William "Willie" Calvin Coffey

1910 Whitman Co., WA Census

Willie was born on Apr. 13, 1906 in Revere, Whitman Co., WA to Len W. Coffey.  Len was born c1878 in NC.  His wife's name is unknown but, she too was born in NC.  They appeared in the May, 1910 census for Union Pct., Whitman Co., WA and although enumerated, the mother's given name was not provided.

Willie returned to North Carolina before 1935.  It was on Oct. 8 of 1934 that he married Macy A. Martin, a daughter of Nelson Harper and Martha Virginia "Mattie" Bradshaw Martin.

Macy had a brother, Roby Sherrill Martin. born Apr. 10, 1890 in Yadkin Valley, NC, died Jul. 27, 1962 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  Roby was married to Sarah Ivalee Crisp in Patterson, Caldwell Co., NC in Jan., 1913.  In Dec., 1913 their first child, William Lee "Billie" Martin was born.  Billie Married Blanch Gertrude Wellborn, a daughter of Joseph Harrison and Carrie Elizabeth Coffey Wellborn.  Carrie was a daughter of Thomas (son of William, Jr. & Margaret Robbins Coffey) and Rachel M. Coffey Coffey (a daughter of McCaleb and Elizabeth "Betsy" Collett Coffey).

Willie died on Dec. 3, 1988 in Caldwell Co., and Macy died there in Sep. 10, 1990.  Unfortunately, I do not yet know where they were buried.  They were parents of at least two sons:  William Harper, born c1936 and Thomas Lemuel, born 1939.  They appeared in the 1940 census in Mulberry Twp., Caldwell Co. with Macy's widower father.

Question:  Who were parents of Len W. Coffey?

 Jack

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Mystery solved, thanks to Bradley Ingels.  

William Calvin "Willie" Coffey was the son of William Lemuel and Faunnie Lambreth [sic] Coffey.  William Lemuel was a son of John Calvin and Nancy Caroline Tuttle Coffey.  The 1920 census for Caldwell Co. shows Willie living in the household with his uncle, William L. Lamburth [sic].  Willie's mother, Faunnie Lambreth Coffey died in June, 1910 and was buried at the Gragg Cemetery in Collettsville, Caldwell Co.  His father remarried in 1913 to Mamie A. Neff in Crook Co., OR and in 1920 they were living in Deschutes Co., OR while Willie was in NC.

William Lemuel died in Sunnyside, Yakima Co., WA on Jul. 14, 1957.  I have not yet found his burial site or, info on second wife.

William & Anna "Annie" Boone Coffey

William was one of the sons of Thomas and Sarah "Sally" Fields Coffey.  He was the second of 10 children born to that couple and the first of eight sons.  Bible records provided in 1990 by Mary E. Thornburg, tells us that William was born "November 29th in the year of our Lord 1782," and died May 22, 1839 in Wilkes Co., NC.  He was buried there at the Rufus Baptist Church Cemetery in the Mulberry Community, now part of Caldwell Co. (Lat: 36.00080, Lon: -81.64390).

Mary's Bible records tell us that William married Annie Boone on Oct. 16, 1804 in Boone, Watauga Co., the daughter of Jesse Boone and his wife Sarah McMahan.  Annie appears to be the sixth of at least eight children born to Jesse and Sarah.  She was born Jul. 26, 1785 in Burke Co. and died in Caldwell on Jan. 16, 1876.  She is also buried at the Rufus cemetery.

At least six children were born to William and Annie, the first being Daniel Boone Coffey, born Nov. 12, 1805 in Burke Co., died Jan. 21, 1862 in Caldwell Co.  Daniel married Clarissa Estes on Sep. 11, 1834.  She was born Jul. 18, 1817 in Burke Co., died Jul. 17, 1884, probably in Caldwell Co.  They were parents of at least nine children:  1) Emily who married her first cousin (once removed) Charles Lewis Coffey, a son of McCaleb and Elizabeth "Betsy" Collett Coffey; 2) Drury Dobbins who married Harriet Elizabeth Collett on Aug. 25, 1859; 3) Martha Ellen who married Elijah L. Moore on Oct. 12, 1858 in Caldwell Co.; 4) Sophronia Tate who married Henry Clay Coffey, brother to Charles Lewis; 5) Jonah, born May 9, 1843 in Caldwell Co.  He may have died in infancy; 6) Israel Boone, born Apr. 19, 1845 in Caldwell Co., died Jul. 10, 1920 in Topeka, Shawnee Co., KS, married Catherine Emma Spainhour of North Carolina on Sep. 19, 1867 in Caldwell Co. 7) Julia, born Aug. 3, 1847; 8) Hezekiah, born 1852; 9) Celia, born Nov. 7, 1855, died Apr. 15, 1858.

