Thomas Jefferson Coffee (1805-1858)

Thomas was born Feb. 16, 1805 in Burke Co., NC.  He was the eighth of 11 children born to Ambrose and Mildred "Millie" Moore Coffey.  

Ambrose had wandered down from Blue Run in Orange Co., VA to Wayne Co., KY where Millie was born in 1770 to Jesse and Alley Johnson Moore. Ambrose and Millie married there sometime before 1788.¹  He descended from Edward Coffey through Edward's son John and John's son, Rev. James Coffey who married Elizabeth Cleveland.

Thomas spent his early life in North Carolina but eventually made his way to Mississippi where in 1827 he married Malinda Graves Haley in Hinds County.  All of their known children were born in that state; the last, Roxana in 1842.

By 1850 Thomas and Malinda were in Brazoria Co., TX with children Aaron, Ellen, Ambrose, Henry and Rosana [sic].

A daughter, Minerva, born in 1830 had married John Venable Lobdell in KY in 1848 which produced Henry Lee, born 1850 in Brazoria.  The child died there in 1852 and was buried in the Sandy Point cemetery. She and John soon moved back to MS but not before their daughter Bettie was born in Brazoria in 1854. Two other children, and overall a total of six were born to Minerva in two marriages.  John died in Bolivar in 1859.  In the 1860 census Minerva, a widow, claimed $130,000 in assets, or over $4 million in 2015 dollars.  

The Civil War would soon reduce that considerably!

In 1868, Minerva married the lawyer George Thomas Lightfoot in Bolivar Co. and by 1870 they were residing in Vicksburg, Warren Co., MS. George declared his assets to total $17,000.  In the household were two Lobdell children and one Lightfoot child.  Two unidentified Coffee children, one male age 2 mos., and one female, age 1, both born born in LA were also in the household. In 1900 she lived with her son, John Venable Lobdell, Jr. and was reported to have been the mother of six but only John survived.

I do not yet know when or where George Thomas Lightfoot died.  Minerva died on Jan. 23, 1907 in Rosedale, Bolivar Co. and was buried at the Beulah cemetery in Bolivar Co.

Col. Aaron Coffee was born in MS in Sep., 1832 and died in McKinney, Collin Co., TX on Feb. 28, 1912.  He married Mary Summerville Smith, born c1835 in VA, in Galvaston, TX on Mar. 28, 1860. They lived in Brazoria county in 1870 and in 1880 were in Collin Co., TX where he died in 1912 and is buried at the Pecan Grove cemetery in McKinney.  He and Mary had at least two children, Julia born in Galveston in 1864 and Cassie, born in 1878 at Collin Co.

Pre-Civil War, Aaron held 25 slaves. He was manager of the Halcyon plantation which held 132 slaves.  His total worth in 1860 was $267,000, almost $8 million in today's money.²

He served with Co. B, 13th Texas Infantry, CSA, during the Civil War.

Thomas died in Brazoria Co. in 1858; and Malinda, a year earlier.  Both are buried at Sandy Point in Brazoria.  They had other children but they are held for later.

---

¹Dr. Marvin D. Coffey, Author/Researcher, James Bluford Coffey: His ancestors and descendants in America, second printing (Medford, OR: n.p., 1994), Page 60. [That they returned to NC from KY might not be wholly accurate.  However, the next three children of Ambrose and Millie, George W., Holland and James Madison are said to have also been born in Burke Co. America, who married Samuel Lusk in 1822 Warren Co., TN is said to have been born in KY in 1801 and Lewis Moses, born 1798 is said to have been born in Stokes Co., NC.]

²Abigail Curlee Holbrook, "A Glimpse of Life on Antebellum Slave Plantations in Texas," Southwestern Historical Quarterly 76 (April 1973). Ralph A. Wooster, "Wealthy Texans, 1860," Southwestern Historical Quarterly 71 (October 1967).

Earle Thaddeus McGillicuddy

Cornelius Alexander "Connie Mack" McGillicuddy, Sr.  

Baseball fans of teams of the early to mid-20th century probably recognize the name.  

According to Wikipedia, Mack, Sr. was:

"Cornelius McGillicuddy, better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins, losses, and games managed, with his victory total being almost 1,000 more than any other manager."

Connie Mack was married to Margaret Hogan in 1887 and their second of three sons, Earl Thaddeus Mack was born on Feb. 1, 1890 in Worcester Co., MA.

Earle T. Mack

Earle grew up on a baseball field and in his father's clubhouse.  He wanted to be a "big league" professional baseball player but, over the years he managed to play in only a very few games. He had a mostly minor league career, both as manager and player.  Following his father's death he and another brother managed his baseball business.

While Earle was growing up, his future wife, Mary Margaret Cain was growing up in Burke Co., NC where she was born in Dec., 1890.  Her father was Corey Thomas Cain, a native of Wake Co., NC; her mother Lula Eloise Coffey, born 1866 in Caldwell Co., NC to William Elbert and Margaret Anne Kincaid Coffey.  She was the third of William and Margaret's seven children.

Earle and Mary Margaret were married on Sep. 28, 1915 in Morganton, Burke Co. and moved almost immediately to Philadelphia, the city they called "home" until 1955 when Mary passed away. I know that she was the mother of at least one child, a son, Earle T., Jr., born c1919.

Earle's obituary appeared in The Evening Star, a Washington, DC newspaper, on Feb. 6, 1967:

Earl Mack Dies, 78-Year-Old Son of Connie Mack

Upper Darby, Pa. (UPI)--Earl Mack, 78, former part owner of the Philadelphia Athletics and son of baseball's legendary Connie Mack, died Sunday at Delaware County Hospital.

Mr. Mack, the second of Connie's three sons, served with his brother, Roy, as officers of the Athletics after their father's death.  The franchise was sold in November, 1954, to Chicago financier Arnold Johnson and transferred to Kansas City.

Mr. Mack, who was around his father's clubhouse as a child, had long but undistinguished career in the minor leagues.  He played a total of five games with the Athletics in 1910, 1911 and 1914 as a catcher, third baseman and first baseman.

Following World War I, he served three seasons as player-manager at Moline, Ill., and closed his managerial career by winning the Blue Ridge League pennant with Martinsburg, W. Va.

 Margaret's obituary appeared in The Greensboro Daily News, Greensboro, NC on May. 5, 1955:

Mrs. Earl McGillicuddy

Statesville, May 4 - Mrs. Earle T. McGillicuddy, sister of Mrs. E. M. Shelton of Statesville, died yesterday at her home in Philadelphia, Pa.  Mrs. McGillicuddy was the former Mary Margaret Cain of Morganton.

She was educated at the Mary Dickson private school and the Patton High School, Morganton, and at St. Mary's and Meredith Colleges, Raleigh.  For a number of years she was organist at First Baptist Church, Morganton.  She had resided in Philadelphia since her marriage 35 years ago.

Survivors include her husband; a son, Earle T. McGillicuddy, Jr.; two grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. Shelton.

A brief funeral service will be held at the Shelton residence on North Mulberry Street Friday at 1:15 p.m. with the Rev. J. S. Potter and the Rev. Robert Marshburn, officiating.  The funeral party will go from here to Morganton, where the funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church at 3 p.m. Friday.  Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Morganton.

