History of Pioneer Couple Almost Lost in Pet Cemetery

History of Pioneer Couple Almost Lost in Pet Cemetery The Preston Trail Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the Preston Bend Cemetery Association worked together on a historic preservation project to relocate the historical markers of Holland Coffee's trading post and Sophia Porter from behind the pet cemetery where they were lost amid the brush, to a more visible place near the fence of the historic Preston Bend Cemetery. Seven damaged historic grave markers were also repaired, including Holland Coffee’s small headstone, which was damaged and had almost sunk beneath the ground. Over several months, from August 2024 to March 2025, many people worked to make this project a reality. Natalie Clountz Bauman, chairperson for the Preston Trail DAR Historical Preservation Committee, envisioned a project to preserve Holland Coffee’s tombstone and move his historical marker. In consultation with the Preston Bend Cemetery Association President Jessica Adams and the cemetery association board, it was decided to also move Sophia Coffee Porter’s marker and preserve other damaged tombstones in the cemetery. Stanley Thomas of the PBCA drew up the necessary paperwork to present to the Texas Historical Society, assisted by Dusty Williams and Kurt Cichowski of the Grayson County Historical Society. The move was quickly approved by the Texas State Historical Commission in December 2024, and the funds were approved by the Preston Trail chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to fully fund the project in February 2025. The markers were moved, and the damaged tombstones were repaired in March 2025 by Roger McWilliams. See photos. A public Monument Unveiling and Rededication ceremony was held at the Preston Bend Cemetery north of Pottsboro on April 12, 2025 at 2:00. Local Christian scouting organization Trail Life opened the ceremony by presenting the colors. Next, an introduction was given by Preston Bend Cemetery Assn. President Jessica Adams, speeches by DAR Regent Amanda Bauman Ewton, area historian and DAR Historic Preservation committee chair Natalie Clountz Bauman, and Kurt Cichowski to commemorate Holland Coffee and Sophia Coffee Porter’s many important contributions to the history of our area. A check for $1,650.00 was presented from the DAR fully pay for the restoration of the historic monuments and tombstones - seen in a picture below are: left to right: Preston Trail NSDAR Historian and Historic Preservation Chairperson Natalie Clountz Bauman; Preston Cemetery representative Benton Helm; Preston Trail NSDAR Regent Amanda Bauman Ewton. Then the rededicated monuments were unveiled in their new location as shown in the pictures attached. The ceremony was well attended by many people from the community at large, as well as members of the DAR and the Cemetery Association. Immediately after the ceremony, a reception was held at the Lakeway Methodist Church north of Pottsboro, Texas. Three books about Preston Bend history by Natalie Clountz Bauman were available for purchase. These books are also available on Amazon and at Main Street Mall 500 W. Main Denison, TX. So, what is important about Holland and Sophia Coffee and the Preston Bend Trading Post? One of Grayson County’s earliest and most historically influential couples had almost been lost to history in modern times. Their names have become largely unknown to most local residents, with their historical markers hidden by dense vegetation behind a pet cemetery. Most have also forgotten even the name and significance of the town they founded, which was inundated by Lake Texoma in the 1940s. Their names are Holland Coffee and his wife Sophia Coffee Auginbaugh Butts Porter of Preston Bend. This was an injustice any history-loving person could not allow to continue! Holland Coffee established his third and last trading post on the Washita Bend of the Red River on Texas’ northern border in the mid-1830s with his surviving partner Silas Colville. This settlement later became the town of Preston Bend, which he founded (also known as Coffee’s Bend, Fort Coffee, and Coffee’s Station). It was located on a long-standing Indian and Spanish north-south trade route, later known