Cabaius and Pauline Orr Coffey

Cabaius was a son of Ananias and Jane Hindman¹ Coffey, born Nov. 6, 1811 in KY, died Dec. 17, 1878 in IL, probably in Cass Co.  His burial site has not been located by anyone that I know.  Pauline was born Aug. 1, 1817 in Green Co., KY and died in Ashland, Cass Co., IL on Jan. 18, 1888.  She and Cabaius were married in Morgan Co., IL on Dec. 6, 1834.

Mr. J. Heath Vogel recently contacted me with information that his parents were in possession of the Cabaius Coffey family Bible and wished to dispose of it through auction.  In the meantime however, he generously took time to copy the following pages and send them to me for use as I saw fit.

Information about their death and burial sites would be welcomed.

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¹ Jane was the daughter of Alexander Hindman of Green Co., KY.  There is some discrepancy about the marriage as well as the birth of Nancy, their first child.  See Coffey Cousins' newsletter of Dec. 91, pages 4-5, and Sep., 1992, page 11.  Some researchers place another child, Ananias (born 1846) between Marshall and John David.  See Coffey Cousins' newsletter, Dec., 1989, Page 2. [Newsletters available on-line at http://www.coffey.ws/familytree/CCCNewslettersOnline/]  See also http://tinyurl.com/orlp48l

William Blackerby & Caty Haydon

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William Blackerby is said to have been born in Wicomico Parish, Northumberland Co., VA in 1755. Except for his marriage to the widow Caty Lukas on Mar. 12, 1792¹, I have found no substantial records of the family in that area.  Some researchers report her maiden name as Haydon and tell us his death was in April, 1815.  A death location for neither he nor Caty has been found.

I know of one child, a son named Joseph Monroe Blackerby, born Apr. 17, 1806 (unsourced).  He married Cassandra Coffey in Pike Co., IL on Jan. 1, 1834.²  By 1850 the couple and four children and was in Marion Co., Oregon Territory.  Living with them at the time were two Porter children: David A., age 3, born IL and John T., age 4(?) mos., born in the OR Territory.  I have not yet discovered who those children belong to.  I suspect they might be related to William Porter who married Cassandra's sisters, Sarah in 1840 (died 1848) then Martha in 1849 (died 1903),  both daughters of Nebuzaradan and Elizabeth Easley Coffey.

Joseph and Cassandra have not been found in 1860 but were still in Marion Co. in 1870.  By then they had become parents of six children:  Thomas Richard, 1836 IL-1906 OR; J. William C., c1840 MO -?; Sidney Green, 1844 IL - 1910 OR; Marqis de Lafayette, 1849 OR - 1854 OR; Elza M., c1851 OR - ?; and Dr. Arthur Frank, 1853 OR - 1934 OR.

Joseph died on Jan. 19, 1878 in Silverton, Marion Co., OR and was buried at the Aumsville Cemetery in Marion Co.  His Find-A-Grave (FAG) memorial is 29198728.  Cassandra was born on Aug. 23, 1811 in Pilot Knob, KY, a place not found on a modern Kentucky map.  Prior to her death on Jan. 18, 1855 in Marion Co., she was found residing with her son Alfred in Silverton at the 1880 census. Her FAG memorial is 7086305.

Their Children:

Thomas Richard, born Aug. 20, 1836 in IL, died Feb. 25, 1906 in Silverton.  He married Mary E. Allen c1865 in OR.  She was born Oct. 10, 1843 in IL and died in Silverton on Oct. 27, 1918.  Both are buried at the Silverton Cemetery.  His FAG memorial is 6462997 and Mary's is 6463000.  The couple lived in Silverton all of their married life and had at least two children there:

Grace "Gracie," born Oct., 1867, died Aug. 6, 1934 in Hoquiam, Grays Harbor, WA.  She married the Welchman William Lloyd Jones, born Apr. 22, 1855 in Wales, United Kingdom and died on Jun. 21, 1933. Grace and William are buried at Fern Hill Cemetery in Aberdeen, Grays Harbor. William's FAG memorial is 106805040.  He and Grace had at least three children:  Bliss Blackerby Jones., a son, born Jul. 23, 1892; Marie Bristal (?), born Oct. 18, 1895 and Dora Frances, born Nov. 6, 1897.

