Richard "Dick" Nightingale and Sallie Ann Portman Coffey

Richard and Sallie left Kentucky - probably Wayne Co. - sometime between 1853 and 1855, eventually reaching Texas where they settled in Collin Co by 1870.  In 1860 they were in Grayson Co. where at least one of their children was born.  A marriage date and place has not been found.

I have been able to find eight of their children, but can really only follow one into another family generation.

Their first known child was a son, Clayton Worth, born Feb. 8, 1848 in Casey Co., died Dec. 31, 1929 in Alvin, Brazoria Co., TX.  On Feb. 18, 1875 Clayton married Martha Jane Griffin in Collin Co.  Martha, a daughter of J. M. and Margaret King Griffin was born in Georgia on Sep. 1, 1854 and died in Dallas, TX on Jan. 30, 1943.  Clayton and Martha are buried in the Highland Cemetery at Anna in Collin Co.

I know of five children for Clayton and Martha: 

Vorilla/Vorella, born Oct. 23, 1876 in TX, died Aug. 29, 1954 in McKinney, Collin Co.  She married a Mr. Rampey.  She is buried at Stony Point Cemetery in Melissa, Collin Co.

Malcolm H. "Mallie", born Jul. 16, 1878 at Valdasta in Collin Co., died Feb. 22, 1951 in Houston, Harris Co.  He was buried at Pearland's South Park Cemetery in Brazoria Co., TX.

James P., born Sep. 10, 1881 in TX, died Jan. 19, 1975 in McKinney.  He is buried at Elm Grove Cemetery in Collin Co.

Willie King, a daughter, born Feb. 6, 1887 in Valdasta, married a Mr. John.  She died on Jan. 3, 1964 at Jacinto City, Harris Co., and was buried at Stony Point.

John Cham, born Jun. 6, 1888 in Valdasta, died Dec. 1, 1970 at Denison in Grayson Co., TX.  He was buried at Cedarlawn Memorial Park in Sherman, Grayson Co.  His middle name is spelled on his death certificate as I have entered it here.  Seems to me perhaps a letter or two are missing!?

The other children of Richard and Sallie Ann were:

Jesse, born c1851 in KY
George, born c1853 in KY
John, born c1855 in TX
William, born c1858 in TX
Martha, born 1860, Grayson Co., TX
Emma, born Dec. 12, 1866 in Collin Co., died Oct. 30, 1940 in Melissa, Collin Co. and was buried at Stony Point.  She married a Mr. Moore.
Anna Lee, born Dec. 25, 1870 in Collin Co., died May 18, 1941 in Gainesville, Cooke Co., TX.  She was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Gainesville.  Anna married a Mr. Hightower.

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

Gilliam & Susan Gragg Coffey

Gilliam was a son of William and Anna Boone Coffey. He was born May 21, 1810 in NC and died on Jan. 8, 1910 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC. He married first Mary "Polly" Moore on Jan. 2, 1832 in Caldwell Co.

Mary died on May. 26, 1871 in Caldwell Co. She was the mother of at least six children:

Harvey N., born Dec. 16, 1837, died Aug. 10, 1912. He married Jane Cochran, born Dec. 20, 1848, died Feb. 11, 1911. Both are buried in the Job Moore Cemetery in the Globe, Caldwell Co.

William Elbert, born 1839 in Caldwell Co., married Margaret Anne Kincaid on Feb. 6, 18 60 in Burke Co., NC. Margaret was born in 1837 and died on Dec. 22, 1921 in Morganton, Burke Co.

Harriet E., born Sep. 5, 1843, died Dec. 12, 1937. Harriet married James B. Blain on Oct. 7, 1866 in Caldwell Co. He as born May 1, 1844 in Cedar Valley, Caldwell Co., and died May 24, 1929 in Carter Co., TN. Harried was born Sep. 6, 1843 in Cedar Valley and died Dec. 12, 1937 in Elizabethton, Carter Co., TN. Both are buried in Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery at Keeneburg, Carter Co., TN

Celia Adeline, born c1847 of whom no further information.

Cordelia Adaline, born Jan. 10, 1853, died Jul. 9, 1918. She married John Boone Gragg on Dec. 17, 1877. He was born Feb. 15, 1856 in Caldwell Co., and died May 23, 1937 in the Globe. Both are buried at Job Moore.

Emma, born c1855, of whom no further information.

Gilliam married second to Susan D. (Susie) Gragg, a daughter of Jesse and Malinda Mast Gragg on June 4, 1882 in Caldwell Co. Susan had been twice before married: first to Patterson H. Moore on Sep. 6, 1866, and second to Isaac Green on Dec. 8, 1877. The only known child that survived this union was Hillie Horton, born Jul. 31, 1887, died Mar. 30, 1963.

Hillie marrie Bessie* McLean in 1908, Caldwell Co., and had at least four children: Unnamed son born and died May 16-17, 1921; James Harding, born and died Aug. 3, 1922; Fred Oral, born Mar. 16, 1924 and Ora Lee, born Feb. 27, 1927. Ora married Earl Greene in 1946, Caldwell Co.  Hillie died Mar. 30, 1963 in Collettsville, Caldwell Co., and was buried there in the Shoemake Cemetery.

The photo shows Hillie and his parents c1920. Please contact me if you contributed or know the source of the photo.

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

*I've seen another genealogy that names her Susie or Susan McLean

James Brown & Harriet E. Coffey Blair (Update)

This photo was sent to me by Gail Hewett, a descendant of James and Harriet.  It is in remarkably good condition.  The young man in the photo is Fredrick Blair, their grandson and son of Gilliam Colbert "Cub" Blair.  According to Gail, James and Harriet raised Fredrick after his mother died.

---

Harriet Coffey was the daughter of Gilliam and Mary (Polly) Moore Coffey.  Gilliam was a son of William and Anna (Annie) Boone Coffey who descends from Edward and Ann Powell through their son John and his son Thomas Coffey who married Sarah (Sally) Fields.  Thomas was a brother to Reuben Coffey who married Martha (Polly) Dowell.

In her note accompanying the photo, Gail wrote that Polly Moore may be the daughter or Job and Susan Stone Moore.  Job was known to minister to boys at the Globe Academy.  Gail thought that Polly may have been Cherokee, taken in by Job to help care for the boys, and perhaps to save her from the "Trail of Tears."  Her daughter, Harriet, appears to me to have the quaint and beautiful features of a Native American woman.  In this photograph, taken c1908, she is still a very attractive woman, and must have been a real beauty in her younger years.

Harriet was born Sep. 6, 1843 in Cedar Valley, Caldwell Co., NC and died Dec. 12, 1937 in Elizabethton, Carter Co., TN.  She is buried at Harmony Baptist Church Cemeter in Keeneburg, Carter Co.  James Blair was born in May 1845 in Caldwell Co.  We're working on it, but do not yet know when and where he died or, where he is buried.

Their children were:

Henry Lee, born c1869

Gilliam Colbert "Cub", born Jul. 15, 1870, died Dec. 9, 1934.  He is buried at the Concord Church Cemetery in Bostic, Rutherford Co., TN

Harvey, born c1873

John C., born Jan., 1875

Job W., born c1878

Mary E., born Dec., 1881

Hatibel, birth unknown

Lillie M., born May, 1887

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

---

Hi Jack,


James Brown Blair was born May 1, 1844 in Cedar Valley, Caldwell Co., N.C. He served in the Confederate army during the Civil War. Was captured and held prisoner at Rock Island Il. until the end of the war. He and Harriet Coffey were married Oct. 7, 1866. He died May 24, 1929 in Carter Co. Tn. He and Harriet are buried at Harmony Baptist Church in Keeneburg Tn. ( just outside of Elizabethton). He was the son of Colbert and Mary (Polly) Barnes Blair.

Harriet E. Coffey Blair was born Sept. 6,1843 in Caldwell Co. N.C. She died July 19, 1937, and is buried next to James in Harmony Baptist Church cemetery in Keeneburg , Carter Co., Tn.

If I can help you any further just let me know.

Another Coffey Cousin,

Gail

James Bert Blunt

James Bert Blunt

James Bert Blunt was a son of Hugh R. and Mary Ann Bishop Blunt.  Hugh was my second great grandfather on my paternal side.  James Bert was not only my great-uncle, he was also my first cousin, three times removed.

"Jim" moved from Louisiana to Texas in 1880, then back to Louisiana in 1890.  He finally settled in Rush Springs, Indian Territory.  In his later years, he often said that were he a younger man he would go to Canada, a "land of opportunity."  He is said to have owned a number of very fine farms, but would always sell out and move on.

Alpha Anna Delafield

His first wife was Georgia Ann Slack who he married on Aug. 25, 1872.  Georgia died a year later and on Jan. 20, 1876, he married Alpha Anna Delafield.   He and Anna raised eight children:  Joel Edgar, Mildred Irene, Rosie Relura, James Bert, Jr., Nova Arizona, Pierce, Albert Batron, and Alpha Anna.

Alpha Anna descended from Thomas Delafield, Vicar of Great Milton.  His son Nicholas Delafield was born c1720 in England.  A Texas Historical Marker erected in 1972 near Hallsville in Harrison Co., describes Nicholas as a cooper in the English navy in the 1740's and an artisan who lived in Mecklenburg Co., VA in the 1760s.  According to Bonded Passengers to America*, Nicholas was sentenced to transport to the American Colonies for a period of seven years in the summer of 1752 for "stealing at Stoke Church."