---

Lulu's Coffey lineage:

William > Gilliam/Polly Moore > William/Annie Boone > Thomas/Sarah Fields > John/Jane Graves > Edward/Ann Powell.  See also http://coffeycousins.blogspot.com/2013/01/lula-eloise-coffey.html

McCaleb & Sarah "Sally" Hayes Coffey

McCaleb was a son of Jesse and Margaret "Peggy" Edmisten Coffey, born c1814 in North Carolina.  He married Sarah "Sally" Hayes about 1838 in probably Watauga Co., NC where they lived and died.

There were two Coffey men named McCaleb and were born just 11 years apart.  The older McCaleb was born in 1803 to Thomas and Sarah Fields Coffey.  As best as I can determine, he was always a resident of Caldwell Co. and served as a Commissioner in that county in 1868.  He and McCaleb, subject of this blog, were first cousins, once removed.  Their common ancestor was John and Jane Graves Coffey, a son of Edward.

McCaleb and Sally Hayes Coffey had four sons, three of which were killed during the Civil War:

Thomas Ninevah Coffey was the eldest, born in 1839.  He was one of the first to volunteer for service in the Confederate army and was with Co. E., 37th NC Infantry Regiment when he was killed at Chancellorsville.

John E. Coffey was the youngest, born in 1844, and also enlisted in the 37th.  He too was killed at Chancellorsville on the same day as his brother Thomas.

Jesse Finley was born c1842 and was the third born to McCaleb and Sally.  He enlisted in what became the 58th NC Infantry Regiment in 1862.  The unit was originally Palmer's Battalion of Partisan Rangers.  They were consolidated in Apr., 1865 with the 60th NC Infantry and became the 58th NC.  According to an article found at Footnote.com, "over 1000 men came from Cumberland Gap...and was assigned to guard Big Creek Cap."  Jesse died there on Mar. 7, 1863 but a cause of death was not given.  He is buried at DeLap Cemetery at La Follette in Campbell Co., TN.

The last son born to McCaleb and Sally was Cornelius Jones Coffey and the only one to live and raise a large family.  He was born on Apr. 22, 1840 served in Co. E, 37th NC Infantry Regiment.  He enlisted on Sep. 18, 1861 and was discharged in July, 1863.

Mar. 1918 Notice of Sale
C. J. Coffey Property

In 1866, Jones married his first cousin, Martha Jane Gragg, the daughter of James Burton and Nancy A. Coffey Gragg.  Nancy was a younger sister of McCaleb.  Martha was born in Caldwell Co. in 1843 and died in Shulls Mill, Watauga Co. in 1900.  Jones died there in 1917 and both are buried at White Springs Cemetery at Blowing Rock.

Jones - as I understand he was called - and Martha Jane had at least nine children; seven sons and two daughters.

Their first was Thomas Herndon Coffey, born 1867, died 1946 in Watauga Co.  His wife was Annie Marilda Pendley [sic], a daughter of William Patterson and Lou Ellen Moore Pendley.  Annie was born in 1873, Caldwell Co., and died at Blowing Rock in Watauga Co. in 1959.  Thomas and Annie were parents of at least two children, Ellen Pendley Coffey (1902-1975) and Thomas, Jr., (1905-1978),  They two are buried at White Springs.

Emma Irene was their second child, born Dec., 1868 and died in Apr., 1947.  She married John Alexander Gragg, a first cousin once removed, in Watauga Co. in 1887.  John was born to Johnson P. and Nancy Jane Cuthbertson Gragg in 1856 and died in 1925 in Watauga Co.  Both are buried at White Springs.  They were parents of at least two children, both daughters:  Mary E., born 1888 and Ila Mae, born 1891.

A third child was Simms Coffey, born c1871.  I received that information from Margaret Farley Coffey (decd), and together we searched for any record of this child without luck.  About the only fact that can be associated with the family is that he was not enumerated in the 1880 census with Jones and Martha.

Elbert, fourth child, was born in 1872 and died in 1900 at Kelsey in Watauga Co.  He Margaret Matilda Simms in 1892 at Watauga Co.  They had one son, John B., born in June, 1891, just a few months prior to Elbert's death.  I do not know where Elbert was buried.  Neither do I know if Margaret Simms remarried.  The family needs further study.

John Finley, born 1877 in Caldwell Co. was next born.  He married Frances C. Holloway, a daughter of Reede and Martha Andrews Holloway, in Watauga Co. in 1894.  I have one child born to them; John Stuart Coffey, born c1906.  John Finley died in Carolina Co., VA in 1953 and Frances in 1956 at Partlow, Spotsylvania Co., VA.  Both are buried at County Line Baptist Church Cemetery at Ruther Glen, Caroline Co.  John Stuart married a lady named Ruth in c1922 and had at least three children:  Edity, Conway and Ruth.

Walter Gwyn was next, born in 1878, probably in Watauga Co., and died there in 1945.  He is buried at White Springs.  He was wed to triple third cousin Julia Hayes, daughter of Wyatt and Mary Jane Coffey Hayes in Watauga Co. in 1896.  They had at least eight children:  William Harston; Lloyd Edgar; McDonald; Roberta; Wyatt; Cecil; Emma and Bulah.  More information on several of these children is available.  Julia was born in Watauga Co. in 1876 and died there in 1955.  She too is buried at White Springs.

Charles Burton was number seven.  He was born in Watauga Co. in 1882 and died in Hickory, Catawba Co. in 1960.  He married Amanda Louise Misemore in about 1916 or 17.  She was born in Tennessee in 1888 and died in Hickory in 1967.  They had at least two children; Wiley Monroe, 19188-1921 and, James Grady, 1922-1941. Charles and Amanda were buried at First Baptist Church Cemetery  in Hudson, Caldwell Co.  Their two sons are buried at Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery, also in Hudson.

We know the next child, Hattie, was born in Sep., 1833 at Watauga Co. and that she married Charles Stocks.  Nothing else is yet. known.

The last child was Rufus Monroe, born 1886 in Watauga Co., died there in 1965.  He married Emma Eliza Robbins in that county in 1906.  She was born in NC in 1886 and died there in 1952. Both are buried at White Springs.  Their children were Mabel, Howard, Helen, Edward, and Rhonda.  More information about the children and their descendants is available.

A letter to the editor appeared on page 2, column 2 of the Watauga Democrat of Thursday, March 14, 1895.  It was written by A. W. Beach [several Coffey ladies in Caldwell Co. had Beach husbands.  I do not know who A. W. was] discusses McCaleb's family.  In it he [presumed male] writes that he went to live with "uncle" Caleb and "aunt" Sally at the age of nine years in 1863.  He named their sons as Thomas N., Finley, John, and Jones.  Three sons were already deceased when he arrived and Jones was at home, disabled by a wound to a foot.  He thought that one of the sons had been brought back from the battle field and laid to rest somewhere along the Blue Ridge but, did not name the son nor a specific spot where the burial occurred.

---

A double third cousin to Jesse and his brothers was Elbert Coffey, a son of William Coffey, Jr. and his wife Margaret Robbins.  Elbert was born at Buffalo Cove in Watauga Co., NC in 1837 and died "of disease" on May 15, 1863 at Big Creek Gap.  He too is buried at De Lap.

Hardy Mills (perhaps) and what Coffey Woman?

Those of you who have followed this blog from the beginning know that I am not a direct descendant of any male descendant of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.  Instead, DNA shows me to be a ggg-grandson of a man named Lilburn Jackson Coffee who was a descendant of William and Sarah Ellis Mills.  My 37-marker DNA test shows a perfect match to others who also descend from this Mills family. Additionally, the DNA test result for a descendant of a brother to my gg-grandfather matches mine.

