John Cleveland & Elizabeth Coffey

The Cleveland family is neither short on research nor controversy.  Very little of what I will write here has been personally researched.  Instead, I have depended on several sources that many readers will very likely recognize.

I'll begin with at controversy I faced when I wrote on 2004 that Alexander Cleveland, born c1670 in Orange Co., VA, married Mildred "Milly" Presly [sic] in that county c1694.  According to the source, Alexander may have married twice.  A grandson, Henry Wilson Cleveland, Alexander married "Margaret Doolittle, of Irish descent."

Shortly afterward I received email from a reader that Alexander did not marry Mildred.  That reader assured me that they "have thoroughly researched that family and come to the conclusion that it is simply impossible. Presley researchers do not include her in their genealogies and there is nothing to tie that family to Gloucester Co."  After a couple of exchanges the writer refused to continue with the contact.

So, for what it is worth, this is what I have recorded in the Edward Coffey Project about Alexander and Mildred Presly Cleveland:

The couple married c1694 in Orange Co., VA and very likely had several children.  I have recorded only two:  John, born Jul. 31, 1714 in Gloucester Co., died Nov., 1778 at Blue Run in Orange Co., VA and, Grace, born Sep. 1, 1716 in Gloucester Co.

John Married Elizabeth Coffey in 1734.  She was the daughter of Edward and Anne Powell Coffey, born c1714 in Essex Co., VA, died 1770 in Orange Co.

They were parents of at least nine children:

Mary, born c1736 - no further information

Benjamin, born May 26, 1738 in Prince William Co., VA, died Oct. 15, 1806 in Tugalo Valley, Oconee Co., SC.  This is "the" Benjamin Cleveland of King's Mountain fame.  Marvin Coffey wrote that Benjamin was "probably the oldest son," and that he "spent some time in Pittsylvania co., VA where he became known as a mighty hunter."  in about 1768 the family moved to NC, first to Surry Co. (created from Rowan Co. in 1770) and later settled on the upper Yadkin River in Wilkes Co.  Benjamin married Mary Graves c1761 and they were parents of at least two sons, Absalom and John.

Pages upon pages could be written - and have in numerous books - about Cleveland.  Check the following sources for further research:

New River Notes at http://tinyurl.com/mmpgkns; Cleveland Family Chronicles at http://tinyurl.com/n55brot; Ashe, Samuel, Biographical History of North Carolina, 1906; Crouch, John, Historical Sketches of Wilkes County., Wilkesboro, NC, 1902 and, Kings Mountain Men, White, K.K (Katherine Keogh), Gen. Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1977

Rev. John Cleveland, born c1740 in Orange Co., said to have married Mary McCann.  No further information.

Elizabeth "Betty," Cleveland, born 1742, died 1828 in Scott Co., KY, married David Gillaspy between 1760 and 1765. The family moved to Madison Co., KY c1802. No further information.

Robert Cleveland, born 1744 at Blue Run, died 1812 in Lewis Fork Twp., Wilkes Co., NC.  Married in KY to Alice "Aley" Mathis, born 1750 died 1791.  At least two sons:  Jesse, married Mary Blassingame and parents of Dr. Jesse F. Cleveland who married Caro [sic] Zimmerman.  Robert and Alice's second child was Capt. Jeremiah Cleveland.  Robert may be the same that was in Pittsylvania Co., VA before arriving in Wilkes Co.  There is a 1799 land entry in that county for a Robert Cleveland as well.  Source cited is Deed Book 5, page 91.  Robert was a captain in the Revolutionary War, and was at King's Mountain.  He is said to have sired 17 children by two wives.

Jeremiah Cleveland, born 1746 at Blue Rn, died 1806 in VA.  No further information.

Photo by Vanessa Neal

Photo by Vanessa Neal

Larkin Cleveland, born 1748 in Orange Co., died 1814 in Giles Co., TN.  Larkin was probably as "famous" as his older brother, Benjamin.  He married Frances Wright, born 1756, died 1836 in Dallas Co., AL.  Larkin has a DAR monument at Buford Station Cemetery [aka Lane Cemetery] in Lynnville, Giles Co., TN which gives his rank as a Lieutenant.  An older headstone, likely placed shortly after his death, records his rank as Colonel.  Frances is said to have been buried at the Old Govan Cemetery at Selma in Dallas Co., AL.  A message found in a genealogy forum reads:  "The 1989 version of the Central Alabama Genealogical Society's book, Vital Data from Cemeteries of Dallas County, Alabama shows the following: Frances Cleveland, wife of Larkin Cleveland, b. 6 Aug 1756, d. 26 Mar 1836, bd. in the abandoned Govan family cemetery, located west of route no. 41 near Sardis, east of the intersection of county Rd 77 and Co. Rd. 30, Township 16, Range 11, Section 31."

Martha "Patsy" Cleveland, born c1759 in Orange Co., VA, married James Smith in that county in 1775.  No further information.

The last child of John and Elizabeth Coffey Cleveland is said to be Reuben, born 1752 in Blue Run, Orange Co.  Little or nothing is known of Reuben.  He was mentioned in his father will and may have died prior to 1792.  He is thought to have had a son named John.

Please note that many of the birth dates given for these children are - as far as I am concerned - speculative at best.  Most are from the compilation of data by Edmund West and found mostly on Ancestry.com as part of the "Family Data Collection - Births."  As I understand those records, they are compiled from information given in what are often termed "controversial" family histories found on Ancestry.  Personally, I have little faith in those histories unless more reliable sources are provided to back up given claims.