Nicholas' son, William, served as a private in 1779 in the Mecklenburg Co., VA militia commanded by Catp. Reuben Vaught.  William's son, John Glass Delafield was Alpha's grandfather, and John's son, William Jasper was her father by his wife, Cynthia Moore.  Both William and Cynthia died and are buried in Sarepta, Webster Parish, LA.

The story is that when the Delafield family arrived in Louisiana from Tennessee, one or more of their oxen refused to go any further, and wandered back to Tennessee, leaving the family stranded on somewhat poor farm land.

James "Jim" Bert Blunt died on Apr. 19, 1928 in Rush Springs, Grady Co., OK and is buried in the local cemetery:

His obituary:

James B. Blunt was born in Columbia County Arkansas, March 11, 1851. He became a member of the Missionary Baptist Church and lived a devoted Christian life until his death which came April 19, 1928.

He was married to Georgia Ann Slack August 25, 1872 but this union was broken one year later by her death.  He was again married January 20, 1876 to Alpha Anna Delafield.  Born to this union were eight children, four girls and four boys, of whom only one has passed away, Joel Edgar who was buried in 1909.  This wife died April 11 1893 and was put to rest in the Cromwell Cemetery at Cromwell, Texas.

James B. was well known in and around Rush Springs as he had made this his home since 1901.  He had a score of friends and all who knew him loved him for what he was, a good citizen and a worthy gentleman always. He is mourned by his many friends and relatives but God knew best and took him home where he will suffer and sorrow no more. Everything that loving hands could do was done but God wanted that he should be in Heaven with him and sent his angels for him.  Weep not dear kinsmen for he left with the hopes to meet you in a better world above.

He leaves seven children:

Millie Irene Barksdale, James B. Blunt, Jr., Nova Carson, Albert Blunt of Rush Springs, Rosie Lulu Caudill of Cal., Pierce Blunt of Arizona, Anna Buford of Arkansas.

A sister Amanda Braley, of La. A brother Nelson of Arkansas, several grandchildren, and a host of friends.

The funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church at 2:30 o'clock, April 20, 1928 after which his body was placed in its final resting place, in the Rush Springs cemetery, to await the Judgement Day.

The Lord preserves the going out.
The Lord preserves the coming in.
His Angels guard the round about
To keep thy soul from every sin,
And when the going out is done
And when the coming in is o'er
When in the dear and followed place,
Thy feet can come and go no more,
The Lord preserves they going out
From this fair world, from friends and kin,
While angels stand (the rest is unreadable)

Alpha Anne died on Apr. 11, 1893 in Vernon, Wilbarger Co., TX and is buried at Crowell in Foard Co., TX.

*Peter Wilson Coldham, Gen. Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1983, Vol. IX,

Silas Milton & Margaret Caroline Philyaw Coffey

Silas was born Jun 16, 1886 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC to John Caroll and Nancy Evelyn Hartley Coffey. He died there on Nov. 4, 1961 and was buried in the Globe Baptist Church Cemetery at Lenoir in Caldwell Co., NC.

Margaret Caroline was born in 1889, the daughter of Gideon and Martha Teague Philyaw. She died Sep. 16, 1975 in Caldwell Co. and, although I do not have proof, is likely buried with Silas at Globe.

They were married on Nov. 5, 1905 and the photograph is a record of their 50th Anniversary celebration.

There were at least 10 children born to Silas and Margaret:

Wilma Jessie, born Dec. 5, 1909 in Mortimer Twp., Caldwell Co., and died Feb. 27, 1997 in Caldwell Co. She married Ray L. Cook there in 1930.

Beeler, born Jul. 17, 1911 in Globe Twp., Caldwell Co., and died Mar. 20, 1968 in Whitnel, Caldwell Co. His wife was Lema Lou Green, a daughter of Harlan and Lou Ellen Bolick Greene. They were married in Caldwell Co. in 1932. Lena was born Jan. 16, 1915 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Aug. 3, 2000. They had at least three children: Hazel, born Apr. 25, 1938, died Mar. 11, 2003; Kenneth Walter, born Oct. 14, 1940, died Sep. 26, 2001; and Bealer Wayne, born Jan. 20, 1943, died Jul. 5, 2000.

Lema's obituary:

Lema Lou Greene Coffey, 85, of Congress St., Lenoir, died Thursday, Aug. 3, 2000, at Caldwell County Hospice.

She was born Jan. 16, 1915, in Caldwell County to the late Harlan Greene and Lou Ellen Bolick Greene. she was also preceded in death by her husband, Bealer Coffey; one son, Bealer Wayne Coffey; one daughter, Margaret Ellen Williams; one brother, Claude Greene and one sister, Alma Hartley.

She was a homemaker and a member of Globe Baptist Church.

Survivors include two suns [sic] Kenneth Coffey of Hudson and Larry Coffey of Granite Falls; three daughters, Dare Austin, Doris Bumgarner and Hazel Johnson, all of Granite Falls; 23 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and a number of great-great-grandchildren.

A private service will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell County Hospice, 962 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, N.C. 28645.

Pendry's Lenoir Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Floyd Raymond, born Jul. 19, 1913 in Edgemont Twp., Caldwell Co., died Oct. 9, 1983 in Caldwell Co. He married Eva Frances Ingram who was born Jun. 11, 1915 in Caldwell Co. They had at least one child, a son Charles Author [sic], born Feb. 3, 1934 and died Feb. 10, 2003 in Valdese, Caldwell Co.

His obituary:

Charles Author Coffey, 69, of Lakeview Acres Drive, Valdese, formerly of Lenoir, died Monday, Feb. 10, 2003, at the residence.

He was born Feb. 3, 1934, in Caldwell County to Eva Ingram Coffey of Valdese and the late Floyd Coffey. He was also preceded in death by two sons, Marty Dean Coffey and Danny Michael Coffey.

He was owner of Coffey & Sons Concrete Finishing Co. and was a member of Light House Ministries in Drexel.

Survivors, in addition to his mother, include his wife, Dollie Crump Coffey of the home; two sons, Jimmy Richard Coffey of Hildebran and Gary Steve Coffey of Gamewell; a daughter, Donna C. O'Neal of Valdese; a brother, Charles Melton Coffey of George Hildebran; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The funeral is 11 a.m. Thursday at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Mike Ferree, Becky Trammel and Cecil Hamby officiating. Burial will follow at Globe Cemetery.

The family will receive friends today from 7 until 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Coffey, Greg Moore, Rob McGee, Shane Marshall, Scott McLeod and Nolan Clark. Bauch Coffey will be an honorary pallbearer.

Horace M., born 1915

Dock Edward, born 1917, died Jul., 1979. He married Nancy Louise Crump, born Aug. 4, 1924 in Avery Co., NC, died Jan. 29, 2003 in Hickory Twp., Catawba Co., NC.

Nancy's obituary:

Nancy Louise Coffey, 78, of 10th Street Blvd., NW, Hickory, formerly of Lenoir, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003, at Frye Regional Medical Center.

She was born Aug. 4, 1924, in Avery County to the late Bill and Mary Jane Woodruff Crump. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Doc Edward Coffey; three brothers, Percy, Arnold and Joe Crump, and four sisters, Alma Crump, Nell Wallace, Eva Pearson and Edith Pat Hartley.

She was retired from American Efird Mills and Bernhardt Furniture Industries and was a caregiver. She was a member of Harrisburg Baptist Church.

Survivors include one son, Marshall Edward Coffey of Boone; two daughters, Mrs. Ronald (Linda) Miller of Lenoir and Mrs. Randy (Crystal) Setzer of Morganton; a brother, Jim Crump of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

The funeral is 11 a.m. Saturday at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Ted Williams and Ron Miller officiating. Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery.

The family will receive friends today from 7 until 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home, and other times at the home of her daughter, Linda Miller, 1433 Bass Lane, Lenoir.

Pallbearers will be: Robbie Coffey, Chad Miller, Curt Miller, Buddy Detter, Alan Miller and Tommy Coffey.

Opal Rebecca, born Nov. 3, 1920 in Caldwell Co., died there Oct. 11, 2006. She married John Banks Myers, born Oct. 26, 1915 to Henry Dayton and Rose Dameron Myers. John died Apr. 13, 2005 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. John was a veteran of WWII and is buried at the Union Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Lenoir. Opal is also buried there.

Opal's obituary

Opal Coffey Myers, 85, of Union Grove Road, Lenoir, N.C., passed away on Wednesday, October 11, 2006, at her residence.

Mrs. Myers was a homemaker and a devoted member of Union Grove Baptist Chu-rch for 59 years. She will be remembered especially for her dedication and love to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends.

Mrs. Myers was preceded in death by her parents Silas and Maggie P. Coffey; her husband, J. B. Myers; a daughter, Brenda Frances Myers; a grandson, J. B. Myers III; three sisters, Wilma Cook, Edith Robbins and Faye Keller and six brothers, Horace, Doc, Bealer, Clarence, Herman and Floyd Coffey.