While searching for whichever of William and Sarah's descendants might be my ancestor, I have more or less concluded their son Hardy is the most likely candidate.  He was born in Halifax Co., NC c1763 and died Mar. 6, 1841 in Greencastle, Putnam Co., IN.

Hardy was found on the Wilkes Co. 1787 tax rolls in Captain Ferguson's District and, again in 1830 Hawkins Co., TN.  Other names found on the 1787 list, and pertinent to this genealogy were:  John Coffee (owned stud horse), Thomas Coffee, Reuben Coffee (two, one with note "Estate of James Coffee, dec'd.), Elender Coffee, Benjamin Coffee (owned stud horse), Jane Coffee.

Except for Ellender, these Coffey names match children of John Coffey and Jane Graves.  John Coffey died in 1775 so Jane Coffee could be his widow.  The James Coffee, dec'd would also be a son of John and Jane, who died in Wilkes Co. in 1786.

In Captain Isbell's District I found Joel Coffee, and Colbey [sic] Rucker.  Hardy appeared in the 1784-1787 (enumerated in 1785) NC State Census as a white male, age 21-60, with a white female in the household.  Families adjacent to him were John Coffey, Thomas Coffee [sic], Reubin Coffey, Elizabeth Coffey, Stephen Carpenter and, Benjamin Coffey.  Stephen Carpenter was father of Hardy's wife, Frances Carpenter.

With an age spread as required at the time by the NC census, it is impossible to accurately determine the age of any person enumerated.  Elizabeth Coffey appears in the census as head of household and likely a widow.  I believe she would have been Elizabeth Cleveland, the widow of Rev. James Coffey.  There were no males 21-60 in the household but, there were two males under 21, 1 female and 3 blacks. I don't know how old Elizabeth was, but if she was James' widow, she would been in her 50's.

James and Elizabeth had only two daughters that I know of: Elizabeth, born c1751 and Martha, born c1758.  I believe Elizabeth would have been deceased in Wayne Co., KY before my GGG Coffey was born.  Martha died in Wayne Co. in 1826 but was married and believed to be in KY before the Rev. War began.

My GGG named his first daughter Mary Elizabeth, perhaps after his own mother.  His second daughter was Margaret, apparently named for his wife's mother, Margaret Lloyd Taylor.  He named his first two sons John Fielding; John perhaps for his father-in-law, whose middle name we do not know.  His second son was, James M. for perhaps Pres. James Madison (1751-1836) or, James Mills.  James M. Coffee was my paternal g-grandfather.  Lilburn then had a son whom he named for himself and later a daughter named Ellen.

John, another son of William and Sarah, John Mills, birth unknown but probably between 1770 and 1780, married Alice "Allie" Coffey in Wilkes Co., NC on Mar. 19, 1804.  Allie was a daughter of Ambrose and Mildred "Millie" Moore Coffey, born c1788 in Burke Co.  Ambrose was a grandson of John and Jane Graves Coffey.

These bits and pieces of circumstantial evidence gives me a bit of confidence that I am somewhat justified in considering Hardy, an older brother to John, as my ancestor.

The first problem that I have is the probability that Hardy left NC before 1820.  A Hardy Mills, and the only Mills,  was in Pulaski Co., GA in 1820 and in Hawkins Co., TN in 1830.  He was in Indiana from at least 1837 to death in 1841.  Of course, he could have learned in 1819 that he had impregnated a young woman - he would have been in his late 50's by 1820 - and decided to head to a safer place.  He had married Frances Carpenter in Wilkes Co. in 1785.  I do not know when she died, but the 1820 GA census does not list a woman of the right age to have been Frances.  There was such a female in the 1830 household in Hawkins Co. which might mean a second wife.  There were no Coffey families in Pulaski Co., GA in 1820.  There was a Thomas Coffee [sic] in Wilkes Co., GA that year.

Another problem, and perhaps the one most difficult to overcome at the moment is the possibility that one of Hardy's sons could have been my ancestor.  He had at least four, three of which would have been old enough to sire children by 1820.

One son, James, was born c1782 in Wilkes Co.; Henry and William followed James in 1798 and 1799-1800 respectively.  James married in before 1804 at Tazewell in Claiborne Co., TN.  Henry married in 1820 at Rockingham Co., NC and. William married in Jefferson Co., TN in 1819.  Based purely on birth years, of his other sone, there were likely more children born to Hardy between 1782 and 1798.  Another son, Hardy, Jr. was born c1808 and would have been only about 12-14 years old when my ancestor was born.

Clearly, more census work is needed to determine what Coffey and Mills families were living in TN counties other than Hawkins in c1820 and 1830.  That will help determine if any were living within spittin' distance of any Mills related to William and Sarah Ellis Mills.  Coffey families on the tax rolls and living adjacent to Hardy in 1787 need to be studied more and time lines developed.  I see no other way to eliminate the various Coffey females until I find the one who perhaps had a liaison with Hardy.

 Jack

John Marshal “Marsh” Coffey

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

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

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

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

Joseph & Shelly's Marriage Announcement

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

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

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

  Jack

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

Update Apr 9, 2014:  

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

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

James T. Coffey - Suicide in Marshall, Saline Co., MO

MARSHALL—REPUBLICAN, VOL. IX. MARSHALL. SALINE COUNTY, MISSOURI. JUNE 3. 1900. NO. 13.

SUICIDE IN HIS CELL.

James Coffey, a Farmer, Hangs Himself While

Confined in the City Jail. Insanity
the Cause.

Fatalities have become most frequent happenings about Marshall in the past few weeks.  Suicide and other manner of death follow so fast upon the tread of each other that they occasion little talk and less excitement. The last sensational happening of this nature, occurred Tuesday morning, an inmate of the city jail ending his life by hanging himself.

James Coffey was the suicide. He was formerly a farmer living about 4 1/2 miles northeast of Marshall, one-half mile west of Capt. Elliott's farm.  Since his family moved to Missouri from Tennessee, he had been regarded as an honest, sober and hard working man, though rather peculiar in his ways.  During the night of Wednesday, May 31st, he left his home, and was found on the Miami road near Fairville, wandering about next day, his mind seriously affected. Mr. Matt Hall, who happened along, observed his condition and brought him to Marshall, where he was turned over to the custody of the sheriff. 

Coffey seemed to return to his reason some what, and his trial before the Probate court led to the opinion that he would soon regain his mind completely. He was therefore ordered held in charge for a few days, when if recovery followed he was to be released and allowed to return home.  As the county had no suitable place for his confinement, the city officers took him to the jail quarters of the city hall, where in the day time he was allowed the freedom of the corridor. 

The prisoner, who in his ravings, imagined himself pursued by a threatening mob, was visited on Monday afternoon by his wife, who brought him a pie wrapped in a tea towel.  Monday night and Tuesday morning his actions evidenced a more violent insanity. At 9:30 Tuesday morning, keeper of the jail, Brice, when accompanying a lady visitor to his cell, discovered Coffey hanging from the upper birth of his cell, his body suspended by means of the tea-towel tied around his neck and attached to the lattice work of the birth. 

Assistance was at once called, little Charley Herndon cutting the cloth by which he hung, but the insane man was lifeless. The upper birth is only about five feet from the floor, and Coffey, in order to accomplish his death, had thrown his feet from under him allowing the weight of his body to produce a choking death. 

