ARCHELAUS COFFEY, an old citizen and farmer of Clay 
Township, Owen County, Ind., eldest son of James and 
Hannah (ALLOWAY-STRANGE) Coffey, of North Carolina, was 
born in Wilkes County, that State, March 1, 1810. He 
came with his parents into Indiana in the year 1834, and 
located in Monroe County, where he lived until 1860, 
removing thence into Owen County, where he purchased 
the land upon which he has since resided. He was reared 
upon a farm, and educated at the subscription schools of 
his native state. January
23, 1834, he was married, in Ashe County, N. C., to 
Rachel WILSON, who bore him eleven children - an infant 
died not named; Sallie Ann; James D.; John W.; Jonathan, 
deceased; William A.; Zacariah, deceased; Noah; Joseph 
M.; George M. and Levi W. With the exception of a small 
inheritance from the estate of his father, who died in 
1869, subject has been dependent upon his own labors for 
the competency he has acquired. He owns a fine farm of 
200 acres, nearly all in cultivation, well improved, 
stocked and fully equipped with the necessary agricultural 
implements and machinery. Though upward of seventy years 
of age, he enjoys good health, is in possession of all 
his faculties, keeps mind and body occupied, and bids 
fair to live yet many years of usefulness in a community 
where he is universally known and esteemed.