Opal is survived by four children, Richard Myers, Pat Myers, Sharon Jenkins and J. B. Myers Jr., all of Lenoir. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Kimberly Robbins and husband Billy, Alison Crawford and husband Jason, Emily Freeman, Addie Tucker and husband Stuart, Cody Myers and Michael W. Jenkins Jr., all of Lenoir; eight great-grandchildren, Taylor, Rhett, Nathaniel, Hannah, J.B., Reagan, Colson and Grayson.

Funeral services will be held at Union Grove Baptist Church on Sunday, October 15, 2006 at 3 p.m. with Reverend Sam Craven and Reverend James Lambert officiating.

The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Michael W. Jenkins, Jr., Cody Myers, Billy Robbins, Stuart Tucker, Jason Crawford, Austen Jud, Johnny Williams and Bobby Robbins.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Caldwell County Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood Street SW, Lenoir, NC 28645 or to Union Grove Baptist Church, Building Fund, 1808 Union Grove Road, Lenoir, NC 28645.

Herman, born c1921

Edith Evelyn, born in Caldwell Co. on Oct. 15, 1924, and died there on Feb. 5, 2005. She married Ernest Wayne Robbins.

Edith's obituary:

Edith Evelyn Coffey Robbins, 80, of Union Grove Road, Lenoir, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005, at Caldwell Memorial Hospital.

Robbins was born Oct. 15, 1924, in Caldwell County to the late Silas Milton and Margaret Caroline Philyaw Coffey. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by: six brothers, Dock Coffey, Clarence "Cub" Coffey, Bealer Coffey, Herman Coffey, Horace Coffey and Floyd Coffey; one sister, Wilma Cook, and a granddaughter, Lisa Herman.

Mrs. Robbins was a homemaker. Her family was her life and she was ours.
Survivors include: her husband, Ernest Wayne Robbins, of the home; two sons; Wayne Milton Robbins and wife Gail, and Bobby Robbins and wife Debbie; four daughters, Carolyn Robbins Hicks, Donna Robbins Herman and husband R.L., Cherry Robbins, and Lynn Robbins Roberts and husband Joe; two sisters, Opal Myers and husband J.B., and Faye Keller and husband John; 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Graveside service was 2 p.m., Tues., Feb. 8, 2005, at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Lynn Hawkins officiating. Robbins' eight grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

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

Lillie Faye, born Apr. 16, 1928 in Caldwell Co., died Sep. 15, 2005 in Hudson, Caldwell Co. She married John J. Keller.

Lillie's obituary:

Lillie Faye Keller, 77, of Hawthorne St., Hudson, died Thursday, September 15, 2005 at Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care.

She was born April 16, 1928, in Caldwell County, to the late S. M. Coffey and Maggie Philyaw Coffey. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by a granddaughter, Ginger Webb; a great-grandson, Caleb Webb; six brothers and two sisters.

Mrs. Keller was a Homemaker and of the Baptist Faith.

She is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, John J. Keller of the home; a son, Johnny Williams and wife Shelia of Granite Falls and a sister, Opal Myers of Lenoir.

Graveside service for Mrs. Keller will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2005 at 11 am at Dry Ponds Baptist Church Cemetery with Dr. Rick Crouse officiating. The family will receive friends at the home of Johnny Williams, 22 Valley Street, Granite Falls.

Memorials may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St., NW, Lenoir, NC 28645.

Mackie-High Funeral Home is serving the Keller family.

The last child was Clarence (Cub), born Sep. 13, 1033, died May 18, 1977.

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

Photo courtesy of Margaret Coffey Farley

Lorenzo Dow

A friend, after reading my blog about Bailey Eliphalet Chaney, wrote to me about the eccentric preacher Lorenzo Dow who labored in the continental wilds shortly after the Revolutionary War.  Lorenzo Dow  lived from 1777-1834.  At one time his autobiography was second only to the Bible in sales.   According to Wikipedia, Lorenzo was one of the most popular names in America in the 1850 census.

Looking through my Edward Coffey Project files, I found only one Coffey with given name of Lorenzo Dow.  This Lorenzo was a son of William Wiley and Mailnda Emeline Little Coffey, born Sep. 12, 1852 in Indiana.  He married Martha J. Wilson, born Oct. 28, 1854 in Gentry Co., and died May 13, 1938 in Stanberry, Gentry Co.  Lorenzo died on Mar. 20, 1920 in Cooper Twp., Gentry Co. 

Martha was the daughter of Sidney and Mary Cooper Wilson.  She and Lorenzo are both buried in the High Ridge Cemetery at Stanberry.

There is another Lorenzo Coffey in my file, but I do not have a middle name for him.  He was born in 1832 in North Carolina, a son of Larkin and Catherine H. Wilson Coffey.  He married Eliza Corder and had at least two children; Wayland and Nora.

Lorenzo Dow Carr, born c1832 in Virginia, married a lady by the name of Margaret who produced at least three sons, one named Alexander D. Carr, born Feb., 1861.  He married Alice E. Coffey on Apr. 17, 1884 in Nelson Co., VA.  Alice was the daughter of Joseph C., Jr. and Nancy Jane Coffey Coffey.

Then, there's Langston Lorenzo Estes, a son of Elijah and Zebiah Walker Wentworth Estes.  Langston was born in Nov., 1839 in North Carolina.  Langston received his name - at least the Langston part - from his grandfather, Langston Estes who married Mary "Polly" Moore.  The only reason these Estes families are in my file is because of a marriage between Lance Estes, a son of Reuben and Delphia Atkins Estes and Elizabeth Coffey c1803 in North Carolina.  Elizabeth was the daughter of James Coffey, Jr., and Mary "Mollie" Moore.

Lorenzo does not seem to be a popular name in a population of nearly 4000 Coffey men in my file, plus a few thousand other male given names in colateral lines.

The Estes and Moore families, along with the Coffeys were some of the earliest settlers in the Globe Valley of western North Carolina, in the shadow of Grandfather Mountain.

Roby Monroe Coffey Family

Roby Monroe Coffey was a son of George Washington "Wash" and Matilda "Tilda" Coffey Coffey.  Wash and Tilda were distant cousins.  Roby was the ninth of the 11 children born to Tilda, and first saw light on Mar. 20, 1881 in Ashe Co., NC.  He died on Oct. 1, 1955 of a coronary occlusion and was buried in the Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Watauga Co., NC.

On Sep., 12, 1918, Roby registered for the draft in WW1 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  He was described as being 37 years old, tall with blue eyes and dark colored hair.  He was a farmer and resided at Shulls Mill in Watauga Co. with his wife.  He did not mention the number of children in his household, but by that date, should have been the father of at least six children:

Roby Monroe Coffey Family

Lena, born Dec. 13, 1903, died 1979, married George Norvell Fox Aug. 10, 1927 in Carter Co., TN.  George was born May 7, 1902 in Watauga Co., the son of John Lee and Jodie Ella Shook Fox.

Lelia Nancy, born May 20, 1906 in Caldwell Co., died May 7, 1969 in Lenoir.  She married Ralph Washington Jones on Jul. 31, 1926 in Watauga Co.  He was born Jun. 1, 1906 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Jul. 14, 1987.  Both she and Ralph are buried at Harris Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery in Hudson, Caldwell Co.  They had at least three children, all now deceased:  George Sylvester, born Jun 3, 1927, died Jun. 9, 1946; Thelma, born Jan. 29, 1930, died Dec. 14, 2006 as Mrs. Claude D. Payne, and Peggy Ann, born Dec. 4, 1948, died Apr. 5, 1960.

Bina Lee, born Jun. 29, 1909 in Caldwell Co., died Jul. 10, 1999 in High Point, Guilford Co., NC.  She married her distant cousin, Troy Talmadge Coffey, on Nov. 3, 1928 in Carter Co., TN.  Troy was the son of George Calvin and Louisa Elizabeth Curtis Coffey.  Troy and Bina had at least one child, a son Wayne Lewis, born Oct. 9, 1929, died Sep. 24, 1999.  Troy was born Mar. 4, 1906 in Watauga Co., and died Apr. 18, 1995 in Thomasville, Davidson Co., NC.

Lottie Merle, born Feb. 12, 1912 in Caldwell Co., died May 3, 1998 in Culpeper, Culpeper Co., VA.  She married Ralph James Moore on Jan. 21, 1928 in Watauga Co.  Ralph was born Apr. 4, 1908, a son of Wiley Hill and Ellen Hodges Moore.  After Ralph died, Lottie married Herbert Hensley who also preceded her in death.

Cora Lee, born Oct. 18, 1914 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Dec. 31, 1990.  She married Earl Boyd Miller, a son of Daniel Lafayette and Emma Coleman Miller, in 1932, Caldwell Co.  Earl was born Dec. 24, 1911 in Caldwell Co., and died in Hudson, NC on Oct. 15, 2006.  Earl was buried at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Hudson.  Cora is also presumed to be buried there.

Ruth, the sixth child, was born Dec. 31, 1916 in Caldwell Co.  she married Edward R. Cook on Aug. 29, 1936 in Watauga Co.  No further information is known.

It is not clear to me where the other children in the family were when this family-style photo was taken.  Because the first six children were only girls, the children in the photo have to be:

Frank E., on the right, born c1919

Boyd Ray, on the left, born Mar. 26, 1923.  Boyd married Mary Elizabeth Hayes.