  Jack

---

Sources:

Cleveland, Edmund James, The genealogy of the Cleveland and Cleaveland families , Page 3_2056.

George A. Martin, Virginia Cleveland Ancestor Discovered, National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 46, Sept., 1958)

Men of Mark in South Carolina, Vol. III, a collection of biographies edited by J. C. Hemphill and published in Washington, D.C. in 1908.  This collection contains the biography of Dr. Jesse Franklin Cleveland of Spartanburg, SC.

Original Immigrant of Southern Clevelands, Vikki L. Jeanne Cleveland, http://tinyurl.com/ljpwksn

Three Centuries in America: Thomas Machel of Middlesex County, Virginia, L. C. Edwards, 1999

King's Mountain and Its Heroes: History of the Battle of King's Mountain, October 7, 1780 and the Events which led to it, Peter G. Thomson, 1881; Lyman C. Draper LL.D., Editor

The Long Journey: A Family History 1687 to 1991, Thomas Lee Hair, Ft. Walton Beach, FL, 1992
http://tinyurl.com/o3oanrd

James Bluford Coffey: His Ancestors and Descendants in America, Vol I and II, Coffey, Marvin Dale, privately printed, 1984.  See also http://tinyurl.com/nfwfkro This book likely available on microfilm from the Family History Library at Salt Lake City.

DNA & The Augustus F. & Betty Beard Coffey Family

The family of Augustus F. Coffey
L:R rear: Archie, Spencer, George, Benson, Robert, Blaine Dillard
L:R front:  Maude, Cena, Betty Beard Coffey, and Bonnie
Photo courtesy of Brent Coffey

I have, over the past couple of days, exchanged much e-mail with Brent Coffey of Maryland concerning his descent from Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.  The exchange resulted from his recent DNA test which does show him to be an Edward descendant.

The problem [if there is one] seems to be one particular marker in his DNA that does not match most of those in the Edward group of the DNA project.  I won't go into a discussion about DNA because I frankly do not understand enough to hold an intelligent discussion.

However, the mis-matched marker also appears in the the DNA of another tested Coffey who descends from Thomas Coffey and Elizabeth Smith; Thomas being a son of John and Jane Graves Coffey.  Brent claims descent from Thomas' brother, Reuben and his wife Sarah Scott Coffey.  So, the question raised by Coffey DNA guru Fred Coffey was how positive Brent is that he descends from Reuben and not Thomas?!

Brent tells us that he descends from Reuben and Sarah Scott Coffey through their son Joseph > Jacob Zachariah > Jesse Patterson > Augustus F. > Blaine Dillard > Blaine Dillard, Jr.

[NB:  The children of Reuben and Sally are not entirely agreed upon by researchers.  The following then may be totally irrelevant in deciding who Brent's ancestor was.]

Joseph and his wife Isabella Lindsay had another son, Elisha born about the same time as Jacob Zachariah.  Both are thought to have been born in the 1813-1815 time frame and, could be twins.  I suggested that the certain DNA marker that does not match might be a result of the possibility that Elisha and Jacob were twins.

I don't believe a consensus has yet been reached and the questions remains open.

Blaine Dillard Coffey &
Faye Dell Van Klaveren
Wedding Photo
Photo courtesy of Brent Coffey

Keeping within that family, I learned from Brent that his grandfather was Blaine Dillard Coffey, born March 4, 1915 in Avery Co., NC to Augustus F. "Gus" Coffey and wife Betty Beard.  He was the eighth of their nine children. In error, I had him married to Maude Dillinger/Dellinger in Caldwell Co., NC on Jul. 13, 1935.  As it turns out, a Dillard Coffey did marry Maude but, it was Dillard Greene Coffey, a son of David William and Martha Etta Destimonia "Dessie" Crump Coffey.*  Dillard Greene and Blaine Dillard were second cousins, both descending from Jacob Zachariah Coffey, the son of Joseph.

Blaine Dillard was married on Sep. 11, 1946 in North Carolina to Faye Dell Van Klaveren, sister to a WWII shipmate of Blaine.  She was the daughter of Dick and Tillie Van Kotten Van Klaveren, Dutch emigrants who first settled in Iowa and later moved to Texas.  Faye was born in Cotulla, LaSalle Co., TX on Feb. 19, 1928.

  Jack

---

*Readers who have a copy of my Edward Coffey Project DVD or, who have copied my research from elsewhere, should make a note of this change.

Thomas Coffey & Elizabeth Smith

Back in 2006 I wrote a short blog about Smith Coffey, thought by me to be the youngest child born to Thomas and Elizabeth Smith Coffey.

---

Thomas was a son of John and Jane Graves Coffey and, a grandson of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.  He was born on Mar. 7, 1742[1] in Essex Co., VA and married first Elizabeth Smith c1762 in Albemarle Co., VA.  Thomas died in Apr., 1825[2] in Wilkes Co., NC; Elizabeth is thought to have died between 1775 and 1780, probably in VA.  Thomas' second wife was Sarah "Sally" Fields, married 1778/9, probably in Wilkes Co., NC.

Thomas and Sally had at least 10 children, many of which I have written about in earlier blogs.  If anyone want more info, leave a note or send an e-mail.

There were about six children born to Thomas and Elizabeth.  Two that I want to write about today are Elizabeth, the eldest and, John Franklin, next eldest.

Elizabeth was born on Oct. 25, 1765 and died in Oct., 1852[3] in Monroe Co., IN.  She is buried there at the Coffey Cemetery in Ellettsville.  She married David Allen, born in VA in May, 1765 and died in Apr., 1848.[3]  He too is buried at the Coffey Cemetery.

