Theodore F. Coffey

Hiram Coffey was born c1916 in Indiana to John Waid and Mary "Polly" Harbert or Harbord Coffey.  He married Elvira Coe on Oct. 15, 1843 in Jeffersonville, Clark Co., IN.*  By 1860 they were residing in McLean Co., IL but apparently spent a number of years in Indiana before relocating; four of their nine children were born in that state.  By 1870 he and Elvira were back in IN and residing in Bloomington Twp., Monroe Co.

The couple had at least nine children:  Theodore, Henrietta, Mary, Loretta, Frances Josephine, Arabine (Allie); Amadin (Amy), Abraham Lincoln, and Clara.

Concentrating on Theodore for this blog, I found that he was born Aug. 10, 1844 in Salem Twp., Washington Co., IN and died on June 9, 1926 in Bloomington, McLean Co., IL.  He married Laura B. Freshwaters c1879, who was born on Oct. 10, 1860 in Apollo, Armstrong Co., PA and died April 21, 1928 in Bloomington.**

There were three children born to this union.  First was Euliss Elvira, born in Apr., 1880.  Mark A. was next, born in Dec., 1881 followed by Hallie L., a son, in Aug., 1889.  I have not yet followed these children to discover their marriages, death, etc.

In 1880 Theodore was clerking in a store in Bloomington but by 1900 he was employed as a traveling salesman.  His break came in 1903 when he received a patent for his "new and useful Needle-Threader."  US Patent No. 735,211 was issued to Theodore on Aug. 4, 1903.  The device was designed to thread either a hand or a sewing machine needle.  From that period until his death in 1926 Theodore continued to make and sell his invention.



Theodore died on Jun. 9, 1926 at home at 706 E. Mill St. in Bloomington and was buried at Hopewell Cemetery in Downs, McLean Co., IL.  Laura followed on Apr. 21, 1928 and is also buried at Hopewell.

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*Indiana State Library Genealogy Database: Marriages through 1850, Indiana State Library online [http://199.8.200.229/db/marriages_search.asp], accessed Sep.,2005.
**"Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch Historical Records from Illinois Department of Health. "Certificates of Death." Illinois Department of Health, Springfield, Illinois. FHL microfilm. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

James Harvey Coffey [Update 8-22-07]

Born Aug. 6, 1806 in Wayne Co., KY, James Harvey Coffey was a son of John Waid and Mary (Polly) Harbert (var.) Coffey. John, born c1788 in (probably) Amherst Co., VA, was a son of Archelus (var.) and Eleanor Wade Coffey. Polly Harbert was born Oct.30, 1781 and died Apr. 19, 1853 in Bloomington, McLean Co., IL. She was a daughter of John and Mary Harbert. Polly and John married Dec. 29, 1801 in Wayne Co., KY.

Archelus' daughter Jane, born Jun.. 22, 1782 in Wilkes Co., NC, died Oct. 2, 1862 in McLean Co., IL, married William Harbert on Jan. 28, 1802 in Wayne Co., KY. William was the brother of of Polly.

James Harvey was the second of the nine known children of John and Polly. He married Anna Eliza Graham on Nov. 14, 1834 in Jackson Co., IN. They were married Nov. 14, 1834 in Jackson Co. James died Feb. 13, 1855 in Washington Co., IN.

Known children of James and Anna were:

Celestin E., a daughter, born c1836 in Indiana [Celestin may be a daughter-in-law. She was not with the family in 1860. I have not found the family in 1850 which would confirm her status]

William H. H., born c1838 in Indiana [William Henry]

John Waid, born Jan. 13, 1841 in Washington Co., died Apr. 15, 1922 in Daviess Co., IN. John married Elizabeth Matilda (Eliza) Persinger on Oct. 26, 1869. She was born Nov. 7, 1842 and died Jan. 18, 1939 in Daviess Co. Their children were George Henry, born about Mar. 1870; James Harvey, born c1872; William Waid, born Oct. 11, 1873; Anna Eliza, born Sep. 6, 1876, died Mar. 21, 1942; Mary Elizabeth, born Jul., 1880, and Minard Ernest, born Feb. 11, 1883.

Almira Eliza, born c1843, married Lewis Warwick Jul. 25, 1869 in Washington Co., IN. In 1870 they were in the Jefferson Twp., Washington Co., IN census.

Mary Ann, born c1846

James Harvey, Jr., born Jun., 1848, died 1904, married Diantha E. Boling, born Apr. 1860 in Indiana, on Dec. 8, 1883 in Washington Co., IN. Their children were Cora M., born Jul. 1884; Harry L., born Apr., 1888; Lola B., born Jan., 1893; Lilly D., born Mar., 1899; Talmage I., born Jan. 4, 1903, died Nov. 13, 1978; and Myra E., born c1903. After Junior died in 1904, Diantha married William Partlow on Nov. 7, 1907 in Washington Co. In the May 6, 1910 census she was enumerated as divorced. She remained in Washington Co. through the 1930 census, and died c1942.

Addie Caroline, born Aug., 1851 in Indiana, married Theodore William Crow on Mar. 16, 1886 in Washington Co. Theodore was born Sep., 1854 in IN. Their children were Minnie, born Oct., 1887, and William F., born Sep., 1890. Addie is thought to have been married prior to Theodore but,he has not yet been identified.

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