Archelaus Coffey (1810-1900)

(Updated 1-28-2008)

Archelaus Coffey was born in Wilkes Co., NC on Mar 1, 1810, and died on Dec 27, 1900 in Clay, Spencer Co., IN.1 He was another son of James D. and Hannah Alloway Strange Coffey.

Archelaus is mentioned in Tales of Pioneers: History of Owen County, Indiana, Vol II, Chamber of Commerce, Spencer, IN 1963

ARCHELAUS COFFEY, an old citizen and farmer of Clay Township, Owen County, Ind., eldest son of James and Hannah Coffey, of North Carolina, was born in Wilkes County, that State, March 1, 1810. He came with his parents into Indiana in the year 1834, and located in Monroe County, where he lived until 1860, removing thence into Owen County, where he purchased the land upon which he has since resided. He was reared upon a farm, and educated at the subscription schools of his native state. January 23, 1834, he was married, in Ashe County, N. C., to Rachel WILSON, who bore him eleven children - an infant died not named; Sallie Ann; James D.; John W.; Jonathan, deceased; William A.; Zacariah, deceased; Noah; Joseph M.; George M. and Levi W. With the exception of a small inheritance from the estate of his father, who died in 1869, subject has been dependent upon his own labors for the competency he has acquired. He owns a fine farm of 200 acres, nearly all in cultivation, well improved, stocked and fully equipped with the necessary agricultural implements and machinery. Though upward of seventy years of age, he enjoys good health, is in possession of all his faculties, keeps mind and body occupied, and bids fair to live yet many years of usefulness in a community where he is universally known and esteemed.

Archelaus COFFEY and Rachael WILSON were married on Jan 23, 1834 in Ashe Co., NC. They appeared in the census on Sep 30, 1850 in Monroe Co., IN.,2 the census on Aug 17, 1860 in Monroe Co., IN.,3 the census on Aug 20, 1870 in Owen Co., IN.,4 and the census on Jun 4, 1880 in Owen Co., IN.5 Rachael was born in North Carolina about 1815. Archelaus and Rachael had the following children:

i. Sarah Ann (Sallie) COFFEY was born in Indiana about 1836.
2 ii. James D. COFFEY, born about 1838, Indiana; married Martha J. __________.
iii. Jonathan COFFEY, born Jun, 1840, died Aug. 3, 1841, buried in Hopewell Cemetery, Clay Twp., Owen Co., Indiana
iv. John W. Coffey was born in Indiana about 1843.
3 v. William A. COFFEY, born about 1845, Indiana; married Mary A. FRANKLIN, on Dec 20, 1866, Owen Co., IN6. Mary is probably the daughter of Abner and Malinda Franklin who resided in Clay Twp., Owen Co., IN in 1850.
4 vi. Noah W. COFFEY, born about 1847, Indiana; married Tacy J. PARRISH, on Dec 23, 1869, Owen Co., IN7,8.
vii. Zacharia COFFEY was born in Indiana about 1849.
viii. Joseph M. COFFEY was born in Indiana about 1851.
ix. George M. COFFEY was born in Indiana about 1855.
5 x. Levi W. COFFEY, born about 1859, Indiana; married Laura THOMAS, on Feb 2, 1881, Owen Co., IN7,9.

Second Generation

2. James D. COFFEY (Archelaus-1) was born in Indiana about 1838.

James D. COFFEY and Martha J. LNU appeared in the census on Jun 8, 1880 in Owen Co., IN., 10 and were married. Martha J. was born in Indiana about 1841. James and Martha J. had the following children:

i. John Mc., COFFEY was born in Indiana about 1863.
ii. Rosy E. COFFEY was born in Indiana about 1868.

3. William A. COFFEY (Archelaus-1) was born in Indiana about 1845.

William A. COFFEY and Mary A. FRANKLIN were married on Dec 20, 1866 in Owen Co., IN.6 They appeared in the census on Jun 3, 1880 in Owen Co., IN.11 Mary was born in Indiana about 1842. William and Mary had the following children:

i. Charles A. COFFEY was born in Indiana about 1868.
ii. Malinda J. COFFEY was born in Indiana about 1870.