Second born to William and Annie was Wilborn on May 14, 1807 in  Burke Co.  He married Sarah "Sallie" Cottrell on Jan. 2, 1832 in Caldwell Co.  Sallie was born May 1, 1812 in Wilkes Co. and died in Caldwell Co. on Mar. 25, 1894.  Wilborn died on Nov. 27, 1897.  Both are buried at the Rufus cemetery.  They were parents of at least eight children:  1) William Rufus, who married Harriet E. Moore on Dec. 4, 1856; 2) Thomas Milton, born c1835, died Aug. 12, 1863 on the Gettysburg battlefield; 3) Myra Emeline, born c1836, died before 1860; 4) James Grayson, born 1839, died Aug. 24, 1863 at the Union POW camp, Davis Island, New York Harbor, NY; 5) Minerva Jane, born Dec. 20, 1844, died Oct. 10,1934 and who married the Rev. John H. Nelson, born May 19, 1841 in Caldwell Co., died May 22, 1915; 6) John Calvin, born Apr. 30, 1848 in Caldwell Co., died in Mulberry Twp., Caldwell Co. on Feb. 27, 1930.  He married Nancy Caroline Tuttle, born Jan. 10,1854 in Caldwell Co., died Mar. 10, 1939 at Lenoir, Caldwell Co.; 7) Finley Patterson, born Apr. 30, 1848 in Mulberry Twp., died in Lenoir on Apr. 13, 1937.  His wife was Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Tuttle, born Sep. 11, 1851 in Caldwell Co, died Apr. 20, 1931 in Lenoir.  Nancy Caroline and Mary Elizabeth Tuttle were sisters, daughters of Robert G. & Lucinda Puett Tuttle. 8) Charlotte Caroline, born Dec. 2, 1851 in Caldwell Co., died Mar. 18, 1944.  She married Jesse Richmond Moore on Oct. 21, 1869 in Caldwell Co.  He was born Mar. 16, 1849 in Globe Twp., Caldwell Co. and died in the Mulberry Twp. on Sep. 13, 1921

William and Annie's third was Gilliam, born May 21, 1810, died Jan. 8,1910 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co.  He married Mary "Polly" Moore on Jan. 2, 1832.  She was born c1820 in Burke Co. and died in Caldwell Co. on May 26, 1871.  They were parents of at least six:  1) Harvey N., born 1837, died 1912, married Jane Cochran; 2) William Elbert, born 1839, died 1912 at Morganton, Burke Co.  His wife was Margaret Anne Kinkaid, born 1837 in Burke Co., died Dec. 22, 1921 in Morganton.  Margaret had a child after William died and whose father is not known to me.  She and William Elbert had at least six children:  Mary, William Alvin, Lula Eloise; Annie Jane, Harvey Macan, and Maggie Lee. 3) Harriet E., born Sep. 6, 1843 in Cedar Valley, Caldwell Co., died Dec. 12, 1937 in Elizabethton, Carter Co., TN.  Harriet's spouse was James Brown Blair to whom she was married on Oct. 7, 1866 in Caldwell Co.  James was born in Cedar Valley on May 1, 1844 and died in Carter Co. on May 24, 1920.  They had at least eight children:  Henry Lee, Gilliam Colbert, Harvey, John Caldwell, Job W., Mary E., Hatibel, and Lillie M. 4) Celia Adeline, born c1847, died before 1910.  Her husband was John Wesley Estes and they were married on Dec. 2, 1868 in Caldwell Co.  Their children were at least eight:  Benjamin G., Albert Lafayette, Horace Herndon; John C., Victor Scotland, Emma E., Homer Roy, and May C.  This family left NC sometime after 1880 and journeyed west to Iowa where Emma was born and then to Idaho where May was born.  5) Cordelia Adaline, born Jan. 10, 1853, died Jul. 9,1918.  She married John Boone Gragg on Dec. 17,1 877 in Caldwell Co.  He was born Feb. 15, 1856 in Caldwell Co., and died in Globe Twp., on May 23, 1937.  Both are buried at the Job Moore cemetery in the Globe.  Their children were at least seven:  William Hardie, Charlie, Stella Victoria, John Vernon, Laurance Dillard, Mamie, and Horace Milton.  Child 6) was Emma, born c1855.  Unfortunately, nothing else has been found for her.

The fourth child of William and Annie was Celia, Jun. 29, 1813 in Burke Co., died in Wilkes Co. on Jul. 12, 1899.  She married Hezekiah Curtis, a son of Samuel and Susanna Cottrell Curtis, on Dec. 26, 1833 in Wilkes Co.  Hezekiah was born May 16, 1810 in Wilkes Co., and died there on Jan. 20, 1901.  Both are buried at Mountain Park Cemetery in Wilkesboro, Wilkes Co.  Their children were Darcus, Judson, Larkin Junius, Julia, Finley Patterson, Caroline L., and Martha Gertrude.

The fifth and last child born to William and Annie was Calvin on Sep. 30, 1819.  He died Apr. 2, 1847 after a short marriage to Mary Greene in about 1839-40.  Four children were born to Calvin and Mary:  Harrison, Alexander, William and Patterson Vance.  William also died on the battlefield at Gettysburg.

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This is quite a long blog and I hope that I have not made it too complicated to follow.  Many of these folks have been written about in previous blogs.  Use the search window in the sidebar to look for them.  To assure accuracy, place "quotation marks" around the name your are searching for.  All of these, plus all of their known (to me) ancestors and descendants are present on the Edward Coffey Project DVD.  Readers can also use the "Search Also For" links at the bottom of each blog.

Drury Dobbins & Harriet Elizabeth Collett Coffey

Drury was the son of Daniel Boone and Clarissa Estes Coffey, and was born Apr. 23, 1838 in Burke Co., NC.  Harriet was the daughter of James Hamilton and Jane Stewart Collett [photo], and was born Nov. 25, 1840 in Caldwell Co.

