Confederatevets.com

Taps has sounded for another immortal, and Col. William H. Coley has answered to the last roll call.

Colonel Coley was born in Milan, Gibson County, Tenn., on June 8, 1847, and in January 1862, when not fifteen years of age, he enlisted in the Confederate army, joining Company A, 10th Tennessee Cavalry, and served honorably with the regiment throughout the war, taking part in all of its engagements in the campaigns of Gen. N. B. Forrest, and surrendering at Gainesville, Ala., on May 10, 1865.

Colonel Coley was ex-mayor of Milan, and had held a number of other civic positions by the votes of his fellow citizens. For his devotion to duty as a soldier and his upright living as a citizen, the Confederate veterans of West Tennessee elected him as one of the members of the Board of Pension Examiners in July, 1906, and he had been unanimously reelected every two years since. In October, 1911, he was made President of the Board, and so continued to the end. While Commander of the United Confederate Veterans, Gen. Bennett H. Young appointed him as a member of his staff with the rank ofcolonel, and it was an honor worhthily bestowed. He was a life-long member of the Baptist Church and a consistent Christian.

Colonel Coley was the owner of the largest drug store in Milan, and was engaged in a number of other lucrative enterprises. His wife died some years ago, but a son and daughter survive him, the son, Robert L. Coley, being associated in the drug business with his father.

On Sunday afternoon, July 31, 1921, Colonel Coley died at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in the City of Memphis, and in his death the South lost one of her noble defenders, his State and honorable citizen, and his Church a devout Christian and faithful member.