4. Noah W. COFFEY (Archelaus-1) was born in Indiana about 1847.

Noah W. COFFEY and Tacy J. PARRISH were married on Dec 23, 1869 in Owen Co., IN.7,8 They appeared in the census on Jun 4, 1880 in Owen Co., IN.12 Tacy was born in Indiana about 1847 and was probably the daughter of William and Elsa Parrish who in 1850 were residing in Ray, Morgan Co., IN. Noah and Tacy had the following children:

6 i. Etta A. COFFEY, born about 1874, Indiana; married Joseph A. MANERS, on Mar 28, 1891, Owen Co., IN7,13.
7 ii. Doney C. COFFEY, born about Mar 1880, Indiana; married Daisy D. DOWELL, on Oct 5, 1899, Owen Co., IN7,14.

5. Levi W. COFFEY (Archelaus-1) was born in Indiana about 1859.

Levi W. COFFEY and Laura THOMAS were married on Feb 2, 1881 in Owen Co., IN.7,9 No information has been found for Laura THOMAS.

Third Generation

6. Etta A. COFFEY (Noah W.-2, Archelaus-1) was born in Indiana about 1874.

Etta A. COFFEY and Joseph A. MANERS were married on Mar 28, 1891 in Owen Co., IN.7,13 Joeph was born in IN in Nov., 1870. He and Etta were parents of Ward Earl, born Mar. 11, 1892; Nora G., born Dec. 16, 1894; Coy Rex, born Jul. 20, 1897; and Wilson A., born c1905. They were residents of Clay Twp., Owen Co. in 1900. In 1910 and 1920 they resided in Spencer, Washington Twp., IN.

7. Doan Cavens COFFEY (Noah W.-2, Archelaus-1) was born in Indiana in Feb. 1880.

Doan Cavens COFFEY and Daisy D. DOWELL were married on Oct 5, 1899 in Owen Co., IN.7,14 Daisy was born Aug., 1878 in Indiana. They were parents of one child, a daughter Gail, born c1903. In 1900 the family resided in Spencer Twp., Owen Co. In 1920 they moved to Columbus, Bartholomew Co., and in 1930 they were residents of Indianapolis, Marion Co., Indiana. Doan was still living in April, 1942 when at age 62 he was required to register for the WW2 draft. He was an employee of Standard Oil Co.


