The Coffee Pioneers of the Texas Panhandle

In the last blog, I transcribed the death report for Woodson "Woods" Coffee, a native Texan, from the Amarillo Daily News of June 13, 1953.  That information defined how Woodson became a pioneer in the Texas Panhandle.  With this blog, and perhaps a few later, I will attempt to show how Woodson came to be one of those pioneers.

This particular line of Coffee families comes from what we Coffee/y researchers often refer to as "the Chesley line." Because there was a Chesley, Jr., researchers have long believed that a Chesley Sr. must have existed. So far, however, no record of Sr. has ever been found. Current thinking has some leaning more towards Edward Coffey, Jr., son of Edward Sr., and his wife Anne Powell. As more sophisticated DNA testing methods become available, we learn more about our ancestry.

We can begin here with the mythical Chesley and his supposed wife, Jane Cleveland.  Their supposed son, Joel, married Martha Stepp or Stapp and had about nine children; namely Joseph; Cleveland; Catherine, Joel, Jr., James, Jane, Celia, Nathaniel (Nathan?) and Nebuzaradan.

Dr. Marvin Coffey in his book about his ancestor, James Bluford Coffey, cited years-old information from Mrs. C. R. Porter of El Reno, OK.  She repeated the story of Chesley and Jane, stating that it came from a daughter of Nathan and Sarah Eliza Emeline Coffey Porter c1895 and presumably from older records which she had access to.

Another source, a Mr. Lee Robert wrote in 1998 "that Joel, born 1780, m Martha 'Patsy'?.  They had 6 children: Nathaniel, m1 Louisa Durham, m2 Nancy Clark; Alvina (Elvira), b 1811, m Martin Wright, Mar 27, 1828.  She died Sep 7, 1869; Caroline, m Unk Summers; Martha L., m Perry M. Stacy; Francis m Jackson Jones; Henry B., m Sara Ann Isbele."  Seems doubtful this is the same Joel, however.

Joel was b. late 1740's and d. 1789.  Married Martha in 1753. Martha was b. 1737.  Joel was son of Chesley and Jane Cleveland Coffee. Their children were Jesse Cleveland; James, Joel, Nathan, Katy, Frances Jane, Sealey, Nebuzarren, Cleveland.  

Source:  Revolutionary Ancestors, 1976; Wood Coffee Will and Inventory. [Joel's 1789 names his children and there is present a comma between Jane and Sealy; e.g. Jane, Sealy]

"Joel and Martha are also mentioned in The Georgians, Genealogies of Pioneer Settlers, by J. H. Austin.  [As pertains to the Coffey families, this book is of doubtful accuracy]

"Joel's will (probate) dated 1789 Wilkes Co., NC.  Children listed as James, Joel, Cleveland, Nathan, Katy, Jane and Celia.  See North Carolina will book C, page 321.

A Joel Coffey was named as one of the buyers from the estate sale of Robert Patrick in Surry Co., NC in Feb., 1778.  Robert Patrick apparently died between 1774 and 1777.  He was on the 1774 tax list of Benjamin Cleveland and again in 1775.  He was not listed on the 1777 tax list.

Marvin Coffey wrote in his work that "A DAR record has always listed Joel as born 1730, and married in 1753 to Martha Sealy, born 1737.  However, their youngest son Nebuzaradon was born posthumously in 1780 would thus have been born when Martha was 52 years old."[1]

A number of researchers have theorized that Joel married Martha Sealey who died, and he then married Martha Step.  Others have the opinion that Joel married a widow by the name of Mrs. Martha Step Sealey while another group has said that Sealey was a nickname for Celia which was the middle name of Martha.  Another thought is that Joel was born much earlier, about 1750.

Joseph is not listed in Joel's 1789 will (Wilkes Co., NC Will Book I, p260) but does appear in other researcher's works.  He could have been born to Joel's first wife and died before the will was made.  Joseph has also been reported to have gone to Kentucky quite early, and already otherwise provided for by his father thereby not making the will.  And, even if Joel had only one wife, Joseph could still have died quite young.  Marvin noted that there was a Joseph Coffey on early tax records of Adair Co., KY.

Martha Step's father was named Joseph so it would have been customary for Joel and Martha to have given a son that name.  A daughter Celia was referred to as Sealy in Joel's will.  Marvin's research did not uncover any Sealy families in the same county that the Coffeys lived in Virginia or North Carolina.

Continuing our trek to Woods and eventually his descendants, we begin with Joel and Martha's son James and Elizabeth Coffey Coffey.  James and "Betty" were cousins. Her father Nathan and James's father Joel were brothers.

Of the nine known children of James and Betsy, seven were male and two were female.  We'll concentrate on only one son, he being Logan McMillon Coffee [sic] thought to have been born Dec. 7, 1809 in Adair Co., KY. James and Betsy were married there on Mar. 4, 1804 [from descendants but no independent confirmation.] Logan was born in that County on Dec. 7, 1809 [no independent confirmation.]

When he was nearing age 30 he wandered off to Alabama where he met Mary Elizabeth Ragland. The two were married in Jackson County, AL c1837. Mary was a native of Jackson Co., TN. In 1840 the family was living in Marshall Co., AL but by the 1850 census, they were in Colorado Co., TX; in 1860 they were in Lavaca Co., TX. Perhaps they headed to far northwest Texas when the sabers began to rattle loudly in AL.

Logan's death was somewhat mysterious in that his body was never recovered.  He is said to have been hauling freight from Brownsville, TX back to Lavaca Co., when he was probably murdered in June of 1865; perhaps by Indians or maybe Confederate raiders.  In the book - On the Headwaters of the Lavaca and Navidad, by Paul Boethel, the author indicates that the circumstances of his death were "fraught with suspicions, possibly murder by his companions from the same neighborhood."

After Logan's murder, his widow Mary petitioned the court under date of Aug. 20, 1865 for administration of the property, saying her husband died about June 20th, 1865. (Probate records, November term, Lavaca Co., TX). 

Logan and Mary had eight children, 5 sons and 3 daughters.  The eldest child was Mansel Matthews Coffee [2]

Mansel was born in 1839, Jackson Co., AL where he met and married Georgiana Frances Reynolds on Jun. 4, 1861.  They were parents of nine children, seven sons and two daughters. Woodson "Woods" Coffee was their eldest, born Mar 1, 1862 in Gonzales Co., TX.

Woodson married Ollie Pickens Stribling, daughter of Cornelius Kinchelo Stribling and Nancy Carolina Stribling, presumed cousins. Their children also numbered nine.  They had six sons and three daughters. 

[1]Interesting to note that John M. Porter of Lincoln Co., MO married Eliza Emeline Coffey, daughter of Nathan and Sarah Meredith Coffee in 1850 Pike Co., IL. They resided there a very long time with John dying there in 1895.  Eliza died there in 1901. Further, Martha Coffee, a daughter of Nebuzaradan married William Porter, brother to John and they named one of their sons Joseph Woods Porter.

[2]No idea why they began spelling their name this way, but speculation says it happened in Alabama where General John Coffee of Battle of New Orleans fame had settled and became quite prominent in the state.

William Preston "Press" Buchanan

William Preston "Press" Buchanan was born in Tennessee - probably Giles Co. -  in about 1844 to Charles Clayton and Mary Abernathy Tarpley Buchanan.  "Press" was the third child and second son of their eight children consisting of five sons and three daughters, most of which were born in Mississippi.

Charles Clayton Buchanan was a son of Robert and Elizabeth Ezell Buchanan. A brother to Charles was Kensington who had a son named Chesley.  Chesley was the father of William Kensington Buchanan who married Kate Hawkins  in 1895, and raised a family in Nevada Co., AR.

Press served in the Civil War with Co. H, 33d Arkansas Infantry,  In 1868 he married Miss Helen Buchanan of Clark Co., AR.  Helen's surname could be completely coincidental, or perhaps she was some cousin kin to Press.  I have not discovered the link.  She was 16 years old on their wedding day; he was 24.

I find no record of Press acquiring land in Nevada or Hempstead counties in SW Arkansas.  Two of his brothers, Tilmon D. and Charles Clayton, Jr. both patented small plats, Press is said to have acquired large amounts of timbered acreage.  Along the way he established large lumber companies throughout SW Arkansas and NW Louisiana.  

The largest of his companies was the Bodcaw Lumber Company.  Originally incorporated in Miller Co., AR in 1889, the largest of their mill was in Stamps, Lafayette Co., AR.  A tram at that mill eventually became the Louisiana and Arkansas Railroad that brought lumber down to the Mississippi in the Vidalia, La.,/Natches, MS area.

All of these interests were under the leadership of William.

Press and Helen had five children:

Mary L., born c1872, married J. A. Billingsley in 1894, Nevada Co., AR.
William Thad, born 1874 in Prescott
Joseph Pledger, born 1876, married Lillie Elba Morrow in Nevada Co. on Dec. 20, 1908
Esther, born c1879 and Hattie M., born c1891.  No further information.

William Thad was born Aug., 29, 1874 in Prescott, Missouri Twp., Nevada Co., and died there on Feb. 8, 1938.  He married Ocia Bell Coffee in Nevada Co. on Dec. 20, 1906.  Ocia was born Sep. 25, 1882 in Hempstead Co. and died in Houston, Harris Co., TX on Nov. 5, 1959.*

From the Prescott Daily News, Nevada Co., AR, February 11, 1938.

"Prescott lost one of its real pioneers when Thad Buchanan died here last Tuesday.  Mr. Buchanan was the son of W. P. (Press) Buchanan who came to Prescott in the fall of 1873 to work on the Cairo & Fulton Railroad. This railroad was built through here in July, 1873.

