The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 69, July 1965 - April, 1966 Page: 161
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Holland Coffee of Red River
being apprehensive that surrounding circumstances may soon ter-
minate my life, and desirous of making this a part of my foregoing
will and not having said testament now with me at this place re-
quire that my wife Sophia shall be the executrix of my above specific
will and that she shall be qualified by court without being required
to give any security or enter into any bond whatsoever:61
It seems, however, that the circumstances of which he was
apprehensive did not develop immediately. It is impossible to
say whether the threat lingered or whether fresh difficulty arose,
but it was mid-autumn when Chickasaw agent Upshaw reported
to his superior in Washington that "On . October first, at the
store of James Galloway at Preston, Col. Holland Coffee engaged
in a fight with C. A. Galloway who killed Coffee with a bowie
knife."52 A newspaper account of the incident, which appeared
on October o, recorded that
on the first inst., a recounter took place in Grayson County, between
Colonel Holland Coffee, well known as one of the earliest traders
with the Indians, on the waters of Red River, and Mr. Chas. A.
Galloway, a merchant, resident of Washita Post. Col. Coffee is said
to have received some stabs which proved mortal. We have not full
particulars.
The deceased, was a man warmly esteemed by a large circle of
friends, and noted for great frankness and natural nobleness of
character. Though a long time resident upon the Indian border he
was remarkable for the considerate kindness of feeling more ordi-
narily attendant upon refined society. He was a warm friend and
true hearted gentleman, and fell in a matter nearly concerning his
honor. His loss will be greatly lamented.53
There is little mention of contact between Coffee and Gallo-
way, including nothing that shows cause for friction between
them. On March 2o, 1846, Coffee sold lots 2 and 7 in Bonham
to Galloway.5- About that time or a little later Eugenia Coffee,
daughter of Holland's brother, George Washington Coffee, of
Jackson, Mississippi, arrived and on May 13, she and Galloway
were married. An excerpt from a letter written several years later
gives some detail of the event.
51Ibid.
52Foreman, Advancing the Frontier, 177.
"5Northern Standard (Clarksville), October to, 1846.
"4Fannin County Deed Records (MS., County Clerk's Office, Bonham), B, 411.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 69, July 1965 - April, 1966, periodical, 1966; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117144/m1/201/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.