The coroner was notified and summoned a jury at once which returned a verdict that the deceased came to his death by "hanging himself with a towel," signed by Jno. Cunningham, foreman; J. R. Plynu, W. D. Black, A. J. Graves, M. T.  Campbell and N. F. Randolph.

His body was removed to the undertaking rooms and thence to his home on the farm, the burial taking place Wednesday at Shiloh. He was a heavy, rather tall, well built man, aged about forty-five years, with sandy hair, beard and mustache. He leaves a wife and four children who mourn deeply the loss of a father not responsible for this act of suicide in his demented condition.

Note: This was James T. Coffey who was born c1852 in Tennessee. His wife was Sarah E. Moore Coffey, born c1861 in Missouri. They appeared in the 1900 Marshall Twp., Saline Co., MO census. Their children then (all born in MO) were Grover C., born c1885; Hattie, born c1887; Joseph, born c1889; James Q., born c1875 in KY and a lodger, John Davison, age 29, born in MO. James was enumerated as James P., age 48, born in TN. Sarah was enumerated as head of household, likely meaning that James was already known to be incapacitated to some degree.

Who were the parents of James?

Sources:

United States Census, 1900," index and images,  FamilySearch  (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M3D6-R5P : accessed 10 Mar 2014), James P Coffee in household of Sarah E Coffey, Marshall Township (excl. Marshall city, incl. Missouri Valley College), Saline, Missouri, United States; citing sheet , family 290, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1240902

Library of Congress (http://tinyurl.com/kjulmmm)

John Hunter & Emily Caroline Coffey Grider

The Griders were Kentucky Pioneers.  I have not checked all of them to find which were the earliest to arrive but, I note that Tobias Grider was in Boyle Co., KY in 1800 [1] and one of those who left with his family to settle in Roseville in Placer Co., CA. [2]

John Hunter was born in KY in June of 1816 to parents born in KY.  I do not know who his parents were but may have been part of the Tobias Grider relatives.  John married Emily Caroline Coffey in KY, probably in Casey Co., or perhaps Russell Co., but a marriage record has not been found.

Emily Caroline was born in May of 1826 at Russell Co. to Elijah and Mariah Coffey Coffey.  Elijah was a son of Cleveland and Jane Witherspoon Coffey; Mariah was born in Jan., 1802 to Elias "Eli" and Mary Coffey Coffey.

To summarize and leave for the reader to untangle the relationships, Elias and Cleveland were first cousins as were Elias and Mary and Mary and Cleveland.

I cannot find John and Emily in the 1850 census.  The first I find is 1860 with the family living in Jamestown, Russell Co., when John was 40 years old and Emily was 30.  They had Joshua, age 9; George W., age 5; Maria L., age 3; and Mary, age 1.  Emily and John went on to have 10 children but by 1900 only 4 were still living.  Children that I know of were:  Joshua, born in 1851; Mary Jane, born 1853; George W., born 1855; Maria, born 1856; Mary, born 1858; Robert C., born 1860; Lucy E., born c1865 and John Elisha, born c1867.  The first five of their children were probably born in Russell Co.; the last three perhaps in Casey Co.

In 1870 the family was farming at Liberty, Casey Co. where they remained until death.  Both John and Emily are buried at the Fair Cemetery in Pricetown, Casey Co.  Their death dates are unknown.

Son Joshua married Mary E. Coffey on Nov. 29, 1877 in Adair Co.  I strongly believe Mary to be the daughter of Joseph and Beth Ada Strunk Coffey, but have no proof.  She is in the right place at the right time and of the right age but a marriage record hasn't yet been found.  By the 1880 census they had no living children in the household and, I have been unable to locate them in later census records.  Joshua is buried at Fair Cemetery.  I do not know his death date nor the death date or burial site for Mary.

Jos. Grider-MaryCoffey Mar Record

The marriage record for this couple tells us they were to be married at the home of G. W. Grider, who I presume to be Joshua's brother.  Further down, the license tells us they were married at the home of Warren Grider, hence my reason for naming Joshua's brother as George Warren Grider.  I have no other evidence that Warren was his middle name.

George married Elizabeth E. Moore in Casey Co. on May 20, 1880.  She died before 1900 because that year George appeared as a widower in the Liberty, Casey Co. census.  I have found four children for them:  Ethel., born 1881, died 1949, married William W. Bryant on Dec. 21, 1899 in Liberty; Ziporah, born 1884, married Arthur Will in Liberty in 1911; Eddie, born 1887, married Ruth LNU and had at least four children:  Ruby, Irene, Katherine and Louis.  Their last child was Knacy [sic] R., who married Ruth M. Wesley.  They were married in Indiana on Jul. 5, 1916 and apparently returned right to KY almost immediately.  Ruth was born in KY in 1896 and died there in 1979.  Knacy died in Mercer Co. in 1947.  Their children were June; Juanita; K. Garoname (?); Nelson Lee, Ruel and Beulah, all born between 1918 and 1936.  Knacy and Ruth are buried at the Glenwood Cemetery in Liberty.

I have no info for children Maria and Mary.  It appears to me - subject to error, of course - that the family had two daughters named Mary, the first born in 1853 and the second in 1858.  I am thinking that perhaps the first Mary died as an infant and some years later another daughter was given that name.

Robert was child no. 6, born in 1860, died in 1937, Danville, Boyle Co.  Robert married Flora Ann Bell, a daughter of Edmond and Puss Fair Bell on Mar. 6, 1882 in Casey Co.  Flora was born in 1862 and died in 1940, Casey Co. Both are buried at the Fair Cemetery in Pricetown, Casey Co.

He and Flora had 12 children from Sep. 1882 to 1914, not counting any children that may had been still born or died shortly after birth.  Their known children were:  Ollie, a son born in 1882; Lena, born 1888; Edna, born 1890; Edmond, born in 1891, married Pearl Sanders in 1919; Joshua, born 1894, married Ruth Bell in 1913; George, born 1896; Anna Pearl, born 1898; Robert C., born c1901; Emma E., born c1903; Elisha, born c1906; Jessie C., born c1909 and Bertha, born c1914.

Updates, additions and corrections welcomed.

  Jack

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[1] Kentucky Pioneer and Court Records, compiled by Mrs. Harry Kennett McAdams, Heritage Books, 2009, p103

[2] Images of America Roseville, Roseville Historical Society, Arcadia Pub. Co., 2010, p7

Lewis Russell and Bidant "Biddy" Moore Coffey

Lewis' will has been transcribed and can be found here.  In his will, he named his children Betsy, Rachel, Polly, James, Henderson, Shelby, Benjamin F.,Thomas, and Edward.  He mentioned his deceased son Jesse and named Jesse's daughter Sophronia as a legatee.  Son Cleveland may have been deceased without descendants as he is not mentioned.

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Lewis Russell Coffey was a grandson of John and Jane Graves Coffey through his father, the Rev. James Coffey and his wife, Elizabeth Cleveland.  James and Elizabeth, through their 11 children are responsible for many of the Wayne and Pulaski Co., KY Coffey families.

