John R. Coffee

JOHN R. COFFEE.-One of the extensive land owners and leading farmers of Kent county, Mich., is John R. Coffee, who resides on section No. 17, Alpine township. He owns and operates 330 acres of valuable land and has wrought a wonderful transformation in the appearance of the tract upon which he located a third of a century ago. All the improvements of the place stand in evidence of his busy, industrious and useful life, and the farm is a monument to his enterprise. Mr. Coffee is a native of Alpine township, Kent county, Mich., having been born there January 27, 1852. He was the sixth child to grace the union of John and Marinda (Gooding) Coffee. John Coffee, the father, was a native of Enniskillen, county Fermanagh, Ireland, and was born May 12, I812. He came from Ireland to America with his parents in the year I815, and they first located in Pennsylvania, where they remained for some time prior to their removal to Marion county, Ohio. It was while his parents were residents of Ohio, that Mr. Coffee. began the struggle of life for himself, and whatever success he has attained-and it is considerable-has been, for the greater part, through his own industry and exertion. After living in Ohio for some time, and after considerable moving, he finally came to Michigan, where he purchased a farm in section No. 20, Alpine township, and immediately commenced cutting the timber, disposing of the same, and buying more land and timber until he became independently rich, at the time of his death being considered one of Alpine's richest farmers. All his wealth lay within the borders of the above-named township. His death occurred April 6, I887, but his name still lives and the family relations are being well kept up by his son, John R. The mother of the subject was a native of New York and was born in the year 18 9. She went from New York to Ohio with her parents and there met her husband. More fortunate than her husband, she still lives and enjoys fairly good health, making her home among her children. John R. Coffee began life for himself when twenty-four years of age by purchasing forty acres of land, adding to this the amount his father deeded to him, and engaged in farming. By careful management and hard labor he made a decided success, despite the condition of his purchase, and has been adding to it from time to time, until at the present he is the owner of 330 acres of good improved land, situated in sections Nos. 19 and 20, Alpine township. On December 25, 1874, Mr. Coffee wedded Miss Mary Johnson, but their happy married life was soon ended by the death of Mrs. Coffee, but not until one son, Watson, could claim her as mother. On June 5, i88r, he was again married, this time the bride being Miss Sarah Keas, a native of Chester, Ottawa county, Mich., born July 25, 1859, being the second child of John and Mary (Bisle) Keas. Her parents were both from Germany, but came to America at an early age and located in Ottawa county, where they lived until their deaths. Mr. and Mrs. Coffee are the parents of three children -Stephen, William J., and John-all of whom reside at home. Politically, Mr. Coffee is a supporter of the republican party and cast his first presidential vote for R. B. Hayes. He has served the people of Alpine as highway commissioner, and in fraternal affiliations is a member of Lisbon lodge, F. & A. M. Mr. and Mrs. Coffee are considered among Alpine's leading agriculturists, true to every principle in which they believe, earnest in the support of their honest convictions, industrious and energetic in the practical affairs of life, cordial and genial among their friends, and at all times a couple whom to know is to respect.