My Genealogy Hound

T. J. COFER, of Cofer & Lavery, grocers, was born in Franklin county Mo., Sept. 10, 1854. His father, T. L. Cofer, was a native of South Carolina, was born in 1817, and died in March, 1871, in Franklin county, Mo. His mother, Charity Ann (Whitmeyer) Cofer, was born in Franklin county, this state in 1819, and died in the same county August 14,1868. Mr. Cofer was reared on a farm and received a common school education. He came to Joplin in the spring of 1872 and engaged in smelting for about five years, after which he engaged in mining until the spring of 1879. He then went to Leadville, Col., and continued in the same business for several months, when he returned to Missouri and engaged at a furnace for some time. Engaged in present business Dec. 19, 1882, with Mr. G. R. Lavery, under firm name of Cofer & Lavery. Mr. C. was married Oct. 18, 1876, to Miss Lydia A. Gray, who was born May 18, 1853, in the Buckeye State. From this union there have been four children: Fannie L., born Sept. 19, 1877, died in infancy; Maud M., born Dec. 5, 1878, died in spring of 1880; Fred L., born Dec. 5, 1881, and Willie, born Oct. 8, 1882. Mr. Cofer is an Odd Fellow and a member of the American Legion of Honor.