She and Drury were married in Caldwell Co. on Aug. 15, 1859.  Drury died in Caldwell Co. on Aug. 16, 1913 and Harriet on Jan. 13, 1921.  Both are buried in Belleview Cemetery in Lenoir.

Her obituary:

MRS. HARRIET COFFEY OF LENOIR, DIES AT AGE OF 80

Lenoir, Jan. 16 -- Mrs. Harriet Coffey died at the home of her son, F. H. Coffey, Thursday evening, being 80 years old, and was buried Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock in Bellview cemetery, Rev. A. A. McLean conducting the funeral services.

Mrs. Coffey, whose maiden name was Miss Harriet Collett, was born at Collettsville November 25, 1840, and on August 24, 1859, was married to D. D. Coffey. To this union two sons, F. H. and D. S. Coffey, and one daughter, Ellen Coffey, were born. Mr. and Mrs. Coffey continued to live at Collettsville for a number of years, following which time they went west and lived 14 years. At the end of that time, their son, F. H. Coffey and his family, who were also living in Junction City, decided to return to North Carolina, and Mr. and Mrs. Coffey returned with them to Lenoir where they lived until August, 1913, when Mr. Coffey died. Four years ago last October Mrs. Coffey fell and broke her hip. Since that time she had been confined to her bed.

She was a life long member of the Adventist church, and a professed Christian. Hers was a life of loving service and she will be greatly missed. She did not complain at her lot, but bore with courageous patience her affliction. During the war she knitted sweaters and socks for the soldiers, and seemed so glad to do that much for the boys.  [Courtesy of Nancy Stonebreaker]

His obituary:

August 13, 1913 – Mr. Drury Coffey Passes.

Useful and Valued Citizen and Brave Confederate Veteran Answers Final Roll Call.

Mr. Drury D. Coffey died at the home of his son, Mr. F.H. Coffey Saturday evening at 6 o'clock after an illness of only a few weeks. For several months Mr. Coffey had been in declining health, but not till recently did his friends and relatives become alarmed about his condition and realize that the end was near. He was one of the old landmarks of Caldwell county, and the announcement of his death will bring sorrow to many homes, especially among the older citizens, who love and honored him, as their comrade and leader.

Drury D. Coffey was born in the Mulberry section of the county in 1838, and was soon recognized as a leader among his people in both social and political life. He was honest as a citizen and always spoke his convictions. As a public servant, he was the champion of the rights of his people and always guarded their interest most zealously. When the Civil War came on, he immediately volunteered and went to the front as a member of Company E, 58th North Carolina Regiment. He was made Sergeant Major of this company and distinguished himself for his prowess and devotion to the cause. He was in many engagements, but was only wounded slightly one time, having a finger shot off.

After the close of the war, he returned to his home, and began life anew as a farmer. He was soon honored by his people by being elected County Commissioner, and so successful and wise was he in handling the affairs of the county, that he was re-elected seven consecutive terms, serving in all sixteen years. In 1857 he represented Caldwell county in the General Assembly of North Carolina, and here he distinguished himself for the boldness and aggressiveness with which he championed the rights and cause of the common people. He moved from this county to the State of Kansas in 1892, where he lived 15 years. In his old days he felt the longing to return to his native county, and in 1907 he returned and took up his residence in Lenoir, where he lived till his death.

In 1868, Mr. Coffey was married to Miss H. E. Collett of this county. She together with two sons, Mr. D. S. Coffey of St. Paul, Minn., and Mr. F. H. Coffey of Lenoir; one daughter, the wife of Dr. Robert Coffey of Portland, Ore., one of the most noted surgeons on the Pacific Coast; and three sisters, Mesdames Charley Coffey and H. C. Coffey of Lenoir, and Mrs. M. E. Moore of Manhattan, Kan., survive him.

He was a member of the Masonic Fraternity and until his death was the oldest living member of Hibriten Lodge, A. F. & A. M. No 262. The burial was with Masonic honors, the funeral services being conducted from the residence of Mr. F. H. Coffey Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock by Rev. C. T. Squires. The body was laid to rest in Belleview Cemetery. The pallbearers were Major G. W. F. Harper, Capt. Edmond Jones and Messrs J. L. Nelson, H. L. Houck, E. F. Reid, C. A. Tuttle, M. N. Harshaw and F. P. Moore.  [Courtesy of Nancy Stonebreaker]

Their children were:

Finley Hezekiah, born Apr. 20, 1861, died Aug. 4, 1943

Daniel Silvester, born May 20, 1866, died Apr. 16, 1945

Clarissa Ellen, born Sep. 24, 1868, died Mar. 1, 1939

Please contact me to add to or to correct any of this information.

Joseph Harrison and Carrie Elizabeth Coffey Wellborn

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

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

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

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

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

Their children were:

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

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

Alma M., born c1904

Annie L., born c1906

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

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

Joseph Dale, born Mar. 14, 1913

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

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

Joseph Harrison and Carrie Elizabeth Coffey Wellborn

Joseph Harrison Wellborn was born c1873 in North Carolina and died there before 1920. He married Carrie Elizabeth Coffey in Caldwell County, NC in 1896 [Marriage Book 11, Page 245]. Carrie was the daughter of Thomas, a son of William Coffey and Margaret Robbins. Carrie's mother was Rachel M. Coffey, the daughter of McCaleb Coffey and Elizabeth Collett.

