec 1897). The census page shows Daisy as "adopted." And, John is shown as a "boarder." John traveled frequently, seeking employment on ranches in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, and Indian Territory. Young Daisy raised their children in Versailles. Correspondence indicates he wasn't home much. On Dec. 23, 1903, John divorced Daisy, and apparently had no further contact with her nor the young children.
On April 24, 1904 in Gibson City, Ford County, Illinois, John married Elta Dorothy McCormick, whom he had met while working on her father's ranch in Drummer, Illinois. Between 1905 to 1907, several of Elta's extended family left Illinois for New Mexico Territory. John and Dorothy followed. They homesteaded in DeBaca and Chaves Counties. Their five children were: Audrey Alice; John Laurence; Elisabeth Nancy; Helen Evelyn; and John Hanna Coffee (1923-1998). They loved their "Papa" and knew nothing of their half-brother and sister living in Missouri.
After Dorothy's death, John married Danish immigrant Elna Marie (Liljegren) Albertsen in Lodi on March 17, 1955. Two nieces told this writer that Elna and John could be seen at family gatherings, heads together laughing over some memory shared. They so enjoyed one another's company. John died one day after his 93rd birthday. Elna survived him, and is buried nearby--next to her first husband, Albert.
John loved horses and baseball. When he was 91 years young, Carl Anderson, Elna's young grandson, dropped by early one day en route to San Francisco where Carl had tickets to the Giants' baseball game at Candlestick Park. After a short visit, Carl told his grandparents of his plans.
John's eyes lit up. "YOU have tickets to a Giants' game?"
"Sure," Carl said, "You want to come along?"
"Just let me change my shoes…" replied John.
He put on a comfortable pair of tennis shoes and off they went to "The City." Carl reports they had a splendid time (it was a double-header!) and that John talked about that game for months following. Carl also told this writer that "John was one of the kindest men I've ever met."
(Click "view All Images" to see John's obit)
WIVES and CHILDREN: A justice of the peace married John to Daisy Johnson as recorded in Morgan County (Missouri) Marriages (Book V): "COFFER, J.W. to JOHNSON, Daisy M. on November 21, 1897." She was 19, he was 22. The 1900 Census finds Daisy and John living with her mother, Susan Boggs, and their two children: "Guy Price" (b. Jan 1896) and "Umareela Coffee" (b. Dec 1897). The census page shows Daisy as "adopted." And, John is shown as a "boarder." John traveled frequently, seeking employment on ranches in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, and Indian Territory. Young Daisy raised their children in Versailles. Correspondence indicates he wasn't home much. On Dec. 23, 1903, John divorced Daisy, and apparently had no further contact with her nor the young children.
On April 24, 1904 in Gibson City, Ford County, Illinois, John married Elta Dorothy McCormick, whom he had met while working on her father's ranch in Drummer, Illinois. Between 1905 to 1907, several of Elta's extended family left Illinois for New Mexico Territory. John and Dorothy followed. They homesteaded in DeBaca and Chaves Counties. Their five children were: Audrey Alice; John Laurence; Elisabeth Nancy; Helen Evelyn; and John Hanna Coffee (1923-1998). They loved their "Papa" and knew nothing of their half-brother and sister living in Missouri.
After Dorothy's death, John married Danish immigrant Elna Marie (Liljegren) Albertsen in Lodi on March 17, 1955. Two nieces told this writer that Elna and John could be seen at family gatherings, heads together laughing over some memory shared. They so enjoyed one another's company. John died one day after his 93rd birthday. Elna survived him, and is buried nearby--next to her first husband, Albert.
John loved horses and baseball. When he was 91 years young, Carl Anderson, Elna's young grandson, dropped by early one day en route to San Francisco where Carl had tickets to the Giants' baseball game at Candlestick Park. After a short visit, Carl told his grandparents of his plans.
John's eyes lit up. "YOU have tickets to a Giants' game?"
"Sure," Carl said, "You want to come along?"
"Just let me change my shoes…" replied John.
He put on a comfortable pair of tennis shoes and off they went to "The City." Carl reports they had a splendid time (it was a double-header!) and that John talked about that game for months following. Carl also told this writer that "John was one of the kindest men I've ever met."
(Click "view All Images" to see John's obit)
