Austin Julian Coffey

Austin Julian Coffey, born Jan. 6, 1878 in Alexander Co., NC was a son of Thomas Clingman and Mary Ann Julian Coffey.  Austin was the second of three sons born to Thomas and Mary.  The first child was Calloway, born c1876, and the third was James Marcus, born Feb. 13, 1879.

The following is from Prarie Fire, a Pioneer History of Western Oklahoma, 1978, Oklahoma Historical Society.  The author is unknown:

Austin Julian Coffey was born Jan. 6, 1878 near Hickory, North Carolina, to Clingman and Mary (Julian) Coffey. He had an older brother Calloway, and a younger brother James Mark.

His mother died when he was about 5 or 6 years old. His father then married Julian's Aunt Rose (Julian) and to this union one daughter, Fannie, was born. His father died soon after this.

At the age of 17 Austin and James Mark accompanied their Uncle Frank Coffey by train to St. Jo, Texas where his older brother and two uncles, Uncle Milton and Uncle Jim Coffey then lived. They worked as day laborers on farms there and in Chickasaw Nation in Southern Oklahoma.

In the fall of 1899, Austin, Calloway, Uncle Milt (who was a Baptist Minister) with 1 or 2 of his sons came to Oklahoma to scout for land to homestead. They all filed or took up on land: Austin SE-1/4 5-11-25, Uncle Milt SE-1/4 17-11-25, and Calloway SW-1/2 9-11-25. Middle Buffalo Creek ran through Austin's and Milt's claims. This land was near Sweetwater, Oklahoma. Austin's land joined his future brother-in-law, Purcy Marion Yell, on the west. Yell established a post office called Pilot which existed for only a few years. Their first homes were all in dugouts. There were very few people who lived here at this time, mostly cattlemen and nesters.

On January 1, 1900, Austin woke to find his horses had strayed. While looking for his horses he found a family of settlers on a nearby claim who had a beautiful daughter. He name was Nancy Luettie Yell, who, after a courtship of several months, became his wife on August 1, 1900.

Austin and Luettie lived on their claim several years and in surrounding communities the rest of Austin's life except for a short time spent in Serra Blanca, Southwest Texas and the Farmington area of New Mexico. All their children were born in western Oklahoma near what is now Sweetwater.

Their first born, a son Loyd, was born September 11, 1901 and died June 20, 1902. He was buried in Brookside Cemetery. The land was given for the purpose of a cemetery by Loyd's Grandad Yell in the Southwest corner of NW-1/4 9-11.25. Loyd's cousin Archie Yell was the first to be buried there and Loyd was the second.

The second child Raymond was born April 9, 1904 and died January 9, 1965. He is buried in the same cemetery. Virginia, the only daughter, was born May 11, 1906, near Meridian Corner. She is now Mrs. C. D. Douglas, a housewife living in Stratford, Oklahoma.

Thurston was born September 3, 1908 one and a half miles north of old Prentiss, Oklahoma. He lives on the old family home place 3 miles east of Sweetwater. Burl was born February 26, 1915 and now lives in Fritch, Texas. Winston was born February 27, 1918 and now lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Doyle, the baby, was born May 26, 1921 and now lives in Fasa Grande, Arizona.

The Coffey experienced the hardships as well as good times as did most pioneer families. Living in a dugout, they were plagued with fleas, from coyotes on the prairies, rattlesnakes, and always the danger of prairie fires. They experienced storms, hail and grasshoppers. There were quail and prairie chickens which were so plentiful they ate lots of grain of the Kaffir corn shocks.

Each fall they butchered several hogs for meat and lard, using the waste fat to make lye soap. Several families butchered together and helped each other sharing work and tools.

Besides gardens, the women gathered wild plums and grapes for jams and jellies. They helped each other sew, and helped in times of illness and other difficulties. Older women served as mid-wives when no doctor was available. Luettie helped deliver several babies on the prairies.

Usually on the Fourth of July everyone met to celebrate with a picnic with plenty of food for dinner on the ground with lemonade and home-made ice cream. The men played baseball and checkers; the kids had corn cob fights, foot races and wrestling matches. All had a good time.

On August 15, 1953, Austin sold the home place to Thurston and his wife Ruby who still live there. Austin and the family lived on this farm from 1919 till his death on January 16, 1963 at the age of 85 years. He is buried in the family plot in Brookside Cemetery less than one mile from his original homestead.

Luettie is presently living in the Erick Nursing Home at the age of 95 years.

Austin died in Roger Mills Co., OK on Jan. 16, 1963 and was buried at Sweetwater in the Brookside Cemetery.  Nancy died in 1977 and is also buried at Brookside.  Their son Virgil Raymond died in 1965 and is buried there as well.

Thurston died on Jan 1, 1997 at Elk City in Beckham Co., OK, and Burl died on Nov. 5, 1988 at Amarillo, Potter Co., TX.

Please contact me if you can provide any information on the Julian sisters, or the ancestors of Nancy Luetta Yell.

Charles Edward Coffey, Jr.

Another son of Charles Edward Coffey, Sr.  was Charles, Jr., born Nov. 9, 1859 in Amherst Co., VA. Junior married Sallie M. White on Nov. 6, 1880 in Amherst and with her fathered five children:

Lottie Jasper, born Dec. 21, 1883, died May 7, 1939. She married Moses Hill Trevey c1902. Moses was born Jan. 22, 1878 in VA., and died May. 23, 1954 in Amherst Co. Both are buried at Allwood Cemetery at El Bethel Church in Amherst Co. Their children were Norman; Harry Andrew; Helen Audrey; Hesper D.; and Hill.

Ashby Darmon, born Feb. 20, 1884, and died Jul 23, 1929. Ashby never married and had no known children. He is also buried at Allwood.

Inez, born Apr. 13, 1885 - no further information.

