William M. May

William M. May, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser of this county, was born November 13, 1844 in Bloomington Township, this county, and is the second of ten children born to William R. and Eliza (Threslur) May, natives of Virginia, and of German descent. William M. was reared on a farm, and attended school part of the time. In November, 1864, he enlisted in Company G., Forty-third Indiana Infantry, under Capt. Moss. He was located at Indianapolis on guard duty for a time. Jun 14, 1865, he was discharged, and returned to farming, living with his father until his marriage. On November 29, 1866, Mr. May was wedded to Eliza A., daughter of William R. and Tabitha (Everman) Coffey. She was born January 23, 1851, in Monroe County. By this union there were five children - William R., Rosa Ethel, Frank N., Mamie Elsie and Walter E. Mrs. May's parents were among the earliest settlers of the county. Mr. May is the possessor of 206 acres of land in a good state of cultivation, well stocked, and ornamented with a good residence, barn and out-buildings, and a fine orchard. With a start of $2,300 from his wife, he has established his farm and home, worth about $6,000. Mr. May formerly belonged to the Sons of Temperance. They belong to the Christian Church, and are liberal in all charitable movements. He is a Republican.


William Riley Coffey was born Jun. 27, 1818, the son of James D. Coffey and Hannah Alloway Strange. He married Tabitha Everman c1849 in Indiana. He died Aug. 27, 1855 in Monroe Co. Tabitha was born Jun. 19, 1827 and died Feb. 25, 1901 in Monroe Co.

Please contact me with additions and/or corrections.







Source: Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana: Historical and Biographical [Bean Blosssom Twp.] Charles Blanchard, editor; F.A. Battey & Co., pub., 1884, Chicago, p619

Rev. Reuben A. Coffey

Reuben Coffey was born in North Carolina in 1790 [sic]1. In early life he learned the blacksmith trade. Soon after his majority he began to preach. In 1830 he moved to Owen County, Ind., and after living there for a short time he removed to Monroe County, and, having resided in the latter ten or twelve years, he returned to Owen County and abode there until his death, which occurred in 1854,

Brother Coffey was a pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church for a long series of years; also pastor of Macedonia Church for a long time. He never received pay for his ministerial services, except from missionary funds, which gives evidence that he was in full sympathy and missions. He was noted for soundness in doctrine and earnestness in his work. It is said that he was the first real "missionary: Baptist preacher in his section, and that he was looked upon with suspicion on account of his advocacy of missions and the right of those who preach "to live of the Gospel." In education he was personally deficient, while he saw its importance and did all he could by argument and the bestowal of means to promote it in the denomination by means of educational institutions. He was father of a family of ten children, and a very large number of Baptists in the State bear his name; and, as a family, they are strongly in favor of the college he aided in establishing, and several of them have been members of its classes.

Source: The Board of Trustees, Franklin College - First Half Century - Jubilee Exercises 1834-1884 (Cincinnati, OH: Journal and Messenger, 1884)

1 A birthdate of Sep. 15, 1785 was given in Tennessee Cousins by Worth S. Ray.

Polly Dowell Coffey

The Winter 2007 edition of the Owen County History & Genealogy Newsletter has been published. This edition concludes the three-part submission on the Rev. Reuben A. Coffey by Janet Vos Amtower.

Janet included a photograph of Polly Dowell, Reuben's wife of nearly 50 years.

In her concluding article, she wrote:

"Polly Dowell Coffey, the woman who had been by Reuben's side for almost fifty years helping him on the farm and with his ministry lived for thirteen years after her beloved husband died. Reuben and Polly's daughter Miriam who was a widow had moved into her parents' home with her young son Newell in 1852. When Reuben Coffey died in 1854 the two widows ran the farm and raised Miriam's toddler.

When Polly Dowell Coffey died on February 11, 1867 at the age of 79 it was in the middle of a harsh Indiana winter. 'The roads were impassable and the men had to lay down the fences and go through the farms to the graveyard for the burial.' Polly was buried next to her husband in the Coffey Cemetery near the Bethel Church where Reuben had been pastor for eighteen years."

Readers interested in Janet's research should contact the newsletter editor, Vivian Zollinger at 1819 Concord Road, Gosport, IN 47433 or via e-mail.

Janet's work is well documented. It will not only give the reader a good look at this well traveled and pious family, but also a good overview of what life was like for early Owen Co. pioneers. Anyone researching in Owen Co. should be a subscriber to this newsletter.

Rev. Reuben A. Coffey

Rev. Coffey's life has been highlighted in the Summer and Fall 2006 issues of the Owen County History and Genealogy publication. A third part is planned for the Spring 2007 issue. Janet Amtower, a descendant of Reuben, has been researching Reuben's life, work and family and is sharing her findings with readers of that publication.

The articles are well written and documented.

In Part I Amtower writes about Reuben and his rise to the ministry in Wilkes Co., NC and subsequent move to Indiana.

