Clyde Elmore & Elsie Conner Mahler Coffey

Elsie Mahler Coffey Boyhan

Henry Davis Coffey and his wife Lydia Susan A. Campbell were the parents of at least seven children.  Clyde Elmore was their fifth child and fourth son.  He was born Feb. 13, 1896, probably in Nelson Co., VA, but perhaps in Louisa.  Henry and Lydia were married in Nelson county in 1885 but, by the time of the 1900 census they were residing in Louisa Co.

Clyde married the beautiful Elsie Conner Mahler, a daughter of Swiss-born Gotlieb Alfred Mahler and his wife, Ella Virginia Brooks.  Gotlieb was born Apr. 7, 1862; Ella on Jul. 16, 1862.  Both died in the early-to-mid 1940's in Virginia.  Elsie was born in Waynesboro, VA in 1894.

Elsie and Clyde were married in Lynchburg, Campbell Co., VA on Dec. 6, 1915.  They became parents of at least five children:  Clyde, Jr.; Harold; Ruth; John; and Lois.  Lois was born in 1926 and by 1930 Elsie and Clyde were divorced.  That year, Clyde was counted for the census in Lynchburg.  Children Buddy, age 12; Junior; age 14; Ruth, age 10; and John, age 8 were living with him.

In the meantime, Elsie Coffey was enumerated in Norfolk, VA where she lived with her daughter, Lois, age 4,,  She was a saleslady employed to sell "rubber goods."  She also apparently lived with Joseph M. Boyhan, who was enumerated as as 24-year old "seaman on ship;" he was listed on this census as a "boarder."  The couple were married in Norfolk on Jul. 11, 1934 when Elsie was 40 years old and Joseph Michael Boyhan was 29.   He was born in 1905 at Phoebus, Hampton City, VA to Patrick and Julia Linehan Boyhan.

Joseph died at the age of 85 in Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC.  According to his death record, he was widowed and, was buried out of state.  I have not found his burial place, nor have I located any information concerning the eventual fate of Elsie.

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The photo of Elsie is credited to Paul Hill.  It was probably taken on her wedding day to Clyde Elmore Coffey.