as Preston Road. Coffee led fur trapping expeditions, and traded with the native population, buying MANY white captives from them at his own expense. Coffee’s Trading Post was a beacon of hope in the wilderness where the closest major center of civilization was Washington on the Brazos – a distant 300 miles of very few bad roads, hostile Comanches, river crossings, and wilderness. When traveling through the wilderness, you don’t go in a straight line, so double the mileage! By 1840, Coffee’s trading post became a refuge for settlers in North Texas during Indian uprisings, which almost convinced most settlers to flee. Because of this threat to white immigration, a military road and a series of forts were to be built, starting at “Fort” Preston, and running south and west. The first was to be built in the nearby Georgetown community and was named Fort Johnston. Col. William G. Cooke, the military commander, bought supplies, clothing, tobacco, gunpowder, and tools from Coffee’s Trading Post to facilitate this in 1840-41. Holland Coffee was this area’s representative in the Republic of Texas’ House of Representatives. President Sam Houston at this time also appointed Holland Coffee to be an Indian agent since he had already learned seven native languages and knew their customs. He negotiated a major Indian treaty in 1842. Coffee’s Station was the rendezvous point and outfitter for important historic exploratory missions such as Edward Tarrant's expedition in 1841. Holland Coffee provided a hunting party, including Coffee himself, to furnish meat for Pierce Butler's and M. G. Lewis' Comanche Peak Indian peace treaty expeditions in 1843 and 1845. Coffee also served as an Indian agent and interpreter. The Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.) stated that an important Santa Fe expedition had been raised by the government in the frontier counties of Texas and was to rendezvous at Coffee’s Station on April 15, 1843, under the command of Colonel Jacob Snively. The paper on May 31 said the expedition departed Coffee’s Station on April 25th, being well armed and well supplied (with Holland Coffee’s help). Coffee’s Station also served as a major weekly stop on the Texas mail route, and at that time, it was the only one in a 50-mile radius. In 1845, more than a thousand wagons crossed into Texas at Preston Bend in only six weeks, all needing supplies which were supplied by Coffee. John Neely Bryan, who later built the first house in Dallas, which didn’t yet exist, sought refuge at Coffee’s Trading Post. He even named his son Holland Coffee Bryan. In 1849, Coffee’s Trading Post was a major outfitter on the way to the California gold fields. The town of Preston continued to grow. Coffee was killed in 1846 by his nephew Charles Galloway in an Indian duel. For a man who only lived 39 years, he made a huge impact. Sophia Suttonfield Auginbaugh Coffee Butts Porter - In 1833 she married Jesse Augustine Aughinbaugh. The couple arrived in Nacogdoches, where she said Aughinbaugh deserted her in 1836 during the Runaway Scrape. Sophia claimed to have arrived at the battle of San Jacinto on April 22, 1836 and to have nursed an injured Sam Houston there. Later that year, Texas Representative Holland Coffee, probably desiring to be free to marry Sophia, successfully lobbied the Texas Legislature to pass a bill granting Sophia Auginbaugh a divorce from her missing husband. On January 19, 1837, she and Coffee were married at Independence in Washington County, Texas, with President Sam Houston in attendance. They rode 600 miles from there to Fort Warren, east of Preston, where they were given a military escort to Coffee’s land at Preston Bend to protect them from Indian attack. They took up residence at his modest trading post. The Coffees’ first home was a mere 100-square-foot cabin stockade. In 1845, Holland Coffee commissioned passing Mormons and constructed the large Glen Eden house for his new wife, Sophia Coffee. Glen Eden became a social hub for the county and the entire State of Texas. This house stood for 99 years until Lake Texoma's impoundment caused Preston Bend to disappear beneath the water. After Holland Coffee was killed in 1846 shortly after he built Glen Eden, he passed his vast estate