Margaret Allena, the "babe in arms," born Apr. 7, 1926, died Feb. 10, 1990.  Margaret married John Wellington Ford on Jul. 12, 1941 in Watauga Co.  John was born in North Carolina on Jan. 8, 1925 and died in Lenoir on Sep. 7, 1980.  According to his obituary, John was buried in the Ford Cemetery in Caldwell Co., white Margaret was buried in the Bolick Family cemetery in the Globe, Caldwell Co.  There were at least two children born to them:  John, Jr., born Sep. 20, 1945, died Dec. 9, 1996; and Della Mae, born Dec. 23, 1947, died Mar. 12, 1995.

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

The headstone and church photos are courtesy of Connie Coffey Dorsey.  The Roby Coffey family photo is courtesy of Margaret Coffey Farley.

Thomas Jefferson Coffey

Thomas Jefferson Coffey was born on Feb. 16, 1805 in Burke Co., NC to Ambrose and Mildred (Millie) Moore Coffey.  He died Nov. 1, 1858 in Brazoria Co., TX and was buried in the Sandy Point Cemetery in that county.

He was married to Malinda Graves Haley on Jul. 17, 1827* in Hinds Co., MS.  Malinda was born Nov. 17, 1808 in TN and died in Brazoria Co. on Dec. 24, 1857.  She is also buried at Sandy Point.  I have wondered if perhaps Malinda had been previously married to a Mr. Haley and, if Graves was her maiden name!?

According to several genealogies that I have seen, Thomas and Malinda were parents to at least eight children.  I have been unable to confirm the first two; America and Eugenia.

Their third child was Minerva who married Thomas Lobdell.  They had at least one child, Henry Lee, born Sep. 5, 1850 and died Aug. 23, 1852 in Brazoria Co.  Henry is buried at Sandy Point.

Their next child ws Aaron, born 1832, died 1912.  Aaron is said to have married Mary Summerville Smith on Mar. 28, 1860 in Galveston Co., TX.  I know of two children:  Julia Summerville Coffey, born Dec. 8, 1864.  She is said to have married a Mr. Ridgeway.  The second child was a daughter, Cassie Kyle.  Aaron died in 1912 and was buried at Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney, Collin Co., TX.**

Ellen came after Aaron.  She was born Jun. 17, 1835 in MS and died Apr. 1, 1866*** in Brazoria Co.  She is also buried at Sandy Point.  Ellen married a Mr. Tankersley, and may have been married more than once.

Ambrose, born c1838 and Henry, born Nov. 24, 1840 followed Ellen.  I have no information on Ambrose.  Henry died Nov. 9, 1857 in Brazoria Co. and is buried at Sandy Point.

The last child was Roxanna, born Oct. 28, 1842 in MS and died aug. 22, 1860 in Brazoria Co.  Given her age at time of death, she likely died in child birth.  Her husband was William Ward, born c1838 in AL.  Roxanna is buried at Sandy Point.

I would like to know more about these children and their descendants.  Please contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information.




*Dodd, Jordan, Mississippi Marriages 1826-1900
** Burial & Memorial Locator, Dept. of Vet. Affairs:  COFFEY, AARON      US ARMY  CONFEDERATE STATES DATE OF BIRTH:  1832 DATE OF DEATH: 1912 BURIED AT: PECAN GROVE CEMETERY MCKINNEY, TX 75069 (972) 542-2601
***An inventory of the Sandy Point cemetery can be found at http://files.usgwarchives.org/tx/brazoria/cemetery/sandypt.txt

Jeff Coffey and Rosa Strunk

Jeff Coffey Death Certificate

I'm searching for Shelby Coffey, father of this Jeff Coffey, born Aug. 27, 1887, died Nov. 30, 1928 in McCreary Co., KY. According to Jeff's death certificate, he was married to Rosa Strunk.

The only Jeff, or Jefferson that I can find in the Kentucky census record was son of Lewis Coffey, Jr. and Permelia Ann Tucker Coffey. He was married to Lena [Lina] Barnett c1906 and appears with her from 1910 to 1930 in Wayne Co. Kentucky death records show that he died Aug. 30, 1969 in that county, and is buried there in Elk Spring Valley Cemetery.

Lina was born Oct. 24, 1889 in Wayne Co., and died Oct. 7, 1961 in Somerset, Pulaski Co., KY. She is also buried in Elk Spring.

I have the following in my files:

Shelby, born Aug. 19, 1811 in Wayne Co., son of Lewis Russell and Bidant Moore Coffey, and the husband of Zerilda Emarine Meadows. This Shelby died Sep. 2, 1863 and is buried at Elk Spring.

Shelby, born c1833 in KY. This Shelby could be the son of James Lewis, and the same one found in the 1860 Wayne Co. census with Henderson, brother to James Lewis. I am unsure if Henderson also gave this name to one of his sons, or if the 1860 Shelby is his nephew. Henderson and James Lewis are sons of Lewis and Bidant.

Shelby, born 1832 in Wayne Co., KY, a son of Henderson and Minerva Alexander Coffey

Shelby, born 1852 in Wayne Co., son of John Coffey and Rachel Barrier Coffey. This Shelby married Sarah Perkins on Dec. 26, 1872.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you can help with the ID, or can correct any of this information.

Daniel Webster Coffey

Daniel Webster Coffey was a son of Joel William and Elizabeth Ann Moore Coffey, born Feb. 14, 1858 in Alabama. This family is thought to be in the Edward Coffey-Grace Cleveland line. To my knowledge, Grace and Edward have not been extensively researched.

Other children, all born in Alabama, born to Joel and Elizabeth were:

John James, born c1851, married Martha Virginia Epperson, a daughter of William and Sarah Epperson of Alabama. They married c1871 and had at least seven children: William Ann (female), born c1871; Joel William, born c1874; John D., born Feb. 1878; James Arthur, born Jun. 1882; Oscar O., born Oct., 1885; Buena Vista, born 22 Feb. 1888, died 4 Dec 1959; and Rufus M., born Oct. 1891.

Ann Eliza, born c1852

Joel William, born c1855, married Fannie E.; children were William W., born c1886 and Mary D., born c1895. There may have been others.

Sarah E., born Jan., 1860

Eleanor, born c1861

Joseph, born c1864

Harrison, born c1867

Charles, born c1869

Daniel married Margaret Leeann Coates on Sep. 16, 1877 in Rock Creek, AL. She was born Dec. 5, 1861 in Hot Springs, Garland Co., AR and died Jun. 24, 1928 in Ravia, Johnston Co., OK. Daniel died Apr. 24, 1928 in Ardmore, Carter Co., OK.

More information, including photographs, can be found at the well designed website created by Joan Coffey. She has researched Daniel, her husband's grandfather, quite well and lists her findings in chronological order.

Joan's website can be found here.

William Pinkney and Nancy Caroline Gragg Coffey

Update Mar. 8, 2008 - Some of this lineage is incorrect. Corrections are in the works.

Update Oct. 8, 2012 - Note correction below

---

William Pinkney Coffey was a son of Silas C. and Eleanor (Nellie) Greene. He was born c1857 at John s River in Caldwell Co., NC, and died Aug. 13, 1942 in Watauga Co.

Nancy was born in Feb., 1863 in the Globe Twp., Caldwell Co., to Johnson P. and Nancy Jane Cuthbertson Gragg. She and William were married Oct. 25, 1883 in Caldwell Co.
William and Nancy were in Caldwell Co. until sometime after 1910, and before 1920 when he was found in Watauga Twp., Watauga Co.

There were at least 12 children born to this union. Two, Nancy Elinder, born Feb., 20, 1886, and William Marshall, born Jul. 28, 1887 died about two weeks apart in Nov., 1890. A third child, Romulous Linney, born in Dec., 1894, died in 1918.
The remainder of the children were:

- Edward Henry, born Dec. 17, 1884, died Mar. 11, 1967. He married (perhaps) three times and fathered at least nine children.
- Grover Alexander, born Jun. 26, 1889, died Apr. 7, 1940. He married Sallie Byrd Moore and fathered at least four children with her.

- Maude Rebecca, born Feb. 6, 1891, died Jul. 24, 1930, married Thomas Harrison Woodie, a son of Rufus and Sara Reid Woodie. They were parents of at least 11 children.

Update Oct. 8, 2012:  In my working file Thomas Harrison Woodie was married to Maude Virginia Coffey, a daughter of Augustus and Betty Beard Coffey, which was incorrect.  The above marriage to Maude Rebecca Coffey is correct.  Thomas and Maude Rebecca are buried at Jonas Ridge community cemetery in Burke Co., NC.

I have 10 children for them:  Fannie, born Apr., 1910, died Apr., 1981, married Challis Linwood Shell, born Jul. 1910, died Aug., 1962; Rufus Paul, born Sep., 1911, died Dec., 1993; Pearl Mabel, born Jun., 1914; Cordia Lee (Cordie), born Apr., 1916, died Oct., 1983, married Coburn Franklin; Alfred, born c1919; Nancy, born c1921; Joseph David, born 1922, died Jul., 1988, married Josephine Helen Dobber; Robert Dale, born Nov., 1923, died Sep., 1975; Howard Jackson, born Jun., 1925; and Lloyd Eugene, born May 1927, died Aug., 2000.

I am working on confirming spouse names and marriage dates for some of these children.