"Thad Buchanan was the first child born in Prescott, and his father's house is the oldest residence of the city.  It is located on West Third Street, between Hazel and Walnut next to the home of Mrs. George Kizer and is now occupied by John Smith."

Ocia was a daughter of John Fielding¹ ² and Frances "Fannie" Thompson Coffee.  John was the eldest son of  Lilburn Jackson and Sarah Hannah Taylor Coffee and, was also brother to my great-grandfather, James M. Coffee.

Children born to William and Ocia were:

Floyd Fields, born Sep. 29, 1908, died Jan. 30, 1966 in Houston, Harris Co., TX.  Floyd married Florence Biggs in Nevada Co. on Oct. 19, 1929.  She was a daughter of Henry and Carrie Biggs, born Dec. 21, 1907 in AR, died in Prescott on May 2, 1974. Floyd was buried at San Jacinto Memorial Park in Houston.  Florence was returned home to Prescott and buried there at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Ota Albert, born Mar. 29, 1910 in Nevada Co., died in Nacogdoches Co., TX on Dec. 12, 2001.  He married Claudia Irene Woodward on Aug. 5, 1933 in Nevada Co.  Claudia was born on Mar. 23, 1914 in AR and died in Nacoghoches on Nov 26, 2005.  Both are buried there at Sunset Memorial Park.

Clyde Curtis, born Nov. 11, 1914 in AR, died Jan. 8, 1991 in Nevada Co.  He married Margaret L. "Petty" Barnard, a daughter of William and Anne Barnard, on July 20, 1940. She was born Jun. 7, 1918 in Prescott and died there on Aug. 27, 2003.  Both are buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Prescott.

John Preston, born c1914, died before 1930 in Prescott.  He was buried at the Old Smyrna Cemetery in Prescott.

Edmond Lewis, born 1922 in Nevada Co., married Imogene Clark on Jun. 30, 1932 in Nevada Co.  Nothing else known.

---

*My wife and I were married that same year, one day after her death.

¹I was fortunate in that I was able to interview Myrl Eunice Crank Coffee, the widow of Ernest Vernon Coffee, a grandson of John Fielding.  I met her in her home in 1989.  She told me that John's middle name was Fielding.  However, Ocia named her first son Floyd Fields Buchanan, which gives me reason to believe Murl - using the vernacular of today - "misremembered."

²John's birth year is questionable.  In 1850 he was 4 years old, meaning he was born between 1845 and 1846.  In 1860 he was 18 years old, meaning he was work between 1842 and 1843.  In 1880 he was 43 years old, meaning he was born between 1846 and 1847.  In 1900 he gave Dec., 1842 as his birth date.

Coffey Cousins' 2014 Reunion Is Over!

Another Coffey Cousins' reunion is over!

If I have counted correctly, it was number 30; the first was held in Boone, NC in 1984.

This one was hosted in Brownsburg, IN by Donna Wolfe Hoy who was ably assisted by her husband, Jon.  A grandson, Alexander Clark also lent a hand in assuring that everything went smooth.

Nelda and I left south Louisiana on Wednesday morning, the 23d of April and headed east on I-10.  We eventually turned north on I-55 through MS, across a corner of TN through Memphis, into AR, MO and IL before finally reaching IN Thursday afternoon.

If you don't already know, the US interstate system is rapidly deteriorating and those infamous "orange barrels" were everywhere.  I'm certain those areas under repair needed it, but so did every other mile that we travelled.  I found I-55 through AR, MO and IL to be in very deplorable condition.

When we finally arrived at the Comfort Suites in Brownsburg we were met first by Donna and Jon then later by Tom Coffey, down from MN.  Arriving even earlier from Washington State was Chuck and Linda Maki and Linda's cousin, Cindy Marriott.  They descend from Reuben and Polly Dowell Coffey and had success finding ancestral cemeteries in the area.

Others attending were Nancy Scott and Kathy Whitson, hosts of last years gathering in Eureka, IL; Jean and Wayne Mower of DE; Larry and Mary Coffey of NJ; Danny and Glenda Coffey of KY.  Again, if I have correctly counted, there were 20 of us who gathered to remember previous reunions as well as Coffey ancestors.

Photo From the IHS Facebook Page

After a discussion and several proposals, we have decided to return to Tennessee for the 2015 reunion.  It appears that Mooresville in Grainger Co. will be our target with hopes of pulling a lot of Coffeys and Daltons out of the mountains to attend.  Kathy Whitson, whose Coffey ancestry is in Grainger Co., has volunteered to head up planning and arrangements.  Because she is a professor at Eureka College in Eureka, IL, she will be unable to get away until after May graduation.  So, look for the reunion to take place sometime about mid-May.

Watch for the June issue of the Coffey Cousins' newsletter for more details on the Indiana gathering and our visit to the Indiana Historical Society.

William Larkin & Nancy A. Drayman Coffey

William Larkin Coffey
Photo via Benna J.[1]

William Larkin was a son of Lewis Elbert and Hester Gravitt Coffey and, Nancy, a daughter of Leonard and Nancy Alexander Draymon.  William was second oldest of at least ten children, born Mar. 23, 1853 in Gilmer Co., GA.  Nancy was born on Feb. 23, 1854 in Pickens Co., SC.

She and Larkin were married on Aug., 6, 1875 in Pickens Co.  He died Nov. 18, 1905 in Morgan Co., TN and she, also in Morgan Co., on Apr. 3, 1945.  Nancy and Larkin ae buried at Crab Orchard cemetery in Oakdale, Morgan Co.

There were at least nine children born to Nancy and Larkin between 1876 and 1897.  The first five were born in GA while the last four were born in TN.

First born was Leonard Edward "Eddie", born Apr., 1876 and died in Hamilton Co., OH in Nov., 1964.  His wife was Eva Jane Gamble, born in 1882 AR, died in OH in 1956.  They were married in Roane Co., TN in 1899.  Their children numbered at least four:  Ella Mae, James, Josie and Bessie Annie.  All were born between 1902 and 1916 in TN except James who was born in KY.

Second born was James Harrison in 1878, Pickens Co., GA.  His spouse was Anna Laymance, married 1897 in Roane Co.  She died in that county in 1962 and James followed in 1966.  Both are buried at Riggs Chapel Cemetery in Harriman, Roane Co.  Their children were Lee, Maud and Robbie.  There are likely more but I have not yet dug any deeper.

Josie was the first daughter born to James and Nancy.  She was born in 1880 and died in 1881.

Rosa Lee was born in 1882, Murray Co., GA, died 1960 in Morgan Co., TN.  Her spouse was Arthur Samuel Shepherd, 1882 VA - 1959 TN.  Both are buried at Rankin Chapel in Oakdale, Morgan Co., TN.

William, born 1885 in Monroe Co., married Lucy Robbins in 1910, Roane Co., TN.  Lucy was the daughter of Zacharia and Mary Hurst Robbins and was born in Bell Co., KY in 1890.  She died in Morgan Co., TN in 1917 nd buried at Crab Orchard Cemetery in Oakdale.  William "Bill" married second to Donnie Robbins c1910 and they were the parents of at least two sons, John and Richard.  Bill is also married at Crab Orchard but a grave site for Donnie has not been found.

Walter F. was born in 1889 and died in Roane Co. in 1970.  He married Nora E. Adkisson in Roane Co. in 1919.  She was born in 1897 and died in Roane Co. in 1982 and, both are buried at Crab Orchard.  Children were Jesse; Clare; Clarennce; and Laura Mae.

Lawrence W. was born in McMinn Co., TN in 1892 and died in Morgan Co., TN in 1971.  He married Essie Edwards in Roane Co. in 1919.  She was born in Roane Co. in 1905 and died in Morgan Co. in 1997.  They too are buried at Crab Orchard.  Their children were seven:  Vance W., Helen Annalene; David Lawrence; Franklin Delano; Leonard Samuel; Wanda Sue and Larry James.

Coral Vernie Mae, born 1894 in Rhea Co., TN, married Charles Robert Clark in Roane Co. in 1912.  He was born in Morgan Co., in 1884 and died in Morgan Co. in 1958.  Coral died in Roane Co. in 1975.  Both are buried at Rankins Chapel cemetery in Oakdale.  Their children were:  Rev. Arnold Robert; Myrtle; Mabel; Walter Larkin; Albert Lewis; Lela Lodena; Carlene; Carl Boone; and Eva V.

The last child born to Larkin and Nancy was Minnie in 1897, Cumberland Co., TN.  Minnie married David Lee Blake in Roane Co. in 1924.  Both died at Pine Orchard in Morgan Co.; he in 1958, she in 1931. Both are buried at the Pine Orchard cemetery.

Updates and corrections welcomed.

Additional information is available for many of the Larkin and Nancy descendants.

  Jack

[1] This researcher has posted photos of other members of Larkin's family on Find-A-Grave memorial pages.  Click on the link in the caption under Larkin's photo to get started.

Thomas Henry "Tom" & Ethel Marie Nichols Coffey

Tom & Ethel w/grandchild
who donated the photograph

Thomas Henry "Tom" Coffey was the first son and fourth of nine children born to Robert Finley and Crettie May Ritch* Coffey.  Robert was a son of Thomas Hall and Cora Ellen Tolbert Coffey and, Crettie was the daughter of James Henry and Candace Genelie [sic] Chester Ritch.

Tom was born Sep. 2, 1925 in Yadkin Valley and died in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., on Aug. 28, 1999.

