Wife of John Carper McVay (1834-1921). Harriet is believed to be the the 14th child born to Joshua Coffing and Mary (Davis) Coffing.
The following obituary is for Harriet's husband, John McVay:
"Bring On The Pioneers! History of Hand County" by Scott Heidepriem, @1978, pgs. 428-429, with permission of Scott Heidepriem
John C. and Harriet McVay
By John McVay
John C. McVay was born in Wayne Township, Knox County, Ohio, on October 18, 1834. In 1856 the family moved to southern Illinois and later to Garden Grove, Iowa. Here John married Harriet Coffing, who was born in western Pennsylvania. The couple made their home on a farm until John went away to the Civil War. In August of 1882 he came to Dakota Territory and entered land near St. Lawrence, and later the family home was established on the claim. His wife passed away July 15, 1899.
John and Harriet had six children: Bruce, Louise Lincoln, Winifred Sage, Ward, Maude Benham, and Abaigail McVay. The McVay land was located in Grand Township, Hand County. Maude and Abaigail lived on the ranch with their father and two brothers, Bruce and Ward. Winifred was home in the summer but was in college and later teaching. After her marriage to Llewelyn Sage she moved to Wenatchee, Washington.
Bruce McVay also went to college, spending two years at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, and finishing up at Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell with an
A.B. degree in 1899. He and his younger brother Ward took entire charge of the ranch until 1900, as John McVay was away on his insurance business in northern Illinois. Later he went to Mitchell and worked on the Mitchell Republican, and took jobs in educational administration at Blunt, Highmore, Woonsocket and Scotland, as well as a faculty position with Huron College for a time.
(4 more paragraphs about Bruce McVay and the town of Vayland, SD)
John McVay, son of Bruce McVay and grandson of John C. McVay, now lives in Alexandria, South Dakota and winters in Arizona.
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Excerpt from bio of John C. McVay in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904), pp 1188-1190.
On the 4th of July, 1859, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. McVay to Miss Hattie Coffin, of Newton, Illinois. She was born in Pennsylvania on the 14th of August, 1834, and was a successful and popular teacher in Godfrey, Illinois, for a number of years prior to her marriage, having been educated in Oberlin College, Ohio. Mrs. McVay was a woman of noble character and gracious presence, endearing herself to all with whom she came in contact, while she proved a devoted wife and helpmeet during the long period of nearly a half century, being summoned into eternal rest on the 11th of August 1899. To her loved husband and children the memory of her pure and gentle life rests like a permanent benediction and thus is granted a measure of compensation for her loss. Of this union were born nine children, concerning whom we enter the following brief record: Horace M. died at the age of four years; Herbert H. died at the age of two and one-half years; and William L. passed away at the age of nine months. Bruce graduated at Mitchell University and is principal of the public schools at Highmore, Hyde county; Louise, who was formerly a popular teacher in the public schools, is now the wife of George B. Lincoln, a special agent of the government, in New York City; Winifred is a graduate of Mitchell University and took the state oratorical prize and second in the interstate contest at Fargo, South Dakota. She was likewise a successful teacher and is now the wife of Llewellyn Sage who is an extensive ranchmen near Salida, Colorado; Ward B. took a business course at Mitchell University and is engaged in farming and stock growing in Hand county, South Dakota; Emma Maude is a graduate of Highland Park College, Des Moines, Iowa, and is now pursuing her fourth year as a teacher in the primary department of the public schools of Miller; and Mary Abigail is a successful teacher of music in St. Lawrence, using the famous Burrows kindergarten system in her work with children. The family is one of prominence in the social, religious and educational life of the county and it is eminently gratifying to present this sketch in a work which has to do with those who have wrought well in the great state to which this history is devoted.
Wife of John Carper McVay (1834-1921). Harriet is believed to be the the 14th child born to Joshua Coffing and Mary (Davis) Coffing.
The following obituary is for Harriet's husband, John McVay:
"Bring On The Pioneers! History of Hand County" by Scott Heidepriem, @1978, pgs. 428-429, with permission of Scott Heidepriem
John C. and Harriet McVay
By John McVay
John C. McVay was born in Wayne Township, Knox County, Ohio, on October 18, 1834. In 1856 the family moved to southern Illinois and later to Garden Grove, Iowa. Here John married Harriet Coffing, who was born in western Pennsylvania. The couple made their home on a farm until John went away to the Civil War. In August of 1882 he came to Dakota Territory and entered land near St. Lawrence, and later the family home was established on the claim. His wife passed away July 15, 1899.
John and Harriet had six children: Bruce, Louise Lincoln, Winifred Sage, Ward, Maude Benham, and Abaigail McVay. The McVay land was located in Grand Township, Hand County. Maude and Abaigail lived on the ranch with their father and two brothers, Bruce and Ward. Winifred was home in the summer but was in college and later teaching. After her marriage to Llewelyn Sage she moved to Wenatchee, Washington.
Bruce McVay also went to college, spending two years at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, and finishing up at Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell with an
A.B. degree in 1899. He and his younger brother Ward took entire charge of the ranch until 1900, as John McVay was away on his insurance business in northern Illinois. Later he went to Mitchell and worked on the Mitchell Republican, and took jobs in educational administration at Blunt, Highmore, Woonsocket and Scotland, as well as a faculty position with Huron College for a time.
(4 more paragraphs about Bruce McVay and the town of Vayland, SD)
John McVay, son of Bruce McVay and grandson of John C. McVay, now lives in Alexandria, South Dakota and winters in Arizona.
-------------------------------
Excerpt from bio of John C. McVay in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904), pp 1188-1190.
On the 4th of July, 1859, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. McVay to Miss Hattie Coffin, of Newton, Illinois. She was born in Pennsylvania on the 14th of August, 1834, and was a successful and popular teacher in Godfrey, Illinois, for a number of years prior to her marriage, having been educated in Oberlin College, Ohio. Mrs. McVay was a woman of noble character and gracious presence, endearing herself to all with whom she came in contact, while she proved a devoted wife and helpmeet during the long period of nearly a half century, being summoned into eternal rest on the 11th of August 1899. To her loved husband and children the memory of her pure and gentle life rests like a permanent benediction and thus is granted a measure of compensation for her loss. Of this union were born nine children, concerning whom we enter the following brief record: Horace M. died at the age of four years; Herbert H. died at the age of two and one-half years; and William L. passed away at the age of nine months. Bruce graduated at Mitchell University and is principal of the public schools at Highmore, Hyde county; Louise, who was formerly a popular teacher in the public schools, is now the wife of George B. Lincoln, a special agent of the government, in New York City; Winifred is a graduate of Mitchell University and took the state oratorical prize and second in the interstate contest at Fargo, South Dakota. She was likewise a successful teacher and is now the wife of Llewellyn Sage who is an extensive ranchmen near Salida, Colorado; Ward B. took a business course at Mitchell University and is engaged in farming and stock growing in Hand county, South Dakota; Emma Maude is a graduate of Highland Park College, Des Moines, Iowa, and is now pursuing her fourth year as a teacher in the primary department of the public schools of Miller; and Mary Abigail is a successful teacher of music in St. Lawrence, using the famous Burrows kindergarten system in her work with children. The family is one of prominence in the social, religious and educational life of the county and it is eminently gratifying to present this sketch in a work which has to do with those who have wrought well in the great state to which this history is devoted.
Gravesite Details
Thank you to Findagrave member 47111945 for further information on Harriet's parents.
Family Members
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