- Bird Elizabeth (Birdie), born Apr. 26, 1893, died Apr. 25, 1982. She married Horatio A. Aldridge on Feb. 19, 1913 in Watauga Co. He was born Apr. 20, 1891 to Samuel Columbus and Margaret Melissa Buchanana Aldridge. They were parents of at least six children.

- Adelaide Louisa (Addie), born Jan. 4, 1897, died Nov. 10, 1942. She married Thomas Arville Storie, a son of Jeremiah and Alice Carlton Storie. Thomas was born c1891. They had at least five children.

- Jennie Lynn, born Sep. 9, 1899, died Jun. 16, 1974 in Prince George Co., MD. She married a distance cousin, Vance Stephenson Coffey on Jul. 4, 1916. Vance was a son of Charles and Sophronia Phipps Coffey. They were parents of at least four children.

- Walter Johnson, born Aug. 17, 1907, died Aug. 29, 1957. He married Bonnie Sluder, a daughter of Andrew and Judy Sluder. They were parents of at least two children. Bonnie died in 1930, and Walter later married Rachel Dean, the widow of Millard Oscar Hampton. She and Walter had at least one child.

- Emma Destemonia, born Apr. 30, 1902, died May 29, 2000. She married Ben Moore on Feb. 14, 1947 and, was later married to James Logan Bladgett.

- Minnie Lee Ella, born Jun. 9, 1904, died Jun. 8, 1992. She was first married to Herbert Spencer (Hub) Wagner in about 1925. Hub was first married to Ruie Ellen Coffey. After her death in 1924 he married Minnie. Hub was convicted of murdering Earl Moody and Deck Byrd on Christmas Day in 1926. Following his release he is thought to have moved to WVa. After Hub, Minnie married Stanford Councill Coffey, a son of Jesse Filmore and Harriett Melissa Calloway Coffey. Minnie and Stanford were also distant cousins.

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

Elijah L. and Martha Ellen Coffey Moore

Elijah L. Moore was born Jan. 22, 1839* in the Globe, Caldwell Co., NC to David and Sarah Caroline Moore Moore. he died on Mar. 1, 1903.* He married on Oct. 12, 1858 in Caldwell Co. to Martha Ellen Coffey, a daughter of Daniel Boone and Clarissa Estes Coffey. Martha was born Sep. 5, 1839 in Burke Co., NC.

Elijah and Martha appeared in the Caldwell Co. census records from 1860 through 1900. From 1860 to 1880 they resided in Patterson Township; in 1900 they were in Johns River.

Their children were:

- Israel Willard, born c1867 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co. He married there in 1884 to Eliza Callie Greene. Their children were Martha Alley, born Jul. 29, 1890, Helen Joyce, born 1896, and Amos Brawley, born 1899. No other records have been found.

- Charles Leonard, born c1869 in Patterson Twp., married Alice Drusilla Green. Their children were Charles B., born 1889 and Jack1 (Jay?) Shula, born 1895. This family moved to Riley Co., KS sometime before 1905 when they appeared there in the Kansas state census for that year.2

The family was also in the May 1910 Federal census and the 1925 Kansas state census.3 Charles apparently owned a department store in Manhattan. No further information has been found.

- Walter E., born Sep. 24, 1879 in Caldwell Co., married in 1899 to Mary Elizabeth (Bettie) Moore. No further information has been found.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you can fill in any of the blanks.




















*no source available
1Caldwell Co. birth records give his name as Jack; subsequent census records give his name as Jay.
2Name: Charles Leonard Moore Township/City: Manhattan City Age: 36 Gender: M (Male) Race: White Birth Place: NC Previous Residence: NC Occupation: Merchant
3Kansas, Riley Co., Manhattan PO, dwelling 112, family 122, Charles Leonard Moore, age 36, male, white; Alice Drucilla Moore, age 36, female, white; Charles B. Moore, age 16, male, white; Jay S. Moore, age 9, male, white

Wadsworth (Watt) Goode

Wadsworth ties into my Coffee family through Margaret, his daughter who married Lilburn Warren Coffee.

Wadsworth F. (Watt) Goode was born Jan. 1825 in Alabama. His parents were born in South Carolina. He married Nancy Emmeline Moore in Fayette Co., TX on Aug. 15, 1851. She was born in Mar. 1834 in Mississippi. Her parents were natives of North Carolina.

In 1860 Watt and Nancy were residing in Austin Co., TX where Watt gave his profession as "trader." They were already parents of five children:

- Josephine, born c1852
- Frances (Fannie), born c1854
- Margaret, born May, 7, 1855, died Mar. 16, 1946, married Lilburn Warren Coffee
- Unnamed male, born c1857. The 1860 census referred to him by the initial R. He apparently did not survive to the 1870 census.
- Madison, born c1859

Watt's application for pension shows that he enlisted on the Confedrate side at Yoakum, TX in Apr., 1864 with Capt. Clay Davis' company and was stationed at Rancho Davis, TX. He was discharged in Apr., 1865.

According to the Handbook of Texas Online, Rancho Davis was established on the Rio Grande in 1847 by Henry Clay Davis. After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War in 1848, the area became part of Nueces Co. It is now part of Starr Co., and is known as Rio Grande City.

The family relocated to Travis Co. after the Civil War, and then to Hays Co. by 1880. By then, four additional children had been born into the family:

- H. Richard (Dick), born Aug., 1865
- Louisa, born c1866
- Jeremiah (Jerry), born c1868
- Joseph, born c1871

In 1870 Watt had given up trading because he was listed as retired from the grocery business, and worked as a farmer. The family once again relocated, this time to Yoakum in DeWitt Co., TX. Watt was 75 years old by then. Emmeline must have died in DeWitt Co., because she is missing in the 1910 census. By the time of that census Watt was a widower and was found living in the household with his widowed daughter, Frances Goode Wilson in DeWitt Co.

Watt died in 1914 in Lavaca Co., and was buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery at Yoakum. I presume that Emmeline was also buried there, but I have no first hand knowledge of that.

In addition to Margaret, I have found a few of Watt's other children:

Frances married Jason Antonio Wilson in about 1875. He was born in Jan., 1845 and died before the census in 1910. They had 12 children, 10 of which survived to become adults. They were: Frances, born c1879; Jason, Jr., born Oct. 1880; W. Sam, born Aug., 1882; H. Joseph, born Aug., 1884; Clyde, born Apr. 1887; William, born Mar. 1889; Nancy, born Nov., 1891; Thomas, born Jul., 1892; Rosa, born Aug., 1894; and Dixie, born Dec., 1896.

Jason Jr. is the only person that I have ever found in any record who gave his occupation as "cowboy." He listed that as his occupation when he registered for the WW1 draft in Hallettsville, Lavaca Co. on Sep. 5, 1918. by 1920 he was a "hired hand" on a ranch in Coconino Co., AZ.

Madison married but I have not yet found his wife's name. He was a widower in the household with his parents at the time of the 1900 census. With him were his children: Olga, born May., 1884; Nate or Wate, a daughter, born Apr. 1885; Nellie, born Aug., 1889; and Jeremiah (Jerry), born Jun., 1891.

Richard (Dick) married Julia c1894 in Texas and in the 1900 census was the father of Mamie, born Sep., 1895; Emma, born Sep., 1897; and a then unnamed daughter, born Mar., 1900.

I would like to hear from anyone researching the Watt Goode family and his ancestors. Please write to me at the above e-mail address.

Squire Coffey

Squire Coffey, born c1803 in Burke Co., NC, was a son of Smith Coffey and Hannah Boone. One genealogy that I have seen indicates that he married Nancy Moore on Dec. 29, 1824 in Burke Co. Nancy, is it said, was born Jan. 13, 1806 in Caldwell Co., and died there in 1826. Apparently there were no live children born to their union.

A Burke Co. marriage bond by Daniel Moore - perhaps some kin to Nancy - shows the marriage of Squire on Dec. 29, 1824 to Nancy. A History of Watauga County and, North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868 show that Squire married Alley Webb with bond dated Oct. 2, 1828 in Burke Co. Daniel Moore was a witness. Another genealogy report submitted by Charles Crabtree for inclusion in the Edward Coffey Project contains this information:

Smith W. Coffey's father, Squire Coffey was born about 1802\3 in Burke County North Carolina and died after 1840 in Cherokee County North Carolina, reportedly buried in the Peachtree Cemetery in the same county.

Squire and Alley (Ella?) had at least four children:

Margaret, born c1833, died May, 29, 1899. Margaret married Joseph Baker c1835 in North Carolina. I have found only two children for them: William, born c1847 and Mary, born c1849.

Smith, born May 1832, died Jan. 11, 1916.

Henry, born c1837 in Burke Co. He married Elizabeth Kendall, a daughter of William and Sarah D. Kendall around 1860. Elizabeth was born c1847 in North Carolina. Henry apparently died before 1870 - perhaps in the Civil War - because Elizabeth appears in the 1870 census with her parents in Caldwell Co. With her was her daughter, Laura, born in Aug., 1861.

I have one other child for Squire and Alley. She was Mary, born c1838 but I have not found her after 1850 when she was in the household with her widowed mother in Caldwell Co.

Squire died after 1840 and is thought to be buried somewhere in Cherokee Co., NC. I have not yet found a death date or place for Alley.

Please contact me with additions or corrections.

