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December 19, 2006

The Watauga Democrat

Are you researching families in Watauga Co., NC?

One of the better on-line sources for obituaries is the Watauga Democrat.

The "about us" link tells us that the Watauga Democrat was founded "...in 1888 by the local Democratic party, with help from Joseph Spainhour and John S. Williams."

R. C. Rivers, Sr. and D. B. Dougherty took over publication in 1889. Robert Campbell Rivers was the publisher from 1933 until his death in 1975. His daughter, Rachel Rivers-Coffey (wife of Armfield Coffey) succeeded her father as publisher. The newspaper celebrated its centennial in 1988, prompting Rivers-Coffey to comment that "My people came here running from the Civil War and left by way of City Cemetery."

The paper is published in Boone, Watauga Co., one of the most beautiful areas in North Carolina that I have been privileged to visit. The Coffey Cousins' Convention met there in 1982.

There are a lot of Coffeys in Watauga County!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hello,

I'm trying to determine if the RC Rivers who owned the Watauga Democrate back in the late 1800's is the same Rivers who later lived in Raleigh and was manager of the Metropolitan Opera House and had a daughter named Octavia.