Thomas, Reuben's father, had moved his family from Virginia to Wilkes Co., where they began what became a very large plantation. Thomas' family were members of the Yadkin Grove Baptist Church, which was situated on the grounds of the Coffey Plantation, and it was here where Reuben came to the ministry.

In 1815 Reuben was appointed "pastor of the Globe Mountain Church and many surrounding churches of Wilkes and Burke Counties..." He is also credited as a founding member of a Baptist college in Franklin, Indiana.

In 1832 Reuben and his family was granted "letters of dismission" from the Yadkin Grove church, and they headed off to resettle in Indiana. This relocation was ostensibly to give his children an opportunity to settle on new, cheap land and, to join the "great wave of emigration to southern Indiana by people from the southern states who did not believe in slavery." Indiana's state constitution forbade slavery.

In part II Amtower writes about the journey by wagon that took approximately six weeks. The route, as described by her, was "by way of Asheville, Morristown, Cumberland Gap, and along the Wilderness Road through Kentucky by way of Frankfort and Louisville, then called the Falls of the Ohio, to a place one hundred miles north of the Ohio River in southern Indiana."

Other Coffey families who had left North Carolina before Reuben had already settled in Monroe and Owen Counties in Indiana. Reuben and his family apparently settled somewhere "halfway between Spencer in Owen county and Bloomington in Monroe county."

To read more about this fascinating man and his family, I suggest contacting the Owen County Historical and Genealogical Society (OCHGS), PO Box 569, Spencer, IN 47460. Membership is a cheap $10/year. Back issues are available for a fee.

More details can be obtained by contacting Vivian Zollinger.

Malinda Caroline Coffey (1825-1901)

Malinda Caroline Coffey was the daughter of Elijah and Mary Abby (Polly) Dyer Coffey. She was born Mar. 6, 1825, and died Dec. 12, 1901. She is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, IN.

Malinda Caroline married Isaac G. Franklin on May 5, 1845 in Owen Co., IN. Together they had at least five children: Mary Elizabeth, born 1846, married George William Lewis; Nancy Jane, born 1848, died 1933, married Joseph Riley Wampler; Rosetta, born 1851, married Isaac (Will) Clayman (Claman?); William F., born Jan. 29, 1854, died 1905; and Susan, born c1857, married Taylor Tumey.

Malinda married a second time, and then to Joshua Webb, a medical doctor with his office in Indianapolis.

The photograph and family information is courtesy Vivian Zollinger, editor of the Owen County History & Genealogy newsletter. She wrote: "Malinda is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis. She died 12 Dec. 1901. Her 2nd husband Joshua Webb had a medical practice in Indianapolis. She returned from MO to Owen Co. IN with all but her oldest child who had married in MO. Isaac may have married [in] IN Eliza McNerland in Schuyler Co., MO. No divorce found."

The Owen County Historical & Genealogical Society website can be found here.

Oliver N. Coffey

While researching the William H. and Mary Faulkner Coffey family, I found several researchers who claim that Oliver N. Coffey, born Dec. 2, 1832, died Dec. 30, 1900 is one of their sons.

Actually, Oliver is their grandson, born to their son Hodge Raymond Coffey. Hodge was born about 1812 in North Carolina and married Hannah Wilson on Nov. 13, 1831 in Owen Co., IN. Hannah was born about 1809 in North Carolina.

Oliver was their oldest child, and married Lydia S. Litton on Jan. 30, 1851 in Owen Co. I can find only one child born to this union: Joshua Benton Coffey, born about 1860, died Dec. 7, 1929.

Joshua married Mary Ester (Mollie) Bonner, who was born May 27, 1870 in Harrisburg, PA, died May 7, 1957 in Hays, Ellis Co., KS. Their son, Dr. Francis (Frank) Ellsworth Coffey was born Aug. 1, 1891 in Kansas City, Jackson Co., KS and died Aug. 27, 1946 in Hays, Ellis Co., KS. His wife, Marguerite Hanning Burger was born Jul. 4, 1893 in Kansas City, KS and died Jan. 4, 1984 in Hays, KS.

They had two children: Dr. Roy B. Coffey, born Jan. 26, 1924, and D. Joanne Coffey, born about 1928.

Dr. Roy Coffey died in Port Charlotte, FL on May 6, 2004. His obituary lists survivors as his wife, Louise, two daughters, Diane Sullivan and Gail Kelling; four sons, Frank, Charles, Lee and Gary as well as a sister Joanne Ramph of Kansas. Dr. Coffey was buried with military honors in the Florida National Cemetery at Bushnell.

Other children of Hodge and Hannah were:

James L., born Jun. 9, 1834, died Nov. 6, 1890 who married Elizabeth Litton. Children were Martha, born about 1856 and Laura, born about 1858. There may have been others, but I have not found them yet.

Silas D. M., born Feb. 23, 1839, died Mar. 6, 1904 in Manatee Co., FL. He married Caroline Byles, born abt. 1836 in PA, died Apr. 9, 1915 in Brazil, Clay Co., IL. I have found no descendants of this union.

Mary A. R., born abt. 1841 in Indiana, married David H. Allen May 9, 1859. I have found no descendants of this union.

