Edward Coffey Books and Photos Available

Update Sep. 11, 2008: This offer no longer valid. See blog side bar for offer of CD.

Jack


I have created an Adobe PDF book on CD from my Edward Coffey files. The book is 827 pages, includes all sources and is fully indexed. Also included on this CD are all of the photographs that appear in the book, except that they are larger and can be saved to your hard drive. Users of this CD will have to have the free Adobe reader . Just insert the disk into the CD-ROM drive and access it through the file explorer. Double click on the file name to open it.

Also, I have created a Roots Magic book on CD that looks exactly like the pages that users view when they click on the Edward Coffey link on the Coffey Cousins' website. This file is up to date as of yesterday, June 22, 2006. This is a self-starting CD so users will have to have their CD-ROM drive set to "autoplay."

With this CD users can copy the files to their hard drive and, if using Roots Magic, access them with that program. The files are "read only" when moved from CD to HD, but that can be easily changed and the files can be edited.

If a GEDCOM is preferred over the Roots Magic files, I can do that as well. However, users should be aware that some data stored in a GEDCOM created by Roots Magic may not be properly moved over into a program such as Family Tree Maker. There's nothing wrong with either program; it's just that most genealogy programs do not place the same information in the same places in each of their programs. A Roots Magic or Family Tree Maker GEDCOM might have a field or two that the other does not have, so information in those fields may not move over to the new program.

Caveat Emptor!

I will ship postage paid any of these CDs to US addresses only for $15 each, or two for $25. I will have to check postage for orders from outside the US.

There's a lot of work in these two resources, and well worth the cost.

Questions and/or orders can be sent to me here:



Note: Price per CD is now $7.50 for materials and postage.

Descendants of Peter and Susannah Matthews Coffee

Peter Coffee researchers can find my latest update for this family and their descendants by clicking on the title link.

New information includes data found while visiting in Chadron, NE, home of Charles F. Coffee and his family. Charles was a son of John Trousdale Coffee and his wife Lavinia Harriet Weir.

As usual, incorrect or incomplete information can be updated by contacting me.

My Military Web Pages

In the "early days" when I first began to post family and other research information on the web, I used the free pages offered at Tripod.com. Recently however, Tripod has gone overboard with pop-up ads and other distractions making it an extremely harassing website. Therefore, I have begun to move some of my pages from Tripod to Roots Web.

The link to The Men and Women of WW2 from Webster Parish contains all of the names found in the book of the same name. It does NOT contain all of the names of those men and women from that parish who served; only those that chose (and paid) to have their names and photographs published. The photographs do not scan well, but should any reader find a relative there I will scan and send the photograph.

The link to The Red Ryder contains the story - as I have researched it - of loss of the crew of that B24 bomber during WW2. My wife's youngest uncle was one of the crew members.

The final link is a listing of the cadre and trainees in my 1959 US Army basic training company at Fort Jackson, SC.

These pages can be viewed here.

Another Smith Coffey

This Smith Coffey was the son of Thomas Coffey and Elizabeth Smith, Thomas being a son of John Coffey and Jane Graves. Thomas was born Mar. 7, 1742 in Essex Co., VA and died Apr., 1825 in Wilkes Co., NC. His will was made Jan. 29, 1825, Wilkes Co., NC, and lists 14 children, six by first wife [Elizabeth], and eight by second [Sally Fields].1

Smith was the sixth child born to Elizabeth, and her fourth son. He was born c1776 in Albemarle Co., VA, and died in Cherokee Co., NC c1839. He married Hannah Boone, a daughter of Jesse Boone and Sarah McMahan probably around 1800.

To them were born at least seven children: Squire who married first Nancy Moore, and second Allie Webb; John Morgan, born c1805, and married Elizabeth Day; Leland, born c1806 in North Carolina and married Myra Day; Sarah, born c1808 in North Carolina and married William Puett; Isaac, born c1814 in North Carolina and married Sarah (Sally) Estes; Athan, born Jan. 27, 1820 in North Carolina and married Mary (Polly) McGuire; and lastly Millie, born c1822 who first married Wiley Stanley then John Tritt.

