John E. Coffee

John E. Coffee (December 3, 1782 – September 25, 1836) was a military leader and a United States Congressman for the state of Georgia.

Early life

Born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, Coffee moved with his father to a plantation near Powelton in Hancock County, Georgia, in 1800. Coffee settled in Telfair County, Georgia in 1807 where he farmed.

Military career

As a general in the Georgia state militia, Coffee cut a road through the state of Georgia that would be called "Coffee Road" to carry munitions of war to the Florida Territory to fight the Indians during the Creek War. It is now called the "Old Coffee Road".

Political career

John Coffee served as a member of the Georgia Senate from 1819 to 1827. He was elected as a Jacksonian Democrat to the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth U.S. Congresses and served from March 4, 1833, until his death on September 25, 1836. He was reelected to the Twenty-fifth United States Congress on October 3, 1836; the announcement of his death not having been received. Coffee died on his plantation near Jacksonville, Georgia, on September 25, 1836, and was buried on his plantation near Jacksonville. His remains were reinterred in McRae Cemetery, McRae, Georgia, in 1921.

Eponymous places

*In addition to Old Coffee Road, Coffee County, Georgia and General Coffee State Park are named in honor of John E. Coffee.

Notes

*Researchers often confuse General John R. Coffee, the military leader in the War of 1812, with General John E. Coffee. John R.(also known as "Tennessee John") and John E. were first cousins.

External links

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* [http://www.pbase.com/jacksonville_ga/image/85143 History of Old Jacksonville, GA]