Hettie, born Feb. 9, 1887, died Mar. 13, 1974 in Temple City, Los Angeles Co., CA. Hettie first married Henry L. Harlow, born Apr. 1883 in VA, c1907. She is thought to have had three children with Henry, but I have found only two: Mayo C., born c1908 and Robert C., born c1914. In 1910 Henry and Hettie lived in the Pedlar Dist. of Amherst Co. where Henry was employed as an engine fireman, presumably on the railroad. By 1920, Henry was living with his two sons in the household with his mother, Amanda, and his step-father, Marshall P. Gatewood, in the Pedlar Dist. I have not located him after 1920. Hettie is said to have married a second time to a Mr. Thompson and then a third time to Chauncey Lucas. In 1960 Hettie was living alone in Los Angeles Co., CA and died in Temple City, LA Co., CA on Mar. 13, 1974.

[Update 7/29/08:  Hettie's children with Henry were:  1) Mayo Carrington Harlow, born Jul. 8, 1907 in Amherst Co., VA, and died Jan. 4, 1983 in Bedford City, Bedford Co., VA.  2) Margaret Victoria, born May 21, 1910 in Amherst Co., died Feb. 15, 1995 in Otero Co., NM; 3) Charles Robert, born 2 Nov., 1913, died Dec. 6, 1972 in Los Angeles Co., CA]

The last child of Charles, Jr. with Sallie White was Beulah, born Oct. 25, 1889. She married Leonard Tyree Mason on Jan. 7, 1910 in Lynchburg, VA. I know of only one child, a son Thomas B., born Jan. 12, 1919, died Mar. 8, 2007.

His obituary:

The News & Advance, Lynchburg, VA, Mar. 8, 2007

Thomas B. Mason, 88, of Roanoke, died Thursday, March 8, 2007. Born in Lynchburg, Jan. 12, 1919, he was the son of the late Leonard Tyree Mason and Beulah Coffey Mason. He was married to Emily Ann Wilkins Mason for 58 years.

He attended public schools in Lynchburg, graduating from E.C. Glass High School in 1936. He attended Hampden-Sydney College and received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1941. He was associated with a law firm in Arlington, from June 1941 until January 1942. 

He served as a Naval Officer in World War II from 1942 to 1946, two years of which were in the South Pacific (Solomon Islands) and Philippine areas where he commanded PT Boat 179. He participated in the landings at Leyte, Philippines, on Oct. 20, 1944.

He engaged in the private practice of law in Lynchburg from 1946 to 1956, then became a trust officer with the Peoples National Bank and Trust Company of Lynchburg (now Bank of America). He was appointed by President Kennedy as United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia in 1961, with offices in Roanoke. His family moved to Roanoke in 1962. He was re-appointed by President Johnson in 1965 and served in that office until 1969. The present U.S. Attorney's offices are located in the Thomas B. Mason Building at 105 Franklin Road.

He then became associated with the Law Department of Norfolk and Western Railway Company (now Norfolk Southern Corporation) from which he retired in 1983. He held memberships in the American Bar Association, Virginia Bar Association, Lynchburg and Roanoke Bar Associations and the Judicial Conference for the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Appeals Courts.

Tom had a long-time interest in theater and was a member of the company at Barter Theatre in Abingdon, during the summer of 1937 (its fifth season), when the late Robert Porterfield, its founder, was executive and artistic director. Tom was then 18-years old and appeared in six plays. While in Lynchburg, he performed in numerous plays at Lynchburg Little Theatre, one of the oldest Community Theaters in the nation. In Roanoke, he appeared in plays at Mill Mountain Playhouse, where some may remember his performance as Elwood P. Dowd in "Harvey". Following his retirement he acted professionally at regional, summer and dinner theaters in several other states; playing Norman Thayer in "On Golden Pond" among other roles. Tom appeared in three feature films, (Crimes of the Heart, Mississippi Burning and Gods and Generals) and seven television films. He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and Actor's Equity Association.

Tom was active in his church, having served as deacon, elder and trustee of First Presbyterian Church of Roanoke, and previously as a member and officer of First Presbyterian Church of Lynchburg.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Martha Mason Malloy and husband, Joe Malloy, of Vesuvius, and Polly Mason Dunn of Greenville, N.C.; grandchildren, Luke Malloy, Courtney Dunn and Mason Dunn; nephew, Thomas R. Mason and wife, Karen, of Alpharetta, Ga.; nieces, Anne Leadbetter and husband, Gig, of Grand Junction, Colo., and Marsha M. Matter and husband, Kevin, of Aurora, Colo.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 10, 2007, at First Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, with the Rev. Robert D. Smith officiating. A graveside service will follow at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, in the Presbyterian Cemetery, 907 Bailey Street, Lynchburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Roanoke, P.O. Box 8538, Roanoke, VA 24014; your own church; or a charity or organization of your choice.

Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel and Crematory, (540) 982-2100.

Charles, Jr's second wife was Mary Lou (Mollie) Downey to whom he was married c1891.  They had at least one son, Robert Ward, born Jun. 12, 1893, died Oct. 13, 1974 in Lynchburg, VA.  He was buried at Spring Hill Cemetery at Lynchburg.

Left to right, is Beulah, Robert Ward and Hettie.

Robert married Edna Miller Breeden on Dec. 24, 1924 in VA.  She was born Jun. 7, 1898 to Charles W. and Maggie Breeden, and died Jun. 8, 1995.  I have two children for them:  Mary Anne, born Oct. 25, 1925 and Charles Ward, born Jul. 17, 1927, died May 3, 1993.

Junior married a third time.  That wife was Eunice Sales, born Dec. 27, 1894, died Feb. 17, 1983.  There were no known children born to this union.



Please contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information.

Photo courtesy John Taylor

Macedonia Methodist Church

This attachment is an article published in the Discover Amherst County, dated July 21, 1988.  It was written by Anne Connolly Taylor, an Amherst New Era-Progress staff writer.  The photographer was Karla Faulconer.

You can find more up-to-date photos of this Coffeytown church in earlier blogs by clicking on the keyword "Coffeytown" at the bottom of this one.

The photo is a shot of the congregation at Macedonia taken in the 1930s, photographer unknown.

 

Article and photo courtesy John Taylor 

Coffeytown Christmas Described

This article appeared in the Lexington, VA The Weekender on Dec. 21, 1991, and was authored by Deborah Sensabaugh.

If you saw and remember The Homecoming: A Christmas Story, the 1971 pilot for The Waltons, you will be able to picture in your mind the Christmas scenery as well as the lifestyle described by the folks in this article.