Ethel was born May 4, 1927 in North Carolina to Lennie Lee and Henrietta "Ettie" Curtis Nichols.  Ethel died May 26, 2004 at Granite Falls.  Both she and Tom are buried at the Robert Coffey Cemetery** [35.95201,-81.60796] near Lenoir.

Tom and Ethel were married Oct. 27, 1945 in Caldwell Co.***


Ethel's obituary:

Ethel Marie Nicholas [sic] Coffey, 77, of Melrose Street, Lenoir, died Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at Camelot Manor Nursing Home.

She was born May 4, 1927 in Bath Co., Va. to the late Rev. Lenny Lee Nichols and Henrietta Curtis Nichols. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Henry Coffey; a brother, Richard Nichols and a sister, Lucy Summerow.

Mrs. Coffey retired from Bernhardt #7 and was a member of Mt. View Baptist Church.

Survivors include a son, Tommy Carroll Coffey of Hudson; a daughter-in-law, Deana Coffey of Hudson; daughter and son-in-law, Brenda Marie Fox and husband Tommy of Maiden; three brothers, Eddie Nichols and George Nichols both of Lenoir and Clarence Nichols of Granite Falls; a sister, Joncie Swearingin of Lenoir and three grandchildren, Marty and Amy Coffey and Robbie Fox.

Funeral services will be Saturday, May 29, 2004 at 11 a.m. at Pendry's Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. J.B. Crouse and Rev. Jeff Hoyle officiating. Burial will be at Coffey Family Cemetery.

The family will receive friends today, May 28, 2004 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Pendry's Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood St. NW, Lenoir, NC 28645 or online condolences may be made at www.pendrysfuneralhome.com.

Pendry's Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Thomas' siblings and their spouses were:

Mary Belle, 1920-2012, married Lennie Edward Nichols c1943
Unnamed infant female, born/died Feb. 19, 1922
Beulah Evelyn, 1923-2009, married George Wesley Nichols, May 9, 1942
Jay Finley, 1927-2012, married Gertrude Clark, Dec. 24, 1948
Lillie May, 1930-?, married James Monroe Greene, 1930-1994
Lena Faye, 1932-?, married Homer Colfax Clark, 1927-2001.  Homer's first wife was Frances Louise Minton (1931-1991).  Faye's first husband was Joseph Cicero Greene (1928-1999).  They were married in 1948.
Beadie Oden, 1934-?, married Ralph Clark
Robert Claude, 1936-?, married Annie Ruth Watson, 1937-?

Corrections and/or additions welcomed.

Jack

---

*Surname sometimes spelled Rich
**Directions to this cemetery were described in June of 2012 by Bradley Ingells:  From Hwy 90 (Collettsville Road), take Mulberry Creek Road at Mount Olivet Methodist Church. Go to top of the hill (just after 2032 Mulberry Creek Road) and turn right on Robert's Place (dirt road). Go all the way to the end of the road (you will go past a small cemetery in the woods on the left [Philyaw Cemetery]). Keep going to the end, cemetery is on the left in an open area. Well maintained.  To locate, cut and paste coordinates into google maps.
***"North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VXTH-4FL : accessed 05 Nov 2012), Thomas Coffey and Ethel Nichols, 1945.

Finley Luckey Coffey

Finley Luckey Coffey was born on July 7, 1849 in Collin Co., TX to the union of Osborn Nightingale and Jane L. Bell Coffey.  He married his first cousin, Anna Belle Coffey, daughter of Jesse Perry and Tabitha Slaughter Coffey, in c1873.  Anna Belle was born February 10, 1855 in KY and died July 19, 1940 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co., TX.  Finley died in Beaumont on April 13, 1926.

Anna gave Finley at least 10 children, eight sons and two daughters.

Gertella "Gertie," born June 21, 1876 in Anna, Collin Co., died October 25, 1950 in Beaumont.  Gertie married Ernest C. Setliff c1896.  He was born on July 9, 1870 in Anna and died in Beaumont on May 20, 1946.  Both are buried in Beaumont at Magnolia Cemetery.  They had at least one son, Guy Clifton, born January 12, 1898 in Anna, died May 25, 1961 in Beaumont.  He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont.

Lewis Dennison, born March 7, 1878 in TX, died Mar. 21, 1942 in Fort Worth.  He married a lady named Maude M., c1906 and had at least one child, a daughter named Bessie M., born c1908.  Lewis is buried in Beaumont but I do not yet know which cemetery.

Robert Lee, born July 22, 1880, died December 4,1918 in Jefferson Co., and buried at Magnolia.

Jesse Sanders, born October 2, 1883 in TX, died June 19, 1975 in St. Joseph Hospital, Houston, Harris Co., TX.  He is buried at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.

Ernest Houston, born May 4, 1884, died Mar. 10, 1926 in Beaumont.  He is also buried at Magnolia Cemetery in that city.

Slaughter Belle, born Apr. 20, 1887 in Anna, married c1911 to Hazel Woods.  Died August 20, 1962 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont and was buried in Beaumont at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.  Hazel was born c1893 in TX.  I have no other info on her.  Their children were at least three:  Jesse Lee, Lewis G. and Erma.

Myrtle May, born August 17, 1889 in Anna, died February 15, 1976 in Beaumont.  She was married to a Mr. Epner or Ebner.  She is buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Beaumont.

Finley Luckey, Jr., born June 17, 1892 in Collin Co., died April 21, 1948 in Jefferson Co.  He married Elsie Ruth Clark in Jefferson Co. on January 5, 1918.  Elsie was born c1901 in KY.  Finley is buried at Forest Lawn in Beaumont.  Elsie's death date and burial place has not yet been found.  Their children, all born in Jefferson Co., were:  Audrey, born c1920, died October 11, 2012 in Jefferson Co.; Nancy (?) Bertha, born c1922; May (?) B., born c924; Ruth M., born c1926; Betty Jo., born c1928 and Mary B., born c1930.

Henry Stanley, born August 7, 1894 in Collin Co., died in Beaumont on April 2, 1926.  His wife was Gertrude Yancey, a daughter of Jessie B. and Alice Yancey, born in May, 1898, Jefferson Co.  Henry died of pneumonia aided by influenza and was buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Beaumont.  I have not yet found a second marriage for Gertrude.  In 1930 she was living with her sister Pearl Rivet in Beaumont and working at a dry goods store.  Her two children, Howard Stanley, born c1920, and Lester, born c1926, were living with her parents, Jessie and Alice Yancey at China in Jefferson Co.

The last child was John Fielden, born December 14, 1896 in TX, died December 27, 1975 in Vidor, Orange Co., TX and was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont.  His wife was named Ruby.  No further information.

Some census work for these families remains to be completed.  I continue to work on them as time permits.  Additions and/or corrections are welcomed.

Garnett Odell Dudley & Leona Alberta Plogger Coffey

An obituary in my morning e-mail alerted me to the death of Nancy Virginia Plogger Graves on Oct. 15, 2011 in Roanoke City, VA.  After reading the obituary I learned that Nancy was the sister of Leona Alberta Plogger who married Garnett Coffey in Virginia on Dec. 29, 1944.

The Plogger sisters were two of the children born to Sandy Jackson & Goldie Mae Overhulser Plogger of Rockbridge Co., VA.  Leona was born Nov. 22, 1928 and died Oct. 26, 1999 in Buena Vista, VA.  She and Garnett had at least one child, Randolph Jackson Coffey who married Linda Sue Clark.  Linda died on May 8, 1999 in Lexington, VA and was buried at Collierstown Presbyterian Cemetery in Rockbridge, Co.

Her obituary:

The News-Gazette, Lexington, VA, May 12, 1999

Mrs. Randolph Coffey

Linda Sue Clark Coffey, 48, of Buena Vista died Saturday, May 8, at the University of Virginia Medical Center. 

She was born Aug. 18, 1950, in Rockbridge County, daughter of Nellie Clark Knick and Roy Knick of Buena Vista.  She was married to Randolph Coffey.

In addition to her husband and her parents, she is survived by three daughters, Nancy B. Coffey, Kristi M. Floyd and Elizabeth G. Coffey, all of Buena Vista; a son, Richard W. Coffey of Buena Vista; two brothers, Delmas Clark of Collierstown and Charles McNeil of Buena Vista; a sister, Martha McNeil of Fairfield; and three grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. today, Wednesday, at Harrison's Funeral Chapel by the Rev. Ballard Shepherd.  Burial will follow at Collierstown Presbyterian Cemetery.

Garnett Coffey was the 10th son and last child born to Lafayette Washington and Annie Mariah Ward Coffey who, in total were parents of 14 children.  Garnett was born Jan. 6, 1922 in Rockbridge Co. and died on Dec. 26, 1991, and probably buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Buena Vista with Leona.

Nancy Virginia's obituary:

Obituary, Roanoke Times, Oct. 18, 2011 

Nancy Virginia Plogger Graves 

Nancy Virginia Plogger Graves, 73, of Lexington, died on Saturday, October 15, 2011, at Heritage Hall. She was born on October 25, 1937, in Rockbridge County, a daughter of the late Sandy Jackson Plogger and Goldie Mae Overhulser. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Leona Coffey, Mary Reynolds, Ruby Fluty; and her granddaughter, Kalli Rylie Johnson.  

Mrs. Graves was a member of the Timber Ridge ARP Church. Surviving are her husband, Charles Leo Graves, of Lexington; one son, Charles Eddie Graves and wife, Lori, of Lexington; three daughters, Debbie Mohler and husband, Odie, of Lexington, Margie Koogler and husband, David, of Montpelier, Va., and Donna Johnson and husband, Barry, of Natural Bridge; one brother, Dennis Plogger, of Rockbridge Baths; two sisters, Nellie Graves, of Rockbridge Baths, and Frances Reynolds, of Stuarts Draft; five grandchildren, Heather Mohler, Nicole Koogler Clark and husband, Jonathan, Matthew Mohler and wife, Danielle, Courtney Koogler Gilbert and husband, Jimmy, and Samantha McDougle; three great-grandchildren, Hadleigh, Will, and Alexis; and one stepgreat-grandson, Treyce McCormick.  