Their children were:

Thomas, born 1792 in NC, died and is buried at Ellettsville.  A death date is not shown on his headstone.

Polly, born 1794, probably in NC, died and is buried at Ellettsville.  She does not have a death date on the stone.

John, born 1797, probably in NC, died Aug. 31, 1844 in Elletsville.  John married Eliza Coffey, the daughter of John Franklin Coffey and his wife, Hannah Wilson.  Of course, this John Franklin is the brother of Elizabeth, making John Allen and Eliza Coffey first cousins. Eliza was born Nov., 1798 in NC and died Aug., 1844 in Elletsville.  They were married in Sep., 1818 in Wilkes Co., NC

Following John was Jesse, born 1800 in NC, died Feb., 1881 in Monroe Co..  I do not know his wife's name but, there were at least seven children born to her.  They were James, born c1828 in KY.  The rest, all born in IN, were William, c1830; David, c1832; Nancy, c1836; Joseph, c1838; Louisa, c1840 and John Allen, c1842.  Jesse is also buried at the Coffey Cemetery in Ellettsville.

Hanna, born Jul., 1802 in Wilkes Co., married Abner Wilson, born 1804 in Burke Co.  He died in Monroe Co. in 1844, she in 1877.  They too are buried at the Coffey Cemetery.

Martha "Patsy," born in NC in 1804 married John Candler Corder of VA, probably about 1824 or a tad earlier and, probably in IN.  John was born in Jul., 1800 and died in 1852.[3]  Martha died in Dec., 1887 [3] and both are buried at the Coffey Cemetery.

They were parents of at least seven:

Mary A., married Jonathan L. Allen, a son of John and Eliza Coffey Allen.   Mary and Jonathan were first cousins as well and second cousins.  They too are buried at the Coffey Cemetery.  I haven't yet searched for children.

Eliza Jane, born 1829 in IN, died there in 1899.  She married Lorenzo [Dow?] Coffey, first cousin once removed, a son of Larkin and Catherine H. Wilson Coffey.  Larkin was a son of Thomas and his second wife, Sarah Fields Coffey.  Lorenzo and Eliza had at least two children:  Wayland Everett, born 1854, died 1919 and, Nora E., born c1878, died 1947.  Wayland is buried at the Coffey Cemetery; Nora at the Presbyterian Cemetery in Ellettsville.

Rachel, born 1832, died 1912, married Jason Coffey, another son of Larkin and Catherine H. Wilson Coffey.  Jason was born in 1829, NC, died 1871 in IN.  Both are buried at the Coffey Cemetery.  They were parents of Merritt V., Ira E., Cyrus V., and Esther Martha.

Elizabeth was next.  She was born in 1835 and died in 1841.  She is also buried at the Coffey Cemetery.

Stephen, born 1838, died 1909, married Rachel Wilson in IN c1865.  She was born in 1843 KY, died in Ellettsville in 1929.  Chidlren were John; Frank; William S.; Clara; Emma H.; and Martha.  Stephen and Rachel.  All of the children and their spouses are buried at the Coffey Cemetery.

Sarah, born 1842, died 1860, buried at Coffey Cemetery.

Martha, 1845, buried at Coffey Cemetery, death date not given on headstone.  She married Asbury Coffey, her double second cousin, born c1838 in IN to James Wilson and Malena Coffey Coffey.  James Wilson was a son of first cousins, John Franklin and Hannah Wilson Coffey; Malena was a daughter of Rev. Reuben and Martha "Polly" Dowell Coffey.  Asbury and Martha had children Mary; Charlie; Willie; Freddie and Ethel Malena.  Asbury and Martha, as well and their children and spouses are all buried at the Coffey Cemetery.

The last child of David and Elizabeth Coffey Allen was David, born 1808, died 1881.  He married Eliza McCowan, born c1799 in VA.  Their children, all born in IN, were Elijah; Nancy; Mary; William; James; Sarah and Margaret.

John Franklin Coffey married Hannah Wilson in Oct., 1796, Wilkes Co.  Hannah was born there in 1769 and died in IN on Sep. 12, 1862.

I know of five children born to them:  Rebecca who married John Wilson;  Cassandra; Eliza, mentioned above as spouse of John Allen; John Wilson, mentioned above as spouse of Malena Coffey; and Jane Graves[4], born Mar., 1811, died in 1855, Monroe Co., IN.  Jane married Alfred Martin "Martin" Coffey, another son of Rev. Reuben and Martha Dowell.  Alfred was born in 1807, Wilkes Co., died in1836, Owen Co., IN.  They had at least two children:  James Martin, 1837-1861 and Christopher Columbus, birth unknown, died during the Civil War in 1862 at Corinth, Perry Co., MS.  He is buried at the National Cemetery in Corinth, Alcorn Co., MS.  James is buried at the Stouts-Houston Cemetery in Ellettsville.

I have more information about many of these families.

Updates and corrections are appreciated.

 Jack

---

[1] Unproven
[2] According to Laurence Coffey, Thomas "...was buried in Hull Hill graveyard..", and after Sarah died, she was buried next to him.  "Years later the cemetery became neglected, and almost lost..."  Laurence and cousin Newell Sanders "...had their remains removed to Harper's Chapel burying ground, where a suitable monument was placed above them."  Harpers Chapel is located in Patterson, Caldwell Co., NC.
[3] Headstone - birth and/or death dates for everyone buried at the Coffey Cemetery in Ellettsville are taken from their headstones.
[4] John, in naming this child after his grandmother seems to have had a concept of where his roots lay.