I have completed the "easy" census work (e.g., 1850-1880) for John Morgan Coffey and his wife Elizabeth Day. A number of on-line genealogies give them upwards to 14 or 15 children, sometimes more. The couple married prior to 1835 because their first child was born c1835. So, it is possible that they married well before 1835 and had children before that year.

The 1850-1880 census lists their children as:

Amelia, born c1835; Hannah, born c1837; Mary A., born c1839; Sarah Jane, born c1841; Elizabeth, born c1843; Harriet, born c1845; Athan Smith, born Oct., 1847; Leland L. (Lee), born c1850; Louisa, born c1854; Josiah, born c1855; Francis C., born c1857; and Susan, born c1860. All of the children through Athan were born in Burke Co., NC. Leland through Josiah were born in Cherokee Co., NC and Susan in Union Co., GA.

I have additional information on some of the John Morgan Coffey children and their descendants. Contact me for more information.









1 Coffey Cousins newsletter, Mar. 1997, and Mary Throneburg, 2082 Throneburg Rd., Morganton, NC 28655.

Smith Coffee Daniel II

Smith Coffee Daniel, Jr. [sometimes spelled Daniell] was, as his name implies, the son of Smith Coffee Daniel, Sr., and wife Priscilla Skinner. Senior was a son of Charles Daniel and Elizabeth Coffee, a daughter of Peter Coffee, Jr. and Sarah Smith. Peter, Jr. was the son of Peter, Sr. and wife Susannah Matthews.

I have not found any documentation substantiating the lineage, dates of births, deaths, etc. of the this line. To my knowledge no one has published a scholarly work documenting the Peter Coffee - Susannah Matthews descendants.

We do know that Smith Coffey Daniel, Jr. lived in Claiborne Co., MS where he married Catherine Skinner Freeland in about 1849. Together they had three children: Priscilla, born about 1851, Thomas Freeland, born about 1852, and Smith Coffee III, born about 1861. If these birthdates are close to accurate, there must have been other children born and died between 1852 and 1861.

Smith and Catherine began building Windsor, their Mississippi River plantation home in about 1859. A University of Mississippi website (click on title link) states that the home was supported by "29 forty-five (45) ft tall columns..."

The home survived the Civil War, and was used by both Confederate and Union forces. When U.S. Grant crossed the Mississippi River from the Hard Times Plantation in Tensas Parish, Louisiana side to Bruinsburg on the Mississippi side, the house was used as a Union Hospital. There are no known drawings or other representations of the home except for a sketch made by a Union soldier during their occupation of the home.

Unfortunately, the home was lost to fire on Feb. 17, 1890 when a lighted cigar fell into scrap left over by workers making repairs to the home. Today, only a few columns remain to attest to the magnificience of this plantation.

I visited the site a number of years ago and was dismayed to see that it had deteroriated into nothing more than a dump where visitors dropped their trash. The area was overgrown, and little had been done to preserve it. I understand that it has now been placed on the National Registry of Historical Places, and that Mississippi state parks officials administer the site.

Other links to Windsor:

Photographs by Mac McGuffee

National Scenic Byways Program

or, search Google

John D. and Mary Margaret Walton Coffey

John was born in Kentucky in Jan. 1862, a son of John T. and Elizabeth Jane Walton Coffey. He married Mary Margaret Walton (relationship to Elizabeth not known) Oct. 10, 1889 in Estill Co., KY. Mary was born in KY in May, 1870. John died Dec. 3, 1909 in Estill Co. Mary Margaret's death date is unknown.

The family can be found in the 1900 Estill Co., Red Lick, Dist. 6, ED28, Sheet 7A, dwelling 120, family 121. Margaret can be found in the 1910 Estill Co., Red Lick, Dist. 5, ED47, Sheet 11B, dwelling/family 217 where she was enumerated as a widow with 11 children in the home.

In each of the above census records, the family name is spelled Coffee.

Mary gave birth to at least 12 children:

Dillard J., born Apr. 1893
David C., born Aug., 1894
Berty L. (son), born Nov., 1895
James A., born Oct., 1896
Mirty A., born Oct., 1896
Hobart, born May, 1899
Betty F., born c1902
Alma, born c1903
Clark W., born c1904
George P., born c1907
Robert H., born c1908
Beulah B., born c1910

The only child for whom I have additional information is Clark W. He married Selma Lee Marshall on Jan. 22, 1925. She was born Oct. 12, 1904 in Madison Co., KY. Clark died in 1984; Zelma in 1974. Together they had at least two children: Louise, born c1926 and William, born c1927. This family can be found in the 1930 Madison Co., KY census, Union Twp., ED10, Sheet 2A, dwelling/family 31.

