LAUDERDALE COUNTY-On Saturday, August 14, 2021, the Dedication of the General John Coffee Monument at Rock Springs was held on the Natchez Trace Parkway (mile marker #330) in Lauderdale County.
Photos/City of Florence
General John R Coffee son of Captain Joshua and Elizabeth (Graves) Coffee married Mary Donalson Madding 3 Oct 1809 in Davidson Co., TN. There were ten known children born of this union: Mary, John Donalson, Elizabeth, Andrew Jackson, Rachel Jackson, Alexander Donalson, Catherine Harriet, Emily, William Donalson and Joshua Coffee.
General John R. Coffee fought in the War of 1812 under the command of Andrew Jackson. He raised the 2nd Regiment of Volunteer Mounted Riflemen, that was made up of primarily Tennessee militiamen and a few Alabamians. On 4 Sep 1814 he was involved in the Andrew Jackson – Benton Brothers duel. He married Mary Donalson daughter of John and Mary (Purnell) Donalson and relative of Andrew Jackson’s wife Rachel Donalson Robards Jackson. His father Captain Joshua Coffee is believed to have served in the Revoltionary War.
He was a merchant, a partner in land speculation with Andrew Jackson and worked as a surveyor in Florence, Lauderdale Co., AL. Surveying the boundary line between Alabama and Mississippi.
Coffee Counties Alabama and Tennessee; Coffeeville Mississippi were named after him.
John Coffee was among the early settlers of this county. He was Gen, Jackson’s right arm through all his campaigns against the Creeks, and led the mounted Tennesseans at the battle of New Orleans. He was a planter in this county for twelve or thirteen years, and died here July 17, 1833. Capt Alexander D. Coffee, of this county, is his son, and nearly all his children and descendants reside here. His wife was a sister of Mrs. Gen. Jackson, and died a year or two ago. source/ Alabama, her history, resources, war record, and public men: from 1540 to 1872 by Willis Brewer – 1872