Lewis was number 11, born Nov. 18, 1772 in Amherst Co., VA, died Sep. 29, 1850 in Wayne Co., KY.[1]    He married Bidant "Biddy" Moore on Dec. 10, 1795 [2] in Wilkes Co. NC, a daughter of Jesse Moore and Alley Johnson.  Biddy was born on May 3, 1775 in Albemarle Co., VA and died in Wayne Co. on Jan. 13, 1857.[1]

Eleven children were born to Lewis and Biddy.  They were:

Elizabeth G. (Betsy), 1797-1868, who married Richard Northcraft Cullom.  Richard was a farmer and a legislator, born in Maryland in 1795.  He and Betsy were married in Wayne Co., KY where Richard's family had moved early in his life.  In 1830, he and Betsy moved to Tazewell Co., IL where they lived the remainder of their lives.  In 1836 he was elected to the 10th Illinois General Assembly where he served with Lincoln.  In 1840 he was elected to the IL Senate.  He served in a number of other elected offices and died in Tazewell Co. on Dec. 3, 1872.  Betsy died on Dec. 5, 1868.  Both are buried at the Old Washington Cemetery in Tazewell Co., IL.  They had at least five children, the third being Shelby Moore Cullom (1829-1914).  He followed his father into politics and was elected to the IL state house in 1855.  In 1865 he was elected to represent IL in the US Congress where he served three consecutive terms.  In 1876 he was elected Governor of IL and served nearly two terms.  He resigned in the middle of the second term to become a candidate for the US Senate, to which he was elected and served five consecutive terms and was considered several times as a candidate for the US presidency.[3]  He married twice, both wives daughters of Samuel and Hannah Beaver Fisher.  All are buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, IL.

Rachel, 1798-?, married Thomas Jefferson Jones c1830.  They were probably married sometime around 1830 and were in the 1860 Wayne Co., KY census.  Thomas was age 55; Rachel age 59.  I know of two children:  Margaret (1830-1862) married Martin Sallee.  In 1860 a John Jones, age 11, was in the household with Thomas and Rachel and, could be a son or a grandson.

Mary Jane "Polly", c1803-1855, married Jooshua Oatts in Wayne Co. on Jan. 4, 1821.[4]  They were in the 1850 Wayne Co., KY census with children Cleveland, age 21; Emily, age 18; John R., age 15; Safrona [sic], age 14; Lewis, age 10; T. J., age 8 [Thomas J.]; Shelby C., age 6 and Russell, age 5.  In addition to those, they also had Cosby [1823-1890] and James Douglas [1824-1893].  Joshua died in 1858 and is buried at Elk Springs Valley Cemetery in Oil Valley, Wayne Co.  Polly died of typhoid fever in 1855 and is also buried at Elk Springs Valley.

James Lewis, 1802-1855, married Sarah Alloway "Sally" Strange in 1830, Wayne Co.  Sally was born in McMinn Co., TN in 1807 to Archelaus Alloway and Elizabeth Coffey Strange.  Elizabeth Coffey Strange and James Lewis Coffey were first cousins.  James died in Wayne Co. in 1855 and Sally there in 1885.  Both are buried at Elk Springs Valley.  They had at least 10 children:  Jesse Columbus; Elizabeth E.; Anjeletta; George W.; Cleveland McKendree; Mary "Molly"; James Franklin; Sarah J. "Sallie"; Obidah Strange "Obie"; and Verlinda J. "Linnie."  More information about this family is available.

Henderon, c1802-1868, married Minerva Alexander in 1827, Wayne Co.[5] Minerva was born c1805 in KY and died in Wayne Co. in 1881.  Harrison died in 1868 and both are buried at Elk Springs Valley.  They had at least 10 children:  Telitha; Mary Alexander; Shelby; Joseph; Emily Biddy; Nancy "Nannie"; Elizabeth "Betsy;" Lewis; Mary Anna and Susan.  More information about this family is available.

Shelby "Shelly," 1811-1863, married Zerilda Emarine Meadows, daughter of Andrew and Jane Graham Meadows.  She was born in Wayne Co., 1822 and died there in 1900.  Shelly died in 1863 [6] and both are buried at Elk Springs Valley.  I have only three children for them:  Shelby, Jr., 1833-?; Andrew Lewis, 1844-1887; and Mary Jane, 1854-?.  More information about this family is available.

Edward Northcraft Cullom, c1813-?, married Rachel A. Isaacs.  Rachel was born in 1823 and died in Wayne Co. in 1872.  She is buried at Kendrick Cemetery in Monticello, Wayne Co., KY.  No further information.

Jesse Moore, 1815-1835, married Elizabeth "Eliza" Smith in 1832. [5]  They had a daughter, Sophronia, born c1833.  No further information.

Benjamin Franklin, 1816-1868, married Mary Ann Worsham in 1842. [5]  Mary Ann was born in 1826 in KY and died in Wayne Co. in 1886.  Both are said to be buried in Monticello at a Coffey Cemetery. [7]  Their children were Emma; Martha; William E.; Mary A.; Ida S.; Benjamin, Jr.; Robert Lee and Nannie J.  No further information.

Cleveland L., 1817-?, married Sophronia Oatts, born 1812m died 1877 in Wayne Co.  Children were at least two:  Lewis J. and Mary C.  Sophronia is buried at Elk Springs Valley.  No further information.

Thomas Coleman, c1819-1890, married four time, first to Mary Heaven or Havens in 1839, Wayne Co.[5]  No children are known to have been born to this union.  Second wife was Patience Jane Miller in 1848.[5][8]  He and Patience had at least three children:  Margaret, c1841, John, c1843 and Marshal, c1850.  Patience died in Wayne Co. in 1855.  That date is not proven and her burial place is not known to me.  Third wife was Sarah Havens, likely some relation to Mary, his first wife.  Nothing is known of her.  Thomas' fourth wife was Mrs. Amanda Jane Hudson Stone, born c1819.  They had at least three children:  Amanda, c1851; Alley, c1853 and Mary, c1856.  According to the KY DAR, Thomas died in Lincoln Co. and is probably buried there.[9]

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Some documentation as well as this information and Lewis' ancestors, his family and his descendants can be found on the Edward Coffey Project CD or DVD.  In fact, all of the Coffey's that I have written about in this blog over the past number of years can be found in my Edward Coffey Project, with much of it updated since the blog was written.

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[1] Grave monument
[2] Coffey, Laurence H., editor, Thomas Coffey and His Descendants (Chattanooga, TN: N. Sanders, 1931), Page 85.
[3] Governors of Illinois (Chicago, IL: Biographical Publishing Company, 1891), Pages 175-176.
[4] Dodd, Jordan. Kentucky Marriages to 1850. [database online] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 1997. Electronic transcription of marriage records held by the individual counties in Kentucky.
[5] From Wayne County, Kentucky Marriages, 1801-1860. Source gives brides name as Mannen Alexander; Manerva in 1850 and 1860 Wayne Co. census. Bond missing; married 29 March 1827 by Racoon John Smith.
[6] “Kentucky Probate Records, 1792-1977,” Image database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/).
[7] Wayne Co. KY Cemeteries compiled by B. B. Coffey, Sr., Page 31.  This cemetery is referred to in the source as Coffey Cemetery and is said to be located at or near the intersection of Spruce St. and Hiland View Dr. in Monticello.
[8]The bride's name appears to be Jane Meeker in record. Surety was Isaac N. Shepherd. Bond dated 23 August 1848; Minister return is missing.
[9] Kentucky DAR, compiler, Kentucky Bible Records (: DAR, 1966), Vol. IV.

Joshua & Mary "Polly" Coffey Oatts

Joshua was a native of Virginia, born in that state on Jul. 5, 1791. He was a son of Robert and Mary or May Jones Oatts. On Jan. 4, 181 Joshua married Mary "Polly" Coffey, probably in Wayne Co.,KY, a daughter of Lewis Russell and Bidant "Biddy" Moore Coffey.