Please contact me if you have additional information on this family.

Back home...Again!

We have just returned from another week or so on the road. My wife and I camped for three days down near Breaux Bridge, LA with friends from all over the state.

When that was over we drove a few miles to Youngsville, LA and spent time with our youngest son and his family. They have two boys: a three year old and a seven month old. It's like living in a circus when we're there! Not really! They are two of the best behaved of the 7 grandchildren that we have.

South Louisiana is currently in drought condition. Since October, 2005 they have experienced something like 21 inches of the 40+ inches that they normally receive. North central Louisiana where we live is almost in the same condition. We did have rain shortly after getting back from our trip out west, but nothing since.

I'm really having a difficult time getting back into the groove of writing regularly about the Coffey and Coffee families. I don't have any new families to report on at the moment, but will start digging a bit more as the summer gets hotter and I stay in the air conditioning more.

In the meantime please write to me with suggestions, family info, photographs, etc. If you have a Coffee/y that you've hit the proverbial brick wall on, let me know and I'll see if I can help.

2006 Convention Photos

Not everyone in every photo has been identified. The fellow wearing the hood, and standing behind the motorhome is me. It was snowing, although the flakes cannot be seen. It sounded like small ice cubes hitting on top of the motorhome, and ice cubes hitting on my head.

This was the first time that "My Friend Freddy" (an 11-yr old American Brittany) had seen snow. He was not sure how to walk on it.

Some of the other photos are of sites around Chadron, Fort Robinson and enroute from Chadron to the Wyoming border.

Click on the title link to view the photos.

Contact me if you have any questions.

All Aboard!

Coffey Cousins' enjoyed the 3-hr dinner train ride out of Chadron. It gave everyone a chance to relax, enjoy a really good meal and lots of good conversation.

2006 Coffey Cousins' Group Photograph

Many of our early registrants were put off off by the potential for bad weather in the Nebraska panhandle. Others had sickness or other physical problems that prevented them from making the trip. As a result Chadron was not one of the better attended Coffey Conventions.

However, those that did attend - many of them regulars and long time supporters of Coffey Cousins - found great weather, comfortable facilities and great fellowship awaiting them.

Click on the image to enlarge. 

Trailside Museum, Fort Robinson, NE

This is the first mammoth skeleton that I have ever seen. The head on this giant is plaster; the actual skull and tusks remain locked in combat with another wooley giant on the floor of the museum.

When I visited the display, the staff was still preparing for the "grand opening" later this summer. As I understood the director, the display will represent the actual dig site where the giants were found.

Click on the title link to review the news release prepared by the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. 

The Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center

The Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center is located on the campus of Chadron State College in Chadron, NE.

The official website for the center states the "Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center celebrates the life and literature of Mari Sandoz and the culture of the high plains." The Center is also the home of the Coffee Gallery

I have previously written about both Mari and the C. F. Coffee family. The links here are for those who would like to learn more about Mari Sandoz, and her literature. 

Marcus and Narcissa Whitman

Marcus, born 1802 in Rushville, NY and Narcissa, born 1808 in Prattsburgh, NY, were among the first white settlers in the west, and prominent in opening the Oregon Trail.

Click on the title link to read more about this missionary couple. 

Book Recommendation

While attending the Coffey Cousins' Convention in Chadron, NE I had a chance to visit the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center. One of the purchases that I made there was a book authoried by Mari Sandoz.

The book is a softcover edition of The Cattlemen from the Rio Grande across the far Marias, 1958, University of Nebraska Press.

Quoting:

"This thundering book...is the story of the vast cattle industry of the American West; stupendous in length, concept, and achievement, it is the result of a lifetime of knowledge and research..."

"Here, tough as whang leather, nourishing as pemmican, turbulent as Dodge City on a Saturday night in the late 1870s is what time may well decide is the definitive history of the founding and flourishing of the cattle industry on this continent."

