John T. Coffee
Encyclopedia
John Trousdale Coffee was a Missouri
politician and Confederate
officer in the American Civil War
.
in 1842 following the deaths of his father and first wife where he practiced law in Springfield and Bolivar, Missouri
.
In 1845 his second wife died two weeks after having a baby. In September 1845 he married for the third time. He raised an army unit to participate the Mexican-American War however the war ended while they were en route to New Orleans.
He returned in 1849 as the circuit attorney for Dade County, Missouri where he lived in Greenfield, Missouri
.
In 1856 he argued to allow "squatter sovereignty" the Bleeding Kansas
problem (the argument was that Missourians should be allowed to vote deciding whether Kansas should be a slave state and they could do that by claiming land in Kansas). In 1857 he was a publisher of the Greenfield Southwest newspaper.
In 1858 he ran again for the Missouri Senate losing in the primary to B.H. Cravens. He then ran for the Missouri House of Representatives
and was elected Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives
in his first term. In 1860 he lost a Democratic primary for Missouri Secretary of State and returned to law practice.
retreated from Missouri, Coffee stayed in the state where he would harass Union troops in skirmishes around Neosho, Missouri
. One of its most famous skirmishes was the Battle of Lone Jack
.
Coffee's troops were routed by Union troops on August 12, 1863 at Pineville, Missouri
when 60 to 70 of his men were killed. In October 1863 Coffee's troops captured the federal garrison in Coffee's hometown of Greenfield and burned the courthouse. Among the destroyed records were his land deed which would ultimately mean he could not claim his property in Missouri.
After the conflict he was passed over for General Shelby who was given command in Missouri forces and Coffee left for Arkansas where he attempted unsuccessfully to recruit a new regiment. In late 1864 or early 1865 he moved to Waco, Texas
.
on July 26, 1865 in Austin, Texas
.
He moved with his seven children from Waco to Georgetown, Texas
where he married his fourth wife who bore him six more children.
He died in Georgetown, Texas
.
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
politician and Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
officer in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Early life
Coffee was born in Smith County, Tennessee where he taught himself law. He moved to Springfield, MissouriSpringfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
in 1842 following the deaths of his father and first wife where he practiced law in Springfield and Bolivar, Missouri
Bolivar, Missouri
Bolivar is the county seat of Polk County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,325 at the 2010 census. The city was named for Bolivar, Tennessee, home to many of the original settlers, and like that city its name is pronounced to rhyme with Oliver...
.
In 1845 his second wife died two weeks after having a baby. In September 1845 he married for the third time. He raised an army unit to participate the Mexican-American War however the war ended while they were en route to New Orleans.
He returned in 1849 as the circuit attorney for Dade County, Missouri where he lived in Greenfield, Missouri
Greenfield, Missouri
Greenfield is a city in Dade County, Missouri. The population was 1,358 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dade County.-History:The Greenfield square is lined with buildings built in the 1880s out of bricks made in the Greenfield Brickyard...
.
Politician
In 1854 he was elected to the Missouri State Senate. He resigned in 1855 to accept a captain position with the First U.S. Army Cavalry Regiment at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After serving only four months he resigned the captain position due to illness and returned to Greenfield.In 1856 he argued to allow "squatter sovereignty" the Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas, Bloody Kansas or the Border War, was a series of violent events, involving anti-slavery Free-Staters and pro-slavery "Border Ruffian" elements, that took place in the Kansas Territory and the western frontier towns of the U.S. state of Missouri roughly between 1854 and 1858...
problem (the argument was that Missourians should be allowed to vote deciding whether Kansas should be a slave state and they could do that by claiming land in Kansas). In 1857 he was a publisher of the Greenfield Southwest newspaper.
In 1858 he ran again for the Missouri Senate losing in the primary to B.H. Cravens. He then ran for the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
and was elected Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives
Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives
Speakers of the Missouri House of Representatives are :* 1820 James Caldwell * 1821 Henry S. Geyer * 1826 Alex Stuart * 1828 John Thornon * 1832 Thomas Reynolds * 1834 John Jameison...
in his first term. In 1860 he lost a Democratic primary for Missouri Secretary of State and returned to law practice.
Missouri guerilla
With the beginning of the American Civil War he raised a regiment in Dade County and was given the rank of colonel. After Sterling PriceSterling Price
Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...
retreated from Missouri, Coffee stayed in the state where he would harass Union troops in skirmishes around Neosho, Missouri
Neosho, Missouri
Neosho is the most populous city in and the county seat of Newton County, Missouri, United States. Neosho is an integral part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. One of its most famous skirmishes was the Battle of Lone Jack
Battle of Lone Jack
The Battle of Lone Jack was a battle of the American Civil War, occurring on August 15 – August 16, 1862 in Jackson County, Missouri. The battle was part of the Confederate guerrilla and recruiting campaign in Missouri in 1862.-Background:...
.
Coffee's troops were routed by Union troops on August 12, 1863 at Pineville, Missouri
Pineville, Missouri
Pineville is a city in and the county seat of McDonald County, Missouri, United States. The population was 916 at the 2009 census, at which time it was a town. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area....
when 60 to 70 of his men were killed. In October 1863 Coffee's troops captured the federal garrison in Coffee's hometown of Greenfield and burned the courthouse. Among the destroyed records were his land deed which would ultimately mean he could not claim his property in Missouri.
After the conflict he was passed over for General Shelby who was given command in Missouri forces and Coffee left for Arkansas where he attempted unsuccessfully to recruit a new regiment. In late 1864 or early 1865 he moved to Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
.
Post-Civil War
After the surrender of the Confederates, Coffee refused a request by Shelby to continue the fight under the flag of Emperor Maximilian. He formally surrendered to George Armstrong CusterGeorge Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
on July 26, 1865 in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
He moved with his seven children from Waco to Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown is a city and also the county seat of Williamson County, Texas, United States with a population of 47,400 at the 2010 census. Southwestern University, founded in 1840, is the oldest university in Texas and is located in Georgetown, about 1/2 mile east of the historic square...
where he married his fourth wife who bore him six more children.
He died in Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown is a city and also the county seat of Williamson County, Texas, United States with a population of 47,400 at the 2010 census. Southwestern University, founded in 1840, is the oldest university in Texas and is located in Georgetown, about 1/2 mile east of the historic square...
.