Maj. James B. & Mary Jane Coffey Mulky

I've seen this family name spelled Mulky as well as Mulkey.  The latter is the spelling used by Kim Mulkey-Robertson, native of Louisiana and woman's basketball coach at Baylor University.

---

James B. Mulky was born in Indiana in Oct., 1826[1] and married Mary Jane Coffey in May of 1853 in Monroe Co., IN.  Mary Jane was a daughter of Lewis and Harriet Powell Coffey.  Lewis was seventh of ten born to Thomas and Sarah "Sally" Fields Coffey.

Although James and Mary Jane had a number of children - six that I know of and all born in Monroe Co., IN - only a couple lived to adulthood:

Alice, 1854-1855; Ethel, 1856-1856; Horace, 1858.  Death date unknown but not found after 1870 census.  Adelaide was born in 1861, died in 1862.

Two sons survived to marry and have families of their own.  The first was James Osmon, born in Sep., 1859.  I have not yet found his death date or, burial place.

"James Osman Mulky is a native of Indiana, born September 15, 1859 in Bloomington, Monroe County.  His parents are Maj. James B. and Mary J. (Coffey) Mulky.  He is the second son and fourth child in a family of six children, and was reared in Bloomington.

"He attended school until September, 1877, when he entered the State University, whence he graduated June 4,1881.  He afterward entered the emply of different dry goods merchants in the city, as clerk, with Wicks & Co., and L. Fields & Co.  

"On September 10, 1883, he was appointed Assistant Postmaster, and is at present so engaged.  He has been for some time a member of the K. of P. and inpolitics he is a Republican.  He is a rising young man, and is quite efficient as a public officer."[2]

James married Margaret, an Irish lass in about 1887.  In 1900 they lived in Indianapolis, IN and, in 1910 they were in Chicago, Cook Co., IL.  Margaret died before 1930 because that year James was a widower living with his son Alfred J. in DePage Co., IL.  In addition to Alfred, they also had a son named Albert, born in Oct., 1889.  I have found nothing for him after 1910 when he was still living with his parents.

Frank Lewis, born Jun., 1863, died Jul., 1936 was the other son to reach adulthood.  He married Catherine Emily Parks on Jun. 8, 1893 in Monroe Co., IN and later moved to Oklahoma where he sold real estate.  They had but one child, Francis, born c1898 in IN.  Catherine was born in 1868 in IN and died in OK City on Mar. 27,1922.  Both are buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in that city.

Jack

---

[1] James was commissioned Major in Co. S, Indiana's 55th Infantry Regiment, USA on Jun. 11, 1862.  He was mustered out on Sep. 1, 1862 in Indianapolis.  Although a reason was not given in his Civil War record, it was likely because Mary Jane had lost another child.  Adelaide, who was born in 1861, died in 1862.
[2]Charles Blanchard, Editor, Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical (Chicago, IL: F. A. Battey & Co. Publishers, 1884), Page 585.

John Clinton & Nancy Elizabeth Coffey Jacobs

What began as an attempt to correct a previous blog about a member of this family resulted in deleting that blog and starting over.  For some unknown reason I could not remove a link that connected that blog to a now deleted website.

---

Nancy Elizabeth Coffey was born on May 23, 1861 in Rash, Jackson Co., AL and died there on May 16, 1918.  She was born to the union of Rice Abner Coffey and his first wife, Mary Ann Coffey.  She and Rice were first cousins as well as double-fourth cousins.  She was the daughter of Benjamin B. & Mary Elizabeth Roach Coffey while Rice was the son of Alexander Hamilton and Nancy E. Weatherly Coffey.  Benjamin and Alexander were brothers as well as double-third cousins.  These families go back to Edward through Rice and Sarah Bradford Coffey, Rev. James Coffey and wife Elizabeth Cleveland to Edward's son John and his wife, Jane Graves.

Nancy Elizabeth married John Clinton Jacobs in Stevenson, Jackson Co., AL on Nov. 1, 1883. [1]  He was born on Apr. 22, 1855 in Beech Grove, Maury Co., TN and died in Scottsboro, Jackson Co., AL on Jun. 30, 1938.[2]

Their first child, a daughter, was Bennie Coffey Jacobs, born in TN in 1884, died in Scottsboro on Oct. 17, 1899 at the age of 15 years.  She is buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Scottsboro.

Elmer Pruitt was born in Coffey Co., TN in 1887 and died in Bridgeport, Jackson Co. in 1970.  He was involved with the Gunter Stove Works in Bridgeport for many years.  His wife was Lena Geneva Givan or Givens, born c1890 in Missouri.  They were parents of nine children:  Geneva, Bettie, Elmer, Jr., Sallie Belle, Rice Abner, Henry Grady, Lethia Ring, Nathan Bedford Forrest and Mary Jane.  Elmer, Sr. died in Bridgeport in 1970, Lena in Marion Co., TN in 1977.  Both are buried at Cumberland View Cemetery in Marion Co.  Lena appears in the 1910 Finley Twp., Christian Co., MO census with her parents and a large number of siblings.  The handwriting is small and blurred making it difficult to determine what exactly the surname is: Givan, Givans, Given or Givens.

Annie Theodosia "Dosia" was born in 1890, Coffee Co., TN, and married Mitchell Luther Harris of Cumberland Co., NC in Scottsboro on Mar. 14, 1910.  He died in Scottsboro in 1960, she in 1974.  She is buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Scottsboro and he is probably there as well.  Their children were John Clinton, Roderick Edward, Dr. Elmer Jacobs; Dr. Ruth; Mitchell Luther, Jr.; and an unnamed son who was born and died in Feb. 1928 at Autauga Co., AL.