A Funeral Service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 19, 2011, at Harrison Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert Gordon and the Rev William Bearden officiating. Burial will follow at Timber Ridge ARP Cemetery.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Rockbridge Area Hospice, P.O. Box 948, Lexington, VA 24450 or to the Heritage Hall Resident Aid Fund, 205 Houston Street, Lexington, VA 24450. 

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18, 2011, at Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, Va., 540-463-2912.

Sandy Jackson Plogger was a son of Samuel Jackson and Nancy Virginia Hyman Plogger and was born Oct. 25, 1890 in VA, died Mar. 1, 1949.  He and Goldie Mae Overhulser, a daughter of Isaac and Alda Overhulser, born Sep. 23, 1904 in OH, married on Aug. 14, 1928 in Lexington.  She died in Lexington, VA on Dec. 29, 1976.  Both she and Sandy are buried at the New Monmouth Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Lexington.  They lived in the Kerrs Creek area of Lexington.

William Paxton Plogger and Sarah Frances Reid were the parents of Samuel Jackson.  Samuel's sister, Alice Baker Plogger is known to have had at least two children, Rosa Lillie and Reid Franklin, but their father is unknown.  Rosa married John William Riley on Dec. 6, 1906 in Lexington and had a number of children, including Alice Baker Riley on Oct. 17, 1907, who married Harry L. Falls; and Margaret Lee Riley who married Saylor Marshall Coffey.  Saylor was a son of Jacob Morris and Mary Jane Lotts Coffey.  Jacob and Garnett were cousins many times over.

William Henry Harvey & Martha L. Coffey Clark

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William Henry Harvey Clark

William Henry Harvey Clark was born Dec. 25, 1845 in North Carolina, perhaps Caldwell or Avery Co.  I suspect Caldwell based on the mere fact that he and Martha Coffey were married there.

Martha L. Coffey was the sixth child and fourth daughter of Enoch and Martha Calloway Coffey and was born to them in Sep., 1846 in Caldwell Co.  I believe Martha Calloway was the second wife for Enoch.  His first was Prudence Gragg; third was Fannie Sims.

The Clark-Coffey marriage occurred on Apr. 15, 1866.*  William and Martha, like many families in the south following the Civil War who were trying to live through reconstruction, carpetbaggers and other petty officials, seem to have avoided the 1870 census.

[Update 8/4/2011 - Thanks to Lloyd Coffey of Taylorsville, NC I now know that William and Martha did not miss the 1870 census.  They, along with first child Charlotte were in  Johns River Twp., Caldwell Co. (Collettsville Post Office) that year.]

Their first known child was Charlotte L., born Sep. 15, 1869 in Caldwell Co., died Feb. 21, 1958 in Banner Elk, Avery Co.  Charlotte Married George W. Bowman but I have no further information on their family.  Charlotte is buried at Jonas Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery in Burke Co., NC

Joseph Enoch was their second child and first son.  He was born after the family moved from Caldwell to Avery Co. and entered the world on Mar. 12, 1871.  Joseph married Edna Ann Coffey, a daughter of Margaret A. Coffey who was the daughter of Jesse Patterson and Elizabeth M. Coffey Coffey.  Edna was born July 4, 1887 and died Aug. 28, 1959. Joseph died Dec. 3, 1965 in Crossnore, Avery Co.  Both are buried at the Tate Family Cemetery** in Linville, Avery Co.

[The family probably did not physically move.  They likely lived in that part of Caldwell that was taken to form Avery Co. in 1911]

Rebecca followed Joseph.  She was born May, 1874 in Avery Co., and died there on Sep. 13, 1943.  She married a Mr. Tilley but nothing more is known of their family.  Rebecca's death certificate reports her burial at Clark Cemetery at Pineola, Avery Co.**

Della May was child number 4, born Jun. 30, 1875, died Sep. 18, 1950 at Marion in McDowell Co., NC.  Della married Elam Gather Barrier c1896 and had a number of children, including William Seth; Inez; James Gudger; Gladys Susan; Tom Harvey and Myrtle Chloe.  Della is buried at the Tate Family cemetery while Elam is buried at Jonas Ridge Baptist Church cemetery in Burke Co.


Willard F. was next, born c1877 in Caldwell Co., died Jul. 27, 1927 in Linville.  He was buried at Calloway Cemetery in Jonas Ridge.  His wife was Bettie Kates.

Douthard "Douth" Charlie was born Apr. 15, 1879 and died Dec. 12, 1957 at Crossnore.  He is also buried at Tate.

Martha Ann was born May 12, 1881 and died May 25, 1964 at Crossnore.  She married Walter Puett.  Martha is buried at Jonas Ridge.

William Elgie was born May, 1883.  No further information.

Pinkney was born Jul. 31, 1886 and died Oct. 27, 1973 in Morganton, Burke Co.  He married Mary Jane Webb, born Jan., 1894, daughter of Theodore M. and Sarah Elizabeth Coffey Webb.  Sarah Elizabeth was a daughter of Bryce Brisco and Susannah Gragg Coffey.  No further info on Pinkney and Mary Jane.

Dovie Jane was the last known child of William Henry and Martha.  She was born Sep. 15, 1890 and died Jul. 3, 1968 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  Her husband was Monroe Coffey, a son of Thomas M. & Martha Cordelia Gragg Coffey.  Monroe was born Jan. 26, 1883 in Avery Co. and died Nov. 3, 1955 in Collettsville, Caldwell Co.  He and Dovie Jane were married in Caldwell Co. in 1910.***  Monroe was the first US Forest Ranger in the Globe and "...oversaw the fledgling agency’s activities in an era just before the Civilian Conservation Corps ended it efforts at forestry and went off to fight WW II."¹

Dovie Jane and Monroe had at least eight children:  Ruby, Ruth, Bruce, Sarah Nell, Jack; Blanche, Martha Louise and Clyde Hedrick.  More information is available.

Corrections and additions welcomed.

Update  Aug. 2, 2011 - Rebecca Clark's husband was John A. Tilley, born c1860 in NC.  They were married c1892.

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*North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979 , digital images, FamilySearch.Org (www.familysearch.org), Marriage Register, Book 3, Page 157.

**This cemetery has been called by various names; e.g., Tate-Love and Clark Family Cemetery, and has appeared in several places in genealogy reports as one or the other.  It can be found on Find-A-Grave as Clark Cemetery as well as Tate.  The official name is Tate Family Cemetery and it is located at Linville. Enter coordinates 36 2 37.14, -81 54 8.69 (copy and paste) into maps.google.com for exact location.  The resulting map repeats the error by referring to it as Clark Cemetery.


***Caldwell County, North Carolina Register of Deed's Index Search, Wayne L. Rash, Register of Deeds online, Marriage Register, Book 22, Page 180.

¹Tracing Timber’s History in the Globe, by Randy Johnson, High Country Press, on-line, Jul. 28, 2011

Thanks to Bradley Ingels for his wonderful headstone photos and additional information on some of these families.

Finley T. and Mary Delight Clark Loudermelt - Corrections

Corrections/additions highlighted.

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The Loudermelt surname is spelled any number of ways, depending, it seems, on the specific family.  One of my e-mail friends, Lloyd Coffey of Alexander Co., NC, wrote in response to my question about this, that families in his area of NC spell their surnames "Loudermelt", "Loudermilt", and "Lowdermilk".  His research into this family has uncovered such spellings as "Lautermilch," the original German spelling, as well as all of the above spellings except with the letter A instead of O.

Mary D. Clark Loudermelt

When Finley married Mary Delight Clark in Mitchell Co. on Dec. 25, 1883, his surname was spelled Lawdermilk on the marriage record.  In the 1920 census it was Loudermilk; Loudermelt in 1910 and Loudermilt in 1920.  I haven't found his death certificate, or any death record for that matter that would tell me how it was spelled on that document.  When Mary died in Taylorsville, Alexander Co. on Jan. 31, 1954, her name was spelled Loudermelt on the death certificate.  She was buried at Rocky Face Cemetery in Alexander Co.

Naming only their children known to have married Coffeys

Their first child was John Minford*, born Oct. 27, 1884, died Oct. 20, 1927.   John married Celia L. Coffey* on Oct. 7, 1910 in the Globe.  Celia was the daughter of Eldelano "Lano" and Mary E. Austin Coffey.  Celia was born in Caldwell Co., NC in Mar., 1891 and died Dec. 23, 1973.  Their children were Lottie, Eva Mae, Annie and Myrtle.  If the birth and death dates for John and Celia are close, then Celia lived for another 46 years after John died and, may have remarried.

Finley and Mary's fifth child was a daughter, Ella Mae, born Oct., 1891, died Feb. 11, 1975 in Lenoir, Caldwel Co.  She married Thomas Newton "Black Tom" Coffey on Dec. 5, 1909 in Mortimer, Caldwel Co.  Tom was the son of Jesse (Cleveland?) "Red Eye" Coffey and Lucinda Louise "Lou" Coffey Coffey.  Tom and Ella may had at least 13 children who produced a long line of descendants for the couple.  Please contact me for more info on their children.