I have only read a few pages in this 498 page book, not including bibliography and index, but it has already captured my imagination. In my mind I see me riding the open prairies, and down through the draws seeking out lost cattle, while participating in long cattle drives.

Click on the title link to reach the University of Nebraska press.

For my RV'ing Friends

If any of you are heading to southern Colorado this summer, and specifically Pagosa Springs, I have a few unsolicited recommendations:

- Consider the Cool Pines R.V. Park. Located on Hwy 160 one mile west of downtown, this park is owned and operated by the Robinson family (Harvey, Jean, Mike and Sharon). The name describes the park. This was our third year to use this campground, and wouldn't consider any other park in the area. The Robinsons will treat you like family. Try to spend at least one Wednesday night with them. That's the night of the weekly pot luck dinner when campers get to meet and eat with others in the park.

- In the morning have coffee and rolls at Farāgō. Located at 175 Pagosa St. at 2nd, you can enjoy breakfast al fresco while checking e-mail through their free wi-fi. Lunch is another experience. The staff offers a number of different soup and salad creations from around the world. I tried hummus on pita for the first time, and really enjoyed it.

- How many of you remember Red Ryder and Little Beaver? Fred Harman was a prolific oil artist and sculptor as well as the creator of those two western characters. For more than 25 years Fred offered his creative work to kids and adults alike. Who can forget Red and his faithful steed "Thunder?" When Fred died in 1982 his son, also named Fred, opened the Fred Harman Western Art Museum in Pagosa Springs. It is in the original Harman home and gallery. Fred (the son) is one of the most interesting people that I have had the pleasure to talk to in a number of years. The museum is located just west of the Cool Pines RV Park off Hwy 160 at 85 Harman Park Drive. Admission is a modest $3 for adults and children under 6 is fifty-cents.

There are many other places not to miss in Pagosa, including the hot sulphur springs, a walk along the San Juan River, or climb Chimney Rock. My wife and I climbed the Rock a couple of years ago. I was especially challenged by the guide who claimed to be close to 80 years old.

Click on the title link to visit the official website for Pagosa Springs.

Safe traveling!

Henry Kelly (Caleb) Coffey - addendum

Henry's second wife was Emilie Stansbury. They were married c1900 in Caldwell Co. Together they had at least one child: Aaron Roosevelt Coffey, born Oct. 25, 1909, died Aug. 29, 1951. There may have been another child born to this marriage.

Aaron married Nellie (LNU) c1928 in North Carolina. They had at least one child, Louise, born c1929. Aaron died Aug. 29, 1951 in Blue Ridge, Watauga Co., NC.

Henry's third marriage was c1910, just prior to his death in 1911. He married Ellen Edmisten who was born c1889 in North Carolina. They had one child, Kyda (Kitie) Coffey, born Feb. 14, 1911, died Aug. 1, 1978. Ellen is said to have married William Robbins after Henry's death.

Please contact me if you have additional information on the families created from Henry's second and third marriage.

Henry Kelly (Caleb) and Sarah Jane Gragg Coffey

Henry Kelly (Caleb) Coffey was born Aug. 24, 1861 in Caldwell Co., NC, a son of Asbury James and Chainey Gragg Coffey. Henry married Sarah Jane in 1885 in Globe, Caldwell Co. Sarah was born Jan. 24, 1867 in Caldwell Co., and died of pneumonia Jun. 2, 1906 in Caldwell Co. Henry died of a stroke on Jul. 21, 1911 in Caldwell Co. Both are buried in the Estes Cemetery in that county.

Together, Henry and Sarah had ten children:

Wallace E. Coffey, Apr 1858-1968

Charles Riston Coffey (1892-1966)

Ellis Empsey Coffey (1895-1965)

Beeler Ester Coffey (1890-1965)

Josie Ella Coffey Sherfey (1900-1983)

Photos not available for: Docia Ann, born Jul. 27, 1886, died Dec. 11, 1886;  Robey James, born Jul. 16, 1887, died Oct. 19, 1957; Dartha Jane, born Jan. 29, 1898, died May 21, 1931; Josie Ella Nora, born Mar. 11, 1900, died Apr. 24, 1983; Herman Herbert, born Apr. 3, 1902, died c1919

Photographs courtesy Mary Ann Sherfey Westman