                Page 1                                     Page 2

Earl Hamner, Jr. creator of The Waltons, grew up in Schuyler, VA, just about 50 miles or so as "the crow flies" from Coffeytown.





Article courtesy John Taylor

Joseph DeCalb Coffey

Joseph was the son of Levi Lafayette Coffey and Temperance Calloway.  He was the father of Luther and Ora by a yet unknown spouse, and who were written about in the two previous blogs.

Joseph's middle name as been found spelled as DeCalb and DeKalb.  I haven't a clue what the correct spelling is.  He was born Jan. 24, 1863 in Shulls Mill, Watauga Co., and died Dec. 30, 1939 in that same place.  He married Lutittia [sic] F. Walters on Apr. 9, 1899 in Watauga Co.  Lutittia was born Sep. 17, 1879 in Ashe Co., NC and died in Boone, Brushy Fork Twp., Watauga Co.

The death certificate reveals that Joseph suffered from epilepsy and probably died from that.  Lutittia died of a coronary thrombosis.  Both are buried at the Byrd Cemetery at Foscoe in Watauga Co.

This family lived their entire lives within Watauga Co. and raised at least three children together.  They were:

Dewey C., born Aug., 1898

Virginia Dare, born Nov. 23, 1906, died Nov. 7, 2003.  Virginia married Noa Franklin Church c1925 in Watauga Co.  He was born apr. 26, 1899 to Squire Monroe Church and his wife Sarah Eveline Greer.  Noah died Apr. 13, 1988 in Watauga Co.  I haven't yet found their burial location.  Their children were James F., born Sep. 27, 1925 and Dewey Roger, born Aug. 2, 1927.  There were other children born to them after 1930 but not listed here.

The last child that I know of born to Joseph and Lutittia was Vesta Verdola, born Mar. 2, 1909, died of "accidental poisoning by strychnine" on Dec. 22, 1915.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information.

Luther Lafayette Coffey

Luther was the brother of the previously blogged Ora C. Coffey.  He was born Sep. 25, 1887 in Shulls Mill, Watauga Co. and died Dec. 8, 1968 in Knoxville, Knox Co., TN.  He married a lady named Jean S. sometime around 1915.   She died Apr. 13, 1972 in Knox Co.

Their children were:

Edith, born c1916
Marjorie, born c1919
Carl, born c1923
Nola, born c1925
Etta, born c1930

There may have been more born after 1930, but that information is not yet available to me.

Luther registered for the draft in Knoxville, Knox Co., TN on Jun.. 5, 1917.  His address at the time was given as Asylum - Knoxville, TN.  He was described as being of medium height and build with blue eyes and light brown hair.  He gave his age as "30-31" years and his birth date as Sep. 25, "1887 or 1888" at Shulls Mills, NC.  He was married with one child, and employed as a laborer for Fulton Mfg. Co. in Knoxville, TX

In the 1920 Knoxville, Knox Co. census, the family resided in a boarding house at 209 Walnut St.  Luther worked at what looks like "demonstrates oil."  Children with them were Edith, age 4 yrs., 4 mos., and Marjorie, age 4 mos.

The 1930 census found the family residing at 7 1/2 Market Square in Knoxville.  Jean was the landlady of a rooming house and Luther worked as a hotel detective.  In addition to the two daughters with them in 1920 was:  Carl, age 8, Nola, age 5, and Etta age 3 [?] mos.

Luther's death date and place can be found on the Shelby Co. Register of Deeds website at  http://register.shelby.tn.us, and in the Social Security Death Index.  Jean's death can also be found on the Shelby Co. website.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or change any of this information.

Ora C. Coffey

I recently took advantage of a Footnote.com offer to browse for free the Investigative Case Files of the Bureau of Investigation from 1908-1922. I was - and still am - unfamiliar with the way "things" work on that website, so it took me awhile to figure out how to get to that particular database. When I finally found my way there, I entered the Coffey surname. One of the first 100+ case files to pop up was one for an Ora C. Coffey, a deserter from the US Army.

Ora was a son of Joseph DeCalb/DeKalb Coffey of Shulls Mills in Watauga Co., NC. I haven't yet discovered the mother of Ora and his brother, Luther Lafayette Coffey.

According to one of the letters in his FBI file, Ora was born Jan. 28, 1894 at Banner Elk in NC, was educated in the public schools at Bluefield, West Virginia and Beaver High School.* When he enlisted in the military he gave his home address as 718 Highland Ave. in Bluefield. He also gave as his emergency contact his brother Luther who lived at Banner Elk.

Ora enlisted on Oct. 11, 1913 and assigned to the Panama Canal Zone. On Jun. 30, 1917 he was made a "Provisional" 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry. The record gets a bit skewed here for it reads that on Jun. 24, 1917 he was made a "temporary" First Lieutenant and promoted to Captain Jun. 5, 1918. On Jun. 19, 1919 he was recommended for a permanent Second Lieutenancy in the regular army.**

On Aug. 1, 1917 he was stationed at Empire, C.Z., and later transferred to Cristobal, C.Z. In December, 1918 he was stationed at Camp Zachary Taylor.   This camp was in Louisville, KY, built in 1917 to train soldiers heading out to fight WW1.

On Oct. 16, 1919 he was a member of the 5th Infantry, and was dropped from the rolls of the US Army as a deserter. The report states that he was last seen on Jun. 1, 1919 at the port of embarkation in Hoboken, New Jersey. Ora had apparently been assigned as "mess officer" while at Camp Zachary Taylor. The report cites "certain irregularities" in his "mess account" while stationed there.***

A search was made in Bluefield and other places for Ora, apparently without success. No one in the Bluefield area knew of Luther, who in 1917 was residing in Knoxville, TN with his wife. His family remained in Knoxville at least though 1968 when Luther died. Jean, Luther's wife, died in 1972.

Unfortunately, there is no conclusion to the search. That is, there is no document in the file that tells us whether or not Capt. Coffey was ever taken into custody!

The photos of Ora were included in the FBI file, and were apparently taken when he first joined the Army.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information.