Eliza Loudermelt Coffey

Jesse C. Coffey

Eliza was the sixth child born to Finly and Mary.  She was born Dec, 23, 1892 and died May. 18, 1987 at Hiddenite in Alexander Co.  Eliza married Jesse Cleveland, another son of "Red Eye" and Lou Coffey.  Jesse Cleveland was born Dec., 1888 in Caldwell Co., and died Sep. 28, 1923 in Norton, Wise Co., VA.  Jesse was shot and died of septicemia, and accounts of the shooting vary.  It appears to have been accidental.  Their children were six who also provided Jesse and Eliza with a long list of descendants.  Same offer as above for more info.  He is buried at Glenco Cemetery at Big Stone Gap, Wise Co., VA.  Eliza is buried at Rocky Face.

Romilous Linney followed Eliza in Nov., 1895 and married Alberta "Bertie" Coffey, a daughter of Samuel Monroe and Josephine "Josie" Dellinger Coffey.  Readers who need more info on Samuel and Josie should use the upper right "search this blog" window to find previous blogs about this family.  Romilous' death date and place of burial is not known to me.  Bertie is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Lenoir.  I have only one child for the, a son by the name of Ronald "Ronnie" Loudermelt, born May 17, 1921 in Avery Co., died Apr. 28, 2010 in Lenoir. He is also buried at Woodlawn.

Ronald "Ronnie" was a son of Albert Abner Loudermilk by Bertie.   He and Bertie were not married.  Romilous "Rom" died of meningitis at age 19 and is buried at Lowdermilk Cemetery on Anthony Creek Road in Avery Co., near Carey's Flat.

When Romilous died in 1915, Bertie was just 10 years old and they were probably not romantically connected.  Bertie later married Clyde Johnson**.  This married produced at least one child, Essie Johnson.  I haven't found out what happened to Clyde but, sometime later she was with Albert Loudermelt**, a brother to Romilous.  Marriage - if there was one - to Albert apparently did not last too long because Albert married Julia Jennings** while Bertie was still living.  Finally, on May 25, 1926 Bertie*** married Andrew Jackson "Andy" Jennings and gave him at least eight children between 1925 and 1946.  Andy Jennings**** was brother to Julia who married Albert Loudermelt. Albert Abner (Ab) Loudermelt was shot and killed on Aug. 14, 1929 by Paris Coffey.

The last child that I am aware of being born to Finley and Mary was Mary Octavia on Oct. 9,1903 in Avery Co., died Mar. 31, 1977 in Boone, Watauga Co.  She married Fredrick Abner Coffey on May 12, 1922 in Carter Co., TN.  Fredrick was born Jan. 18, 1902 in Caldwell Co. to George Washington, Jr. and Tempey S. Calloway Coffey.  He died Apr. 6, 1930 in Banner Elk, then in Avery Co.  Frederick is buried at Boone Fork cemetery while Mary rests at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.  They had five children:  George, Mary Hazel, Roy Lee, Everette and Ola.

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*Birth and Death dates unsourced.
**No marriage record found so far.

***Some of Bertie's marriages may be out of sequence or perhaps not marriages at all.  The only date that I have confirmed for Bertie is the one to Andy.
****He was also brother to Lavinia Jennings who married Raymond Dellinger, son of Reubed D. Keever and Rebecca S. Coffey Dellinger.  The Jennings were children of Van and Daisy Shelton Jennings.

William Larkin Coffey & Nancy A. Dryman

William Larkin Coffey was a son of Lewis Elbert & Jester "Hettie" Gravitt Coffey. He was born in Gilmer Co., GA on Mar. 23, 1853 and died in Morgan Co., TN on Nov. 18, 1905. He married Nancy A. Dryman, a daughter of Leonard and Nancy Alexander Dryman on Aug. 6, 1875 in Pickens Co., GA. Nancy was born there on Feb. 23, 1854 and died in Oakdale, Morgan Co., TN on Apr. 3, 1945.

Nancy and William were the parents of nine children:

Leonard Edward, born Apr., 1876 in Georgia, died Nov. 7, 1964 in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH. He married Eva Jane Gamble on Spe. 15, 1899 in Roane Co., TN. She was born on Feb. 14, 1882 in Arkansas and died Dec. 28, 1956 in Hamilton Co., OH. They are buried at Crab Orchard Cemetery in Oakdale.

James Harrison, born Jul. 29, 1878 in Pickens Co., died Jul. 15, 1966 in Harriman, Roane Co. TN. His wife was Annie Laymance, born Feb. 21, 1880 in TN, died Aug. 16, 1962 in Roane Co. They were married on Feb. 28, 1897 in Roane Co. They are buried at Riggs Chapel Cemetery in Harriman.

Josie, born Jun. 28, 1880 in GA, died in Murray Co., GA on Nov. 6, 1881. Josie's burial site is unknown to me at the moment.

Rosa Lee, born Nov. 16, 1882 in Murray Co., GA, died Oct. 8, 1960 in Morgan Co., TN. Rosa married Arthur Samuel Shepherd, born Dec. 20, 1882 in VA, died Sep. 17, 1959 in Morgan Co. They are buried at Rankin Chapel Cemetery in Oakdale, Morgan Co.

William M. "Bill,", born Sep. 5, 1855 in Monroe Co., GA, died Jan. 3, 1944 in Morgan Co. His first wife was Lucy Robbins, a daughter of Zachariah & Mary Hurst Robbins. They were married on Dec. 17, 1910 in Roane Co. Lucy was born Nov., 1890 in Bell Co., KY and died in Morgan Co., TN on Mar. 25, 1917. Sometime after her death Bill married her sister, Donnie. William and Lucy are buried at Crab Orchard. I have not located Donnie's burial site.

Walter F., born Mar. 3, 1889 in TN, died My 31, 1970 in Roane Co. He married Nora E. Adkisson, born Jul. 27, 1897 in TN, died Oct. 12, 1982 in Roane Co. Both are buried at Crab Orchard along with three of their children: Jesse Alden, born Jul. 9, 1920, died Apr. 18, 2008; Clara Leon, born Mar. 22, 1922, died Dec. 19, 1944; Clarence William, born Mar. 22, 1922, died May 19, 1998 [twin to Clara]. A fourth child, Laura Mae, was born Oct. 5, 1926 and died Mar. 6, 2000. She is buried at Piney Grove Cemetery near Midtown, Roane Co.

Lawrence W., born Dec. 5, 1891 in McMinn Co., TN, died Jan. 9, 1971 in Morgan Co. He married Essie Edwards on Jun. 5, 1919 in Roane Co. Essie was born Jun. 15, 1905 in Roane Co., and died Jun. 17, 1997 in Morgan Co. They are also buried at Crab Orchard with five of their six children: Vance W., born Nov. 26, 1920, died Oct. 8, 1988; Helen Annalene, born Dec. 16, 1923, died July 20, 1993; Franklin Delano, born Noc. 23, 1932, died Dec. 2, 1998. He is buried at Roane Memorial Gardens in Rockwood, Roane Co. Leonard, born May 10, 1935, died May 2, 2008 and Larry James, born May 6, 1944, died Jul 11, 1972 are at Crab Orchard.

Coral Vernie Mae, born Jun. 22, 1894 in Rhea Co., TN, died Mar. 3, 1975 in Roane Co.  She married Charles Robert Clark on Mar. 11, 1912 in Roane Co.  Charles was born in Morgan Co. on Mar. 30, 1884 and died there on Mar. 23, 1958.  Together, Charles and Coral had eight children:

1) Rev. Arnold Robert, born Apr. 22, 1914, died Sep. 28, 1994.  He married Aline Brooks on Jun. 23, 1940 in TN.  Aline was born Sep. 10, 1916 in Roane Co., and died there on Dec. 20, 1988.  Both are buried at Rankin Chapel Cemetery in Oakdale, Morgan Co.

2) Mable, born Apr. 16, 1916 in Morgan Co. and there died Aug. 24, 1999.  Her husband was David Morgan Blake to whom she was married on Apr. 4, 1951.  He died Dec. 9, 1963, she Aug. 24, 1999, both in Oakdale and are buried at Rankin Chapel.

3) Myrtle, twin to Mabel, died Apr. 15, 2007 in Oakdale.  She married the REv. Fred Ewing Copeland, born Mar. 28, 1918 in Fulton Co., AR, died Feb. 24, 2009 in TN.  They too are buried at Rankin Chapel.

4) Walter Larkin, born May 9, 1918, died Nov. 9, 2006, and buried at Mount Teman Baptist Church cemetery at Rockwood in Roane Co.

5) Albert Lewis, born Nov. 8, 1920 in Oakdale, died Jan. 7, 2009 at Harriman and is buried at Rankin Chapel.

6) Lela Lodena, born Nov. 13, 1922 in Morgan Co. and, died there on Dec. 17, 1999.  Her spouse was Billie Watson, born Jan. 6, 1925, died Oct. 20, 2006.  They are also buried at Rankin Chapel.

7) Carl Boone, born Jun. 2, 1925, died Mar 9, 1995 at Oak Ridge in Anderson Co., TN.  He was also buried at Rankin Chapel.

8) Twin sister to Carl, Carlene, died shortly after birth and also buried at Rankin Chapel.

A descendant who uses the name "Benna J." has established several very nice memorial pages for this family on Find-A-Grave and, has included photographs and obituaries.   Start with this page and following the links she has established.

Francis Marion & Martha Jane Coffey Clark

UPDATED 11/23/2010 with info received from Jerry Dickinson

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Francis Marion "Marion" Clark* was the eldest child and a son of John Wesley and Nancy B. Williams Clark.  He was born Apr 5, 1854 in Montezuma, Watauga Co., NC. He married Martha Jane Coffey on Jan. 2, 1875 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  Martha was born May 5, 1859 in the Globe to Silas C. & Eleanor or Ellender "Nellie" Green Coffey.  Martha died Apr. 11, 1900 and is buried at Newland in Mitchell Co.