One of the sons of Joshua and Mary was Lewis, born Dec., 3, 1837, died Feb. 12, 1898 in Wayne Co. I don't have a marriage for Lewis. He is buried at Elk Springs Valley Cemetery at Oil Valley in Wayne Co., KY.

Lewis and "his sister" [he had two: Emily, born 1831 and Sophronia, born 1839) are mentioned in the Slave Narratives, a Gutenberg Project. This work was originally prepared by the WPA and, released in eBook format on April 6, 2004. A part which mentions the Oatts family of Wayne Co. reads as follows:

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves, by Work Projects Administration

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

Title: Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Kentucky Narratives
Author: Work Projects Administration
Release Date: April 6, 2004 [EBook #11920]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SLAVE NARRATIVES ***
Produced by Andrea Ball and PG Distributed Proofreaders. Produced from images provided by the Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.

Mercer County. Ex-Slave Stories. (Hazel Cinnamon)

Interview with Will Oats--Ex-Slave:

Will Oats, 84 years of age, was born in Wayne County, up Spring Valley in 1854. He was the son of Betty Oats and Will Garddard of North Carolina. He has three sisters: Lucy Wilson, Frances Phillips that live in Ohio, and Alice Branton of Mercer County, Kentucky. He has two brothers; Jim Coffey and Lige Coffey of Harrodsburg.

As a child he lived with his mother, brothers, sisters, and grandmother. Their quarters were in the yard of their master; and they were as comfortable as any slaves--with plenty to eat and clothes to keep them warm.

Will was just a boy at that time, and he cut wood and carried it in; and did other chores around the house such as help to milk and feed the stock. Their food was plentiful and they ate all kinds of vegetables, and had plenty of milk and butter, fat meat, and bread.

The family all wore home made clothing, cotton shirts, heavy shoes, very heavy underwear; and if they wore out their winter shoes before the spring weather they had to do without until the fall.

Will was owned by Lewis Oats and his sister; they lived in a two story house, built of log and weather boarded. They were very wealthy people. The farm consisted of over 230 acres; they owned six slaves; and they had to be up doing their morning work before the master would wake.

When working and the slaves would disobey their master, they were punished in some way; but there was no jail. They didn't know how to read or write, and they had no church to attend. All they had to do when not at work was to talk to the older folks. On Christmas morning they would usually have a little extra to eat and maybe a stick of candy. On New Year's Day their work went on just the same as on any other day.

Will, as a boy loved to play marbles which was about the most interesting game they had to play. Of course, they could play outside as all children do now when they had spare time.

At that time there were few doctors and when the slaves would get hurt or sick, they were usually looked after by the master or by their overseer.

After the war had closed, Will's grandmother walked from Monticello to Camp Nelson to get her free papers and her children. They were all very happy, but they were wondering what they were going to do without a home, work, or money. But after Will and his mother and grandmother got their freedom, the grandmother bought a little land and house and they all went there to live. Of course, they worked out for other people and raised a great deal of what they ate. Will lived there until he grew older and went out for himself; and later moved to Mercer County where he now lives.
Bibliography: Interview with Will Oats, Ex-Slave of Mercer County.

William and Annie Boone Coffey at Rufus Cemetery in Caldwell Co., NC

William was a son of Thomas and Sarah Fields Coffey, born Nov. 29, 1782 in Wilkes Co., NC and died there on May 15, 1839.  That part of Wilkes Co. later became part of Caldwell Co.  Anna "Annie" Boone was a daughter of Jese and Sarah McMahan Boone, born Jul. 26, 1785 in Burke Co., died Jan. 16, 1876 in Caldwell Co.  Both are buried at the Rufus Baptist Church cemetery in Lenoir, Mulberry Twp., Caldwell Co

In fact, a number of William and Anna's descendants are buried at Rufus.  At first examination of this cemetery, most appear to be from son Wilborn, born May 14, 1807 in Burke Co., died in Caldwell Nov. 27, 1897; and from son Calvin, born Sep. 30, 1819, died Apr. 2, 1847, also in Caldwell Co..

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Harriet Minerva Moore, wife of James Altimon Bradshaw, and daughter of Jesse Richmond Moore and Charlotte Caroline Coffey, born Oct. 7, 1878, died Jan. 22, 1970.  Charlotte Caroline was a daughter of Wilborn and Sarah Cottrell Coffey and a granddaughter of William and Annie, marking Harriet a great-granddaughter.

Thelma Erin Bradshaw, daughter of James Altimon and Harriet Minerva Moore Bradshaw, born Mar. 31, 1911 in Caldwell Co., died Apr. 4, 1969.  Thelma was a great great granddaughter of William and Annie.

Beulah Evelyn, daughter of Robert Finley Coffey and Crettie May Rich and, wife of George Wesley Nichols.  She was born Aug. 22, 1923, Caldwell Co., died Sep. 8, 2009 at Lenoir.  Beulah was a first cousin to William, 5x removed.

Bruce Glen, son of Julius Pinkney and Louise Ann Edwards Coffey and, husband of Amy Moore.  He was born Dec. 24, 1908 in Caldwell Co., died Sep. 2, 1971 at Lenoir.  Julius was a great grandson of William and Annie, making Bruce a great great grandson.  Amy was the daughter of Wiley Hill and Ellen Hodges Moore.  She was born Apr. 12, 1910 in Caldwell Co., died Jan. 25, 1987.

Mabel Marie, wife of Forrest Moore Green and daughter of Bruce Glen and Amy Moore Coffey.  She was born Nov. 21, 1937 in Caldwell Co. and died there on Jul. 10, 2002.  She was a great great great grand daughter of William and Annie.  Forrest Moore Greene, a son of W. Buster and Wilma Victoria. Moore Greene. Forest was a third great grandson of William and Annie.  He was born Feb. 14, 1937 in Caldwell Co. and died there on Aug. 23, 1999.

Calvin, son of William and Annie, husband of Mary Greene.  He was born Sep. 30, 1819 in NC and died Apr. 2, 1847 in Caldwell Co.  Mary, parents unknown, was born Feb. 2, 1820 in NC and died Jun. 23, 1871 in Caldwell Co.

Wilborn, son of William and Annie, husband of Sarah "Sallie" Cottrell, born May 14, 1807 in Burke Co., died Nov. 27, 1897 in Caldwell Co.  Sallie was the daughter of William and Lucy Day Cottrell, born May 1, 1812 in Wilkes Co., died Mar. 25, 1894 in Caldwell Co.

William Rufus, son of Wilborn and Sarah Cottrell Coffey and, husband of Harriet E. Moore.  He was born Nov. 17, 1832 in Caldwell Co., died Dec. 7, 1902.  He was a grandson of William and Anna.  Harriet was born May 3, 1835 in Caldwell Co., died Feb. 2, 1918.  Harriet was a daughter of David and Sarah Caroline Moore Moore, born May 3, 1835 in Caldwell Co., died Feb. 2, 1918.

Charlotte Caroline, wife of Jesse Richmond Moore, daughter of Wilborn and Sarah Cottrell Coffey, born Dec. 2, 1851 in Caldwell Co., died Mar. 18, 1944 in Caldwell.  She was a grand daughter of William and Annie.  Jesse was a son of David and Sarah Caroline Moore Moore.  He was born Mar. 16, 1849 in Caldwell Co., died there on Sep. 13, 1921.