Rufus Anson Coffey

Rufus was another child of John Calvin and Nancy Caroline Tuttle Coffey. He was born on Jul. 21, 1888 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC and, did Sep. 5, 1981 in Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC.

Rusus married Beatrice Chloe Moore in 1910 and, in Caldwell Co. He registered there for the draft on Jun. 5, 1917. He was described then as being tall with medium build, grey eyes and black hair. He resided in Gastonia with his wife and two children and, was in the insurance business. I am unable to read the name of his company on the card. In 1920 the family resided in Hendersonville, Henderson Co.

Beatrice was born in May, 1894 in Caldwell Co., the daughter of John B. and Olive Moore. She and Rufus were the parents of at least three children:

James Cecil, born Jul. 22, 1912

Ivan Moore, born 1916

Dr. Robert (Bob), born Oct. 19, 1921, died Mar. 12, 2004

His obituary:

Obituary, News-Record, Greensboro, NC, Mar. 16, 2004

ROBERT "BOB" TUTTLE COFFEY

03-14-2004

MOORESVILLE — Dr. Robert "Bob" Tuttle Coffey, died Friday, March 12, 2004, at his residence.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, 2004, at the Cavin-Cook Funeral Home Chapel, Mooresville.

He was born in Hendersonville, N.C., and was a son of the late Rufus Anson and Beatrice Chloe Moore Coffey. Dr. Coffey earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Wake Forest University, Medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and did his internship at George Washington University. He practiced family medicine in Greensboro for several years before specializing in psychiatry at Bowman Gray School of Medicine. Upon completing his residency in 1969, Dr. Coffey opened a private practice in Greensboro before joining Tri-County Mental Health as clinical director. After retiring from Tri-County Mental Health, he joined the staff of Broughton Hospital in Morganton. Dr. Coffey was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and the elite and prestigious Society of the Quiet Birdman. He was a U.S. Army veteran having served in World War II. Dr. Coffey was preceded in death by brothers, Dr. James Cecil Coffey and Ivan Moore Coffey.

He is survived by his children, Leigh Coffey Byers and husband, Marty, and Robert Anson Coffey; and former wife, Nancy Koontz Coffey, all of Mooresville.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, c/o Lib Cooke, 129 Pampas Lane, Mooresville, N.C. 28117, and/or Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church Building Fund, 575 Brawley School Road, Mooresville, N.C. 28117, and/or the charity of donor's choice.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, 494 E. Plaza Drive, Mooresville, is serving the family of Dr. Coffey.

I have some information on the remainder of John and Nancy's children that I will share via e-mail.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address to correct or, to add to this information.

Shelby Moore Cullom

I mentioned Shelby Moore Cullom in the earlier blog on Lewis Russell and Bidant (Biddy) Moore Coffey. He was their grandson and, a son of Richard Northcraft and Elizabeth (Betsy) Coffey.

He is said to have been a Lincoln lookalike as well as a friend of Lincoln when they both served in the Illinois legislature. The photograph tends to confirm at least one of those claims.

The following is information on Shelby that I found on the web while researching Richard and Elizabeth:

Mr. Cullom was known as "Mr. Republican" of Sangamon County during his long political life. After being to the bar in 1855 & elected city attorney the same year, he was elected State Representative & then reelected the following term in which he served as Speaker of the House. In 1865 he was elected to the National Congress where he served 3 consecutive terms. In 1876 he was elected [17th] Governor of Illinois, a position he served 2 terms, resigning in the middle of the second term to become a candidate for the U.S. Senate. He was elected to the Senate in 1883 & served 5 consecutive terms. Cullom, "the man who looked like Lincoln,"was considered several times for the Presidency.

Shelby Moore Cullom*

CULLOM, Shelby Moore, senator, born in Monticello, Wayne County, Kentucky, 22 November 1829. His father settled in Tazewell County, Illinois, in 1830, where he became prominent among the pioneers of the state, a member of the legislature, and a trusted friend of Abraham Lincoln. The son received a classical education, began the study of law in Springfield, Illinois, in 1853, and as soon as he was admitted to the bar was elected City attorney. He practiced law in Springfield, was a candidate for presidential elector on the Fillmore ticket in 1856, elected to the legislature in 1856 and 1860, chosen speaker in his second term, a member of the war commission that sat at Cairo in 1862, and a member of congress from Illinois from 4 December 1865, till 3 March 1871, representing the Springfield district, which before his election was democratic. During his third term he served as chairman of the committee on territories, conducted an investigation into the question of polygamy in Utah, and secured the passage of a bill for the extirpation of polygamy, which failed to come to a vote in the senate.

In 1872 he returned to the Illinois House of Representatives, was elected speaker in 1873, and in 1874 served another term in the legislature. After his return from Washington he became a banker at Springfield. He was a member of the Republican national convention in 1868, and, as chairman of the Illinois delegation, placed General Grant in nomination at Philadelphia in 1872 and General Logan in 1884. He was elected governor of Illinois in 1876, and reelected in 1880, serving from 8 January 1877, to 5 February 1883, when he resigned, having been chosen U. S. senator as a republican, to succeed David Davis, independent democrat, for the term expiring on 3 March 1889. Mr. Cullom has been prominently connected with the question of railroad regulation. As speaker of the House of Representatives he appointed the committee that drafted the stringent railroad law of Illinois, which was one of the first states to take action on the subject.

During his service of six years as governor it became his duty to appoint the Illinois railroad commissioners, and to see that they secured the enforcement of the law, which was sustained by the courts and practically put in operation during his administration. As senator he has been zealous and active in endeavoring to secure national legislation upon the same subject, and in 1885, as chairman of the senate committee on interstate commerce, conducted an investigation into the question of the regulation of railroad corporations by national legislation. His report upon this subject, submitted to the senate, 18 January 1886, is an elaborate review of the whole subject, and has attracted attention at home and abroad, resulting" in the passage by the senate of the bill that bears his name, which was referred to a conference committee of the two houses.

**CULLOM, Shelby Moore, (nephew of Alvan Cullom and William Cullom), a Representative and a Senator from Illinois; born in Wayne County, Ky., November 22, 1829; moved with his father to Tazewell County, Ill., in 1830; received an academic and university training; moved to Springfield, Ill., in 1853; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1855 and commenced practice in Springfield; elected city attorney in 1855; member, State house of representatives 1856, 1860-1861, and served as speaker of the house during the second year; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-ninth, Fortieth, and Forty-first Congresses (March 4, 1865-March 3, 1871); chairman, Committee on Territories (Forty-first Congress); member, State house of representatives 1873-1874, and served as speaker in 1873; Governor of Illinois 1877-1883, when he resigned; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1882; reelected in 1888, 1894, 1900, and 1906 and served from March 4, 1883, to March 3, 1913; chairman, Committee on Expenditures of Public Money (1885-87), Committee on Interstate Commerce (1887-93; 1895-1901; 1909-11), Committee on Foreign Relations (1901-11), Republican Conference Chairman (1911-13); Regent of the Smithsonian Institution 1885-1913; chairman and resident commissioner of the Lincoln Memorial Commission in 1913 and 1914; member of the commission appointed to prepare a system of laws for the Hawaiian Islands; died in Washington, D.C., January 28, 1914; interment in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Ill.

Few Illinoisans of the 19th and early 20th Century were more famous than Shelby Moore Cullom of Springfield. He served more years in high Illinois public offices than any other person in the history of the state. He was Speaker of the Illinois House for three terms, a member of the U.S. House for three terms, governor for six years, and a U.S. Senator for thirty years. He was born Nov. 22, 1829 in Wayne County, Kentucky. But his family moved when he was less than a year old in 1830 to Tazewell County, Illinois where his father was elected to the Illinois General Assembly. Shelby's father, State Rep. Richard Northcraft Cullom, was a trusted friend and ally of Abraham Lincoln when both served in the Illinois House.

Shelby attended the Rock River Seminary at Mount Morris, Illinois where he also taught lower grades part-time to earn money for his own tuition and expenses. He moved to Springfield in 1853 to read for the law at the firm of Stuart and Edwards and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1855. That same year, the newly-minted attorney was elected City Attorney of Springfield at the age of 26. In 1856, Shelby was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. Shelby was married twice. His first wife was Hannah M. Fisher. They were married from 1855 until her death in 1861. He later married Julia Fisher in May 1863. She was First Lady of Illinois 1877-1883 and died in 1909.

Shelby was re-elected in 1860 and was elected by his peers as Speaker of the House in 1861. In 1862, President Lincoln appointed him as a member of the War Claims Commission at Cairo, Illinois. He was elected to Congress in 1864 and was re-elected in 1866 and 1868. Returning to Illinois, he was again elected to the Illinois House in 1872 and 1874 and again served as Speaker of the House for four years. Mr. Cullom was elected governor of Illinois in 1876 and was re-elected in 1880.

Among the major accomplishments during his administration was the fact that Illinois was debt free and called in the last of its bonds in 1881. Pure food legislation was passed the Board of Dental Examiners and the Board of Pharmacy was created. Pursuant to the census of 1880, the Illinois congressional delegation expanded to twenty U.S. House members and new districts were drawn by the state legislature.

