William Coffin Reiff

After the war

He joined the Baptist church in 1865 (4, 5).

He graduated from the Crittendon Business College, and from the Pennsylvania State Normal School (4, 5).

He was prevented from becoming a missionary to Japan by throat problems (4). Instead, he primarily worked as a teacher or superintendent (4).

He married Sara Ann Curl on 15 September 1874, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania (4, 5, 21, 22). She was born on 9 September 1850, in Bristol, Pennsylvania (6, 21, 22). They had three children: Martha, Beulah May, and Mary (5). Martha was born in August 1881 [?], in Illinois [?] (21). Beulah was born in November 1885 [?], in Kansas [?] (21, 22). And Mary was born in July 1891, in Pennsylvania [?] (21, 22).

On 21 June 1876, he successfully applied for a pension (24, 28).

His daughter Beulah married H C Robb, and they had one living child when William Reiff died, William Preston Robb (5). His daughter Mary married Joseph McMillan, and they had one living child when William Reiff died, Mary Helen McMillan (5).

They lived in Indiana for two years. When they returned to Pennsylvania, he was a superintendent of schools for two years (5).

They moved to Marion County Kansas in 1878, where he taught in 1887 (4, 5). He then worked in real estate (5).

In 1888, he visited Philadelphia, and talked with Eli Sellers and others (20).

They moved to the Pecos Valley in 25 October 1892, because of his ill health (4). He was active in the schools (5). They lived in Hagerman for one year, taking up a desert claim there (5). He later taught at the first school in Miller Station (later called Artesia) (5). He worked in the real estate for years, and eventually had to give that up because of ill health (4); for the last five years of his life he could not work (5).

In 1900, he was living in Eddy County, New Mexico, in a house he owned (but which was mortgaged) (21). He was in real estate (21). He was living with his wife, Sarah A Reiff, and their daughters, Martha, Sarah [sic], and Mary (21).

In 1910, he was living in Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico, on a farm (22). He was not working (22). He was living with Sarah, Beulah (who was a public school teacher), and Mary (22).

According to a funeral oration by his friend C H McLenathen, he was patient and never complained, although he was in pain because of his poor health (4, 5).

He died in Carlsbad, New Mexico, on 4 April 1913 (4, 5, 28), and was buried somewhere he had selected, "next to the grave of Rev. S. R. Wood, who was a valued friend of the deceased" (5). (He had said that because he couldn't be buried on Little Round Top, he didn't care where he was buried (20).)

On 5 May 1913, his widow, Sarah A Reiff, succesfully applied from New Mexico for a pension (24, 28).

In 1920, Sarah A Reiff was living in Tyrone Township, Grant County, New Mexico (25). She was living with her daughter Mary and Mary's family (25).

In 1930, Sarah A Reiff was living in San Gabriel Township, Los Angeles County, California (27). She was living with her daughter Beulah, Beulah's husband, and several othe relatives (27).