*No indication where Beaver High School was [I have now been informed that Beaver HS was the HS in Bluefield for many years]

**In the military, there are temporary and permanent grades. One can be a Major, for example, and hold a permanent rank of Captain. That is, should there be some reason for a military reduction in force (RIF), the Major cannot be reduced in rank below his permanent rank. Non-commissioned officers (e.g., Sgts, etc) can be promoted into the commissioned ranks and hold as their permanent rank their highest non-commissioned grade. In case of a RIF, he would return to his permanent non-commissioned rank.
***A "mess officer" is in charge of feeding the troops.

Charles Edward and Sarah Jane Ogden Coffey - Update 2-22-2011

If you live anywhere in the US where the humidity and ambient temperature typically try to out do each other in the summer, you'll understand when I write that not much physical activity has been going on at my house for the past couple of days!

The outside cooling unit went down on Sunday.  A friend knowledgeable about such things came over and changed out a capacitor and the compressor started.  That lasted about an hour and we spent last night with every fan in the house, and one outside, running!

Today, I moved the wireless laptop out onto the deck and set up office in front of that large fan where I remained for most of the day.  Heat doesn't seem to bother my wife as much as me, so she rarely ventured out unless it was to refill my empty iced tea glass!

By the time my friend got back this afternoon with the new outside unit, temps were 91F inside and 90F outside!  Humidity inside and out was at about 49%.  But, it didn't take long to install the new unit and temps inside are steadily dropping.  We can look forward to a cool nights rest once again!

I didn't waste all of my time just sitting in front of that fan.  With the help of my friend John Taylor, I decided to update some of the information on Charles Edward Coffey, a son of John Jack and Elizabeth Susan Duff Coffey in the Jordan Coffey line.

<--Charles Edward Coffey

Charles was born on Nov. 30, 1882 in Amherst Co., VA and died there on Feb. 13, 1924.  He is buried at Bridge Hill Cemetery in Amherst Co.

He and Sarah Jane Ogden were married Feb. 14, 1854 somewhere - probably Amherst Co. - in Virginia.  Sarah was born Oct. 22, 1833 in Virginia, the daughter of Zachariah and Elizabeth McDaniel Ogden.  She died Jan. 17, 1904 and is also buried at Bridge Hill (note headstone).


One of their sons, Pittward (Pitt) Coffey (I've see his name in some genealogies as Pitt Woodford) was married to Lucy White on Oct. 3, 1881 in Amherst Co.  The entry reads that Lucy, age 18 and a widow,  was the daughter of Henry and Eliza White. She was also sister to Sallie M. White who married Pitt's younger brother, Charles Edward Coffey.

I have seen at least one unsourced genealogy that gives her name as Lucy Parks White.  I wonder if she could have been previously married to a Parks who died, and then to Pitt!?

Lucy gave birth to a daughter named Vernie some 10 months later, on Sep. 23, 1882.  Within a very short time - probably around 1885 - Pitt absconded with Flavona Fletcher, a daughter of Lucian and Marie Frances Crawford Fletcher.  Lucian had some interest in Sweet Brian College in Amherst Co., and in 1901 Flovona received a portion of his share, some $5000.

Pitt and Flavona had already relocated to Kanawha Co. in West Virginia where Pitt farmed a little and eventually went into the grocery business.  In 1900 he was a farmer.  In 1910 he was a grocer.  The extra cash that Flavona brought home probably helped him get started in the retail business.

By 1920 Pitt was retired.  Too bad he didn't live longer to enjoy his retirement.  He died on Jan. 9, 1922 of stomach cancer, and was buried on Jan. 10 at the Spring Hill Cemetery in Charleston, Kanawha Co.

I do not yet know where Flavona went after 1920.  But, she died on Nov. 5, 1955 in Putney, Kanawha Co.

In 1930 Flavonia was living with her daughter Alma and Alma's second husband, Frank C. Briscoe in Charles, WV.
Vernie, Pitt's daughter with Lucy married Robert L. Seay, who was born Oct. 25, 1875 (not yet sure where).  He and Vernie had at least six children:

Evelyn, born Nov. 10, 1900, died Aug. 16, 1966
Vivian, born Sep. 25, 1903, died Nov. 1, 1973
John Robert, born Jun. 25, 1906, died apr. 2, 1984
Henry Vaughn, born Apr. 7, 1908, died Nov. 16, 1940
Marion, born Oct. 16, 1910, died May 23, 1975
William Lee, born Sep. 3, 1913, died Mar. 20, 1940

Pitt's children with Flavona were:

Jesse, born Sep., 1885, died Feb. 12, 1918 of "probably typhoid fever" and,  was buried at Spring Hill Cemetery in Charleston, Kanawha Co.  Jesse died unmarried.

Janet Aurelia, born Jul. 1888, died Mar. 27, 1945.  She married first T. Edward Berry on Nov. 19, 1908 in Lexington, Rockbridge Co., VA.  She later married Chester L. Martin, born 1886, died Sep. 14, 1959 in Huntington, Cabell Co., WV.  She is also buried at Spring Hill Cemetery.

Alma, born Mar., 1890. Alma married first to Thomas H. Young in 1911, Kanawha Co., WV. She gave him at least three children: Harless, born c1913; Margaret, born c1915; and Carroll Cletcher, born c1918, each in WV. She last appeared with Young in the 1920 census in Charleston. In 1924 she married a widower, Frank C. Briscoe and gave him at least two children: Mary, born c1925 and Joseph H., born c1927. That marriage license shows that Alma was divorced. Briscoe was 17 years senior to Alma and seemingly preceded her in death because, in 1963, at the age of 73, Alma married for the third time. This husband was 72-year old James Marshall Lawson. Alma is buried at Spring Hill. I have not discovered Mr. Lawson's burial place.
Harry Clarkston, born Jun. 8, 1892, died Mar., 1969.  Buried at Putnam Co., WV.

Fletcher, born Jul. 5, 1895, died Nov., 1980 in Kanawha Co.

Stoughton Edward, born Feb., 1897, died Apr. 17, 1918.  I've seen some genealogies who named this child Steven.  However, Stoughton is how it is spelled on his death certificate.  He died very young (age 21) from Tuberculosis.  He was also buried at Spring Hill.

James Tinsley, born Sep. 21, 1901, died Oct. 10, 1934.  James died early as well.  He was deceased from a heart attack by the time he was 33 years old.  He is also buried at Spring Hill.