The second known child was Pearl L., a son, born Feb., 1869 in OR, died Nov. 2, 1949 in Marion Co.  He married Stella Bolser³ and they had at least one child, Irele Elise, born Feb. 23, 1911, died Apr. 7, 2004 in CA.  She is buried at the San Francisco National Cemetery along with her husband, Col. James Edgar Henry, USAF (Ret'd).  Irene appeared in the 1940 Bakersfield, Kern Co., CA census as a boarder in the household of Caroline Harris.  Irene was then employed as a public school teacher, age 29 and, divorced!

Blackerby-Henry Marriage License

The 1930 and 1940 census reports, as well as her marriage license to James Edgar Henry tells us she was born in Nebraska.  The marriage license gives her age as 27 years, suggesting her birth year was closer to 1915.  The 1940 census also tells us that she had been married previous to her union with Mr. Henry.  She and James were married on Aug. 1, 1942 at Pomona in Los Angeles Co., CA.

Stella Bolser Blackerby was born c1875 in IN and died on May 19, 1961 in Marion Co., OR.  She is buried at the Silverton Cemetery.

The sixth and only other child I know of who grew to become and adult and marry was Dr. Arthur Franklin Blackerby.  In 1880 he was recorded as being a Tinsmith; in 1900 his census record reports him as being a dentist. He was married to Jennie Stanton, born Nov. 16, 1860 in Marion Co., died there on Jul. 9, 1883.  She is buried at Miller Cemetery in Silverton. According to his FAG memorial, Arthur married Sophia Gustavsen c1895.

  Jack

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Sources:

¹Stratton Nottingham, Compiler, The Marriage License Bonds of North Umberland County, Virginia, from 1783 to 1850 (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1976), Page 10.

²Dodd, Jordan. Illinois Marriages to 1850. Electronic transcription of marriage records held by the individual counties in Illinois.

³Stella Fisher, born 1875 in Indiana was a boarder in the household of Mary E. Allen Blackerby, widow of Thomas Richard Blackerby and mother of Pearl L. Blackerby who later married Stella.  If Stella Bolser and Stella Fisher are the same person then she apparently was married prior to union with Pearl but, I have not found a marriage record for Bolser to Fisher.  Pearl was also the precinct enumerator at the 1910 census. In 1880 Stella, age 5, and her widowed mother resided in Franklin Twp., Montgomery Co., IN with her maternal grandmother.

US Federal Census Records

Find-A-Grave

FamilySearch.Org

Library of Virginia

Rev. Benjamin Dean & Ella Rue Coffey Lucas

Dr. Ben'j Dean Lucas

Rev. Lucas was a son of Dr. Thomas Ephraim Lucas, MD and his wife, Dorothy C. Hanna.  He was born Dec. 14, 1868 at Chesterfield Co., SC and died there on Mar. 12, 1956.  He and Ella, a daughter of Daniel Rufus and Mildred J. Lawman Coffey, born in Amherst Co., VA on Apr. 3, 1869 and died at Chesterfield on Apr. 12, 1936 were married on Jul. 8, 1903 at Lynchburg, VA.

Cert. of Reg. of American Citizen

Rev. Lucas went to China as a missionary, apparently arriving there in 1890, well before his marriage to Ella Rue in 1903.  Following the birth of their first son, Ben'j, Jr. on Sep. 9, 1906, Rev. Lucas completed a "Certificate of Registration of American Citizen" for the US Consul at Shanghai.  In that certificated he noted his birth date and place and cited Oct. 9, 1890 as the date of arrival in China "for the purpose of mission work."  It also named Ella R. Coffey as his wife and Ben'j as his son.  The form was not established until April, 1907 so, it is likely it was completed by Rev. Lucas that year to officially add the child to the family in accordance with any such requirements of the time.