to Sophia. Stories vary about why the fight happened. Some say it began when Sam Houston was scheduled to dedicate the newly formed Grayson County and its modest courthouse in nearby Sherman and planned to stay with the Coffee’s at Glen Eden. Coffee’s niece had married Charles Ashton Galloway, a trader from Fort Washita, who offended Sophia by commenting about her alleged former relationship with Sam Houston. It is said she demanded that Coffee horsewhip his new nephew. When Coffee refused, Sophia was alleged to have said she would rather be the widow of a brave man than the wife of a coward. Unable to resist such a challenge, Coffee participated in an “Indian duel,” a fight to the death, with Galloway, who killed Coffee with a Bowie knife. Beautiful and spirited Sophia Coffee lived until 1897, marrying two more times, making an indelible mark upon this area. She was remembered for her hospitality at the mansion Glen Eden, her philanthropy to the local Methodist Church which she founded there, and her generosity to the poor. She was also celebrated for her bravery as the Confederate Lady Paul Revere for her daring midnight ride on a mule in December 1863 across the cold Red River, warning troops of an attempted Union invasion of Texas during the Civil War, after she had already incapacitated some of them in her wine cellar! This is the basis for her monument. For years, she was the most beautiful and beloved woman in North Texas. Today, many years after their deaths, the historical importance of Holland Coffee’s life and that of his wife Sophia will again be remembered and recognized. Following is a complete list of those who participated in helping in all aspects of this project. REDEDICATION and UNVEILING CEREMONY PREPARATIONS for APRIL 12, 2025. PBCA Board member Stanley Thomas began the process of filling out the required State of Texas paperwork to relocate the monument and marker. Kurt Cichowski, Marker Chairman, Grayson County Texas Historical Commission helped us apply for moving the markers. Relocate Historical Markers, repair tombstones - Roger McWilliams. Clean Historical Markers - Jessica Adams, President, PBCA. Landscape Historical Markers - Russ Haley, Island Mowing. Design Invitations - Amanda Bauman Ewton, Regent, DAR and Jessica Adams, President, PBCA. Post and Deliver Invitations - Terri Townsend, Board Member, PBCA. Designed and Printed Programs - Virginia Thompson, Treasurer, PBCA. Contact Media - Terri Townsend, Board Member, PBCA; Kurt Cichowski, Marker Chairman, GCTHC; Amanda Bauman Ewton, Regent, DAR. Provide Unveiling Cloths and Ribbons - Terri Townsend, Board Member, PBCA; Virginia Thompson, Treasurer, PBCA. Design, Order, and Attach Marker Map - Stanley Thomas, Board Member, PBCA. Provide Chairs, Table, and Podium - Brian and Jessica Adams, Member, PBCA. Set Up and Take Down Pavilion Setting - Stephen Lindsey, VP, PBCA; Dustin Helm, Board Member, PBCA; Jessica Adams, President, PBCA. Provide Texas Flag - Stanley Thomas, Board Member, PBCA. Provide United States of America Flag - Trail Life USA Troop Tx-0710 - First Baptist Church, Georgetown. CEREMONY at PRESTON BEND CEMETERY Presentation of the Colors Trail Life USA Troop Led by Frank Zinn and Justin Wheatley, with Bethany Barnes helping to coordinate events. Invocation - Janie Massey Allen, Chaplain Preston Trail Chapter, NSDAR Welcome Jessica Adams, President - Preston Bend Cemetery Association Introduction of Keynote Speaker Amanda Bauman Ewton, Regent Preston Trail Chapter, NSDAR Keynote Speaker - Natalie Clountz Bauman, Historical Preservation Chair, Chapter Historian, Preston Trail Chapter, NSDAR. Guest Speaker - Kurt Cichowski, Marker Chairman - Grayson County Texas Historical Commission. RECEPTION at LAKEWAY METHODIST CHURCH of POTTSBORO, TX Set Up and Decorate, Including Tableware -Terri Townsend, Board Member, PBCA Greeter and Registrar Joanie Johnson, Member, PBCA Photos and Slideshow Terri Townsend, Board Member; PBCA Virginia Thompson, Treasurer, PBCA Food - Terri Townsend, Board Member, PBCA; Virginia Thompson, Treasurer, PBCA; Cynthia Thomas, Member, PBCA; Morgan Helm, Secretary, PBCA; Jessica Adams, President, PBCA Clean Up - Terri Townsend, Board Member, PBCA; Joanie Johnson, Member, PBCA.