Henry Woodfin Grady was born in 1892, Maury Co., TN.  He married Sarah Louise Wilson in 1913, McMinn Co., TN.  Sarah was born there in 1893 and died in Scottsboro in 1988.  They too are probably buried at Cedar Hill but I have not found them there.  I know of a couple of children:  Nancy Elizabeth, born 1915 and John Clinton, born 1918, both in Scottsboro.

Rice Abner was born in TN in 1894 and died in Scottsboro in 1980.  He married Jewell Riggs, born 1898 in GA, died 1952 in Scottsboro.  Jewell was living with her paternal grandparents in Haralson Co., GA in 1900.  I have not located her parents.  I have not found the marriage record for Rice and Jewell and do not know of any children.

Veda Pearl was born in AL in 1896 and married Claude Evans Spivey of Rhea Co., TN in Dec., 1917 at Scottsboro.  They had at least two children, Carolyn, born 1918 and Lunita Jacobs, born 1925, both in Scottsboro.  Carolyn married William Bethel Wilson on Jun. 26, 1941 in Tuscaloosa Co., AL.  Their engagement was announced in the Tuscaloosa News on Jun. 15, 1941.[3]

Miss Spivey Is Engaged to Wed Mr. William Wilson

Mr. and Mrs. Philo Dayton Benham announce the engagement of their niece, Carolyn Spivey of Scottsboro, Alabama to William Bethel Wilson of this city.

The wedding will take place on the evening of June 26 at 7 o'clock in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Benham and Tuscaloosa relatives will attend the nuptial vows.

The bride-elect is the grand-daughter of the late John Clinton Jacobs, widely-known banker of North Alabama, and of Mrs. George Wesley Spivey of Dayton, Tenn. [sic].  She was graduated from Penn Hall Preparatory School in Chambersbury, Penn., and attended Sweet Briar College in Virginia where she was affiliated with the Kappa Delta sorority.

The bridegroom-to-be, known and admired in this city as Bill Wilson, is the son of Dr. and Mrs. John W. Wilson of Audubon Place and a nephew of Owen Meredith and of Commander J. E. Meredith (U.S. Navy) of Mobile.

Mrs. Wilson was graduated from the Tuscaloosa High School where he was a member of the S.E.A. fraternity.  At the University of Alabama he was affiliated with the Kappa Alpha fraternity and other social organizations. 

Philo Dayton Benham was the husband of Veda's sister, Fletcher Pitts Jacobs.  Fletcher was born in Jackson Co. in 1899 and died in Scottsboro in 1962.  Philo was born - according to the marriage record - in Delaware in 1895.  He and Fletcher married in Jackson Co. in 1929 and, he died in 1960.  Both are buried at Cedar Hill.  I know of no children for them.[*]

The last known child of John and Nancy was Lunita, born in 1902.  She married Robert Martin Lane in Scottsboro in 1927 and had at lest two children; Robert Martin and Frances Fletcher.  Nothing more is known of this family.

[*] Jerry Dickinson wrote in a Jan. 18, 2013 e-mail that "Fletcher Jacobs and Philo Dayton Benham did have at least one child - Nancy Benham b. 29 Jan 1933 in Alabama d. 9 Mar 1967 - Fulton, Georgia.  Married a Steenhuis.  Found her SSN/1940 census/some ship passenger list.  She is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery."

---

[1] "Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FQNJ-B2H : accessed 26 Nov 2012), J. C. Jacobs and N. Elizabeth Coffey, 01 Nov 1883.

[2] Information about John Clinton Jacobs was originally found at a website (Jacobs Family History) owned by Mary Ellen Harris.  There was an abundance of info about the family, including photos of all of the children of John and Nancy.  The site appears to be off line now; at least at the link I first found.

[3]The Tuscaloosa News

The photos were found on the Former Jacobs Family History website, no longer on-line with the same web address.

George Archelaus Coffey, 1874 IL - 1949 OK

George Archelaus Coffey was a son of John A. McClernan and Mary R. Glascock Coffey.  John was born in Saline Co., IL in 1846 to Achilles and Jane Dean Coffey and died in Apr., 1893 at Washita Co., OK.  He and Mary were married on Aug. 15, 1869 in Saline Co.* These families descend from Edward and Ann Powell Coffey through their son John who married Jane Graves and, their son, Rev. James Coffey who married Elizabeth Cleveland.

George was born in Saline Co. on Jan. 13, 1874 and died Apr. 28, 1949 in OK.  He married Julia Gordon Lockhart on Aug. 11, 1895 in Erath Co., TX.  Julia was born Mar. 3, 1877 at Bluff Dale in Erath Co., and died on Oklahoma City on Nov. 25, 1961.  Both she and George are buried at Warner Memorial Cemetery in Muskogee Co., OK.

The biography for George tells us that he and Julia had four children:  John L., born in Mar., 1898 in TX; May L., born May 19, 1900 in OK and twin daughters, Georgia W. and Geordia W., born c1903 in OK.  May married John P. Nickens on Aug. 30, 1926 in Cleveland Co., OK and had at least two children, Georgia C., born c1928 and Mary R., born c1929.  May is also buried at Warner but the burial site for John has not been located.  In the 1930 census John and May were residents of Cleveland Co. where he was employed as a "decorator" for the Kress Co. and May was a public school teacher.  Marriage records for the other children of George and Julia have not been found.

George began his career as a school teacher in Erath Co. and was principal of schools in that county at Huckaby.  He was later a teacher at Alexander, TX and Walnut Springs, TX.  He went to Washita Co., OK Territory in 1899.  Later they would relocate to LoneWolf in Kiowa Co., OK and even later to Goodwell in Texas Co., OK.  In 1930 they were in Vann, Muskogee Co.