More to come on the remainder of Charles' children with Sarah Jane Ogden.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information.

Photos courtesy of John Taylor 

James Coffey & Martha Stalsworth Marriage

The couple in the attached marriage license were James Coffey and Martha Stalsworth. They were married in Grainger Co., TN on 18 Dec. 1848.

There was a Martha Stalsworth in that county but, only after 1877. Her parents were Samuel and Susannah Coffey Stalsworth. Susannah was the daughter of Joel and Elizabeth Grubb Coffey.

If you can identify this James and Martha, please contact me at the e-mail address above.

The Edward Coffey Project (Update 3)

There are now more than 19,000 individuals and close to 700 sources in the Edward Coffey Project.

This project is growing daily as more sources and family members are discovered.  Those born after 1930 and who are not yet known to have died are not included in the project.

Any researcher desiring a copy of the complete file on CD, including sources, can use the Pay Pal button on the right to purchase with a credit card, or send a check for $10 to me at the below address.  The cost covers materials and first class postage to your US address.

My USPS address is:

Jack Coffee
110 Lydia Road
St. Joseph, LA 71366

Rufus Lynn and Marsha Deloras Clippard Coffey

Rufus was born Mar. 25, 1879 in Caldwell Co., NC to John and Mary (Polly) Underwood Coffey.  He was the eighth child and only son born to the union.  His wife was Marsha Deloras (Marcie) Clippard, born Aug. 9, 1879 in Lincoln Co., NC.  I have not found a marriage date for them but, estimate 1888-1889.

Rufus died Jun. 29, 1957 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC with death attributed to chronic myocarditis.  Marsha died Oct. 24, 1960 in Lenoir with death attributed to arteriosclerotic heart disease.  Both are buried at the Belleview Cemetery in Lenoir.

There were nine children born to Rufus and Marcie:

Mable, born c1900

Daisy Elizabeth, born 1903, married C. E. Jackson.  They had at least one child, a son, Wilford (Wick), born Dec. 21, 1925, died Apr. 12, 2008.  He is also buried at Belleview.

Ree S. D., born Dec. 7, 1905 in Caldwell Co., died Jul. 26, 1974 in Lenoir with death attributed to a myocardial infarction.  She married Albert P. Beck.  Ree is buried at Belleview.

Hazel H., born c1908

Stella Ruth, born Jun. 8, 1910, died of asthma on Mar. 5, 1953.  She married a Mr. Williams.  She is also buried at Belleview.

Anna Estelle, born 1912 in Lincoln Co., died 1987 in Caldwell Co.  She married Walter Watson Crisp, a son of Millard Avery and Edna Elizabeth Suddreth, in 1937.  Walter was born Apr. 4, 1908 and died Jan. 9, 1993 in Lenoir.

Carson Reeves, born Mar. 28, 1914 in Lincoln Co., died 1999 in Caldwell Co.  He married Charlotte Camilla Peeler, a daughter of the Rev. John C. Peeler and Sally Holshouser.  Charlotte was born Feb. 10, 1917 in Lenoir, and died Oct. 14, 2004 in Newton, Catawba Co.

Mildred, born Jul. 8, 1917 in Lincoln Co., died by suicide (poisoning) on May. 17, 1939 at age 21.  She was married to Fred Hinst at the time of her death.  She was buried at Belleview.

Jennings Otis, born Aug. 26, 1919 in Lincoln Co. and died Aug. 7, 2001 in Caldwell Co.  In 1947 he was married to Ollie Mozelle Roberts, a daughter of William Rufus Roberts and Ida V. Matlba.  Ollie was born Apr. 14, 1921 and died Mar. 13, 1974 from acute myocardial infarction in Lenoir.  Both are buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Park, Kings Creek, Caldwell Co.

Contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information.

What a guy!

The following appeared in The News Herald, Morganton, Burke Co., NC, Jul. 15, 2008:

MORGANTON - After a fleeing motorist ditched his car and his mother on the road, he soon ran straight into a police officer's arms.

The one-hour manhunt started Tuesday morning when Trooper Eddie Hobson saw Neil Coffey, 28, of Razor Ridge Road run off the road on U.S. 70 near Bridgewater Road. Coffey turned onto Muddy Creek Road and continued to speed away, so the trooper turned on his lights and began a pursuit.

After reaching speeds of 85 m.p.h., Coffey lost control coming out of a curve and his vehicle stopped on the left shoulder.

With Coffey was his mother, Linda Gunter.

"I told him he was crazy," she told WSOC-9, The News Herald's media partner.

Gunter encouraged Coffey to pull over when his driving became increasingly dangerous.

"You're gonna kill us both," Gunter said she told him. "It ain't worth it."

Having finally stopped, Coffey decided to flee on foot, leaving behind his car and his mother.

This fellow is the son of Roy Paul Coffey, born Apr. 16, 1938, died Feb. 23, 1992. Roy was the son of William McKinley and Annie Lee Crump Coffey.  His mother is named in the article.

Roy Lee Coffey

The Jul 15, 2008 on-line edition of the Watauga Democrat, Watauga Co., NC, included the obituary for Roy Lee Coffey who died Jul. 13, 2008.

Roy was the son of Frederick Abner and Mary Octavia Loudermelt Coffey, and was born Feb. 16, 1926 in Caldwell Co., NC.

Frederick was the son of George Washington, Jr. and Tempy S. Calloway Coffey, and was born Jan. 18, 1902 in Caldwell Co. He died Apr. 6, 1930 in Banner Elk, Avery Co., NC. Frederick and Mary Octavia were married May 15, 1922 in Carter Co., TN. She was born Oct. 9, 1903 in Avery Co. to Finley T. and Mary Clark Loudermelt, and died Mar. 31, 1977 in Boone, Watauga Co.

Roy's siblings, as I know them:

George, born 1922

Everette, born Oct. 12, 1927, married Elizabeth Antonio Lentz, a daughter of William Council and Martha Elizabeth Suddreth Lentz. Elizabeth was born Apr. 28, 1932 in Caldwell Co., and died Apr. 27, 2003 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co.

