Department of Michigan Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War   Andrew B. Coffinberry Department Commander 1901- 1902

Andrew B. Coffinberry was born in Lancaster, Ohio, in 1841. He enlisted in Battery E, 1st Michigan Light Artillery December 6, 1861, at Marshall, and transferred to Co. C, 1st Michigan Engineers & Mechanics December 23, 1861. Bro. Andrew held the rank of Sgt., Sgt. Major, First Lieutenant., Inspector General, and then Captain of Co. H. He was mustered out at Nashville, TN, September 22, 1865. Bro. Coffinberry was a member of A.T. McReynolds Camp No. 14 of Grand Rapids, and was elected Commander of the Michigan Division, Sons of Veterans, in 1901. He died 28 October 1907 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Grand Rapids. He was also a member of Custer Post No. 5, Grand Army of the Republic.

Wright L. Coffinberry, the father of Andrew, served as Captain of Co. C, 1st Michigan Engineers & Mechanics, and was an early settler of Grand Rapids. He was a self-taught watchmaker, civil engineer and archaeologist. Born in Ohio in 1807, he worked on several canal projects in Ohio. He moved his family to Grand Rapids in 1848, and was responsible for several platted additions of the City of Grand Rapids, as well as laying out several state roads, the largest of these projects being the road from Kent County to Northport, Michigan. Wright also excavated the Norton Indian Mounds in the 1870's. Wright Coffinberry died March 26, 1893, and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. He was a member of Custer Post No. 5, GAR.