Alvin Aaron Coffey was born into slavery, but the condition of his birth did not prevent him from achieving his dream of freedom. His story is one of courage, fortitude, and determination. He was born in Mason County, Kentucky, but he was taken to St. Louis, Missouri, after he was given away as a wedding present. He was later sold to a medical doctor who took him to California at the time of the Gold Rush. Alvin worked hard for his owner and for himself, only to be cheated out of the money he made and finally sold to another family in Missouri. Alvin persevered in his desire for freedom and convinced his new owners to allow him to return to California to make enough money to emancipate himself and his wife and children. Alvin not only escaped slavery by his own by his own persistence, he used his ingenuity to create a new life in California for himself, his wife, his children, and his numerous descendants.