Viola, born May 14, 1929, married Arnold (Red) Church. He was born Dec. 20, 1916 in Watauga Co., and died Feb. 15, 1968 in Raleigh, Wake Co., NC. Arnold was the son of Manuel and Elizabeth Hodges Church.

Another son of George and Tempy was Paris Coffey, born c1906. He married Anna Dellinger on May 24, 1930 in Watauga Co. Anna was the daughter of Reuben and Maude Rebecca Coffey Dellinger. Maude was born Feb. 6, 1891 in Caldwell Co. to William Pinkney and Nancy Caroline Gragg Coffey.

Contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information.

Cook County Clerk's Office - Genealogy Online

After reading the most recent Genealogy Roots Blog that included information about on-line vital records in Chicago and Cook County in Ilinois, I signed up for a free account.

After entering a user name and password I was able to view a link to every Coffey/Coffee in the birth, marriage and death records the county has thus far made available.

But!

Instead of a document appearing when I clicked on the first link, I received a request for payment.

The Cook County clerk wants $15 for each document you download!

If researchers have long family histories in Cook county the fee is going to be either a turn-off for them or, a windfall for Cook Co.

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Later, after I had taken some time to consider the implication of this huge fee to download the files, I decided to drop an e-mail to the "genealogy" office:

While I admire your office's efforts to place genealogy records on-line, I believe that Cook Co. is going a bit overboard on the fee-side.

Other states and counties around the country are making great effort to provide actual birth, death and marriage records to researchers at no charge. One example is Texas, which offers free, on-line copies of the actual document. Another example is the state of Kentucky.

Some other counties that have chosen not to provide the actual document, have provided adequate indexes, including volume and page number as well as other vital information from their public records. One example of that is Caldwell Co. in North Carolina.

Cook Co. decision to charge $15 for the opportunity to order and wait for a document is a tad over the top.

Researchers with ancestors in the Cook Co. area will be loathe to pay such an outrageous fee, especially if they have a deep history in that county.

I hope that Cook Co. will reconsider their fee structure with a view towards making the service more useful.

Thank you,

Jack Coffee
St. Joseph, LA

 

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 This was their reply:

 

Dear Jack,

Thank you for visiting Cook County Genealogy Online. We truly appreciate feedback from knowledgeable hobbyists and  genealogists like you. While we understand your frustration with some features of the Web site and the temptation to compare the site to others, please let me explain our goals as well as our limitations.

Our goal for Genealogy Online is to quickly provide the same services customers find in our offices and through the mail, but through the convenience of the Internet. Our online customers can complete transactions from the comfort of home and receive their desired documents immediately while saving travel time and the expense of a trip to our counter.

In addition, the site gives the freedom to explore as many names as the genealogist desires, allowing for a much wider and more convenient search than can be done through the mail or in person. Web-purchased documents are also easily stored in their electronic format and can be quickly shared with family members across Cook County, Illinois, and the globe.

While we still must scan in about 20 percent of our genealogical records before Genealogy Online is ‘fully stocked’, the new site is leaps and bounds ahead of the process available just weeks ago.

However, we must adhere to state and local laws that determine what information we can provide and how much we must charge per document.

Ø   The price for genealogical documents is set by State statute and
County code. Therefore, the Clerk is legally mandated to collect fees for all copies released to the public.
Ø   In addition, we can provide only limited information before a viewer
orders a document. The law mandates a charge for the document “search”—not merely the copy. Unfortunately, searches do not always obtain the desired document.

The Clerk's office has been at the forefront in providing access to a wealth of information to hobbyists and serious genealogists alike.  I invite you to visit our site often in the future and watch for a growing library of records, new features, and our continuing commitment to customer service.

Thank you,

Tim Dever
Director of the Bureau of Vital Records for Cook County Clerk David Orr

John Wesley and Elizabeth Austin Coffey

John Wesley Coffey was born in Russell Co., KY on Jan. 28, 1845, a son, and the first of at least eleven children born to Andrew (Andy) and Sara A. Bernard Coffey.  John's wife, Elizabeth P. Austin was born c1843 and died c1882 in Kentucky.  I have not yet found her parents.

She and John were  probably married c1860-1861, given that their first known child was born c1863.

It appears that Elizabeth died sometime around 1882, about the time their last child, Perkey [or, Parkey], a daughter, was born.

At her death John  apparently  remarried almost immediately.   His second wife was Mollie [some researchers report her maiden name to be Mims or Mimms].  

In the Jun. 6, 1900 census Mollie was a widow in Creelsboro, Russell Co., and gave her age as 40, born Sep., 1859.  She would have been age 22 to 23 years old when she and John married.  She reported that she had given birth to five children, but only two remained alive.  The youngest at home was born in Aug., 1899.  Based on that, I believe we might be able to say that John died sometime in Oct-Nov 1898 time frame.  One genealogy that I have seen reports that he died on Oct. 29, 1898.

John and Elizabeth's children were:


Louisa E., born c1863; James M., born c1868; Laban, born c1870; Robert B., born c1873; Sarah, born c1875; Mary, born c1877; Carlos, born c1879; Alexander Cosby, born Jan. 23, 1881 and Parkey [?], a female, born Oct. 27, 1882.

The first seven children were enumerated with the family through 1880.  The remaining two are found in the 1900 census.  I have not searched for them in later census records.

The two children that survived birth to Mollie were Lulu, born Jul., 1887 and John S., born Aug., 1899.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address to add to, or to correct any of this information.

Lewis McWill and Annie Daniel Pernell Coffey

Lewis was the older brother to Carrie Elizabeth Coffey who married Joseph Welborn.  He was born Apr. 27, 1874 in Caldwell Co., NC and married Annie Daniel Pernell c1904.  Annie was the daughter of the Rev. Patrick H. and Sarah Thomas Pernell.  She was born Jul 31, 1874 in Virginia and died Dec. 23, 1964 in Winston-Salem, NC.

Dr. Coffey (DDS) died of acute respiratory arrest on Oct. 23, 1960 in Lincolnton, Lincoln Co., NC.  He is buried in Hollybrook Cemetery in Lincolnton.  Sarah's death was attributed to a myocardial infarction following hip surgery.  She is also buried at Hollybrook.

Over the approximately 56 years of marriage, Lewis and Annie did not have any children.