Early in 1883, Gov. Cullom was elected by the legislature to serve as United States Senator from Illinois. He was the principal sponsor of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 that curbed the power of railroads. He served as a U.S. Senator from Illinois continously for thirty years until his fifth six-year term expired in March 1913. In 1911, he wrote a memoir called Fifty Years in Public Service.

As Chairman of the Illinois delegation to the Republican National Convention of 1872 in Philadelphia, Sen. Cullom placed the name of President Ulyses S. Grant in nomination for president for a second term. In 1884 in the same position, he placed the name of his colleague Sen. John A. Logan in nomination for Vice President of the United States.

During the year after he retired from the Senate, Sen. Cullom served on the Lincoln Memorial Commission but did not live to see its completion eleven years after his death. He also served on the committee to draft laws for the Hawaiian islands.

Sen. Cullom died less than a year after he retired on Jan. 28, 1914 in Washington. He is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.

His obituary:

CULLOM SUCCUMBS AFTER LONG ILLNESS WAS IN COMA AS END CAME

Former Senator's Last Words of Lincoln Duty

Noted Statesman, 85 Years Old Passes Away at Washington After Making Heroic Fight for Life

Funeral at Springfield, Illinois.

Washington, Jan.29th,--Former United States Sen. Shelby M. Cullom, died at his home here.

His last words were a wish that he might have lived to see the completion of the National Memorial to Abraham Lincoln, who was his personal friend.

The end came as the result of a general breakdown after the aged statesmen had fought against death for six weeks. When forced to take his bed the ex-senator's strength slowly began to ebb. He clung tenaciously to life after he had been given up several times. He was unconscious when death came.

At the bedside when the end came were Miss Victoria Fisher, sister of the two deceased wives of the senator, and William Barret Ridgeley, son-in-law, a former comptroller of the currency.

The former senator is survived by two granddaughters, Mrs. Katherine Ridgeley Brown, wife of Phelps Brown of Springfield, Mass., and Mrs. Eleanor Ridgeley Parker, wife of Dr. Henry P. Parker of this city.

Brief funeral services will be held at the Cullom home this morning and at 11:45 o'clock the body will be taken to Springfield, Ill., for interment on Saturday.

In Public Life For Fifty Years.

Former United States Senator Shelby M. Cullom of Illinois, was a figure of national importance for more than thirty years, and held public office for more than half a century.

He began his political career in 1856, when after being admitted to the Illinois bar he was elected city attorney for Springfield. Almost immediately he was elected a member of the house of of representatives of the Illinois legislature and was re-elected in 1860, serving until 1865, when he was elected to the national House of Representatives. He served in the Thirty-ninth, Fortieth, and Forty-first congresses, from December 4, 1865, to March 3, 1871. He went back to Illinois and again was elected to the state legislative in 1872, serving until 1875. In 1871 and 1873, he was elected speaker of the State House of Representatives. He was elected Governor of the state in 1875 and succeeded himself in 1880. He served until February 5, 1883, when he resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate. He took his seat on December 4, 1883, and served continuously until March 3, 1913.

Ex-Senator Was Born in Kentucky

The Collum family, like the Lincoln family, were Kentuckians who emigrated to Illinois early in the thirties. Shelby Moore Cullom was born in Wayne County, Kentucky on November 22, 1829. When the family moved to Illinois he received his education in a little log schoolhouse and at home.

Was Always a Republican

Senator Cullom was always identified with the Republican party and was a strong factor in the party organization; At the end of his thirty years as a senator he left the office poorer than when he entered it. He had no income outside of his salary. The home he formerly owned in Springfield was sold some years ago to help pay his expenses, and lately when visiting the Illinois capital he resided at a hotel or at the home of his son-in-law.

Funeral Arrangements

Springfield, Ill, Jan 29. Arrangement for the funeral of Senator Shelby M. Cullom in this city on Saturday were rapidly completed. The details were announced by Judge J. Otis Humphrey of the United States district court.
The obsequies will be held in Representatives hall at the state house at an hour not yet determined upon. The religious service will be conducted by Rev. Dr. MacLeod, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, and the music will be furnished by the choir of that church. In addition, there will be brief memorial addresses by Senator L. Y. Sherman, Gov. Edward F. Dunne and Clinton L. Conkling

When the casket arrives, it will be conveyed to the residence of Mrs. Charles Ridgeley and later it will be taken to the state house, where the body will lie in state in the rotunda on the first floor.

This obituary was copied from the collection located at the Robinson Public Library. The obituaries themselves are usually not dated. Whoever made the collection has written down the dates by hand. The source of the obituary (i.e. which newspaper) is also usually not included. The obituary was transcribed by Barbara Dix.

Additions and/or corrections can be sent to me at the above e-mail address.

*Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, edited by James Grant Wilson, John Fiske and Stanley L. Klos. Six volumes, New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1887-1889 and 1999. StanKlos.com warns that these 19th Century biographies contain errors and bias. They rely on volunteers to edit the historic biographies on a continual basis. http://www.famousamericans.net/shelbymoorecullom/

**Dictionary of American Biography; Cullom, Shelby. Fifty Years in Public Service: Personal Recollections. 1911. Reprint. New York: Da Capo Press, 1967; Neilson, James. Shelby M. Cullom: Prairie State Republican. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1962.

Some other sources used:

Illinois Marriages, 1851-1900
US Federal Census Records, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910
Illinois Hall of Fame: Shelby Moore Cullom By Mark Rhoads
[http://illinoisstatesoceity.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/11/index.html]

Joshua and Mary Coffey Oatts of Wayne Co., KY

The first time I wrote about Joshua and Mary's children, I included a child Sophronia who was said to have first married Cleveland Coffey, then Alexander Bobbitt. Mary (Polly) Coffey was a daughter of Lewis and Biddy Moore Coffey.

After checking census records more closely I find that Sophronia Oatts was born in 1812 and died in 1877. She is buried at the Elk Spring Valley Cemetery in Wayne Co., and not their daughter.

The Sophronia born to Joshua and Polly was 14-yrs old in the 1850 census, indicating a birth year of 1835-36. She is also buried at Elk Spring Valley, and according to the cemetery compilation, she was born Oct. 3, 1839 and died Mar. 14, 1855. This Sophronia appears to not have been married.

So, that leaves me with an unidentified Sophronia Oatts!

The Sophronia Oatts who married Bobbitt can be found in the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census records of Monticello, Wayne Co.

The 1850 Wayne Co. census enumerated Alexander R. Bobbitt, age 38, blacksmith, with wife Sophrona, age 38 [born c1812], and children Jervis T. Coffey, age 17, Mary C. Coffey, age 16, Margaret E. Bobitt, age 12, John Bobbitt, age 9, James W. Bobbitt, age 8, Sarah A. Bobbitt, age 6, Thomas O. Bobbitt, age 1 and Tyre Samson, age 20.

In 1860 she was 46-yrs. old and apparently a widow with children James Bobbitt, age 15, Sallie Bobbitt, age 13, and Therissa [sic] Bobbitt, age 7 in the household. Her age indicates a birth year of c1814.

The Slave Schedule for that year shows Sophronia as owner of one male mulatto, age 12. Next door to her are Lewis Coffey, Jonathan Frisbie, John Frisbie and M.D. Hardin, also slave owners. These are also family names that some of Joshua and Mary's children married into. Nearby is Benjamin F. Coffey with 18 slaves, mostly children. This Benjamin appears to be the younger brother of Mary (Polly) Coffey Oatts and, was born Dec. 10, 1816 and died May 11, 1868 in Wayne Co.

She was enumerated in Wayne Co. in 1870 at age 56. This confirms her approximate birth year of c1814. The only child remaining with her was Theresa, age 18. Lucy Havens, a 20-yr. old black domestic with her child also named Lucy, age 1, were included in the household.

I have no proof other than "tradition" that she married Cleveland Coffey, brother of Mary (Polly) Coffey Oatts, Benjamin Franklin Coffey, and others. Lewis and Biddy Moore Coffey had at least 11 children.

Please contact me at the e-mail address above if you know who this Sophronia Oatts belongs to.

Henley Clay Coffey (1891-1922)

Henley Clay Coffey was a son of John Alfred and Cynthia P. Monk Coffey. He was born Oct. 12, 1891 in Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN and died there on Nov. 13, 1922.

He married Etta C. Reece, probably in Tennessee around 1910. Etta was born in Dec., 1893 and died Mar. 17, 1982 in Hamblen Co., TN.

When Henley registered for the WW1 draft on Jun. 5, 1917 in Claiborne Co., TN, he gave his age as 26 years, born Oct., 12, 1891. He was a self-employed farmer in Claiborne Co., and was married with four children. He described himself as being of medium build with gray eyes and black hair.

He and Etta were found in Claiborne Co. in the Feb., 1920 census.

1920 Claiborne Co., Dist. 1, ED20, Sheet 19A, dwelling 313, family 315, Coffee [sic], Henly C., head, male, white, age 28, married, born TN, father born TN, mother born unk.; Etta, wife, female, white, age 26, married, born TN, parents born TN; Morgan, son, male, white, age 7, born TN, parents born TN; Clayton, son, male, white, age 6, born TN, parents born TN; Caywood, son, male, white, age 4 yrs, 10 mos., born TN, parents born TN; Alice, dau., female, white, age 3 yrs, 1 mos., born TN, parents born TN; unnamed dau., female, white, age 1 mo., born TN, parents born TN

Although Etta did not die until 1982 I have been unable to find her in the 1930 census record.