After the death of Nancy Williams Coffey, John Wesley Coffey married a widow with two children: Joseph Green, age 11 and Laura, age 8 in the 1870 Watauga Co. census.  I have not yet identified her first husband but, he was likely related to Nellie.

Marion and Martha's children, all born in Montezuma, were**:

James W. (Will), born Nov. 21, 1875; Francis Newton (Newt), born Aug. 22, 1877; Lola E. (Elzora) born Nov. 25, 1879, died Nov. 22, 1968; Kenneth, born May 28, 1882 and Harrison (Harry), born May 10, 1884. Harry was the grandfather of Carol Ann Bledsoe Van Voorde, the owner of the family photo shown here. He died on May 10, 1931 in Weiser, Washington Co., ID and is buried there at Eastside Cemetery in Midvale. His wife was Mary Jane Cable, married Jan. 5, 1906 in Pullman, Whitman Co., WA. She was born Nov. 9, 1880 in Elkmills, Carter Co., TN and died in Weiser on Oct. 12, 1954. She is also buried at Midvale. Other children were Harrison, born May 1884; David Clingman, born Jul, 20, 1886, died Jul. 8, 1971 in St. John, Whitman Co., WA; Roby Edward, born Mar., 1888; Luther Evans, born May 1890; Millard Ray, born Mar. 23, 1892, died Feb. 27, 1986 in Spokane Co., WA. He married Nellie L. Shawgo in Whitman Co. on Jun. 1, 1913. She was born May 5, 1895 in Ewan, Whitman Co. and died Jan. 6, 1981 in Spokane Co.; Lula Essie Lovina, born Jan. 25, 1895 and Martha Agnes, born Feb. 15, 1900.

Martha Jane like died at the birth, or shortly after the birth of Agnes.  There may also have been a child born between Lela and Harrison, but it does not appear in any census record with the family.***

Francis Marion Clark Family

This photo is of Francis Marion and Martha Jane with their first five children.  I have not found a child named Harry nor one named Kenneth.  Harry may be short for Harrison and Kenneth may be first or middle name for Clingman.  Please drop me a note if you can clear up that bit of confusion.  Also needed are the death dates and burial places for Marion and Martha.

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The photo is the property of Carol Ann Bledsoe Van Voorde

1880 Mitchell Co., Linville Twp., ED146, Page 20, dwelling/family 176, Clark, Marion H. [sic], white male, age 26, married, farmer, born NC, father born NC, mother born GA; Martha J., white female, age 21, wife, married, keeping house, born NC, parents born NC; James W., white male, age 4, son, born NC; Francis N., white male, age 2, son, born NC; Lela E., white female, age 7 mos., born Nov., dau., born NC; Clark, Sarah L., white female, age 18, sister, single, born NC, father born NC, mother born NC [sic]

1900 Mitchell Co., Linville Twp., ED98, Sheet 9B, dwelling 166, family 171, Clark, Marion, head, white male, born Apr., 1854, age 46, widower, born NC, father born NC, mother born GA, farmer; Newton, son, white male, born Aug., 1877, age 22, single, born NC; Harrison A., son, white male, born May 1884, age 16, born NC; Clingman, son, white male, born Jul. 1886, age 13, born NC; Roby, son, white male, born Mar 1888, age 12, born NC; Luther, son, white male, born May 1890, age 10, born NC; Ray, son, white male, born Mar., 1892, age 8, born NC; Lula, dau., white female, born Jan., 1895, age 5, born NC; Agnes, dau., female, white, age 4 mos., born NC; Clark, John, father, white male, born Dec., 1828, age 71, widower, born NC, parents born NC; Pendley, Minnie, servant, white female, born Jun 1879, age 29, single, born NC, parents born NC; Foyarten (?), Edith, inmate (?), white female, born Aug., 1833, age 66, single, born NC, parents born NC

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*The surname is sometimes found as Clarke.
**Montezuma, founded in 1883, is currently in Avery Co., NC.  It was once a part of Watauga Co., formed in 1849 then Mitchell Co., formed in 1861.  Avery Co. was formed in 1911.
***Jerry shows William Henry Clark, born Nov. 21, 1875 in Boone, Watauga Co., died Jun. 11, 1946.  His birth date is the same as James William, but Wm. Henry does not appear in the 1880 census.  Jerry also shows a son Washington Canada Clark, born May 28, 1882, the same date as Kenneth.  He too must have died early because he does not appear in the 1900 census.

Meredith Coffey - continued

Meredith appears to be the only child born to John W. and Rebecca Ragsdale Coffey.

At some point in time, this family began to spell their last name Coffee and may be a result of their move from TN, where there was an abundance of families with the Coffey surname to an area where there were few.  I suspect that they did not consciously change the spelling; it merely evolved that way after years of making public records in which the Y was dropped in favor of the double-E.  Today, descendants continue to use the double-E spelling.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Hopper is said to be the daughter of John David Hopper, who also had a daughter named Jane who married John after Rebecca's death.  I have not found a specific record documenting the birth dates of these girls and it has been difficult determining the approximate year of their birth. 

In the 1850 census Elizabeth was age 30; in 1860, 33; in 1870, 59; and in 1850, 63.  Likewise, in 1850, Jane was 36; in 1860, 37; and in 1870, 57.  In Jane's case, it's easy to see how the enumerator might have written 37 instead of 47, making her age progression somewhat acceptable as far as census accuracy goes. Elizabeth is another case entirely.

I'll step out on a limb and predict that Jane was the eldest, born c1816 and that Elizabeth was born c1818.

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The census record shows Meredith and Elizabeth in Hamilton Co., TN in 1850, Pineville Twp., McDonald Co., MO in 1860 and, in 1870 and 1880 in White Rock Twp., McDonald County.  Meredith died c1892. I do not have a death date for Elizabeth.

Their children, all born in TN, were:

Eliza, born 1842, died May 9, 1880.  She married William Henry Bullard on Oct. 4, 1875 in McDonald County.  Some info that I have read - but remains unconfirmed - reports that William was born in 1842 at Dog Hollow, Pineville Twp.  His slave-owning family later moved to Benton Co., AR where he enlisted in the CSA.  He is said to have been part of Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg.  He was never wounded during his four years of service.  His first wife was Susan Caudill, sister to Hillead, the wife of William Harrison Coffee, the next child born to Meredith and Elizabeth.

William Harrison was born Feb. 24, 1843 and died Jul. 6, 1921 in Pineville Twp.  He married Hillead Oakley Caudille on Jan. 22, 1868 in McDonald Co.  She was a daughter of Jacob and Mary Kirby Caudille and was born Jan. 26, 1850 in Robinson Co., KY and died Feb. 6, 1912 in White Rock Twp.  She and William raised at least 13 children.**  Both William and Hillead are buried in the Jane, McDonald Co., MO cemetery.

Josiah A. (some say his name was Joseph*) was the third child, born Mar. 25, 1845, died May 5, 1913 in White Rock Twp.  He married Elva Tennessee Clark who was born Jun. 13, 1853 in AR and died in Bentonville, Benton Co., AR on Mar. 16, 1936.  They too are buried at Jane Cemetery.  Their children were:  Florence Bell, born 1870, died 1923, married William Henry Bunch.  William was born in 1867 Arkansas and died in Indian Territory, OK in 1890.  Their burial places are not known to me.  They were parents of two sons, Price, born 1888 and Martin born 1890.  Josiah's second child was Sara, born 1872 and for whom I have no additional info.  The third child was Prissa, born in June, 1879.  She married a Mr. Cook and had Larna, Howard and Toonsie.

Following Josiah was Madison, born c1848 and died sometime between 1860 and 1870, perhaps in the Civil War.

David was born c1849 and died in 1918, McDonald Co.  David married Maria Paralee Clark, the daughter of Wat Clark and his wife Nancy.  She was born Jan. 13, 1853 in AR and died in June, 1919 at Jane.  Both she and David at buried at the Jane cemetery.  They were parents of seven children.

Mary Rebecca was child number six and was born in Oct., 1852.  She married James Smith "Whiskey Jim" Davenport in 1869.  He was born in Aug., 1850 in MO. Rebecca died on May 29, 1914 and was buried at Jane.  Jim's death date and burial place is unknown to me.  They had at least seven children:  William, 1870; Thomas, 1872; Laura, 1874; Eliza, 1878; Josiah, 1880; Viola, 1884 and Goldie, 1885.

James Milo was the last child born to Meredith and Elizabeth.  He was born in Jul 1857 and died in May, 1913 and was buried at Jane.  His wife was Harriet J. Russell for whom I have no information.

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*His death certificate reads Joseph.  In 1850 his name was Joseph.  After that, and until 1880 he was enumerated as Josiah.
**More info later

Andrew Jackson & Sarah Louise Hagaman Critcher

Captain Andrew Jackson Critcher was a son of Nathaniel & Cynthia A. Clark Critcher.  Nathaniel was born in Granville Co., NC in 1803 and settled in Watauga Co. in c1840.  Cynthia was born in Orange Co., NC in 1804 and, it was likely in that county they married in 1822.

Andrew was born in Orange Co. in Sep., 1834.  He was the fourth of what I believe to be seven children born to Nathaniel and Cynthia.

Nathaniel and his family were in Watauga Co. by 1840 and most remained there for the remainder of their lives.