Carrie was born Aug. 14, 1877 in Caldwell Co., and died in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co. on Mar. 22, 1951.  She is buried at Harper's Chapel Cemetery in Patterson.  An accurate birth and death date for Joseph has not been found.

Children of Joseph and Carrie were:

Jennie Beatrice, born May 11, 1900, died Dec. 30, 1978. Jennie married Thomas Hamilton (Hamp) Robbins in Caldwell Co., NC in 1920. Thomas was born Oct. 17, 1888 [death certificate], a son of Thomas Clingman and Sarah Curtis Robbins. He died Mar. 5, 1965 in Lower Creek, Caldwell Co. [Death Certificate]. Their children were Mary Gwendolyn, born Sep. 7, 1920 [NC Birth Index Book 7, Page 621], died Dec. 14, 1977; Thomas Hamilton, born Sep. 11, 1922; George Welborn, born Aug. 17, 1924, died Nov. 21, 2004; and Robert Joseph, born Dec. 5, 1926.

Carl Coffey, born Aug. 6, 1902 in Wilkes Co., died May 15, 1986 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. He was married in 1921 to Lula Belle Hamby, born Oct. 18, 1898 in NC, died Dec. 8, 1933 in Lenoir. Their children were Clyde Colene, born Oct. 6, 1921; Mildred Marie, born 1923; Joseph Henry, born 1924, died 1997; Earl Russell, born Apr. 3, 1928, died Jun. 22, 1994; and an unnamed child, born and died in 1932.

Alma L., born c1906

Robert Louis, born Dec. 11, 1908, died Dec. 29, 1990

Carrie, born Sep. 13, 1910, died Feb. 28, 1985. She married Hugh Hardin Edmisten, born Aug. 19, 1905 in Watauga Co., NC, died Aug. 16, 1963 in Lenoir. He was a son of Newton Edmiston and Alice Holshouser.

Joseph Dale, born May 14, 1913

Blanche Gertrude, born Nov. 19, 1914, died Mar. 8, 2004. Blanche married first William Lee Martin, born Dec. 23, 1913, died Aug. 4, 1966 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC. He was a son of Roby Sherrill and Ivalee Crisp Martin. Blanche was married second to H. C. (Bud) Andrews for whom I have no information. Blanche is buried in Wilson Memorial Park in Caldwell Co.

Obituary, The News Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC

Blanch Andrews

Blanch Gerturde Wellborn Martin Andrews, 89, of Blowing Rock Blvd., Lenoir, died Monday, March 8, 2004, at Lenoir Healthcare Center.

She was born Nov. 19, 1914 in Caldwell County to the late Joseph and Carrie E. Coffey Wellborn. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, William Lee Martin; her second husband, (Bud) H.C. Andrews; three brothers and three sisters.

Mrs. Andrews was a homemaker was a member of Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church.

Survivors include three sons, Williams S. Martin, Jack O. Martin and Charles A. Martin all of Lenoir; a daughter, Mrs. Ivolee Martin McCall of Valdese; 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel conducted by the Rev. Joe Parker and the Rev. Lynn Hawkins. Interment will follow in J.H. Wilson Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Jason Martin, Charles Martin, Jr., Jamie McCall, Travis Coffey, Tom Haus and Joel Coffey. Honorary pallbearers will be: Donovan Moose, Lee Moose and Will Haus.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, NC 28645; or to Mt. Olivet united Methodist Church, 2032 Mulberry Creek Road, Lenoir NC 28645; or to Wellborn Historical Society, 2400 Mourgea Avenue, High Meadow Apt. 4E, Valdese, NC 28690.

Please send additions or corrections to me at the above e-mail address.

William J. and Mary Lou Coffey Austin

Mary Lou was the fifth child and second daughter of Thomas and Rachel M. Coffey Coffey. She was born in Feb., 1882 in North Carolina, and probably in Caldwell Co. Her father was the son of William and Margaret Robbins Coffey while her mother was the daughter of McCaleb and Elizabeth Collett Coffey. William was a nephew of McCaleb as well as a first cousins, once removed.*

Siblings to Mary Lou were:

- Louis McWill, born Apr. 27, 1874, died Apr., 1960; married Annie Pernell. There were no children born to this union.

His obituary:

Unknown, undated newspaper

Caldwell Native Buried Today

Funeral Services for Dr. L. M. Coffey, 86, retired Lincolnton dentist and a native of Caldwell county, were conducted at Warlick Funderal Home chapel at Lincolnton this afternoon. He had been a dentist in Lincolnton for more than 50 years.

A member of an early Caldwell county family, he was the son of Thomas and Rachel Coffey. His father operated the toll gate on the Lenoir - Blowing Rock road for many years.

He passed away on Sunday night. His widow, Mrs. Annie Coffey survives.

Nephews serving as pallbearers were Clarence P. Coffey, Collett Coffey, Bill Martin, James Mills, and Louis and Carl Wellborn.

In addition to the pallbearers local nephews and nieces are Mrs. Bill Martin, Mrs. T. Hamp Robbins, Mrs. Hugh Edmisten, Mrs. James Mills, Earl J. Austin and Ed Austin.