Joseph Harrison and Carrie Elizabeth Coffey Wellborn

Joseph Harrison Wellborn was born Mar. 3, 1873 in Wilkes Co., NC to F.D. and Mary M. Wellborn.  The 1880 census locates F.D. and Mary in Lewis Fork Twp., Wilkes Co. with two Wellborn children and three Tulbert [or, Tolbert] step-children.

Carrie Elizabeth Coffey was born Aug. 14, 1877 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC to Thomas and Rachel M. Coffey Coffey.  Thomas was a son of William Coffey, Jr., and Margaret Robbins; Rachel was a daughter of McCaleb Coffey and Elizabeth Collett.  William was a nephew as well as a first cousin once removed to McCaleb.

Caldwell Co. marriage book 11, page 245 records the union of Carrie and Joseph in that place in 1896.  According to the 1900 Patterson Twp. Caldwell Co. census, Carrie was mother to three children, two of which had died in infancy.  Their first child to reach adulthood was Jennie Beatrice, born May 11, 1900.

In 1910, the family was found in Chase, Mecklenburg Co., VA where Joseph was farming.  However, by 1917 Joseph was confined to Long's Sanitorium in Statesville, Iredell Co., NC where according to his death certificate he died from cirhosis of the liver on Oct. 11, 1917.  He was buried on Oct 13, 1917 in Patterson Twp.  The death certificate is not specific on burial location.

Carrie remained a widow in Patterson Twp. for the rest of her life, and died there from uremia on Mar. 22, 1951.  She is buried at Harpers Chapel Cemetery in Patterson.  Joseph is likely buried there as well.

Their children were:

Jennie Beatrice, born May 11, 1900, died Dec. 30, 1978 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  She married Thomas Hamilton (Hamp) Robbins in that county in 1920.  Thomas was a son of Thomas Clingman and Sarah Curtis Robbins.  He was born on Oct. 17, 1888 in Caldwell Co., and died Mar. 5, 1965 in Lower Creek, Caldwell Co.  Thomas is buried at Harpers Chapel and, Jennie is also presumed to be buried there.  They had at least four children:  Mary Gwendolyn, born Sep. 7, 1920; Thomas Hamilton, born Sep. 11, 1922; George Welborn, born Aug. 17, 1924, died Nov. 21, 2004; and Robert Joseph, born Dec. 5, 1926.

Carl Coffey, born Aug, 6, 1902 in Wilkes Co., died May 15, 1986 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  He married Lula Bell Hamby in Caldwell Co. in 1921.  She was born Oct. 18, 1898 in NC and died Dec. 8, 1933 in Lenoir.  Lula is buried at Harpers Chapel, and Carl is probably buried there as well.  Their five known children were:  Clyde Colene, born Oct. 6, 1921; Mildred Marie, born 1923; Joseph Henry, born 1924, died 1997; Earl Russell, born Apr. 3, 1928, died Jun. 22, 1994; and a daughter who was stillborn on Mar. 31, 1932.  Death of the child was attributed to hydrocephalus and spina bifida.

Alma M., born c1904

Annie L., born c1906

Robert Louis, born Dec. 11, 1908, died Dec. 29, 1990.  It is unknown whether or not he married and fathered children.

Carrie was the sixth child.  She was born Sep. 13, 1910 and died Feb. 28, 1985.  She married Hugh Hardin Edmisten, a son of Newton and Alice Holshouser Edmisten.  Hugh was born Aug. 19, 1905 in Watauga Co., and died in Lenoir on Aug. 16, 1963.  Hugh is buried at Belleview Cemetery in Lenoir, and Carrie is also thought to have been buried there.

Joseph Dale, born Mar. 14, 1913

Blanche Gertrude, born Nov. 19, 1914, died Mar. 8, 2004.  Blanche first married William Lee Martin, a son of Roby Sherrill and Ivalee Crisp Martin.  He was born on Dec. 23, 1913 in NC and died in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., on Aug. 4, 1966.  He is buried in Wilson Memorial Park in Caldwell Co.  Carrie's second husband was H.C. (Bud) Andrews for whom I have no information.  It appears that Blanche did not have children by either husband, but I am not sure of that.  She is also buried at Wilson Memorial Park.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you would like to add to or correct any of this information.

Hugh Morton

Hugh Morton was a world class photographer as well as owner of Grandfather Mountain in western North Carolina.

The University of North Carolina's Wilson Library is now home to his massive collection of slides, photographs and film that he accumulated over his lifetime. The NC Collection Photographic Archives is busily sorting, scanning and placing some of the photographs on-line in a blog entitled A View to Hugh, Processing the Hugh Morton Photographs and Films.

If you are like me, and believe that North Carolina is one of the most beautiful and scenic states in the east, then you will really enjoy reading the blog and viewing the photographs.

Click on the title link to begin.

Reuben Coffey

This Reuben was a son of Joseph and Louisa J. Jones Coffey.  He was born Oct. 13, 1875 in Wayne Co., KY and died by homocide on Mar. 17, 1943 in Slavans, McCreary Co., KY.  I do not know the circumstances surrounding his murder.

He married Mary Alice Vaughn on Dec. 25, 1895 in Tennessee.  Mary was born Nov. 29, 1877 and died Dec. 17, 1954 in McCreary Co. 

Both are buried in the Cedar Grove Church Cemetery in McCreary Co.

There were at least 11 children born to Reuben and Mary:

Emma, born Apr. 6, 1898, died Jan. 23, 1982.  She married Joseph Kurtis [sic] Roberts in KY c1923.  He was born Jun. 28, 1886 in Wayne Co., and died on Jun. 18, 1962 in Kentucky.  The children found so far were:  Kathleen, born c1926; Hobart, born c1928; and Clara, born c1929.

Perk, born c1901 in Wayne Co., died unknown.  He married Lula LNU c1922 in KY.  Their known children were: Victor, born c1925; Donald, born c1926; Pauline, born c1927; and Stanley, born Dec., 1929.

Oda, born c1902 in Wayne Co., married Alice Jones, c1920 in Kentucky.  Their known children were:  Oda, born Apr. 25, 1922; Stella, born Jun. 15, 1923; Mary Etta, born Oct. 26, 1925; and Conley, born c1928.