Serena T., born about 1846, and Isaac. These children may have died young. I have not found any information on them.

Please contact me with additions and/or corrections.



Sources:

Hodge Raymond - 1850 Owen Co., Dist. 83, Washington Twp., dwelling 275, family 276, Hodge R. Coffey, age 38, male, farmer, $1600, born NC; Hannah, age 41, female, born NC; Oliver N., age 18, male, farming, born IN; James L. R., age 15, male, farming, born IN; Silas D.M., age 11, male, born IN; Mary A. R., age 9, female, born IN; Sarene T., age 3, female, born IN

Oliver N. - Marriage: Name: Oliver N Coffey Spouse Name: Lydia S Litton Marriage Date: 30 Jan 1851 Marriage County: Owen Source Title 1: Owen County, Indiana Source Title 2: Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Inclusive Vol Source Title 3: W. P. A. Original Record Located: Compiled by Indi Book: 27 OS Page: 228

Joshua Benton - 1910 Wyandotte Co., Kansas City, Pct. 23, Ward 5, ED117, Sheet 11A, dwelling 271, family 226, Coffey, Joshua B., head, male, white, age 49, married once for 22 yrs., born IN, father born IN, mother born NC; Mary E., wife, female, white, age 38, married once for 22 yrs., mother of 1, 1 living, born PA, parents born PA; Francis E., son, male, white, age 18, single, born KS, father born IN, mother born PA; Bonner, William B., bro-in-law, male, white, age 36, widower, born PA, parents born PA, farmer; Winchester, Efford L., cousin, male, white, age 34, widower, born IN, parents born US, car inspector for railroad.

1920 Wyandotte Co., Kansas City, Ward 4, ED171, Sheet No. 23A, 1400 Throuwell [?] Ave., dwelling 524, family 538, Coffey, Joshua B., head, male, white, age 52, married, born IN, father born IN, mother born NC, machinest for railroad; Mary Coffey, wife, female, white, age 42, married, born PA, parents born PA, dance teacher; Frank, son, male, white, age 26, married, born KS, father born IN, mother born PA, none; Marguerite, dau.-in-law, female, white, age 24, married, born KS, fathere born PA, mother born IR, saleslady at grocery store; Netter, George W., lodger, male, white, age 40, married, born KS, father born PA, mother born KS, railroad office clerk; Netter, Mary J., lodger, female, white, age 45, married, born PA, parents born England; George, Jr., lodger, male, white, age 9, born KS, father born KS, mother born PA

James L. - 1860 Gentry Co., Twp. 63, Alanthus Grove PO, dwelling 1023, family 1019, James L. Coffee, age 26, male, mechanic, $100, $200, born IA; Elizabeth, age 21, female, born IA; Martha, age 4, female, borm MO; Laura, age 2, female, born MO

Judge Silas D. M. Coffey

Silas Coffey was born Feb. 23, 1839 in Owen Co., Indiana, and died Mar. 6, 1904 in Manatee, Manatee Co., FL. He was the son of Hodge Raymond and Hannah Wilson Coffey. This is the Reuben and Sarah Scott Coffey line, descended from John and Jane Graves Coffey.

"He entered Indiana University in 1860, but withdrew when the Civil War erupted. Yet the war did not stop his studies. He carried a copy of Blackstone’s Commentaries with him. After the war Coffey returned home, studied law and opened an office in Bowling Green, Indiana, then the county seat of Clay County. Coffey was an active participant in the Republican Party. In 1881, he was named to the 13th Circuit Court bench where he stayed until he was elected to the Indiana Supreme Court. He sat from January 7, 1889 until January 7, 1895."

Silas D. Coffey enlisted as a private in Co. H, 14th Indiana Volunteers in 1861.

Although the state biography of Silas indicates that he died in Indiana, his obituary disagrees:

News article, Terre Haute Evening Gazette, Monday, March 7, 1904, p1

Judge Coffey Dropped Dead

Brazil Jurist Died Suddenly Sunday Night at Manatee, Fla.

Brazil, Ind., March 7 - (Gazette special). - Judge McGregor received a telegram from Wallace Coffey at Manatee, Fla. this morning announcing the death of Silas D. Coffey who dropped dead last night from an attack of heart trouble. The deceased was one of the best known citizens of the state. He was born on a farm in Owen county, February 23, 1839 and in 1860 entered the University of Bloomington where he remained till the breaking out of the Civil war, when he entered the service a member of the Fourteenth Indiana Infantry and served for three years. He moved to this city in 1879, where he has since been recognized as one of the leading lawyers of the county. He was appointed in 1881 by Governor Porter to fill the unexpired term as circuit Judge of Clay and Owen counties of Judge Turman and was subsequently twice elected to the Supreme bench. In 1883 he served six years. Formed a partnership with Judge McGregor for the practice of law three years ago and since that date this firm has been considered one of the strongest in the state. The deceased's remains will be shipped here for burial. A wife and one son, attorney Wallace Coffey, and three daughters survive him. He leaves a large estate.