from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)--pages 296-298
The life history of him whose name heads this sketch has been for many years closely identified with the history of Hendricks County, Indiana. Throughout the years his life has been one of untiring activity and it has been crowned with a degree of professional success attained by comparatively few who aspire to eminence in their chosen calling. Years of conscientious work as a lawyer have brought with them not only increase of practice and reputation, but also that growth in legal knowledge and that wide and accurate judgment the possession of which constitutes marked excellence in the profession. By a straightforward, honorable course Mr. Cofer built up a large and lucrative legal business and, financially, has been proportionately successful. His life affords a splendid example of what an American youth, plentifully endowed with good common sense, energy and determination, can accomplish when accompanied by good moral principles. He achieved a splendid record at the bar at an age when most men are merely starting out on their life work, for, from the beginning, he was intensely methodical and unswervingly persistent in search of the true light and of the essentials of the legal foundation and sources of legal conception and thought, holding devoutly to the highly embellished record of equity and the sure, certain, invincible methods of practice. Therefore, success could not help crowning his efforts and attracting to him public recognition and appreciation.
Judge Thomas J. Cofer, lawyer, old soldier, public-spirited citizen and a friend of every one in Hendricks County, was born September 2, 1836, three and one-half miles north of Danville, this county. His parents, Stephen and Milanda (Ashbrook) Cofer, were both natives of Kentucky, his father coming to this county about 1831, and lived here the remainder of his life. Stephen Cofer was a plain and unostentatious farmer, who died at the age of sixty, his widow surviving him many years, her death occurring at the advanced age of ninety-four years. Stephen Cofer and wife were the parents of eight children, only three of whom are now living: Mrs. Nellie Woods, of Oregon, Mrs. Nancy Riddle, of Kansas, and Judge T. J. Cofer.
Judge Thomas J. Cofer was born, reared and practically educated on the farm. The district schools of his day were very rudimentary, but his thirst for knowledge was such that he insisted on continuing his education. He therefore entered the Danville Academy and continued his education at Asbury University, and would have graduated from that institution had not the Civil War interrupted his career. With the first call for troops in the spring of 1861, Judge Cofer enlisted in the Sixteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry for one year, and immediately upon the expiration of his term of enlistment he joined the Seventh Regiment of Indiana Volunteers. He was in the battle of Port republic, where he was wounded in the shoulder, captured and thrown into prison, where he remained until he was paroled six months later. He then came home to recuperate, but as soon as he was able to go to the front again he enlisted in 1863 in the Ninth Regiment Indiana Cavalry, with which command he served until he was mustered out in September, 1865. He participated in the battles of Pulaski, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill, Rennell's Hill, Sugar Creek and many others. Immediately after the close of the war Mr. Cofer returned to Hendricks County, and was engaged for a short time in the mercantile business, studying law in the meantime. In 1872 he was admitted to the bar and has practiced in the courts of this county continuously since that time. He first entered into partnership with Judge J.G. Adams and later with Judge Newton M. Taylor. Some time afterwards he entered into partnership with Judge C.C. Hadley, which partnership was terminated in a few years and, until he was appointed judge of the circuit court in 1889, he practiced alone. Governor Mount appointed Judge Cofer as judge of the circuit court in 1889 to succeed Judge John V. Hadley, who was elected to the supreme court at that time. He served two years as an appointee, and was then elected for six years on the Republican ticket, serving in all eight years. After leaving the bench he formed a partnership with Z.E. Dougan, his son-in-law, and the firm of Dougan and Cofer is still practicing in Danville.
Judge Cofer was married November 9, 1865, to Mary S. Scearce, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Scearce, of this county. Of the six children who were born to this marriage, four died in infancy, the two living being Mrs. Z.E. Dougan and Mrs. Dr. Thomas Barker, both of Danville. Mrs. Judge Cofer died in December, 1902.
Judge Cofer is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Grand Army of the Republic and the Loyal Legion. His career has indeed been a long and useful one in this county and has been marked with success in every particular. He is a man who is popular with every one, because of his cheerful disposition and charming personality. He can be truly called one of nature's noblemen.