In 1911 George served as state senator in OK's third state legislature.  He later served in the 17th (1939), the same legislature in which Will Rogers was then serving.

The following is a rather long biography produced by John Bradfield Thoburn on pages 1413-1414 in his 4th volume, A Standard History of Oklahoma, published in 1916.  I have broken it up somewhat to make it a bit easier to read.**

"There is no profession to which men devote their energies more dignified in its ethics or more reasonably helpful to their fellow-men than that of education, the always advancing standards of which demand of its devotees constant study and a keen and comprehensive knowledge of a wealth of subjects. These demands, in turn, redound to the benefit of the community, for not infrequently the capable educator is chosen for positions in the law-making department of our government, where he is able, through his superior attainments, to contribute materially to his locality’s development and progress. Of the educators of Western Oklahoma who have won prominent positions in their calling and at the same time have served the communities capably in legislative office, one of the best known and most popular is George A. Coffey, ex-state senator and at present superintendent of schools of Carter, Beckham County. His labors as an educator have covered a period of more than twenty years, and his advancement in his profession has been steady and consistent. Few men have contributed in greater degree to the cause of education, and no man has a better record for straightforward, energetic effort as a public servant.

'Mr. Coffey was born in Saline County, Illinois, January 13, 1874, and is a son of Rev. J. M. and Mary R. (Glasscock) Coffey, and a descendant of Irish ancestors who came to America in Colonial days and settled in Virginia. His father was born in Saline County, Illinois, in 1846, and as a young man adopted the vocation of farmer, an occupation he has followed throughout his life, in connection with his labors as a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church. With the exception of a year spent in Kansas, he resided in Saline County, Illinois, until 1888, in that year removing with his family to Baylor County, Texas, and two years later going to Brown County, in the same state. There he made his home until April, 1893, when he took up a homestead in Washita County, Oklahoma, and after proving his claim disposed of his land and bought his present farm, also in Washita County. He is now living a retired life, being in comfortable financial circumstances. Mrs. Coffey, who survives at the age of sixty-seven years, is a native of Tennessee.

'Mr. Coffey of this review comes of a race of people noted for longevity, none of his ancestors, male or female, having died under the age of seventy-five, and some of them reaching the age of 112.

"George A. Coffey attended the country schools of Saline County, Illinois, until he was fourteen years of age and at that time went with his parents to Baylor County, Texas. He went to the high school at Seymour, and in 1890, when his parents went to Brown County, Texas, he entered Howard Payne College and finished the teachers’ training course in 1894. In the meantime he had already entered upon his educational career, having taught several terms in Oklahoma and Texas, and in 1894 began to devote his entire time to his chosen calling, as a teacher in Erath County. In the term of 1895-6 he was principal of schools at Huckaby, Erath County, Texas, and during the terms of 1896-7, 1897-8 and 1898-9 was teacher at Alexander, Texas, while in 1899, 1900, he was engaged in the same capacity at Walnut Springs, Texas. On December 25, 1899. Mr. Coffey came to Oklahoma and filed on a claim in Washita County, on which he began to live March 10, 1900, and continued to reside thereon for five years, finally proving up and selling it. During this time, in 1900-01, he had continued his professional labors as principal of schools at Gage, Oklahoma, continued as such in the term of 1901-2, and in 1902-3 was principal of the schools at Cordell, there organizing the first graded school in Washita County. In the terms of 1903-4 and 1904-5 he was superintendent of schools at Port, Oklahoma, in 1905-6 at Rocky, Oklahoma, in 1906-7 at Port again, and in 1907-8, 1908-9 and 1909-10 at Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. 

"During the time he resided at Lone Wolf, Mr. Coffey served as a member of the Oklahoma State Senate, to which body he was elected on the democratic ticket. His service therein was a notable one, he being chairman of the committees on Penal Institutions and Enrolling and Engrossing Bills, and a member of the committees on Public Service, Fees and Salaries, Education, Insurance, Mines and Manufacturing, Public Health and Military Affairs. He introduced and secured the passage of the bill for State Aid for Consolidated Schools, the first bill of its kind and now a law. He was one of the authors of and introduced into the Senate the bill which created the present State Board of Education, and of the bill that secured the large appropriation for the buildings at the Granite Reformatory. Mr. Coffey took a leading part in the fight against the Muskogee Fair Bill, and opposed a large appropriation for the governor’s inaugural ceremony. For a number of years Mr. Coffey has been a leading figure in all the prohibition campaigns, being a stump speaker of forcible address and convincing argument against the liquor traffic.

"In 1910-11 Mr. Coffey was superintendent of schools at Mountain Park and Retrot. Oklahoma, in 1911-12 at Spring Creek, in 1912-13 at Sentinel, and in 1913-14 at Spring Creek again, and in the fall of 1915 was called to the position of superintendent of schools at Carter, Oklahoma, with a corps of six teachers and a scholarship of 300 pupils. Mr. Coffey is a valued member of the Washita County Teachers Association and the Oklahoma Teachers Association. He has at various times been honored in a professional way, having served as a member of the Board of Examiners of Erath County, Texas, for four years, and of Washita County, Oklahoma, eight years. During the greater part of this time he has devoted the summer terms, when others are enjoying vacations, to faithful and energetic work in the summer normal schools. 

