"A HISTORY OF THE DAVIESS-McLEAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN KENTUCKY, 
1844-1943" by Wendell H. Rone.  Probably published in 1944 by 
Messenger Job Printing Co., Inc., Owensboro, Kentucky, pp. 299-300.  
Used by permission.  [Christian]

ELIJAH WALTER COAKLEY:  This beloved brother was born at Pitman, Ky., 
during the Civil War.  As to the exact date we are not informed.  
After attending school at Greensburg and Buffalo, Ky., he entered the 
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, graduating in the year 1892 
with the Th.G. degree.  He had previously been ordained, in March, 
1886, by the Pleasant Grove Church in his native county.
     His ministry began with the Pleasant Grove Church and as the 
years passed he served as pastor at Columbia, Gradyville, Milltown, 
and Zion.  
     In the early part of the year 1896 he moved to Daviess County, 
Ky., and made his home near Masonville.  Here he accepted the 
pastorate of the South Hampton, Sugar Grove, and Bethabara Churches.  
In the year 1897 he also accepted the care of the Church at 
Whitesville, in the meantime moving to that place, and relinquishing 
the pastorate of Sugar Grove.  
     In 1901 he became pastor at Beaver Dam and moved there.  He 
served the following Churches in this Association: South Hampton, 
1896-1901; Sugar Grove, 1896-1898; Bethabara, 1896-1900; Whitesville, 
1896-1899, and Beaver Dam, 1901-1905.
     In the year 1901 he went out with the Ohio County Churches and 
pastors to form a new Association called the Ohio County Baptist 
Association.  While in that body he preached the first Annual Sermon 
in 1901 and again in 1903, and served it as Moderator in 1905.  He 
also served the Hartford, Slaty Creek, and Zion Churches as pastor.  
From the organization of the Ohio County Association Mission Board in 
1901 to 1905, he served as the Chairman.
     In the latter part of the year 1905 he moved to Christian County 
where he spent the remainder of his useful ministry, preaching to the
Pilot, Waynesburg, Caskey, and Locust Grove Churches.  For a time he 
also served the church at Citra, Fla.
     As Brother Coakley ripened in years, his ministry became riper in 
its evangelistic power and persuasiveness.  He was in constant demand 
for revival services.  For a number of years he served as president of 
the Kentucky Baptist Ministers Meeting.
     A few years before his death he married Miss Elizabeth Garrett of 
Hopkinsville, Ky.  She became to him a source of strength and comfort 
and was highly appreciated in her work among the women.  He died at 
his home in Hopkinsville on March 19, 1934.  He preached the Annual 
Sermon before the Daviess County Association in 1897.
     By further investigation we have found that Brother Coakley was a 
musician of note and the author of several hymns.  We have found no 
information concerning his early family life and first marriage.

Coakley Garrett
=
Greenburg-Green Buffalo-Larue Ohio FL

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/christian/coakley.ew.txt