San Joaquin County
Biographies
ROBERT COFFEE
ROBERT COFFEE, of Elkhorn
Township, was born October 9, 1822, in Boston, Massachusetts, son of Roger
Coffee, who was a mechanic by trade, and died in Boston in 1840 at the age of
forty-three years. There were three children in the family, two boys and one girl:
John, Ellen and Robert. Robert was raised in Boston, where he learned the
machinist’s trade, which he followed until he came to California. When he was
but eighteen months old his mother had died, which event broke up the family
and threw the children on their own resources. But he set out to learn his
trade, and worked his way steadily upward. In 1849 he came to California,
crossing the plains in company with the Bunston & Newton Joint Stock
Company, numbering twenty-five persons. They purchased stock in Missouri and
drove them across the plains. The trip occupied about four months. On arriving
in Sacramento they divided their stock. Mr. Coffee went to Winter Bar, on the
Mokelumne river, and spent five months in mining, then came to Stockton, where he
remained until spring, when he returned to the mines. He spent two more years
at that occupation, then came to this valley and went to farming. In 1853 he
purchased the ranch on which he now resides. It then contained 160 acres; since
then he has added to it and now has 240 acres. It was, when he purchased it, in
a wild state, but is now in a fine state of cultivation. It is located about
ten miles from Stockton, and six from Lodi. It is devoted to the raising of
hay, grain and stock.
Mr. Coffee has a pleasant home, and to-day
enjoys his declining years in the county which he has helped to make what it
is.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 567-568. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
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