"A recent review of the life and labors of Superintendent Coffey said in part as follows: 'He is a man of versatile ability, being known for twenty-three years to the people of Southwestern Oklahoma in the various capacities of pioneer and progressive educator, fraternal and religious lecturer, prohibition speaker and school legislator. He has ever been in the front ranks of every fight for better government, better schools, morality and decency. His fearless stand for humanity and the right has made him a host of friends. In the school room, in the state senate, in his home, and among his neighbors and friends, he has ever been the same common, plain, unassuming man. The humblest citizen and smallest child in the county may approach him on the same plane of confidence and friendship and be assured of receiving the same consideration and courtesy that would be given to the highest educators and officials of the state with whom he has frequently associated. In his work he has enjoyed the friendship and respect of the ablest men of the state, yet he has spent his time for the uplift of the common people; and the overwhelming support that they have given to all his public aspirations gives proof that they fully appreciate his efforts in their behalf.'

"With his family, Mr. Coffey belongs to the Baptist Church. His fraternal connections are with Lone Wolf Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Sentinel, and the Rebekahs of the same; the Woodmen of the World, at Sentinel, and the Modern Woodmen of America at Lone Wolf.

"Superintendent Coffey was married in Erath County, Texas, in 1895, to Miss Julia Gordon Lockhart, daughter of the late Elder J. C. R. Lockhart, who for more than seventy-five years was a. Baptist preacher in Alabama and Texas. Four children have been born to this union: John L., who is a teacher in the public schools of Carter, under his father; Mary L., who is a member of the sophomore class, at Carter High School; Georgia, who is in the seventh grade of the public schools at Carter; and Geordia, twin of Georgia, also in seventh grade."

---

*http://www.pendleyusa.com/sampendle/index.htm#TOC, accessed Sep., 2005.
**Search Google Books for George A. Coffey

Ebenezer Fairchild of North Carolina

The Rev. Ebenezer Fairchild is said to have married Seleh (var.) Durham, a daughter of Mastin and Martha "Patsy" Coffey Durham.  Martha was the daughter of the Rev. James Coffey and his wife Elizabeth Cleveland.  James, of course, was a son of John and Jane Graves Coffey.*

Elizabeth Cleveland is said by Cleveland researchers to be an out-of-wedlock daughter of Edward Coffey and Grace Cleveland, Edward being a brother to John.  Edward is also reported to have married Grace at some later date.  If Grace's birth year of 1716 is close to being accurate, she would have been about 11 years old when Elizabeth was born in 1727.

The undocumented birth years of most of the early descendants of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey are somewhat speculative.  In many cases they are based on known birth dates of subsequent generations and an estimate of years between generations.  Personally, I am not comfortable with this method.

Searches for accurate data on Fairchild have proven futile, except for the following:**

"An old letter:

 Morris Town, August 23d, 1771.

The Church of Jesus Christ in this place holding Believers Baptism Laying on of Hands Eternal Election & Final Perseverance of the Saints in Grace &c

To the Church of Christ in Roan County in North Carolina of the same Faith, or to any one of the sister churches to whom These Presents may Come, Greeting:

Whereas our Brother Ebenezer Fairchild has Been Baptized in a Regular Way and Received by Us in Full Communion who for some time gave Good Satisfaction to this Church, But after faling [sic] into some Sensorious Errors was Laid under Suspension, And is now Removed from us without a Regular Dispensation has Sent us a Letter Dated September 28, 1770, wherein he seems to make very humble Confession of his Sins and Grievance to the Church and Desires Forgiveness for it which, as he Confesses, was Drinking too hard, Loose Living, and also not keeping his Place in the Church which he Acknowledes and Begs our Prayers to God for him that he may be Enabled to Live up to the Profession he has made, which may the Lord help him to do.

Wherefore as his Life and Conversation is now better Known to you that to us, Although by what we Hear from him we do hope he is a Humble Pentitent, Therefore, if you do Receive him, he is Dismissed from us, and the God of all Grace Bless you all.

Amen.

James Goble
Daniel Walling
John Brookfield
Sam'l Parkhurst

Brother Ebenezer Fairchild we rejoice to hear from you such agreeable News may the Lord grant you Grace and live Agreeable to the profession you have made...Pray for us.
Signed by us at our Meeting Part for All"

---

*The book, A century of Wayne County, Kentucky, 1800-1900 by Augusta Phillips Johnson, page 9, reads:  "Reuben, Lewis Russell, and James Coffey were sons of the Rev. James Coffey and Elizabeth Cleveland, sister of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland, who was with Shelby at King's Mountain."  [emphasis mine]


**John Preston Arthur, Author, A History of Watauga County, North Carolina: With Sketches of Prominent Families, Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas Jr., added new material, 3rd ed. (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, Inc., 1986), Page 95.  It is also in this book that the author provides some insight to Ebenezer's arrival in North Carolina. He wrote that on July 10, 1893, Elizabeth Eagles of New York City, married Nathan Horton. "They went first to the Jersey Settlement, afterwards moving to Holman's Ford, from which place they came with William Miller and his wife, Mary, and their son, David, and Ebenezer Fairchild and family to what is now Cook's Gap, six miles east of the town of Boone." Chapter VIII of this book contains some additional information about Ebenezer, but in my opinion little of genealogical worth.  From this I would believe that Morris Town mentioned in the letter is Morristown in present day Morris Co., NJ.

Adoniram Judson & Emily Caroline Rone Coffey

                                                                                                                               
Adoniram Judson Coffey, born Jan. 6, 1830 to Reuben and Polly Dowell Coffey, was  (probably) named by his preacher father for the American Baptist missionary of the same name.*  This Adomiram married Emily Caroline Rone, born Aug. 28, 1832 in NC, died in Ellettsville, Monroe Co., IN on Nov. 11, 1906.  They were married on Oct. 28, 1852 in Owen Co., IN.**  Adoniram died Apr. 7, 1882 in Ellettsville.  Both are buried at the Coffey Family Cemetery in Ellettsville.