- James Larkin

- Carrie Elizabeth, born c1878, married Joseph Harrison Wellborn. He was born c1873 and died before 1920. They were married in Caldwell Co. in 1896. Eight children were born to this union. Jennie Beatrice, born 1900, died 1978; Carl Coffey, born Aug. 6, 1902, died May 15, 1986; Alma M., born c1904; Annie L., born c1906; Robert Louis, born Dec. 11, 1908, died Dec. 29, 1990; Carrie, born Sep. 13, 1910, died Feb. 28, 1985; Joseph Dale, born May 14, 1913; and Blanche Gertrude, born Nov. 19, 1914, died Mar. 8, 2004.

- Columbus Clarence, born Mar. 29, 1879, married Mitty Jane Davis, born c1875. Their children were Minnie, born c1905; Velma, born c1906; Haskel, born c1907; Donald, born c1909; Howard, born c1911; Maggie, born c1913; and Bessie Templeton, born Mar. 19, 1915.

Mary Lou died sometime before 1920, and most likely closer to 1913 when her last child was born.

Sometime later William remarried to Rosie LNU.

According to this WW1 draft registration, William Jefferson Austin was born Apr. 4, 1874. He was the son of Julius J. and Celia I. Harris Austin. Julius was born in Caldwell Co. in 1850 and died there on Mar. 3, 1947. Celia was born in 1852 and died Aug. 16, 1946 in Caldwell Co. They were Married Jun. 24, 1871 in that county.

William died in Morganton, NC in about 1960. I have his obituary but not a date for the publication therefore I do not know the exact date of death.

Two versions of his obituary:

Austin Rites are Conducted

Funeral services for William Jefferson Austin, 86, retired farmer of 215 Spruce Street, who passed away Wednesday morning in a Morganton hospital were conducted at 11 o'clock this morning at Greer Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. H. R. Crocker, pastor of First Advent Christian Church, was in charge, and burial was in the Austin family plot at Harper's Chapel Cemetery at Patterson.

Pallbearers were Ben Eller, Lex Hartley, Sam Hartley, Collett Coffey, Louis Welborn and Clarence Coffey.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Roxie Barlow Austin, four sons, a daughter, a brother, three sisters ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

News Item, unknown publication, unknown date

W. J. Austin Taken By Death

William Jefferson Austin, 86, well-known retired farmer who has made his residence at 215 Spruce Street for a number of months, passed away in a Morganton hospital at four o'clock this morning. He had been seriously ill for the last four months and had been in failing health for the last several years.

Funeral services will be conducted at Greer Funeral Home Chapel at 11 o'clock Thursday morning with Rev. H. R. Crocker, pastor of First Advent Christian Church, in charge. Interment will be in the Austin Family plot at Harper's Chapel cemetery at Patterson.

A member of an early Caldwell county family, Austin had spent most of his life farming in the Patterson section of the county. He was born at Patterson on April 4, 1874, the son of Julius Jefferson Austin and Celia Harris Austin. He was a member of the First Advent Christian church.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Roxie Barlow Austin, and the following children by a former marriage to Mary Coffey: Thomas Lester Austin of Hickory, Herbert William Austin of Morganton, Earl Jefferson and Ned Austin, born ot Lenoir, and Mrs. Lawrence McMillan of Lenoir.

Also surviving are a brother, George Austin of Lenoir, and three sisters, Mrs. Nell Hartley, Mrs. Rose Bean and Mrs. Jennie McGhinnis, also of Lenoir. There are ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The children of Mary Lou and William Jefferson were:

Thomas Lester, born May 24, 1906, died Apr. 30, 2000. Thomas married Katherine Arminta Earney. They had at least one child, a son Thomas Earney Austin, botn c1932.

Earl Jefferson, born Jun. 12, 1908, died Aug. 24, 1944. Married Mildred Doris Earney - probably a sister to Katherine. They had at least two children: William David, born c1929 and Earl, Jr., born c1934.

William Herbert, born May 10, 1911, died Jan. 2, 1997

Ned, born Apr. 15, 1913, died Aug. 25, 2002

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





*http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/02/
what-is-second.html

[Readers may have to cut and past this url]

Charles Lewis & Emily Coffey Coffey

Charles and Emily were first cousins, once removed. Charles was the son of McCaleb and Elizabeth (Betsy) Collett Coffey while Emily was the daughter of Daniel Boone and Clarissa Estes Coffey. They were married on Jan. 5, 1853 (married 55 years in the 1910 census) and only had two children: Julia, born c1856 and Clarissa Jane E., born May 1857.

Julia married James Hezekiah. Hartley Sep. 17, 1872 in Caldwell Co. James was born in that county May 25, 1850.

Their children were:

- Ella, born 1876, died 1880 [per Miss Jane Hartley]
- Charles Lewis., born Jan., 1877, married Margaret Cowles in Caldwell Co., Oct. 25, 1898. They had at least three children:

- Ruth Mildred, born Aug., 1899

- Margaret Cowles, born Aug., 1901, died May 25, 1997, married Randolph Jones Carter, Jan. 8, 1920 in Morehead, Guilford Co., NC
- Charles Lewis Hartley, Jr., born Nov. 9, 1905

In 1877, Clarissa Jane married Haywood G. Powell, born Sep., 1857 in North Carolina, died 1935 in Caldwell Co. They were married in Caldwell Co. in 1877. According to the 1910 census, Jane was the mother of three living children:

- John Russell, born Jun. 27, 1880, married Mamie Leslie Rabb in 1900, Caldwell Co. Mamie was born in 1880 and died 1953 in Caldwell Co.

