In compiling information for the Coffey Centennial book, those people who settled within a 5-mile radius of Coffey on or before 1860 were identified, including the names of descendants who lived in Coffey at the time of publication (1956). A group of eight ladies helped compile the information; newspaper and radio sources were used. Although this is not considered a complete list, it is as many names as possible.
Jonathan Liggett settled on Section 20 in 1837 and Alexander Liggett settled on Section 18 that same year. Other settlers soon after that date included Aurelius Richardson, A.G. Dergin, and Matthew Harbord, who were the first settlers in the vicinity of where Coffey was later incorporated.
Matthew L. and Catharine Harbord came from Illinois and settled one mile west of the present site of Coffey on the land that is now known as the Omer McClung farm. As Mr. Harbor later said, it was the first place he had come upon to meet his desire for “timber on the north and prairie on the south.” Mr. Harbord was engaged in farming and stock raising, having several hundred acres of land at the time of his death. In the summer of 1849, Mr. Harbord, along with several of his neighbors, pooled their cattle (about 1,500 head) and started driving them to the Chicago market. Somewhere east of the Mississippi, Mr. Harbord took cholera and died on July 9, 1849, the exact place of his death or burial being unknown. In the year 1857, Mr. Harbord’s widow, Catharine, married Bailey H. Coffey. Descendants include Kermit Everly, Mrs. Perry Glaze, Mrs. James E. Wells, Eddie Wells, James Everly, Susan Everly, Sandra Everly, Max Everly, James H. Everly, John Everly, Carolyn Everly, and Tommy Everly.
D. Nelson and Naomi Foster came from Franklyn County, Indiana, and settled three miles east of Coffey in 1838. The farm on which they located is still in the Foster family. Descendants include Mrs. Carrie Stewart, Earle Stewart, Mrs. Iva West, Earnest West, Mrs. Bessie McClung, Ralph Prindle, Glenn Prindle, Don Prindle, Wilburn Keown, Wayne Howard, Mrs. Delpha Gantz, Luetta Vogel, Ronetta and Ricky Ray Vogel, and Guy Foster.
John Severe settled near Rocky Ford on Cypress Creek in 1841 and built a water mill.
John Williams, native of North Carolina, came to Coffey in 1836 and settled on a farm. A grandson, Tom J. Williams, age 82, lives in Coffey.
Benjamin Salmon settled about four miles southeast of Coffey in 1839. Descendants include Ivel Salmon, Gerald Salmon, Gary Salmon, Gail Salmon, and Greg Salmon.
Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Glaze came from Illinois in 1840 and settled north of what is known as the Hickory Creek Church. Mr. Glaze was the first person to be buried in the Hickory Creek Cemetery in 1848. Descendants include Dale, Perry, and Garland Glaze, Florence Wells, Reed Netherton, Corbin and Kermit Feurt, Doyle, Glenn, William E., Stephen, Glenda Rose, Mark, July, and Rodney Knott.
Isaac Smith Settled near Coffey about 1851. Descendants include Elmer, Claude, Olen, and Eula Ruth Smith.
N.B. Brown came from Virginia in 1857 and built the first storehouse in Coffey. He married Sarah J. Harbord.
Edwin McIntire came from Illinois and settled in Coffey in 1856. e married Mary Coffey in 1860. He was in the furniture store business, built the first dwelling house in Coffey, and is said to have built 3/4ths of the original houses in town. Descendants include Harper Butler, Cora Stewart, Bert Young, Rhea Vogel, Gladys Waters, Ronald Vogel, Donald Waters, Mary Lou Waters, Ronetta Sue and Ricky Vogel, and Bradley Waters.
In 1855, Martin H. O’Hare came from Ohio and entered 120 acres of land from the government, located three miles south and one mile west of Coffey. Descendants include Elwood O’Hare, Thomas O’Hare, Mrs. Clarence Keplar, Walter O’Hare, and Norman O’Hare.
J.H. and Margaret Conaway Knott came from McClain County, Illinois, in 1854, and settled on a farm four miles east of Coffey, which is still in the Knott name. Descendants include Doyle Knott, William Knott, Glenn Knott, Steve Knott, Glenda Knott, Mark Knott, Julie Knott, and Rodney Knott.
Jesse Galbreath came here in 1847. In 1854 he deeded the land to Wm. Galbreath, who had come to the community in 1848. Martha June, daughter of Lewis Brown, was married to Squire Galbreath, brother of William on January 8, 1857. Descendants include Lucy Netherton, Ernest Gotschall, and Gertrude Stewart.
In 1851 Dewitt Clinton Courter settled on a farm about three miles north of Coffey. Descendants include Roscoe Courter, Bain Smith, Charles Courter, Wesley Courter, Charles Henry Courter, Vora Courter, Raymond Courter, Roy Courter, Novel Courter, Henry Courter, Kay Courter, Jerry Don Courter, Francis, Frankie, John Max, and Junior Courter.
Jonathan Welden came from Kentucky and settled four miles northeast of Coffey. Descendants include Dora Bennum, Leta Glaze, Beulah Parrett, and Guy Welden.
John and Sallie House came from Ohio and settled three miles northwest of Coffey in 1856. Descendants include Mabel Butcher, Louie Clark, Ona Porter, Fannie Feurt, Fannie Mullenax, and Wyley House.
Thomas Feurt came from Ohio to this vicinity in 1845. He built the house now owned by J. Corbin Feurt shortly before his death in March, 1869. He was a prominent stockman and owned 500 acres of land. Descendant include J. Corbin Feurt and H. Kermit Feurt.
Alfred Prindle came to Missouri from Columbus, Ohio, and settled in Washington Township, Section 7, Range 27, on January 24, 1854. Occupations were farming and gunsmithery. Some of the guns made by Mr. Prindle are still to be found in this section of the country. Descendants include Bessie McClung, Iva Wes, Glenn Prindle, Don Prindle, Denzil Prindle, Ernest West, and John Booram.
In 1854 Lewis Terry obtained land from the government now known as the John A. Galbreath farm. Descendants include Nellie Thompson and Garland Glaze.
Nathen and Rachel Reed came from Illinois and settled about five miles southeast of Coffey in 1855. Descendants include Reed Netherton and Kermit Everly.
Wm. and Margaret Hammaker came from Ohio in 1857 and settled 4.5 miles northeast of Coffey. Descendants include Stella Mendenhall, Clifford Mendenhall, Robert and Kay Mendenhall, Murel Williams and Leta Glaze.
Other settlers in this vicinity 1860 or before include Bartholomew S. Williams 1853; J. Netherton 1854; Henry Githens 1856; Jas. Yarbrough 1854; Wm. Triplett 1855; Jno. J. Ford 1843; Jas. Jones 1854; Thos. D. Cranens 1855; Taylor McCulley 1856; Alphonso B. Morlow 1845; Jas. Bray 1849; John W. and Ester Coffey 1856; R.W. Handy 1860; and Bailey H. Coffey.
Source: Coffey Centennial (1956-1956) pages 5-6, Walsworth Publishing Co. 1956
Davy Hampton (standing right of the wagon at extreme left) and men are shown cutting ice at the railroad pond at Coffey, MO.
N.B. Brown is recognized as the first storekeeper doing business in Coffey, MO.