Stella Victoria Gragg, wife of Lawrence Hill Moore, was a daughter of John Boone Gragg and Cordelia Adaline Coffey.  Cordelia was a grand daughter of William and Annie, making Stella a great grand daughter.  Stella was born Jul. 10, 1882 in Caldwell Co., died Aug. 30, 1943.  Lawrence Hill was a great grandson of William and Annie.  He was the son of Jesse Richmond and Charlotte Caroline Coffey Moore.

Wilma Victoria Moore, daughter of Lawrence Hill and Stella Victoria Gragg Moore and wife of W. (Willie or William) Buster Greene, was born Apr. 15, 1909 and died Feb. 14, 2004.  She was a double great granddaughter of William and Annie.

Sarah Ellen was a daughter of Jesse Richmond and Charlotte Caroline Coffey Moore and a great grand daughter of William and Annie. She was the wife of Adolphus Monroe Mast, son of John Allen Mast and Martha Elizabeth Moore.  He was born Jul. 22, 1865 in Watauga Co., and died in Caldwell Co. on Dec. 20, 1923.

Ruth Mast, daughter of Adolphus and Sarah, was born Dec. 24, 1898 in Caldwell Co. and died on Oct. 28, 1973.  Ruth was a second great granddaughter of William and Annie.

Addie Caroline Moore, daughter of Lawrence Hill and Stella Victoria Gragg Moore, and the wife of Waitsel Coy Greene.  Addie was second great granddaughter of William and Annie.  I have not yet found info on Waitsel except that he was born Feb. 8, 1909.

Lex Wilburn Mast, Jr., son of Lex, Sr. and Annie Lenoir Greene Mast, was born Apr. 14, 1944 in Caldwell Co. and died Sep. 6, 1974.  He was a third great grandson of William and Annie.

Dermont Richmond Moore, a son of Lawrence Hill and Stella Victoria Gragg Moore, was born Apr. 12, 1917 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Jun. 2, 2003.  He was a second great grandson of William and Annie.

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The Rufus Cemetery is located off the Mulberry Creek Road but, it appears from Google Maps that the entrance to it is located on the Boone Fork Park Road.  Geo Coordinates for that entrance are: Latitude: 36° 0' 0.74" N, Longitude: 81° 38' 26.51" W.  Click on the "Show on Google Maps" below and the link will take you to a very good satellite view of the area.

Show on Google Maps

Hopefully, I've made the correct kinship calculations. Please let me know of any errors.

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.

William Rufus & Harriet E. Moore Coffey

William Rufus, a son of Wilborn and Sallie Cottrell Coffey, was born Nov. 17, 1832 in Caldwell Co., NC and died there on Dec. 7, 1902.  He married Harriet E. Moore, born May 3, 1835 to David and Sarah Caroline Moore Moore, on Dec. 4, 1856.  Both are buried at the Rufus Baptist Church Cemetery in the Mulberry community of Caldwell Co.

There were at least three children born to this couple.  The first I know of was Julius Pinkney, born Aug. 24, 1858, died Feb. 11, 1933 in Mulberry Twp., Caldwell Co.  Julius married Louise Ann Edwards on Mar. 30, 1913 in Rowan Co., NC.  She was a daughter of William Dudley and Eunity [sic] Emeline Whitley Edwards. Julius and Louise are buried at the Pleasant Grove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Marshville, Union Co., NC.

In the on-line death records index in Caldwell Co., Julius is recorded as Julius Penley Coffey.  His death certificate also provides Penley as his middle name.  His marriage to Louise is recorded as Julius Pinkney and, his headstone is also engraved with that name.  Julius' death certificate reports him buried at "Philadelphia," which I presume to be the Philadelphia Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Lenoir.  He may indeed be there, but his headstones, shared with Louise, is at Pleasant Grove.

Other genealogical difficulties with this couple include the birth of their children.  The first was Bruce Glen, which according to his death certificate was born Dec. 24, 1908 in Caldwell Co., some five plus years before his parents marriage.  The certificate also names his parents as Julius and Louise.  Bruce married Amy Moore, a daughter of Wiley Hill and Ellen Hodges Moore in 1928, Caldwell Co.  Bruce died in Lenoir on Sep. 2, 1971 and Amy on Jan. 25, 1987.  Both are buried at Rufus Baptist Church cemetery.

Hazel Eugenia is the only other child known to me.  According to her death certificate, she was born on Feb. 28, 1913, just about a month before her parents marriage.  She married Thomas Carl Jones, date and place not known.  She died Nov. 14, 1964 at home in Lenoir and was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Park in that city.

Read my earlier blog for my views on using death certificates and headstones as source data.

Second child born to William Rufus and Harriet was Sarah Ellen, born Apr. 14, 1861 in Caldwell Co., died Jul. 2, 1942 in Butler, Johnson Co., TN.  Her spouse is said to have been Davis S. Vaught.*  No further information.

Their third child was David Milton, born June, 1865 in Caldwell Co.  He married Ida Susan Vaught,** likely a sister to David, on May 15, 1893 in Johnson Co., TN.  I know of two children:  David Duke Coffey, born May 22, 1897 and Broady Bailey, born Feb. 22, 1898.  Both were born in Watauga Co., NC.

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*Tennessee Deaths and Burials, 1874-1955, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: various dates).
**Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002. Nashville, TN, USA: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm.

Wiley Franklin & Susan A. Banner Sherwood

Wiley Franklin Sherwood was a son of Rev. James Justice Lafayette and Sarah Ann Young Sherwood, born Oct. 3, 1870 in Grayson Co., VA, died Sep. 14, 1944 in Boone, Watauga Co., NC.  He is buried at Cove Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Sherwood, Watauga Co., NC.

Rev. Sherwood was born Nov. 7, 1843 in Smyth Co., VA and died Oct. 26, 1917 in Cove Creek Twp., Watauga Co., NC.  He married Sarah Ann Young, date unknown, but probably 1869-70 time frame.  Sarah was also born in VA, c1847 and died Oct. 10, 1917 in Morganton, Burke Co., NC.  Rev. Sherwood is buried at Adams Cemetery in Vilas, Watauga Co., and Sarah was removed for burial to Shouns, Johnson Co., TN.

Wiley married Susan A. Banner on Sep. 15, 1891 in Watauga Co.  She was the daughter of Newton and Sophronia Mast Banner, and was born Feb. 8, 1871 in Watauga Co., died Mar. 14, 1949 at Cove Creek and was also buried at Cove Creek Cemetery.

Sophronia Mast & Newton Banner¹

Newton Banner is alleged to have accompanied a brother to TN to enlist in the CSA but was refused enlistment because he was too small.  The Union Army accepted him after being challenged to fight his way in against a bigger man.  After the war, he met with his brother to begin the long walk back home.  Somewhere along the way the brother died, Newton took his boots and wore them while carrying his brother's body back to NC.²

Newton died Dec. 18, 1941 in Cove Creek and was buried at the Banner Elk Cemetery.  Sophronia was the daughter of Joseph H. and Clarissa P. Mast.  Her death date and burial site is not known to me.  I have not found a military record for Newton.

There were at least eight and probably 10 children born to Wiley and Susan, all apparently in Boone:

James Marshall, born Jul. 17, 1892, died Nov. 26, 1975 in Boone
Annie Virginia, born Jan. 7, 1895
Grace Bryan, born Jan 18, 1897
Sophronia Blanche, born Mar., 1899
John Banner, born Sep. 28, 1905, died Aug. 3, 1966 at Boone
Sue Irene, born Mar. 20, 1908, died Apr. 21, 1972 at Blowing Rock
Mattie Lane, born Dec. 25, 1912
Ruth Elizabeth, born Dec. 12, 1915.

