From 1911 to 1934 Clara gave birth in OK to at least eight children, some of which do not appear in the census record between the year said to have been born and the next census year.
Henry C., born c1911; Pearl E., born c1913; Clara, born c1920; Albert, born c1923; Mary L., born c1926; Harold E., born c1929; Wanda J., born c1930 and Barbara R., born c1934.
Walter and Clara and two of their children were in Davis, Garvin Co., OK in June, 1918 when Walter registered for the WW1 draft. He was described as being short and stout with brown eyes and hair. He farmed in Davis.
In 1920 the family was in Allen Twp., Murray Co., OK where Walter continued to Farm. Clara's father was German. They had Henry C., age 9, Pearl E., age 7, Harold E., age undetermined. It appears to be 1/6, an unusual age that I have not seen before in any census record.
In 1930 they were still in Murray Co., but this time in Davis Twp. Walter was a foreman on a road gang. Children were: Clare, age 10; Albert, age 7; and Mary L., age 4 yrs., 6 mos. Henry, Pearl and Harold were not mentioned.
The 1940 census found the family in Garvin Co., OK, Elmore Twp. Children in the household this time were: Harold E., age 20; Albert C., age 18; Mary L., age 14; Wanda J., age 9 and Barbara R., age 6.
Walter died in La Harbra, Orange Co., CA on Aug. 15, 1955.* He was 68 years old, meaning he was born in the 1886-87 timeframe. His obituary tells us that he had been in California for the past nine years, meaning he arrived there in about 1946, apparently with his son Albert who would then have been about 23 years old. It also tells us that he was survived by his wife Clara, and two sons, Harold E. of Whittier Ca., and Albert C. of Davis. Also surviving were three daughters, Mrs. Roy West of OK City; Mrs. Eddie Werda of Norwalk, CA and, Mrs. Al Crappo of La Harbra. There were nine grandchildren. His remains were returned to Davis where he was laid to rest in the Green Hill Cemetery. The headstone tells us that he lies next to Clara who did not die until 1983.
In looking back at my notes on Walter and his immediate ancestors, I wrote that he was married to Liddie Fulfer but, I had no additional information about her. Later, I found an obituary dated Jun. 12, 1970 that reports the death of Liddie Dollarhide, "wife of the late Samuel E. Dollarhide; loving mother of the late Albert Coffey,..." in San Joaquin Co., CA. Her remains were shipped to Hatch in Dona Ana Co., NM and laid to rest in the Municipal cemetery, adjacent to those of Samuel.
I wonder what the story is about Walter and Lydia! Did they marry or merely live together for awhile? Was Lydia the wife of this Walter C. Coffey? Perhaps not, but there are enough similarities that it makes me very curious.
Jack
*Source: California Death Index @ Rootsweb.com. His obituary reports death on Aug. 15.
| COFFEY | WALTER | CURTIS | 11/21/1887 | HANSON | COFFEY | M | TEXAS | LOS ANGELES(19) | 08/16/1955 | 447-01-2646 | 67 yrs |
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