Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-07-11
End Came Tuesday as the Re.
suit of Second Shock of
Paralysis.
WIDELY KNOWN VERM0NTER
Supt. of Vermont Soldiers Home Made
Good Military Ref ord in the Civil
War-Was Il Former Vermont
Misunderstanding Boy Dies
From Terrible Injury.

Pennington. July 9.-Col. Robert j. Cot
fey. one OF the best known men in Ncr-
mont and superintendent II the vermont
Soldiers Home, died shortly before noon
to-day, the result of a severe shock 81
paralysis experienced carly Sunday morn
ing. July I, it being the second one lie
had never fully recovered from the cnet Is
OF the one received a few months before
He was on the street the evening before,
and had but recently returned from trlp
% the sea shore which had apparently
benefited him, ana ho had performed his
duties continuously since his return l'e
was s. years of age.
The funeral will be held Thursday al
tcrnoon at o'clock. The next morning
the remains wiz hc taken to Montpelier,
where further services VIII he hcld under
the auspices of Aurora lodge of which he
was a member. 1t is probable that n de-
tachment from the O. A. r. posts in this
village will accompany the romans
Col. Cofey was born in Nova Scotia, but
came to Vermont when young, ana To-
Gated and since then the state has been
his home. When quite young he enlisted
in the 9TH Vermont volunteers. and before
his return attained the rank of sergeant
lie was severely wounded and had always
suffered more or less with the wound
which has never fully healed He was one
OF the first Vermont soldiers to receive a
medal OF honor, one being presented him
and OF which hc was always proud.
Soon after his discharge from the Uni
ted States service he became a hotel land
lord and successfully conducted hotels d
Montpelier and Windsor until 1851 when
he was selected by the board of trustees
to take the management of the soldiers
Homo, a position that he has since hlloc
with credit to himself and the HomC, &c
the satisfaction Of its inmates. II viii
be a hard matter to find man that vii
so acccptably fill the position in all re-
spects as did Col. Coffey
For many years the deceased was mUCt
interested in the Vermont National Guard
He was for some time captain Of Compal J
H. first regiment Of infantry. Later he
became provost marshal Of the brigade OF
tho staff of Gen. Estey with the rank o
major, and when Gov Woodbury. appoint
ed his staff, Major CoffeY Was one of then
with the rank of colonel About liVc years
ago at his own request he was placed up
on the retired list, with the rank that h
last held.
He was an active Grand Army man, BE-
fore coming here being member o
brooks post of Montpelier. I1o was on
of the charter members and one of tn
first officers of sixth Corps post of thi
village and much interested in it,
He was also connected with other organ
izations being a charter member and pas
sachem of Michigan Tribe |. O. II. M
was member of Aurora Lodge T.. and "
NJ of Montpouer. of Nit. Anthony chapte
c. f.. 5. of this village, and of the Vernon
Commandery Military OrCer of the Loya
Legion. and some other minor orgdnza
tios. He was also secretary of the Ber
1ington Battle Monument and Histories
society for several years.
col. Coffey could never he induced t
take any office except that of school tru-
tec from his ward ana at the time of hi
death VAS president of tile school boar,