There is an obvious gap of 4+ years between Sophronia and John.  Perhaps there were two additional children who did not live to be enumerated in the 1910 census.

Sue Irene is the Coffey interest.  She married Thomas Herndon Coffey, Jr. on Jun. 20, 1928 in Cove Creek.  Thomas was a son of Thomas, Sr. and his wife Annie Marilda Pendley.  Sue died Apr. 21, 1972 at Blowing Rock and was buried there at White Springs Cemetery.  I do not have a death date for Thomas, Jr.

Annie Marilda was the daughter of William Patterson and Lou Ellen Moore Pendley.  She was born May 17, 1873 in the Globe, Caldwell Co., and died at Blowing Rock on Jul. 24, 1959.  Thomas, Sr. was born Mar. 21, 1867 in Watauga Co. to Cornelius Jones and Martha Jane Gragg Coffey.  He died Mar. 16, 1946 in Boone.  They were married Nov. 19, 1900 in Watauga Co. Thomas, Sr. and Annie are buried at White Springs.

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¹Photo from Boone NC Magazine.com
²Nannie Greene, Compiler, Community and Change in the North Carolina Mountains: Oral Histories and Profiles of People from Western Watauga County, Catherine Stokes Sheppard Sarah Jean Joslin, Compilers (Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2006), Page 172.

Rice & Sarah "Sally" Bradford Coffey

This Rice Coffey was a son of the Rev. James Coffey and his wife Elizabeth Cleveland.  He is thought to have been born on Apr. 17, 1766 in Amherst Co., VA and to have died on July 24, 1853 in Bedford Co., TN.

Rice wrote a letter* to his nephew Thomas Jefferson Coffey - son of Ambrose, a younger brother to Rice - from Shelbyville on Nov. 15, 1844 which reads:

Dear Jefferson:

I received your letter of the 16th of September and have read it with entertaining interest. Indeed, it is always a source of gratification to me to hear that my friends are doing well.

You request some information respecting the history of our ancestors. I have no written biography of the Coffee family and therefore can only relate to you such facts as have come within my own recollection and such as have reached me by tradition.

I remember to have seen my paternal grandfather. His name was John Coffee, and he was raised in one of the lower counties of Virginia and died in Albemarle. My grandmother's maiden name was Jane Graves, and my father's name was James Coffee.  He also was raised in the lower part of Essex and from thence to Albemarle, where your father Ambrose Coffee was born in the year 1762. From this county my father (James) removed to Amherst and here his children grew up to manhood. My mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Cleveland. My maternal grandfathers's name was Alexander Cleveland. He was a descendant of the English and was an own cousin of Oliver Cromwell, a gentleman who figured conspicuously in the sixteenth century. He was raised in Virginia and born in the year 1663 and died in 1775, at the age of 112 years.

My father was born in 1729 and died in 1786. His children were nine sons and two daughters. My brothers names were John, Archelaus, James, Reuben, Ambrose, Eli, Joel and Lewis Coffee. They are all dead save Eli and Lewis, the first of whom resides in Missouri and the other in Kentucky.

I became acquainted with your maternal grandfather Jesse Moore about the close of the revolutionary war. He then lived in Burke County, N.C., where you were born. He was born in Virginia, and many of his descendants now live in Kentucky.

I am still living at the same place you last saw me, but cannot expect, in the course of nature to remain much longer.  I am now in my 80th year.

May God bless you.

Rice Coffee

Sarah Bradford Coffey was a daughter of Bennett** and second wife Margaret White.  She is said to have been born in TN on July 22, 1770 and died on Sep. 3, 1840 in Bedford Co.  A sibling to Sarah was Henry Bradford, born Dec. 24, 1766, died May 10, 1871, married Rachel McFarland on Jan. 17, 1799.  Rachel was born Aug. 28, 1783 and died Aug. 26, 1852.  Their daughter Mary, born Mar. 22, 1809, died Oct. 20, 1893 in MO, was the wife of Asbury Madison Coffey***, thought by me to be the son of Eli and Hannah Allen Coffey.

Rice appears in very few North Carolina records meaning that he and Sarah moved to TN quite early in their marriage.  Their homeplace was near Wartrace, and he is on the 1788 and 1789 tax lists, and again from 1796 to 1799.  He has not been found in the 1790 or 1800 census.  This could indicated that he was gone during the period 1790-95, and that they moved permanently around 1800, or soon thereafter.

The first tax list in TN in which he appears in 1812 in Bedford Co.  A short account of the family written about 1890 by Rice Abner Coffey, a grandson, says that Rice moved from NC to Bedford Co. in 1808.  It also says that all of the children, except the last three were born in NC.  That would put the migration date a bit earlier.

He and Sally had 9 children.  Some discrepancy exists in various lists.  The 1820 census lists 5 male children and 3 female, which would be correct because Jerusha died in 1810.

Source‡ names children of Rice and Sarah as: Jurusha, d. age 16; Elvira; Henry B., m. Sarah Edmondson; Mary G., d. 1878, m. __ Kendall; Weightress (1801-1837), unmarried; Alexander Hamilton, d. 1864, m. Nancy Matherly; Martha (1805-1845), m. A. Yell; Benjamin B., (1809-1864), m. Mrs. Mary E. Beach; John R. (1815-1896), m. Mary A. Cross (Benjamin was Gen. in Mexican War). Marvin Coffee reports birth date for Sarah as Jul. 22, 1770 and death date as Sep. 3, 1840 in Bedford Co., TN.

Mary, a daughter of Rice and Sally, was born c1798 in NC and died Oct. 22, 1878 in TN, probably Bedford Co.  She is said to have married John Kendall on Mar. 4, 1821 in that county and to have divorced him before 1850.+

She and Kendall had at least one child, a daughter named Arcena, born c1825.  In 1850 when Mary appeared in the census with her widower father in Bedford Co., she was enumerated as Mary Kindle, age 42 with Hanna Kindle, age 25 and Nancy Bell Kindle, age 13.  Also in the household was a physician, Dr. William Pruett, age 24, born in TN.

We know that Arcena married a Prewitt but are unsure if William was her husband.  They are close in age and place and certainly had the opportunity.  Prewitt apparently died or otherwise disappeared sometime after 1859 and may have died in the Civil War, although I have not found a record of his service.  Mary and Arcena, along with Arcena's two chidlren, Nanny and Willis Prewitt, appear together in the 1860 and 1870 Bedford Co. census.  Arcena was found there in 1880 with her still unmarried children.

I would like to know who was Arcena's husband and, who was the 13-year old Nancy Bell Kindle in the 1850 census.

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*Sometimes referred to by Coffey researchers as "The Said Rice Letter."
**All information about Bennett comes from: Genealogical Publishing Co., Reprinter, Genealogies of Virginia Families: From Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2007)
***Read more about Asbury here and here.
‡Lost Links, Elizabeth Wheeler Francis, Southern Western Historical Quarterly, LXIX, 1945, pps. 98, 156, 157 and Descendants of James Bluford Coffey by Dr. Marvin Coffey
+Mary G. Kendle (Kendall) vs John Kendle for divorce. Mary G. Kendle and John Kendle were married in Bedford Co on 4 Mar 1821.  Source: Page 600, Chancery Court Records 1837-1845 by Marsh; call no: 976.858 M366ch

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.