Andrew married Sarah Louise Hagaman c1868.  She was a daughter of Thomas Andrew and Sarah Reece Hagaman.  Their children numbered four and included Meta Belle, born Jan. 24, 1871, who married Charles Daniel Coffey.  Click on the title of this blog to see photos and to read more about that couple.

Andrew had a remarkable career during the Civil War.

His record reports that on Dec. 25, 1861, shortly after enlistment, Andrew was promoted to second lieutenant and shortly thereafter to first lieutenant.  He was wounded at Ox Hill in Fairfax Co., VA, part of the Northern Virginia campaign from June to Sept., 1862.

He was returned to duty sometime in Nov., 1862 and promoted to captain in Dec. of that year.  Capt. Critcher was captured in May, 1864 and confined to the Old Capital Prison in Washington, D.C. and, later moved to Fort Delaware in June, 1864.  Later that summer he and other prisoners were moved to Charleston, SC where they were used as human shields against the south's bombardment of that Federally occupied city.

Having survived that, Critcher was moved to Hilton Head in Dec., 1864 where he was released sometime shortly thereafter in a prisoner exchange.  He was captured again at Boone in Watauga Co., NC in Mar., 1865 and sent to Camp Chase in OH where he was released on Jun. 14, 1865.

Andrew returned to Watauga Co., and to Boone where he met and married Sarah. They settled there and the 1870 census shows that he was a retail merchant and somewhat wealthy. By 1880 he was a farmer.

In addition to Meta Bell (second oldest), he and Sarah were parents of Maury P., born Jun., 1869; L. Frank, born Jan., 1879 and M. Ethel, born Sep. 1885.

Andrew died in Watauga Co. on Jul. 7, 1904 and was buried at Lovill in the Greer Cemetery. I do not have a death date or burial place for Sarah and would appreciate that input.

I know that Andrew had at least one brother who served during the Civil War. He had four brothers, all of the right age at the time of the war to have served. The one that I know of was John Calvin.

John was born c1841 and died Aug. 13, 1863 in Orange Co., VA. He had enlisted on Nov. 5, 1862 at Boone in Co. D., 1st NC Cavalry Regiment. Some genealogies report that he is also buried at Lovill, but a headstone as not been found.

A source was: Michael C. Hardy, Author, A Short History of Old Watauga County (Boone, Watauga Co., NC: Parkway Publishers, Inc., 2005).

Aldridge & Coffey

In his 1915 A History of Watauga County, North Carolina, John Preston Arthur wrote about James Aldridge who appeared in Shulls Mill, Watauga Co. c1819 and shortly married [or took up with] Betsy Calloway, an attractive daughter of one Benjamin Calloway.  The chapter in which this story appears is entitled "Some Thrice-Told Tales," so use your best judgment in deciding the accuracy of the facts cited.

Arthur wrote that James was already married and had left a wife and five children in Virginia while he hunted in North Carolina.  James persuaded Betsy to marry him and a son, Harrison Aldridge was born Dec. 15, 1821.  Six more children followed:  Jane c1824; Tempe c1825; Ellen c1828; Emeline c1835; Benjamin c1837; and Waightstill c1842.

Sometime - and probably after the birth of Waightstill - the "real wife" of James appeared in the area of Foscoe at the home of Edward Moody seeking directions to the Aldridge home.  Before day break the next morning, James was at the Moody place to buy a bushel of wheat.  He is said to have told Moody that "the cat was out of the bag at last."

Sometime between 1834 and 1836 A "fur peddler of the name of Price" had spotted Aldridge in Watauga Co.  On his return to "Big Sandy" [Kentucky, where the "real wife" had apparently relocated from Virginia] he told what he had discovered, precipitating her travel "on a fine horse" to Watauga in search of James Aldridge.

To me, this story seems a "stretch."  Given the perils of the time, a wife abandoned for some 15 years would probably have remarried within a few years, believing that her first husband had been killed.

The tale of the "real wife" is attributed by Arthur to Levi Coffey who was probably Levi Lafayette Coffey, a son of Elisha and Anna Harmon Moody Coffey.  Levi was born in Burke Co., NC c1833 and in Watauga by 1859 when he married Temperance "Tempie" Calloway, born c1844 to James and Nicey Gragg Calloway.

Anna Harmon Moody was the daughter of Edward and Frances Carter Moody. Both Edward and Frances were natives of Virginia and may have known James Aldridge prior to coming to Watauga Co.

In a footnote to this chapter, Arthur wrote:  "In his genealogical tour through Ashe in 1828, Dr. Elisha Mitchell speaks of a hunter living on the head of the Watauga River with the children of his real wife, who was then residing on the Big Sandy in Kentucky, and his own children by another woman with whom he was then living as his wife.  If this refers to James Aldridge, then Betsy Calloway had two children by him after his first wife appeared in the scene, for both Ben and Waightstill were born after 1828."*

I have not found an Aldridge in the 1840 or 1860 Watauga county census.  The 1850 census for that county enumerates Elizabeth Caloway [sic] with five children in her household:  Ellen, Emeline, Benjamin and Waightstill and William.  Within three doors of her residence was that of Harrison Aldridge.  William was not listed by Arthur as one of James' and Betsy's children.

Harrison married Jincy Clark c1845,  She was born c1827 in NC.  Harrison died on Jan. 11, 1905** in Watauga Co.  Together they raised at least nine children, one being Harrison, Jr., born Jul., 1864.  He married Mary Etta Buchanan c1886 and their son, Samuel Anthony Aldridge (1893-1966) married Lora Destomonia Coffey (1888-1967), a daughter of Joseph Reubin and Martha Elizabeth Gragg Coffey.

James Aldridge (1853-1939), another son of Harrison and Jincy, married Sarah Gragg, daughter of Johnson and Nancy Cuthbertson Gragg.  Their son, Arthur Blaine Aldridge (1884-1947) married Rosa Lee Coffey (1886-1946), a daughter of Jesse Filmore and Martha Storie Coffey.

Samuel Columbus Aldridge (1862-1941), a third son of Harrison and Jincy, married Margaret Buchanan c1884.  Their son, Horatio Acuff Aldridge (1891-1971) married Byrd Elizabeth "Birdie" Coffey on Feb. 19, 1913 in Watauga Co.

So, how does Levi Coffey relate to the Coffey women who married into the Aldridge clan?

To all three he was a double second cousin, twice removed; a fourth cousin once removed and a fifth cousin once removed.  They all descend from Edward and Ann Powell Coffey through their son John and his son Reuben who married Sarah Scott.


*According to ages given in 1850, Benjamin was born c1837 and Waightstill in c1842.  Mitchell wrote:
"In the neighborhood is a hunter who has two women living with him; to one of them he owes and to the other he graciously discharged the duties of a husband; one has 3 children, and the other one and another at hand. 'Tis a region for these irregularities. The Leather Stocking of these regions, and whom we would have had as a pilot, but that he is in the woods, has a wife living on Sandy River in Kentucky, and the children of that wife, and another woman living with him here on the Watauga."  Earlier in his writings on this topic, he wrote that he was heading for the cabin of "Leather Stocking Aldridge."  Leather Stocking seems to be a common term used in the day to describe hunters and woodsmen.


**Arthur wrote that "Harrison, in memory of a faithful dog which saved his life from wild hogs, had that dear friend buried on a ridge above the home of his son, James A. Aldridge, and requested that the be buried there also.  His tombstone, surrounded by a substantial stone wall, records the fact that he joined the Baptist Church October 22, 1870, and died January 11, 1905."

The Other Side of the Source Coin!

Death Certificate for Lillie Ann Coffey Carter
Click to Enlarge

This is a North Carolina death certificate for Lillie Ann Coffey Carter, a daughter of Napoleon Austin Caleb Coffey and his wife Mary Matilda Townsend. Austin, as he appears in the census record and Mary Matilda were married prior to 1882 in NC. Their marriage record has not yet been found.

Their children were Cleveland Napoleon, born in May of 1882; Lillie Ann, born May 3, 1886; Rosa B., born Oct., 1888 and Perry Elmore, born Mar. 25, 1892.

There are several errors of interest to me on this document, and were likely were made by the informant, Mr. M. M. Carter of China Grove, NC.  He was probably Lillie's husband.

First error: Lillie was born in Caldwell Co. per Vol. 12, Page 65 of the Caldwell Co., birth index.

Second error: Her mother was not Ellen Adams.

Third error: Her father's given name is misspelled.

The third error is not that gross. The birth place and mother's name errors, in my opinion, are. Anyone looking for Napoleon and Ellen Coffey in Avery Co. in 1886 will likely not find them there, especially without an 1890 census to help.

I have noticed that several internet genealogies for this family omit Mary Ellen’s surname, and appear to assume that Mary Ellen Adams and Mary Matilda Townsend were the same person; e.g., Mary E. Matilda Townsend.

Austin’s children with Mary Ellen Adams were:

1 - William McKinley, born Feb. 22, 1898, died Oct. 26, 1953 in Crossnore Twp., Avery Co. He married Annie Lee Crump in 1921, Caldwell Co. She was born Nov. 29, 1901 in Caldwell and died Mar. 10, 1994 in Morganton, Burke Co. After William died Annie married his uncle, Wheeler Eden Coffey. Wheeler had been previously married to his second cousin, Mary Emaline Townsend, daughter of Joseph and Rosa Bell Coffey Townsend.

2 – Dollie, born c1903 – no other information

3 – Lona V., born Jun 25, 1910 in Avery Co., married Elbert Clark on Nov. 20, 1928 in Carter Co., TN. Elbert was born Jan. 8, 1907 in Avery Co., and died Jan. 31, 1974 in Crossnore.