Although their second child and son, Thomas Lawman Lucas was also born in China in 1910, no such form has been found for him.

Passport Application

In Apr., 1893 Rev. Lucas completed an application at the US Legation in Peking, now Beijing.  It was apparently required to replace an expired passport.

Wedding Announcement

We know from a report in the Lynchburg, VA Times-Dispatch of Jun. 23, 1903 that Ella had been teaching in China for the previous 8 years and that she intended to marry Rev. Lucas on Jul. 8 of that year.

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Mar 1910 Passenger List

The family arrived in Honolulu from Hong Kong on Mar. 25, 1910 aboard the ship Siberia.  We know too from the May 1910 Chesterfield Co., SC census that Ben'j, Ella and their two sons, Ben'j, Jr. and Thomas were living in that county with his parents.

I have not found them in 1920; perhaps the family had returned to China!?.  In 1930 they were back in Chesterfield where Ben'j was employed as a high school teacher and Ella, as a public school teacher.  Their two sons were still living at home with the parents.

In 1940, Benjamin was enumerated as married, wife absent; odd because Ella had died nearly four years earlier.  Ben'j Jr. and his wife, Zenith were renting space in Benjamin's home at the rate of $5 per month.  Jr. and wife did not yet have children.

When Benjamin died in 1956 his obituary, which appeared in The Florence Morning News at Florence, SC on March 13, page 7, revealed that he had been married again after Ella died.  His second wife was Irene Worley of Bennettsville, SC.

Bennettsville, March 12 - Dr. B. D. Lucas, 87, died at 2 p.m., at his home following an illness of two months.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by Hursey Funeral Home at Chesterfield.

Dr. Lucas was twice married.  His first wife Ella Coffey Lucas of Lynchburg, Va. died several years ago.  From this marriate three children survive; Mrs. J. Williams of Charleston, Dr. T. L. Lucas of Alexandria, Va. and Ben D. Lucas of San Antonio, Texas.

Other  survivors include his widow, Mrs. Irene Worley Lucas of Bennettsville; two brothers and a sister.

Dr. Lucas attended The Citadel and graduated in pharmacy from the College of Charleston.

Both Ella and Benjamin are buried at the Chesterfield City Cemetery.  Their graves can be found at Find a Grave, memorial no. 72025231 and 72025068.  Benjamin's parents are also buried at the Chesterfield cemetery.

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Sources:

Library of Virginia "http://www.lva.virginia.gov/" "Miss Coffey to Wed", Wedding announcement, Times-Dispatch, Vol. 1903, No. 16275, Page 3, Col 6, Richmond, VA, 24 June 1903; viewed; 24 September 2013

"Honolulu, Hawaii Passenger and Crew Lists, 1900-1959", Ancestry.com http://tinyurl.com/p5dhm37.

Passport Applications, 1795–1905. NARA Microfilm Publication M1372, 694 rolls. General Records Department of State, Record Group 59. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

"Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XR3L-MHM : accessed 18 Feb 2013), Benjamin Dean Lucas and Ella Rue Coffey, 08 Jul 1903; citing reference Pg 11 Ln 131, FHL microfilm 2048489.

US Federal Census Records

Find A Grave

John Marshal “Marsh” Coffey

John Marshall, or Marsh as some called him, was born in Wayne Co., KY on Jan. 2, 1850 and died in Boyle Co., KY on May 17, 1908.  He was a son of Thomas Coleman and Patience Jane Miller Coffey.  Upon his death, he was laid to rest at Stanford in Lincoln Co. in the Buffalo Springs Cemetery.

He was married, date unknown, to Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” Jones, a daughter of Absolom S. “Albin” and Telitha Coffey Jones.  Marsh and Telitha were first cousins whose common ancestors were Lewis Russell and Bidant “Biddy” Moore Coffey.  Lizzie was born Dec. 5, 1857 in KY and died in Boyle Co. on Apr. 23, 1930.  She is also buried at Buffalo Springs.