- Florence, born Apr., 1882, married Laurence Henry Coffey (later Dr.) on Apr. 12, 1898 in NC and divorced in 1905.  Laurence was the son of Henry Clay and Sophronia Tate Coffey Coffey and in c1909 he married Adah Mae Costner in NC.

- Collett C., born Apr. 1887

Jane and Haywood were residents in the home of her parents in 1910. Also present in the household was a granddaughter, Bessie Coffey, age 11. Because Charles and Emily had only two children, both daughters, it isn't yet clear who Bessie's parents were. Likely her mother was Jane by someone other than Haywood. [See explanation in update below]

Other children of James H. and Julia Ann Coffey Hartley were:

Henry Harper, born Jul. 13, 1880, died May 28, 1940 in North Wilkesboro, NC; married Ida Madeline Harris.

Franklin J., born Jan. 23, 1882, died Jul. 22, 1951 in North Wilkesboro; married Elizabeth T. Steele on Apr. 26, 1905 in Kings Creek Twp., Caldwell Co.  Elizabeth was born Feb. 23, 1884 in NC and died on Apr. 30, 1974 in Charlotte, NC.

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Update 9/17/2015

Today I received an e-mail from Miss Jane Hartley containing some extremely nice comments pertaining to the Edward Coffey blog and some corrections/additions.  The above has been edited to reflect some of the corrections as well as additional information from my files.  Her great-grandparents were James Hezekiah and Julia Ann Coffey Hartley.  Her great-great grandparents were Charles L. and Emily Coffey Coffey.

Part of the e-mail follows:

"Regarding the 1910 Census:  Census is correct in saying JANE E. COFFEY (POWELL) gave birth to three children who grew to adulthood.

"JANE and HAYWOOD POWELL'S middle child was a daughter, FLORENCE E. POWELL, who married (on 4/12/1898) her double-2nd cousin LAURENCE HENRY COFFEY(1875-1944).  (I believe it's on Pg. 37 of the latter's book "Thomas Coffey and his Descendants" where LAURENCE H. COFFEY, M.D. mentions his first wife FLORENCE POWELL and their only child together a daughter BESSIE BOONE COFFEY.

"LAURENCE filed for divorce from FLORENCE receiving a Final Decree in Nov., 1905.  Both he and FLORENCE remarried. (FLORENCE perhaps remarried more than once.)

"So, I suspect the above paragraph might explain why the 1910 CENSUS found their 11-year-old daughter BESSIE COFFEY living in the same household as her maternal grandparents the POWELLS and her maternal g-grandparents the COFFEYS:

"1910 Census Listing is INCORRECT RE: relationship of Bessie Coffey to Head of Household:

Charles L. Coffey, Head of Household

Emily Coffey, wife

Haywood Powell, son-in-law

Jane Powell, daughter

Bessie Coffey, granddaughter  [Bessie's relationship to Head of Household should have read G-Granddaughter.]"

P.S. Just FYI -  In my personal Coffey history file, I show Florence and Laurence Coffey's daughter as BESSIE ARELIA BOONE COFFEY (KING) (b. 1899 NC - d. 1978 FL) who married ARCHIE SAMUEL KING (b. Dec. 3, 1896 NC - d. Sept 15, 1971 FL).  The Kings' only child was a daughter, BEUELARESS KING (HELEM) (b. Oct. 21, 1921 FL - d.Mar 2, 2011 FL).  Beuelaress's husband was HORACE WILLIAM HELEM (b. July 7, 1918 - d. Oct. 1, 1996 FL).

Clarissa Ellen Coffey

Clarissa was the third and last child that I have found that was born to Drury Dobbins and Harriet Elizabeth Collett. She was born Sep. 24, 1868 in Lenoir, Edgefield Co., NC and died Mar. 1, 1939 in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR

She married Dr. Robert Calvin Coffey, her second cousin and a son of Patterson Vance and Nancy Martisha Estes Coffey. Robert was born Oct. 20, 1869 in Lenoir, Edgefield, Co., and died on Nov. 9, 1933 in a plane crash neat Portland, OR. He was 64 years old.

An article in Time magazine, in partnership with CNN reproduced the following article from the Nov. 1933 issue of the magazine Aeronautics:

"With fearful vengeance the Law of Averages proceeded last week to settle its score against United Air Lines. In 40 million miles of flying, no passenger had been killed in a multi-motored plane of United until last month when a ship was blown up on the New York-Chicago route (TIME, Oct. 23).* Last week near Portland, Ore. another United plane of the same new type crashed into a hillside in a fog. Pilot and three passengers were killed. Copilot, stewardess and four passengers survived.

Fog lay thick around the Portland airport, situated on an island in the Willamette River, when the ship took off for its run down the coast to San Francisco. Among the passengers was Dr. Robert Calvin Coffey, Portland surgeon famed for his work with cancer.† Across from him sat his assistant, Dr. John Straumfjord, with whom he was flying to Medford, Ore. to operate on a colleague. Leaving the airport the pilot circled gingerly up through the fog, edging perilously near the hills which rise abruptly to the west. Suddenly a wing tip gouged a tree on the hilltop. Down the ship crashed. It broke apart, caught fire. In an instant Stewardess Libby Wurgaft had the cabin door open. Four times she entered the blazing cabin, each time helped bring out an injured passenger. But nobody could save Dr. Coffey and the other two passengers on his side of the cabin. All three were killed by the crash.

