Leonard Lewis Coffelt

July 3, 1882 - July 5, 1963

 

Leonard Lewis "Linn" Coffelt, was born the son of Richard Lafayette and Josephine "Sis" (McKee) Coffelt, July 3, 1881, at the old homestead farm of Joseph McKee, on the Niangua River.

 

He married Bethany Ann Hildebrand January 1, 1901.  She was the daughter of Ben F. and Mary (Adams) Hildebrand.  To this union, five children were born; one daughter, Ethyl, and four sons, Morris, Gleamon, Owen and Eurist.  Bethany die of tuberculosis on their farm near Tilden, Mo., leaving Linn with five small children to care for.  He married Cleopatra Ann (Phillips) Murrell in 1912.  They had a son who died in infancy.  Annie died in 1919, again leaving  with a small child to raise.

 

He was a well known blacksmith in Long Lane, but he loved farming and livestock and in 1932 he bought the Clum Ford farm on the Niangua River, just two miles from where he was born and he spent his remaning years there.

 

He married Mildred Strong of Chicago, IL on January 11, 1943.

 

Linn passed away July 5, 1963, and was laid to rest in the Flatwoods Cemetery.