Their children were:

Morgan David, born c1913, married Lucy McGinnis, a daughter of Edward Jackson and Dora Coffey McGinnis. Dora was a daughter of Thomas Coffey and Martha Simmerman (Cinnemon?), and was born Nov. 19, 1882 and died Jun. 26, 1963.

Clayton, born c1914, married Bonnie Kate McGinnis. Bonnie is likely of some relation to Edward Jackson, but a link has not been found. Sh was born Mar. 3, 1922 in Grainger Co., and died Feb. 16, 2007 in Hamblen Co.

Her obituary:

COFFEY, BONNIE KATE, age 83, of Morristown, passed away Friday, Feb. 16, 2007, at Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System. She was of the Baptist faith and was a member of Beech Grove Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, David Juette and Flossie McGinnis, husband, Clayton (Poodle) Coffey, brothers, Porter McGinnis, Sam McGinnis and Robert (Bob) McGinnis, sister-in-law, Trula McGinnis, nephew David (Pete) McGinnis, great-nephew, Robbie Moore, great niece Danielle June McGinnis. She was a loving aunt to nieces and nephews, Linda Collins and husband Raymond, Kathy Rucker and husband, Claiborne, Cindy Hazeltine and husband Jack, Scotty McGinnis, Portia Russell, Debbie Welch and husband Jerry, Jabo McGinnis and wife, Linda, Rick McGinnis and wife, Cindy, Pam Beeler, Peanut McGinnis and wife Lori, Priscilla McGinnis and T.J. Whitt, Jane McGinnis, Robert (Bo) McGinnis and wife Crystal, Andy McGinnis and wife Jean, sister-in –laws, June McGinnis, Billie Faye Satterfield, several great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19, 2007, at Stubblefield Funeral Home with the Rev. Delmer Welch and Rev. Bobby Helton. Interment will follow at Hamblen memory Gardens. The family will receive friends Sunday, from 6-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Family will receive friends after the services at Statem Gap Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Arrangements by Stubblefield Funeral Home in Morristown.

Caywood, born Dec. 27, 1915, died Apr. 7, 1940

Alice, born about Jan., 1917, married Rev. George Estle Hopson

Pauline, born about Dec., 1922, died Dec. 29, 1990 in Bean Station, Grainger Co., TN. She married Clarence Coffman.

Her obituary:

Pauline Coffey Coffman, 68, of Bean Station, died Saturday, Dec 29, 1990 at Columbia Health Care. She was the daughter of the late Henley and Ettie Reece Coffey; the widow of the late Clarence Coffman and the mother of the late Gillis Coffman. She was a member of Long Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Survivors include her son, G. Howard Coffman of Spring Hill; sister, Mrs. Jewell Reece of Tazewell; brother, Clayton Coffey of Morristown; grandchildren, Ricky, Pamela and Vicky Coffman and Kimberly Rutherford. Services were 1 p.m. today at Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Rutledge with the Rev. Andy Smith and Brother Shelby Mone officiating. Burial was in Dalton Cemetery.

Amos - no further information.

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

Roby Monroe and Annie Lee Wright Coffey (Update Jul 21, 2008)

Roby Monroe Coffey and Annie Lee Wright were married in Watauga Co., NC on Mar. 19, 1903. Annie was the daughter of Thomas A. and Margaret Ann Coffey Wright, and was born Jul. 27, 1885 in Caldwell Co., NC. She and Roby were several times cousins, the closest being second. Both counted Jesse and Margaret Edmiston Coffey in their ancestry.

Roby was born Mar. 20, 1881 in Caldwell Co. to George Washington "Wash" and Matilda "Tilda" Coffey Coffey. "Wash" was a son of William Clayton and Sarah Greene Coffey while "Tilda" was the daughter of Jesse Calton and Nancy Raines Coffey. "Wash" and "Tilda" were also cousins, and Jesse Calton was a nephew of William Clayton.

Roby died of a coronary occlusion on Oct. 1, 1955 and is buried at Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery near Boone, Watauga Co., NC. Annie died of breast cancer on Dec. 11, 1951 in Caldwell Co., and is also buried at Boone Fork.

Roby was the ninth of 11 children born to "Wash" and "Tilda."

Children born to Roby and Annie were nine:

Lena Mae, born Dec. 13, 1903 - Lena married George Norvell Fox on Apr. 10, 1927 in Carter Co., TN. George was born May 7, 1902 to John Lee and Jodie Ella Shook Fox. Lena died in 1979; a death date for George has not been found.

Lela Nancy, born May 20, 1906 married Ralph Washington Jones. Their children were: George Sylvester, born Jun. 3, 1927; Thelma, born Jan. 29, 1930, died Dec. 14, 2006; Ralph, Jr., born Mar. 6, 1936; Imogene, born Dec. 29, 1939; Paul Stewart, born Sep. 15, 1942 and an unnamed daughter born Dec. 4, 1948. Lela died May 7, 1969 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC. She is buried at Harris Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery in Hudson, Caldwell Co. Ralph died Jul. 14, 1987 in Lenoir and is also buried at Harris Chapel.

Bina Lee, born Jun. 29, 1909 married Troy Talmadge Coffey. Troy was born Mar. 4, 1906 to George Calvin and Louisa Curtis Coffey. George Calvin and Roby Monroe were many times related, the closest being first cousins. Bina and Troy had at least two children: Wayne Lewis, born Oct. 9, 1929 and one daughter born after 1930. Troy died Apr. 18, 1995 in Thomasville, Davidson Co., NC.


Lottie Murl, born Feb. 24, 1912 in Caldwell Co., died May 3, 1998 in Culpeper Co., VA. She married Ralph James Moore on Jan. 21, 1928 in Watauga Co. Their children were: Lonnie Desmon, born Jul. 20, 1928; Collis Eugene, born Dec. 12, 1932; Unnamed, born Dec. 29, 1934; Margaret Ruth, born Dec. 26, 1937; Betty Jean, born Jul. 20, 1939; Jay Harold, born Dec. 21, 1941; and Theodore Monroe, born Dec. 18, 1944. Quite remarkable that five of the seven children were born in Dec., while the other two were born in July.

Cora Lee, born Oct. 18, 1914 in Caldwell Co., died Dec. 31, 1990 in Caldwell Co. She married Earl Miller in Caldwell Co., in 1932. Their children were were all born after 1930.


Ruth, born Dec. 31, 1916, married Edward R. Cook on Aug. 29, 1936 in Watauga Co. No other info.

Frank, born c1919. No other info.

Boyd Ray, born Mar. 26, 1923 in Watauga Co., married Mary Elizabeth Hayes Feb. 23, 1946 in that county. All of their children were born after 1930.

Margaret Allene, born Apr. 7, 1926 in Caldwell Co., died Feb. 10, 1990 in Caldwell Co. She married John Wellington Ford on Jul. 12, 1941 in Watauga Co. John was born in 1923 and died Sep. 7, 1980 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. Their children were: John, Jr., born Sep. 20, 1945, died Dec. 9,1996; Della Mae, born Dec. 23, 1947, died Mar. 12, 1995; and several others born after 1930 and apparently still living. Margaret is buried in the Bolick Cemetery in the Globe Twp., Caldwell Co.


Please contact me at the e-mail address below with corrections and/or additions.

Walter Douglas Coffee, Jr.

I rarely blog about my own line because there are so few descendants available with an interest in our ancestors. However, from time to time I go back to my line to see if I can fill in any blanks.

Walter Douglas Coffee, Jr. was a grandson of Lilburn Warren Coffee, a brother to my gg-grandfather, James M. Coffee. Walter's father, Walter, Sr. was born Jul. 25, 1882 in Hays Co., TX and died in California on Oct. 29, 1947 from injuries received in an automobile accident. He had married Sarah Ruth Moore on Sep. 9, 1926 in Big Spring, Howard Co., TX and, from that union was born Robert Lee on Mar. 5, 1926, died before 1930. Their second and last child was Walter, Jr., born Jul. 18, 1927, died Sep. 11, 1985. Ironically, Jr. also died from injuries received in a vehicular accident in California.

As I recall, Walter, Jr. was a truck driver for SafeWay. On the morning of Sep. 11, he was driving north on California highway 101 in Mendocino Co., apparently enroute to deliver stock. At mile marker 43.57 he was involved in some sort of accident that took his life. His death certificate reads that death was caused by "acute congestive heart failure caused by respiratory inadequacy as a result of inhalation of superheated air." His body was moved to Hayward in Alameda Co., CA and later interred at the Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward.

Other information found in his death certificate indicates that he was married and his wife's name was Hattie Rose. For a long time I considered Rose to be her middle name and searched without success for a marriage record, or other document, that would provide her maiden name.

Just recently however, I discovered four California birth records for children born to a Coffee; their mother's maiden name was Rose. This information has given me new impetus to find some rather long lost Coffee cousins who many still live in California.

They were all born in Alameda Co., and their names and dates of birth are:

Marilyn Kay Coffee, born Oct. 11, 1951
Douglas Eugene Coffee, born Dec. 4, 1953
Barry Wayne Coffee, born May 25, 1955
Cindy L. Coffee, born Jan. 12, 1958.

Please contact me at the e-mail address below if you have any information.