John Herbert, born Aug. 20, 1906 in Wayne Co., and died Jan. 5, 1962 in McCreary Co.  He married Lillie Dobbs, born Nov. 30, 1910 in Whitley Co., KY to Thomas and Julia Jones Dobbs.  Lillie doed Sep. 19, 2000 in Stearns, McCreary Co.

Lonia, born c1908

Nelson, born Apr. 11, 1911, died Feb.,1980

George, born c1914

Sterling E., born Apr., 1916, died 1985.  He married Ester Dobbs, sister to Lillie.

Clyde Estill, born Dec. 26, 1918 in KY, married Dora Dobbs, also a sister to Lillie.

Fordie (male), born May 28, 1921, died Dec., 1982

Carl Homer, born 1923 in McCreary Co., died Jul. 1992 in Kentucky.  He married Ada Clark.  I have one child for them:  Joyce Coffey who married Truesdell Coffey, a son of Matthew and Alma Lou Smith Coffey.  Truesdell died when he accidentally shot himself while hunting on Nov. 13, 2007.

Contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information.

Aaron Roosevelt Coffey

Aaron Roosevelt Coffey was born Oct. 25, 1907 in Rufus, Caldwell Co., NC to Henry Kelly (Caleb) and second wife, Julia Emma Stansberry Coffey.  Henry was the son of James Asbury and Chainey Gragg Coffey.

Aaron married Nellie Bell Critcher c1928 in North Carolina and died by suicide on Aug. 29, 1951.  He was buried in the John Critcher Cemetery in Boone, Watauga Co., NC on Aug. 30, 1951.  Nellie was born c1910 but I have not yet determined who her parents were.  She likely remarried after the death of Aaron.


I have one child for them:  Nellie Louise, born Mar. 22, 1929.

Aaron was buried in the John Critcher Cemetery in Boone. 

Pearl E. Coffey Obituary

Pearl E. (nee: Nieme) Coffey, age 92, passed away Tuesday, July 1, 2008. Pearl was born in Arnheim, Michigan, September 18, 1915, daughter of the late John and Hilma (nee: Erickson) Nieme. On October 5, 1940, she was united in marriage to Gerald F. Coffey who preceded her in death, September 5, 1994.

Click on the title link to read the remainder of her obituary.

Coffey, aide to 3 governors, dies

INDIANAPOLIS – Charles M. Coffey, a former radio and television journalist who later was an aide to three Indiana governors, has died. He was 67.

He died June 24 at his home in Indianapolis.

Coffey began his journalism career as a news correspondent and editor in Roanoke, Va., after graduating from Beloit College in 1963 and serving in the Air Force.

Click on the title link to read the remainder of this article.

Jack Coffey

Today's on-line edition of the News-Topic in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC, announced the death of Jack Coffey, age 87 of that city.  He passed away on Sunday, June 29, 2008 at Blowing Rock.

Jack was the son of Monroe and Dovie Jane Clark Coffey.  Monroe was the son of Thomas M. and Martha Cordelia Gragg Coffey.  He was born Jan. 26, 1883 in Avery Co., and died Nov. 3, 1955 in Caldwell Co.  He and Dovie were married in Caldwell Co. in 1910.

Jack was married to Sadie Alice Huffman, born Feb. 3, 1923 in NC, died Oct. 10, 1984 in Winston-Salem.  She was the daughter of James Granville, a son of James and Betty Roberts Huffman,  and Grace Genelia Austin, a daughter of Harvie Austin and Alice G. Poarch [sic].

Dovie, born c1890 in NC, was the daughter of William Harvey and Martha L. Coffey Clark.

Martha Coffey and Thomas M. were first cousins.

The children of Monroe and Dovie are:

Ruby, born Jul 28, 1911 in Avery Co., and died Sep. 1, 1967 in Lenoir.  She married Oscar Frye.

Ruth, born Feb. 10, 1913 in Avery Co., and died Feb. 5, 2008 in Caldwell Co.  Her first husband was Jay Greene; her second was George Pappas.

Ruth's obituary, The News-Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC, Feb. 7, 2008

Ruth Pappas

Ruth Coffey Pappas, 94, of Morganton, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008 at Grace Hospital.

Mrs. Pappas was born Feb. 10, 1913 in Caldwell County to the late Monroe and Dovie Clark Coffey. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Jay Greene and second husband, George Pappas; a daughter, Mary Lou Williams; a son, Nolan Greene; two brothers, Bruce and Clyde Coffey and a sister, Ruby Frye.

Mrs. Pappas was a loving grandmother and well respected as a beautician. She was of Methodist faith.

Survivors include a brother, Jack Coffey of Collettsville; three sisters, Nell Mize of Georgia, Blanche Garren of Lenoir and Louise Steele of Lenoir; nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Friday, Feb. 8, 2008 from 6 until 7:30 p.m. at Pendry's Funeral Home. Burial will be at a later date.

The funeral service will follow at 7:30 p.m. with the Rev. Terry Adams officiating.

The family requests memorials to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, PO Box 1029, Valdese, NC 28690.

Condolences may be placed online at www.mem.com.

Pendry's Funeral Home and Crematory, Lenoir, N.C. is assisting the family with arrangements.

Sarah Nell Coffey, born Jan. 21, 1919 in Caldwell Co., married a Mr. Mize.

The fourth child of Monroe and Dovie was Jack.

Blanche, born 1923 in Caldwell Co., married Bill Garren.

Martha Louise, born 1925 in Caldwell Co., married Robert Haywood Steele, Jr.  He was born Oct. 6, 1920 in Lower Creek, Caldwell Co., and died Apr. 30, 2003.  He is buried at the Blue Ridge Memorial Park in Kings Creek, Caldwell Co.

The last child of Clyde and Dovie was Clyde Hedrick, born May 26, 1928 in Wilsons Creek, Avery Co.  He died Apr. 1, 2001 in Guilford Co..  He was married in 1956 to Rebecca Jeanette Estes, a daughter of Fredrick Caleb and Annie Rader Estes.  She was born in Caldwell Co. in 1928.  Clyde was a veteran of the Korean War and is also buried at the Blue Ridge Memorial Park Cemetery.

Click on the title link to read Jack's obituary.

Contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information.