Wyandotte County Schools
History of Coffey School District
Written and Contributed by Diane Treff
There is some confusion as to where the Coffey School actually stood. It is my opinion that at one time there was in fact a Coffey School as well as a School Dist. #29 (later named Brauer). Why, is unknown to me, as both schools were less than a � of a mile apart and served the same families.
Coffey School was located (by today�s markers) between the original Piper Rural High School and K7 Highway. Looking at various maps from various periods, I would guess it to be on Leavenworth Road, east of 131st Street & west of 123rd. The exception is the map of 1870, which makes it appear that the school was closer to 131st between Leavenworth Rd. and Parallel as we know them today.
January 1901-Western Life newspaper listed all of it�s one-room school houses. Brauer #65 with Maggie Duffy as teacher was reported.
In 1901, the Western Life newspaper reported that Anna Duffy had been hired as teacher of the Coffey School.
However, in March 1901, the Western Life Newspaper also reported that some local teachers attend the North East Kansas Teacher�s Association Meeting. They were Miss Elva Meade of Twist; Miss Anna Duffy of Brauer; Howard Gale of Piper.
In May 1902, it was reported in the Western Life Newspaper, that Anna Duffy�s class, of the Coffey School ended the school year with a lengthy program. Carl & Ed Voight �favored� the crowd with violin and guitar instrumentals. The students were commended for their recitals. Miss Duffy�s sister Maggie Duffy had been the teacher at the school in prior years. I have Anna�s census papers she filled out for the school board. She identified the school as #29.
Anna Philamenia Duffy was my husband�s great grandmother. She was born in Wyandotte County to M.C. (Mac/Mack) Duffy and his wife Margarette. Anna attended grade school in the Horanif area. She was a confirmed member of the Catholc Church at Horan. She married Fred H. Treff. She died in 1933, and is buried in the small cemetery behind St. Patrick�s church as is her husband Fred.
Maggie Duffy married John McMahon.
Barnard (Barney) Coffey and his wife Catherine (Smith) Coffey came to the US from Ireland. Mr. Coffey was the leader in the building of a school and Catholic Church in his district. For a number of years he served on the School Board. At the time of his death he was postmaster at Menager Junction.(1)
(1) Transcribed from History of Wyandotte County Kansas and its people ed. And comp. by Perl W. Morgan, Chicago. The Lewis publishing Company, 1911. 2v.front, illus., plates, ports., fold. map 28 cm. (Vol. 2 contains biographical data. Paged continuously.
Contents of this page � Diane Treff, June 2012
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