* Fortnight ago Department of Justice agents said they were convinced that an underworldling had traveled in the plane several days before the crash, had concealed an explosive among the blankets in the plane's lavatory, for fear he would be searched at his destination. The explosive lay among the blankets until it fell to the floor.

† No kin of San Francisco's Dr. Walter Bernard Coffey, he addressed the American College of Surgeons last month on his method of draining the kidneys through the intestines in cases of cancerous bladder, and on his "surgical quarantine" of healthy tissue during treatment."

Robert and Clarissa had four children:

- Dr. Jay Russell Coffey, born May 31, 1896 in Idaho, died Mar. 9, 1985 in Warrenton, Clatsop Co., OR. He married Josephine Richardson c1915 in OR. She was born c1897 in TX, and died Oct. 19, 1934 in Portland, OR. They had three children: Jay, Jr., born May 31, 1915, died Jun. 1978; Thomas R., born c1917; and John Fellows, born c1919.

- Wilson Bryan Coffey, born c1898 in Idaho, died Sep. 1, 1959 in Lane Co., OR. He married Marjorie Campbell on Sep. 15, 1920 in Multnomah Co., OR. She was born Apr. 8, 1900 in Washington state, and died Nov. 2, 1995 in Pierce Co., WA. Their children were Joan C., born c1925 and Mary E., born c1927. There were probably others that I have not yet found.

- Robert Mayo, born Dec. 18, 1906, died Sep. 12, 1972

- Herbert Spencer - no other information.

Additions and/or corrections are requested.

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Update, Jan. 1, 2013:  It seems that prior to her death in 1934, Josephine Richardson Coffey gave birth c1931 to a fourth son.  That child, Joel R. Coffey, was still living in OR and was mentioned in the obituary of his brother, retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. John Fellows Coffey.  Col. Coffey died on Jul. 26, 2000 in Norfolk, VA and is buried in Chesapeake, VA at the Churchland Baptist Church Cemetery.  Joel appears as a nine-year old with his father and step-mother Martha Handley Coffey in the 1940 Portland, Multnomah Co., OR census.

According to his WW2 draft registration card, Dr. Jay Russell Coffey was born on Jun. 24, 1894 in Moscow, Latah Co., ID.  Josephine Richardson was born May. 3, 1896 in TX.

Jay Russell Coffey, Jr., was born May 31, 1915 and died Jun. 15, 1978 in Portland.  He is buried at River View Cemetery in Portland.  His military marker tells us that he was a Captain in the US Army during WW2.

Dr. Jay's second son was Thomas Richardson "Tom" Coffey, born Oct. 15, 1917, died Jun. 24, 1944.  He is buried at River View as well.  His military marker tells us that he was a First Lt. in the 4th Marine Division during WW2.  In June of 1944 the 4th Marines were engaged in taking and cleaning up the island of Saipan.  Tom was awarded the Silver Star as well as The Purple Heart medals.  He was unmarried.

Third son was John Fellows Coffey, mentioned above.  He enlisted in the US Marine Corps on Sep. 12, 1940 and retired on May 31, 1966 at Marine Corps Headquarters in Arlington, VA.  He was twice awarded the Bronze Star medal for Valor, the Navy Commendation Medal, three Presidential Unit Citations and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 12 stars.  Each star represents participation in a major campaign; there were 48 in the Pacific by the Navy and Marine Corps.

Jack

Daniel Silvester Coffey - Update 11/21/09

Daniel Silvester Coffey was the second son of Drury Dobbins and Harriet Elizabeth Collett, born May 20, 1866 in Caldwell Co., NC and died Apr. 16, 1945 in Dakota Co. (probably), MN. He was buried there in the Acacia Park Cemetery.

Daniel married Daisy Skadden in Jul., 1906. She was born Apr. 21, 1882 in Harrison Co., OH and died Oct. 30, 1959. She is also buried in the Acacia Park Cemetery. Daisy was the daughter of George A. and Marinda Estep Skadden who can be found in the Jun. 26, 1900 census for Freeport Twp., Harrison Co., OH.

I have found only one child for Daniel and Daisy. That is Charles Finley Coffey, born Jan. 5, 1920, died Feb., 1984 in Scottsdale, Maricopa Co., AZ.

Additional information and/or corrections are requested..

Finley Hezekiah Coffey

Finley Hezekiah Coffey was a son of Drury Dobbins and Harriet Elizabeth Collett Coffey. He was born Apr. 20, 1861 in Caldwell Co., NC and died Aug. 4, 1943, also in Caldwell Co. He married Rose Frieze, who was born Apr. 7, 1866 and died Jun. 15, 1948.

Together, Finley and Rose had at least five children:

- M. Irene, born c1895
- Herbert Frieze, born unknown
- Harold F., born c1899
- Ethyl, born c1901
- Daniel Archie, born Jun. 10, 1904, died Jun. 21, 1960

Finley was the first chairman of the Caldwell Co. Board of Public Welfare, and one of the county's most prominent citizens. A 1942 article described Finley:

“Finley H. Coffey, president of the Kent-Coffey Manufacturing Company, prominent in the manufacturing, banking and government interests of Caldwell County, was born in this county, the son of the late Drury D. and Harriet Collett Coffey, both of whom were natives of Caldwell....When he was twenty-two he opened his own store in this area, operating it until 1887 when he came to Lenoir and established a general store where Efird’s is now located.