4 – Ann, born Apr. 15, 1914, died Sep. 20, 2006 in Mitchell Co., NC. She married a Mr. Eller.


Obituary, Hampton Funeral Service, Sep. 20, 2006

Ann Coffey Eller (April 15, 1914 - September 20, 2006)

Mrs. Ann Coffey Eller, age 92, of Brian Center, in Spruce Pine, died Wednesday morning, September 20, 2006.

Mrs. Eller is survived by one daughter, Nora Gladden of Plumtree, and one grandson, Michael Joseph Decker of New York, New York.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Napolean and Ellen

Adams Coffey, and one son, Zane Edward Clark.

Private graveside services and burial for Mrs. Ann Coffey Eller will be conducted Friday afternoon, September 22, 2006, at 2:00 o'clock at the Calloway Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Avery County Humane Society Shelter, 1824 Stamey Branch Road, Newland, North Carolina.

A Downside to using Headstone Info

Monroe Cleveland or Jesse Cleveland Coffey?

Within a couple of days of writing the previous blog about headstones, I received this from Lloyd Coffey, a grandson of Jesse Cleveland Coffey.  Jesse was a son of  Jesse "Red Eye" and Lucinda Louise Coffey Coffey:

"My grandfather, Jesse Cleveland Coffey, son of Jesse C. 'Red Eye' Coffey, is buried in Glencoe Cemetery in Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Virginia.  It is in southwestern Virginia and is the location of the 'Richmond District' about which I wrote you earlier.  For some reason, his grave marker has his name as Monroe Cleveland Coffey.  I know that the name Monroe is in our family several times, but I do not know how it got attached to my grandfather.  I have attached a picture of his gravestone.  I do not know the source of any of the information on the stone."

Unless this information is passed on through the family, future researchers looking for Jesse Cleveland's grave site will be disappointed when it cannot be found.

Jesse Cleveland, who I'm sure I've written about in earlier blogs, married Eliza Loudermilk, a daughter of Finley T. & Mary Clark Loudermilk in Caldwell Co., NC in 1910. Eliza was born on Dec. 3, 1892 and died Mar. 18, 1987 in Hiddenite, Alexander Co., NC.

Her obituary:

The Watauga Democrat, Boone, NC Mar. 20, 1987

Mrs. Eliza Coffey

Hiddenite Resident

Mrs. Eliza Coffey, 94, of Route 1, Hiddenite, died Wednesday, March 18, at the residence following an illness of one week.

She was born in Caldwell County, Dec. 23, 1892. She was a daughter of the late Finley Loudermilk and Mary Clark Loudermilk. She was a homemaker. He husband, Cleveland Coffey, preceded her in death.

Survivors include three sons, Lester Coffey and Rayford Coffey, both of Lenoir, and Eugene Coffey of Statesville, two daughters Mrs. Zelma Campbell of Hiddenite and Mrs. Nettie Hodge of Lenoir; one brother, Daniel Loudermilk of Taylorsville, and 36 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Services were held today at 2 p.m. at the Adams Funeral Home Chapel in Taylorsville. Officiating were the Revs. Homer Baity and Bobby Eads. Burial was in the Rocky Face Baptist Church Cemetery in Alexander County.

Adams Funeral Home in Taylorsville was in charge of arrangements.

She and Jesse were parents of six children:

1 - Annie Rivers "Nannie", born Jan. 1, 1910 in Avery Co., NC, died Apr 15, 1952 in Boone.  Annie married her second cousin, William Glenn Coffey and had at least one son, Jerry Guy, born Sep., 12, 1933, died Jan. 25, 1998 in NC.

2 - Lester Deverlin, born Apr. 12, 1913 in NC, died Jul 20, 1988 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  His wife was Grace Thelma Bennett, born Jul. 27, 1924 in Avery Co., died Feb. 22, 2005 in Lenoir.

Her obituary:

The Hickory Daily Record, Catawba Co., NC, Feb. 25, 2005

GRACE B. COFFEY

LENOIR - Grace Bennett Coffey, 80, of Rosedale Drive, died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005, at Gateway Nursing Center.

She was born July 27, 1924, in Avery County to the late Jesse Cleveland and Etta Naomi Hardin Bennett.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lester Deverlin Coffey; four brothers; and two sisters.

Mrs. Coffey was a homemaker and a member of Zacks Fork Baptist Church.
Survivors include three sons, Donald Odell Coffey Sr. of South Sioux City, Neb., Lloyd Everette Coffey of Taylorsville and Benson Howard Coffey and wife, Teena, of Lenoir; a daughter and son-in-law, Estie Loretta Coffey Smith and Tallie Smith of Lenoir; a stepbrother, Jimmy Kirksey of Hickory; three sisters, Mrs. Virginia Whittington of Lenoir, Mrs. Ollie Coffey of Boone and Mrs. Jean Holdridge of Gainesville, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Jerry Smith, Sharon Smith Clonch, Wayne Smith, Jeannie Smith Childress and Stella Coffey, all of Lenoir, Donald Coffey Jr. of Granite Falls and Gail Coffey Farmer of Arizona; 16 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, at 2 p.m. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Jerry Smith, Ken Osier and Eliza Bishop.  Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.

Serving as pallbearers will be Cregg Clonch, Ryan Smith, Dustin Smith, Josh Coffey, Scott Coffey, Victor Whittington and Shane Whittington.

The family will receive friends tonight, Thursday, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

For additional information, the family contact person will be Sharon Clonch, granddaughter, at 1216 Cottrell Hill Road, Lenoir.

Memorial contributions may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 9140 Arrowpoint Blvd., Suite 380, Charlotte, N.C. 28273, or the Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders Association, Western N.C. Chapter, 31 College Place, Suite D320, Asheville, N.C. 28801-2644.

Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

3 - Zelma Izora, born Sep. 1, 1915 in NC, died Aug. 6, 1993 in Alexander Co.  She married Lex Garland Campbell, born 1910, died Mar. 8, 1992, also in Alexander Co.  They had at least two children, Betty Lou, born 1935 in Alexander Co., died in Harmony, Irdell Co. on Jan. 24, 2005 and, Gary Lee, born Nov. 25, 1947 in Alexander Co., died Jul. 30, 2005 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC

I have obituaries for both of these and will forward on request.

4 - Charley, born 1918 in Avery Co., died Apr. 14, 1919 in Wilson Creek Twp., Avery Co.  His death record gives his name as Chasley, but Lloyd tells me that is an error.

5 - Nettie J., born Feb. 27, 1920 in Watauga Co.  No further info.

6 - Jerry Baxter, born Mar. 21, 1923 in NC, died at Blowing Rock, Watauga Co. on Jan. 14, 1973.

Hice Frederick Coffee/y - Revised

In the census record and on their headstones, this family and their descendants spelled their surname with the double-E ending. The change seems to have come after the descendants of John W. and Rebecca Ragsdale Coffey moved from Grainger county in Tennessee to McDonald county in Missouri.

Did they really change their name?

In the past I have discussed these "name changes" with other researchers who insist that the change was a conscious decision. I maintain that when the Coffey families moved from Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, or from anywhere in the south and southeast to middle America and the southwest, the surname was not a familiar one to county officials. Therefore, records for these families, which were being created by those officials, had their names spelled like the drink those officials were familiar with!

Many of our ancestors who lived in the 19th and early 20th centuries could not read or write. Consequently, they did not really know how their names were being recorded. The double-e ending then became more or less official as younger children started attending school and learned how to read and write (incorrectly) their names.

All one has to do is look at the majority of those families who remained in the south and southeast to see that their surname spelling never changed from the ey-ending. It did happen, but you have to look at where it happened. Even in a state so populated with Coffey families as Tennessee and Kentucky, if the families ended up in some "remote" county in those states where no one with that surname ever lived before, chances are the spelling changed!

So, I repeat: I do not think any name change (spelling) was intentional and that it just occurred as families moved into unfamiliar surroundings.

Back to Hice

Some researchers report that Hice was a nickname.  However, his WW1 draft registration card shows his name as Hice F. Coffee.  He apparently struggled to sign his name at the bottom, and it ended up looking like this:

Hice was a son of David and Miriah (Mariah?) Paralee Clark Coffey, born Jun. 28, 1883 in McDonald Co..  He was married c1903 in Missouri to Nora Gertrude Ford, a daughter of Harvey Lafayette and Elizabeth Jackson Clark.  Nora was born Feb. 17, 1884 in McDonald Co., and died in Bentonville, Benton Co., AR in Dec., 1977.  Hice died in 1953 in Jane, McDonald Co.  Hice and Nora are buried in the cemetery in Jane, McDonald Co.

Their children, all born in McDonald Co, were:

Lillie Fern, born c1904, died Dec. 25, 1925, buried in Jane Cemetery.

Maude, born c1906 - no further information.

Vaud (?), born c1906 - no further information.

Fred, born Jul. 15, 1908, died Jan. 1, 1910, buried in Jane Cemetery.

Earl Owen, born Apr. 25, 1913, died Jun. 26, 1984.  He married Lillian Sparkle Yeargin (var.) on May 21, 1932 in McDonald Co.  Lillian was born Dec. 20, 1913 in MO and died in Jane on Jul. 1, 1970.  Both are buried in the Jane Cemetery.

Price C., born Mar. 29, 1915, died Mar. 12, 2001, buried in Jane Cemetery.

Cleo Ralph, born May 13, 1918, died Apr. 27, 1992, buried in Jane Cemetery.

Harvie N., born c1921 - no further information.

Nora V., born c1923 - no further information.

Leta O.(?), born c1925 - no further information.

Truman E., born c1927 - no further information.

If you would like to change or add to this information, drop me a line at the above e-mail address.