Wyatt Rev COFFELT

February 3, 1812 - October 15, 1901
Birth: Knox Co KY
Death: Benton Co AR
Spouses: JANE SLIGAR COFFELT and LOUISE SOOTER RUSSELL COFFELT

"Rev. Wyatt Coffelt, minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and also farmer and stock raiser of Benton County, Arkansas was born in Knox County, Kentucky, February 3, 1812, and resided in his native state until he was fifteen years of age, when he was taken to Monroe County, Tennessee by his parents Jacob and Susannah (Wyatt) Coffelt, who were born in Greenbrair County, Virginia, in 1782 and 1786 respectively. Jacob Coffelt was a son of Philip Coffelt who was of German birth, and served under Col. Washington in the French and Indian War at Braddack's defeat. He also served through the Revolutionary War. His Wife Ellen (Ryan) Coffelt, was captured by the Shawnee Indians during the French and Indian Wars, and after eleven weeks of captivity succeeded in effecting her escape. She was born in Ireland and came to America with her parents at the age of five years. Jacob Coffelt was a farmer and died in 1827 and his widow in 1864. They were members of the Baptist Church. The mother's father Samuel Wyatt, also served in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. The Reverend Wyatt Coffelt was reared, educated, and married in Monroe County, Tennessee, and there learned the Saddler's trade. His wife's maiden name was Jane Sligar, a daughter of Adam and Catherine (Brown) Sligar. This wife died January 20, 1887, having born fourteen children, six of whom are living, and September 11, 1887, he married his second wife, Mrs. Louisa C. Sooter. His children were as follows: Louisa J., wife of M. C. Curry; Nancy A., the deceased wife of J. C. Anderson; Nicy A., wife of E. A. Torbuss; Thomas W., who was waylaid, murdered and robbed by some cut-throats in Texas; Enos J,; James A.; Thee A.; and Robert Lee; four died in infancy, and one, a son, died at the age of fourteen years. Mr. Coffelt worked at his trade for twenty-two years, and in 1850 moved to Missouri, and there resided until 1854, when he became a missionary among the Cherokee and Creek Indians, with whom he labored for eight years. In 1860 he moved his family to Benton County, Arkansas, but he remained in the Indian Territory until the fall of 1861, when they took refuge in the South until the close of the war, and then returned to Benton County. He began his life with very small means, and met with many reversals, but is now in comfortable circumstances financially. He has an exceptionally fine orchard and ships his fruit to all parts of the United States. He took first premium of $50. And second premium of $15. At Springdale, Arkansas, and again took first premium $25. This fall, 1858, at Rogers, Arkansas.

*Obituary
Benton County Democrat
Thursday, October 24, 1901

COFFELT, Wyatt - Rev. Wyatt Coffelt died at the home of his son, Dr. T.A. Coffelt, at Springfield, Mo. Tuesday the 15th inst. after quite a long siege of sickness. Only a few months ago he left this community to make his home with his son. He was known all over Benton county as an exemplary man and a consistent christian. The many friends of the family extend sympathy to the relatives. He was 90 years, 8 months and 12 days old when he died but was at the time he left here a remarkably well preserved man. Rev. Wyatt Coffelt was born in Knox county, Kentucky, Feb. 3, 1812. At the age of 15 he was taken by his parents to Monroe county, Tenn. There he was reared, educated and married and learned the saddler's trade. His wife's maiden name was Jane Sligar, who died Jan. 20, 1887. To them were born 14 children, six of whom survive him. In 1850 he moved to Missouri and there resided until 1854 when he became a missionary among the Cherokee and Creek Indians, with whom he labored eight years. In 1860 he moved his family to Benton county, Ark. but he remained in the Nation until the fall of 1861 when he took refuge in the South until the close of the war when he returned to Benton county. The remains were brought to Bentonville and interred in the Coffelt cemetery 10 miles southwest of town last Thursday.

*Obituary
Benton County Democrat
Thursday, October 31, 1901

On Thursday, Oct. 17, 1901 in the cemetery near his former home, ten miles west of Bentonville, Ark., the mortal remains of Rev. Wyatt Coffelt were laid to rest until the trumpet of the resurrection morning shall call him forth. A large company of sorrowing relatives, friends and old neighbors were present at the burial service in the cemetery, which was conducted by Revs. S. Anderson, N.B. Fizer and the writer of this memoir. Bro. Coffelt was born in Knox Co., Ky. Feb. 3, 1812 and departed this life in the home of his son, T.A. Coffelt, M.D. in Springfield, Mo. Oct. 15, 1901, well nigh rounding out his 90 years in this world. His father's name was Jacob and his grandfather was Philip Coffelt, who emigrated from Germany during the revolutionary war, volunteered in the American army, was in the battle of Braddock's defeat, and through mistake, one night while on picket duty, shot at General Washington. Bro. Coffelt, though of light build, was blest with a fine constitution until ravages of age brought on a most painful illness which increased in severity until death closed his mortal career. When converted he joined the Methodist Episcopal church; then he received license to preach May 31, 1843 in Telico circuit, Holston conference, under Reverend O.T. Cunningham, P.E., one year before the division of the church and two years before the organization of the M.E. Church, South. In 1854 he went as a missionary to the Indians in the Indian Mission Conference, M.E. Church, South. Here he traveled and preached for 8 years, until the civil war compelled him to retire to his home in Benton county, Ark. to which his family had moved in 1860. He preached to the Indians principally through an interpreter and his success in that labor of love and much privation and self-denial doubtless furnished many stars for his crown of rejoicing to greet him on the Heavenly shore. In the years that followed it afforded him much pleasure to call up in memory and dwell on reminiscences of those, the happiest days of his life. While a member of that conference he was ordained deacon by Bishop Kavanaugh, Oct. 29th, 1854 and elder by Bishop Early Oct. 10, 1858. In 1872-3, the writer, having charge of the Fayetteville district, secured his services on the Maysville circuit, which he served efficiently. He was quite an interesting and companionable man and during the year a mutual attachment sprang up between us which grew and ripened as the years passed by. Possessed of a remarkable memory he could give in detail all the circumstances and conversation connected with many incidents passing under notice of his earlier years. The last year of more of his life was marked by great physical suffering. Married twice, he sleeps the last long sleep by the side of the wife of his youth and mother of his children, whose maiden name was Jane Sligar, to whom he was married in 1833, leaving behind for a time his widow by the second marriage, several children and grandchildren, and a host of friends to weep of their loss and follow on to meet him "in the sunbright clime." Jno. M. Clayton.

Contributed on 1/14/11 by tslundberg
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