About seven years later Mr. Coffey went to Kansas and took over the management of a farm owned by his father. In 1907 he returned to Lenoir, and he, with others, founded the Kent-Coffey Manufacturing Company.

Active in the civic affairs of Lenoir and Caldwell County , Mr. Coffey has served a number of terms on the board of aldermen of the city of Lenoir ; was chairman of the county draft board during World War I, and was for many years a member of the Board of County Commissioners, serving as chairman for some time. He was a member of this board until 1928 when he entered the State Legislature where he served on the Finance Committee.

At present Mr. Coffey is president of the Kent-Coffey Manufacturing Co., president of Union Mirror Co., president of Union National Bank, vice-president of Mutual Building and Loan Association, chairman of the County Welfare Board, Vice-chairman of the State School for the Deaf and chairman of the building committee. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Kiwanis Club and an active member of the Presbyterian Church.

To Mr. Coffey, perhaps more than any other living citizen, Caldwell County is indebted for much of the progress made during recent years. During his term as a member of the county Board of Commissioners he was instrumental in establishing the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Caldwell County and in doing away with the indebtedness of the county and placing it once more on a sound financial basis. When he became a commissioner there were only two jobs in the county outside the actual operating force in the courthouse, and these were a Farm Demonstrator and one Welfare Worker. During his administration the county was given a well-rounded administrative force.

The wide diversity of Mr. Coffey’s interests are well demonstrated in the offices which he holds today, and Lenoir and Caldwell County are indeed fortunate in having such a citizen as Mr. Finley H. Coffey.”

Mr. Coffey was still in office at the time of his death at age 82 in 1943. Minutes of the Caldwell County Welfare Board meeting after his passing refer to him as "the beloved Chairman."

Input concerning Finley and Rose's marriage date and place, or their burial sites, as well as other pertinent information on their children may contact me via e-mail.

McCaleb Coffey

McCaleb Coffey was a son of Thomas and Sarah (Sally) Fields Coffey. He was born Aug. 22, 1803 in Wilkes Co., NC and died Feb. 17, 1881 in Caldwell Co., NC. He married Elizabeth Collett on Feb. 2, 1828 in North Carolina. Elizabeth was born Mar. 8, 1809, probably in North Carolina, and died Jul. 9, 1887 in North Carolina.

He and Elizabeth were parents of at least 14 children, including Thomas Jefferson and Julia Jane, both previously written about in this blog.

The following information was found at a website prepared by Terry Erb:*

McCaleb Coffey, as youngest child, was born (near what is now Patterson, NC) August 22, 1803. Before him were William (the father of Gilliam, Wilborn, Daniel. and Calvin Coffey, and Celia Curtis now or late of this county), Reuben, Martha (wife of Rev. James Dowell), Lewis, and Larkin, who migrated to the West about fifty years ago, Elijah, who went farther South about the same time, and Sarah, who married Samuel Stewart, of Burke County, North Carolina.

McCaleb, soon after his majority, on February 5, 1828, married Elizabeth Collett, a sister of John Collett, Esq., of Burke, and Abraham Collett, of Cherokee County and settled in what was then known as the upper dark hollow of the Yadkin River, where he kindled the cheerful light of a home, since widely known as well for the thrift and hospitality of its inmates as for the noble brood of sons and daughters reared and trained under its shelter. Here sixteen children were born to him, of whom nine survive, four sons: T. J. and W. C. Coffey, of Boone; Charles L. Coffey, of Lower Creek; and Henry C. Coffey of Mulberry; and five daughters: Mrs. J. J. Steele, Mrs. David Farthing, Mrs. Thomas Coffey, and Misses Martha and Jennie Coffey who,with their mother, yet remain at the old homestead. Besides these,there are seventeen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren surviving him.

Without seeking to praise the living, it is but justice to the dead to say that children so taught by precept or example as these have been are the best gifts a citizen can bestow upon the State. To their prudence, energy, and uprightness their several counties owe much, and their immediate neighborhoods very much of their prosperity and reputation.

McCaleb Coffey was one of the last and best specimens of an almost extinct class of men. He was a hunter, pioneer, and backwoods farmer. Never long absent from the place where he first laid his hearthstone, commencing life with scanty means, he was able by steady work and just dealing to erect a slightly and commodious mansion, to raise a large family and equip them for active life, and to accumulate a sufficient fortune for the support of his old age.

While never seeking public position, be was once induced by the united voices of his fellow citizens to act as chairman of the first Board of our County Commissioners, and made a faithful and painstaking officer.

He died February 17, 1881, at his home above Patterson, and was buried February 19, at Harper's Chapel, within sight of the roof tree under which he was born. Without ambition, save to live uprightly and do what he found to be his duties at home, of rare prudence in speech and action, never busied in the affairs of others, inflexibly just, yet not uncharitable, this plain farmer's long life was so useful, clean, and pure that as he was followed to his grave by three generations of his descendants and a large concourse of his neighbors. after more than three-fourths of a century spent under the shadow of the same hills that towered over his birthplace, there was not one in all the throng who pressed near the coffin for a last look at the well-known gray head but who could say, "a good man is gone."

*A source was not provided

Note: Many genealogies and other documents refer to McCaleb as Caleb. He was McCaleb in the 1840 and 1860-1880 census records. He was Caleb in the 1850 census record.