Sources

1. Various Indiana county death records indexed by the Indiana Works Projects Administration. Indiana: circa 1938-1941. Name: Archelaus Coffey Date: 27 Dec 1900 Location: Clay Township Age: 90 yr Gender: Male Race W Source Location: County Health Office, Spence Source Notes: The source of this record is the book H-15 on page 4 within the series produced by the Indiana Works Progress Administration.
2. United States Federal Census for years indicated. 1850 Monroe Co., Richland Twp., Dist. 74, Page 252, dwelling/family 447, Archilles [sic] Coffey, age 40, male, farmer, $600, born NC; Rachael, age 35, female, born NC; Sarah A., age 14, female, born IN; James D., age 12, male, born IN; John W., age 8, male, born IN; William A., age 5, male, born IN; Noah W., age 3, male, born IN; Zacharia, age 1, male, born IN.
3. Ibid., 1860 Monroe Co., Richland Twp., Ellettsville PO, Page 92-93, dwelling 666, family 645, Arcles [sic] Coffey, age 50, male, farmer, $1500, $500, born NC, Rachael, age 46, female, born NC; James, age 22, male, farm hand, born IN; John W., age 17, male, born IN; William, age 15, male, born IN; Noah, age 13, male, born IN; Joseph M., age 9, male, born IN; George, age 5, male, born IN; Levi, age 1, male, born IN.
4. Ibid., 1870 Owen Co., Clay Twp., White Hall PO, Page 21, dwelling 186, family 163, Coffey, Archelaus, age 60, male, white, farmer, $4000, $1050, born NC; dwelling 187, family 163 [sic], Rachel, age 56, female, white, keeping house, born NC; John W., age 26, male, white, farmer, born IN; Joseph M., age 18, male, white, born IN; George M., age 14, male, white, born IN; Levi W., age 11, male, white, born IN.
5. Ibid., 1880 Owen Co., Clay Twp., ED259, Page 7, dwelling/family 61, Coffey, Archelaus, white male, age 70, married, farmer, born NC, parents born NC; Rachel, white female, age 66, wife, married, keeping house, born NC, parents born NC; Joseph M., white male, age 28, son, married [sic], farm laborer, born IN, parents born NC; George M., white male, age 24, son, married [sic], farm laborer, born IN, parents born NC.
6. Original Data: Works Progress Administration. Index to Marriage Records Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940. Name: William A Coffey Spouse Name: Mary A Franklin Marriage Date: 20 Dec 1866 Marriage County: Owen Source Title 1: Owen County, Indiana Source Title 2: Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Inclusive Vol Source Title 3: W. P. A. Original Record Located: Compiled by Indi Book: 29 OS Page: 310.
7. County Marriage Records.
8. Original Data: Works Progress Administration. Index to Marriage Records Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940. Name: Noah Coffey Spouse Name: Lacy J Parrish Marriage Date: 23 Dec 1869 Marriage County: Owen Source Title 1: Owen County, Indiana Source Title 2: Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Inclusive Vol Source Title 3: W. P. A. Original Record Located: Compiled by Indi Book: 29 OS Page: 574.
9. Ibid., Name: Levi Coffey Spouse Name: Laura Thomas Marriage Date: 2 Feb 1881 Marriage County: Owen Source Title 1: Owen County, Indiana Source Title 2: Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Inclusive Vol Source Title 3: W. P. A. Original Record Located: Compiled by Indi Book: 31 OS Page: 311.
10. United States Federal Census. 1880 Owen Co., Clay Twp., ED259, Page 9, dwelling/family 83, Coffey, James D., white male, age 42, married, farmer, born IN, parents born NC; Martha J., white female, age 39, wife, married, keeping hosue, born IN, father born TN, mother born KY; John Mc., white male, age 17, son, single, farm laborer, born IN, parents born IN; Rosy E., white female, age 12, dau., at school, born IN, parents born IN.
11. Ibid., 1880 Owen Co., Clay Twp., ED259, Page 5, dwelling/family 40, Coffey, William A., white male, age 35, married, farmer, born NC, parents born NC; Mary A., white female, age 38, wife, keeping house, born IN, father born NC, mother born VA; Charles A., white male, age 12, son, single, born IN, parents born IN; Malinda J., white female, age 10, dau., born IN, parents born IN.
12. Ibid., 1880 Owen Co., Clay Twp., ED259, Page 7, dwelling/family 60, Coffey, Noah W., white male, age 33, married, farmer, born IN, parents born NC; Lacy A., white female, age 33, wife, married, keeping house, born IN, parents born KY; Etta A., white female, age 6, dau., born IN, parents born IN; Doany C., white male, age 3 mos., son, born IN, parents born IN.
13.Original Data: Works Progress Administration. Index to Marriage Records Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940. Name: Etta A Coffey Spouse Name: Joseph A Maners Marriage Date: 28 Mar 1891 Marriage County: Owen Source Title 1: Owen County, Indiana Source Title 2: Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Inclusive Vol Source Title 3: W. P. A. Original Record Located: Compiled by Indi Book: 33 OS Page: 27.
14. Ibid., Name: Doney C Coffey Spouse Name: Daisy D Dowell Marriage Date: 5 Oct 1899 Marriage County: Owen Source Title 1: Owen County, Indiana Source Title 2: Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Inclusive Vol Source Title 3: W. P. A.

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