Their children numbered at least four, three of which married and had children:

Alvin Jones, born Nov. 14, 1882, died Sep. 20, 1947 in Lincoln Co., married Elizabeth “Bettie” Hayden, a daughter of Andrew Jackson and Nancy Alexander “Nannie” Coffey Hayden.  Nancy was a daughter of Henderson and Minerva Alexander Coffey, born Dec. 12, 1839 in Monticello, Wayne Co., KY, died Jan. 4, 1930 in Danville, Boyle Co.  Andrew was born in TN in 1840 and died in Danville on Aug. 8, 1912.  He and Nannie are buried at Buffalo Springs.  Alvin died on Sep. 20, 1947 in Lincoln Co.; Elizabeth died Aug. 24, 1950 in Danville.  They too are buried at Buffalo Springs.  I have no children for them.

Joseph & Shelly's Marriage Announcement

Shelly H., born Mar. 16, 1885, died Aug. 22, 1961, married Joseph Henry Newland in late July or early August, 1907¹ at Stanford.  Joseph was born Aug. 2, 1884 in KY and died May,  22, 1961.  Both he and Shelly are buried at Buffalo Springs.  Their children were Mary Elizabeth, born c1908 and, Jenny Roe, born c1918, both in Lincoln Co.

Ebbie B., born Mar. 7, 1896, died Jun. 23, 1930 in Washington, D.C.  Ebbie married Robert J. Warren c1922.  He was born in KY about 1893.  Their children were Robert A., born c1924 in TN; John M., born c1926 in KY and Irene E., born c1927 in OH.  In the 1930 census, Robert was employed as a “marble mason.”  Ebbie died within a couple of months after the 1930 census found them in Washington, D.C., and was returned to KY for burial at Buffalo Springs.  In the 1940 census Robert was found in Gary, Lake Co., IN with new wife, Christine E.  With them was Ebbie’s children, John M., and Irene E.

The fourth child of Marsh and Lizzie was Mary Elizabeth, born Dec. 11, 1900 in KY, died in Lincoln Co. on Jun. 30, 1914.  She too is buried at Buffalo Springs.

  Jack

¹The Interior Journal, Stanford, KY, Aug. 2, 1907, Page 3, Col. 4 (http://tinyurl.com/la5hx52)

Update Apr 9, 2014:  

John and Lizzie had at least seven children.  In addition to the above four, there was Jennie, born Apr. 9, 1887 in Boyle Co., KY, died Jan. 23, 1962 in Hamilton Co., OH.  She was buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnatti; John Coleman, born Sep. 1, 1889 in Stanford, KY, died on Sep. 15, 1961 and was buried at Raton, Colfax Co., NM; Margaret, born Sep. 23, 1891 in KY, died Oct. 5 1919 in Danville, Boyle Co., KY and buried at Bellevue Cemetery in Danville

John Marshall's Find-A-Grave memorial no. is 96322267.  His children can be followed on FAG from that site.

Cornelius Jones Coffey

Cornelius was born to McCaleb and Sarah “Sally” Hayes on Apr. 22, 1840 in Watauga Co., NC.  When he was about 21 years old, Jones, as he was called, enlisted on Sep. 18, 1861 in Co. E of the North Carolina 37th Infantry Regt.  He was wounded on Aug. 29, 1862 at Manassas, VA but, returned to duty on Jan. 15, 1963.  He was “accidentally” wounded in the foot on July 16, 1863.  In November, 1864 he was transferred to Co. E, same regiment.  However, another record reports that he was “retired to the Invalid Corps by reason of disability from his wounds.”

On July 1, 1866 he was married to Martha Jane Gragg in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co.¹ and together they had at least nine children:  Thomas Herndon (1867-1946); Emma Irene (1868-1947); Simms (c1871-?); Elbert (1872-1900); John Finley (1877-1953); Walter Gwyn (1878-1945); Charles Burton (1882-1960); Hattie (1883-?) and Rufus Monroe (1886-1965).  Martha died at Shulls Mill, Watuaga Co. in 1900 and was buried at White Springs Cemetery at Blowing Rock.

