William Coffin Reiff

After the war

He joined the Baptist church in 1865. [sources: 4, 5]

His brother, Josiah C Reiff, 'educated him, and took him into his office until his health failed, when he had to seek other employment'. [source: 29]

He graduated from the Crittendon Business College, and from the Pennsylvania State Normal School. [sources: 4, 5]

He was prevented from becoming a missionary to Japan by throat problems. Instead, he primarily worked as a teacher or superintendent. [source: 4]

In 1870, he seems to have been attending the Pennsylvania State Normal School, in Millersville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. [source: 37]

He married Sara Ann Curl on 15 September 1874, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. She was born on 9 September 1850, in Bristol, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. They had three children:

• Martha Ann (born 31 August 1875, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana)
• Beulah May (born 6 November 1883, Marion County, Kansas)
• Mary Dean (born 5 July 1888, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania)

[sources: 4, 5, 6, 21, 22, 39, 40]

On 21 June 1876, he successfully applied for a pension. [source: 24, 28]

His daughter Beulah married H C Robb, and they had one living child when William Reiff died, William Preston Robb. His daughter Mary married Joseph McMillen, and they had one living child when William Reiff died, Mary Helen McMillen. [sources: 5, 42]

They lived in Indiana for two years. When they returned to Pennsylvania, he was a superintendent of schools for two years. [source: 5]

They moved to Marion County Kansas in 1878, where he taught in 1887. He then worked in real estate. [sources: 4, 5]

In 1885, he was living in Gale, Marion County, Kansas. He was living with his wife Sarah A and their children Mattie and SBM. He was teaching. [source: 37]

In 1888, he visited Philadelphia, and talked with Eli Sellers and others. [source: 20]

In 1890, he wrote to the National Tribune, describing George Black. Reiff was living in Marion, Kansas. [source: 45]

They moved to the Pecos Valley in 25 October 1892, because of his ill health. He was active in the schools. They lived in Hagerman for one year (about 1895), taking up a desert claim there. He later taught at the first school in Miller Station (later called Artesia). He worked in real estate for years, and eventually had to give that up because of ill health; for the last five years of his life he could not work. [sources: 4, 5, 30]

In 1895, he was living in Eddy, New Mexico, and expressing pessimism about young people's lack of attention to public affairs. [source: 31]

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

On 24 May 1907, he wrote the South Carolina Adjutant General, asking for information about Lieutenant Colonel Johnson, formerly of the (Confederate) 6th South Carolina Cavalry. Johnson had engaged in a hand-to-hand sabre fight with Reiff's half-brother Josiah C Reiff in April 1865. Unfortunately, the records on which Reiff was relying were wrong; Johnson actually served in the 3rd South Carolina Cavalry. The Adjutant General sent the letter to the South Carolina State Historical Commission, and it was published on 3 June 1907 in the Charleston News and Courier. Johnson had, apparently, died, by January 1897. [source: 33]

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

On 16 June 1910, he wrote Joseph T Jones; Jones replied on 2 July 1910. Among other things, Jones said,

You always were a good soldier while I was a member of the 91st and you did your duty as honestly as any young man could do it and I have often thought of you but I have forgotten the names of most of the boys.

[source: 43]

In 1911, he was living in Carlsbad, [Eddy County,] New Mexico. [source: 29]

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. [sources: 4, 5]

He died in Carlsbad, New Mexico, on 4 April 1913, and was buried somewhere he had selected, "next to the grave of Rev. S. R. Wood, who was a valued friend of the deceased". (He had said that because he couldn't be buried on Little Round Top, he didn't care where he was buried.) He is now buried in Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico. [sources: 4, 5, 20, 28, 41]

On 5 May 1913, his widow, Sarah A Reiff, succesfully applied from New Mexico for a pension. [sources: 24, 28]

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

In 1930, Sarah A Reiff was living in San Gabriel Township, Los Angeles County, California. She was living with her daughter Beulah, Beulah's husband, and several other relatives. [source: 27]

In 1935, Sara A Reiff was living in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, as was her granddaughter Margaret A McMillan. [source: 38]

In 1940, his widow, Sara A Reiff, was living in ward 2, Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico. She was living with her granddaughter Margaret A McMillan, and a lodger. She owned the house, which was worth $2,500. [source: 38]

On 10 December 1940, Sarah Ann Reiff died, in Monrovia, California. She was buried in Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico. [sources: 39, 40]