On April 20, 1907 in Watauga Co., Jones was married to Sara Caroline Hodges, a daughter of Jesse and Nancy Storie Hodges.²  They are known to have had only one child, Junie Irene (1908-1982).

Cornelius died of heart failure on Feb. 10, 1917 at Shulls Mill and was also buried at White Springs.  Sarah was remarried on Apr. 23, 1920 at Lower Creek in Caldwell Co., to Calvin Hodges.³  Although there is likely to be some kinship between Sarah and Calvin, I am unaware of any.

The following April 25, 1918 The Watauga Democrat⁴ published the following legal notice:

"NOTICE North Carolina, Watauga County, Sarah Coffey, widow of C. J.Coffey Deceased, and Junio [sic] Coffey, by her guardian, W. D. Ashley, VS, Thos Coffey, Emma Gragg and her husband, John Gragg. John Coffey and wife, Francis Coffey, Gwin Coffey and wife Julia Coffey, Charley Coffey and wife, Amanda Coffey, Hattie Stocks [Stokes?] and husband Charlie Stocks, Rufus Coffey and Emma Coffey.

"By virtue of an order of the Superior court in the above entitled action, appointed the undersigned a commissioner to sell the lands of C. J. Coffey, I will on the 6th day of May 1918 sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described lands to wit: Being the land on which the said C. J. Coffey lived at the time of his death, and being bounded on the north by the lands of the Boone Fork Lumber Co and W. S. Whiting, on the west by Roby Coffey on south by Gwyn Coffey and on the east by Rufus Coffey and Rufe Baldwin Con. about 150 acres.  Said sale will be made subject to the dower right of the said Sarah Coffey, widow of C. J. Coffey, deceased, and allotted by T. L. Critcher, T. F. Greer and W. L. Holshouser, commissioners appointed by the court, to which reference is hereby made for more complete description of said dower.  This 23d day of March 1918.  T. E. Bingham, Com."

Click to Enlarge

Marriages:  Thomas Herndon married Annie Marilda Pendley on Nov. 19, 1900; Emma married John Alexander Gragg on Dec. 19, 1887; Simms Coffey is thought to be a child in this family but not proven.  If he was, then he was deceased by the time of his father's estate sale.  Elbert Coffey married Margaret Simms on Feb. 14, 1892.  Could this be where a child named Simms Coffey might have entered the family?  John Finley married Frances F. Holloway on Jul. 14, 1894.  Walter Gwyn married Julia Hayes on Jul. 4, 1896. Charles Burton married Amanda Louise Misemore c1918.  Hattie married Charles Stocks or Stokes. Rufus Monroe married Emma Eliza Robbins on Oct. 27, 1906.

Civil War Deaths:  Jone's brother, Thomas Ninevah Coffey, born 1839, died May 3, 1863 at Chancellorsville in Spotsylvania Co., VA. Another brother, Jesse Finley, born 1842, died Mar. 7, 1863 at Big Creek Gap in Campbell Co., TN.  Brother John E., born 1844 is thought to have died on the same date as his older brother Thomas and also at Chancellorsville.

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Sources: 

¹"North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F89P-JLW : accessed 04 Apr 2014), C. J. Coffey and M. J. Gragg, 28 Jun 1866; citing Caldwell, North Carolina, reference bk 2; FHL microfilm 590345.

²”Historical Studies, Appalachian State University, Department of History” (Editors Evelyn G. Shepherd and Brenda M. Greene), compiler, Marriage Register of Watauga County, North Carolina 1873-1954 (Boone, Watauga Co., NC: Dept. of Hist., Appalachian State Univ., Boone, NC, 1995).

³"North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979". index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F895-TZX : accessed 04 Apr 2014), Calvin Hodges and Sarah Coffey, 23 Apr 1920; citing Lower Creek, reference ; FHL microfilm 590350.

4”The Watauga Democrat”, Apr. 25, 1918, page 2, col. 4 (http://tinyurl.com/nywde9x)