The family farmed in Owen and Clay counties from their marriage until their deaths and, raised at least nine children there.

Edgar was their first, born Sep., 1853, died Nov. 16, 1922 in Terre Haute, Vigo Co., IN.  He married Rachel A. Betts in Clinton Co., IN on Oct. 27, 1874 and had at least one child, a daughter named Pansy.  Rachel may have died at the birth of Pansy because sometime before 1880, Edgar married his cousin Sophronia Coffey, a daughter of Lewis and Harriet Powell Coffey.  Sophronia had previously married Samuel T. Howe, a Kentuckian born c1835.  She and Howe had at least two children, Ida, born c1861 and Lucy, born c1865, both in IN.  Samuel may have died in the Civil War.  Sophronia died in June, 1923 at Terre Haute and she was buried alongside Edgar, who died Nov. 16, 1922, at Highland Lawn Cemetery in that city.

Obituary, Terre Haute Tribune, Nov. 17, 1922, p2

Edgar Coffey, 69 years old, for a number of years owner of a drug store in Lafayette avenue, died yesterday evening at the home of his daughter, Mrs. George Jacobs, 68 South Twenty-first street, where he made his home.  Mr. Coffey also was interested in the Coca-Cola bottling works in Lafayette avenue [sic] for some time.  The body was removed to the Gillis chapel, where the funeral will be held.  Mr. Coffey is survived by the daughter; a step-daughter, Mrs. Ida M. Goodman, of Minneapolis; a grandson, George Edgar Jacobs; three sisters, Mrs. Ellen Faulkner, Mrs. Fay McBride, of Terre Haute, and Mrs. Lillian Harboc, of Trinidad, Col., and three brothers, Eliza [sic], Larkin and Reuben Coffey.

Obituary, Terre Haute Star, Saturday, June 23, 1923, p2

The funeral of Sophronia Coffey, 80 years old, who died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. George Jacobs, 632 Walnut street, was held at 2:30 o'clock today at the Gillis undertaking establishment.  She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. George Jacobs and Mrs. I. M. Goodman of Minneapolis; two grandchildren and one nephew.  Burial will be in Highland Lawn cemetery.

The second child was a son, Carson, born c1855.  Carson appeared in the household with his parents at the  1860 and 1870 census but, disappeared thereafter.  I have not found him in any subsequent record and I suspect he likely died in his early teens.

Ellen, born c1857 was married to Jasper Newton Falkner on Sep. 14, 1880 in Spencer, Owen Co.  Jasper was born on Mar. 25, 1846 in that county and died in Republic, Ferry Co., WA on Apr. 8, 1934.  Ellen preceded him in death on Aug. 30, 1928 at Republic.  Both are buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada.  Their children were Donald Ford, born 1881; Roy Judson, born 1885; Kittie Faye, born 1888 and, Wallace, born 1889.

A son, Elzy, born 20 Aug.1859 was next.  The little info that I have indicates he married Emma Clause. He did appear in the 1920 Arkansas Co. census with his brother Larkin and in the 1930 census for that same county with a wife named Sue.  I am somewhat confused about his wife's name and other particulars of this census.  Elzy must have been married prior to this marriage since he stated that he was first married at age 34, and his wife at age 17.  He died on Mar. 22, 1937 in Decatur, Macon Co., IL but his burial place has not been found although his death record reports burial at Decatur.***

Elzy was followed by John Jay on Oct. 10, 1853.  He married c1904 to Edith Iva Hill, born Dec. 5, 1876 in IA, died Oct. 12, 1940 in Boise, Ada Co., ID.  John died there on Nov. 9, 1922.  Both are buried at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.  Their children were Ray O., born 1905 in CO; Edith Iva, born 1907 in ID; John Earl, born c1911, died Jan. 24, 1995, buried at Dry Creek Cemetery in Boise; Harold, born 1913, died Jul 30, 1939 in Lewis and Clark Co., MT, butied at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.  Their last child was Ralph H., born c1917.

Reuben, born Jul., 1866 was the sixth child.  He married c1901 to Elizabeth J. Propst, born c1878 in CO.  Their children were Helen, Faye and, Catherine, all born in CO.  In 1910 the family did appear in the Decatur Twp., Macon Co., IL census.

Lillian was next, born c Jan., 1870.  She was married c1905 to Fred A. Harlow of Massachusetts.  They had children John Frederick, Fayette, Dorothy, Doris Caroline, Lillian Trask and Carson, perhaps named for Lillian's brother.

Larkin was born in Feb., 1872 and married a lady by the name of Nancy E. Dilday.  He appeared in the 1910 Rock Co., NE as an unmarried man and later, in 1920, the Arkansas Co., AR census with his with Nancy and his brother Elzy.

The last child born to Adoniram and Emily was Faye H., born May 1874.  She married Earl McBride and had children Richard, Frederick, Paul and, Pauline.

Please contact me if you can fill in any of the blanks.

Jack

---

*Wikipedia: Adoniram Judson was born in Massachusetts in 1788 and died at sea in the Bay of Bengal on Apr. 12, 1850.  He worked to form the first Baptist association in America, translated the Bible into Burmese and established a number of Baptist churches in Burma.  The name Adoniram means "my lord is exalted" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this was the name of an overseer of tribute [taxman] under the kings David, Solomon and Rehoboam. He was stoned to death when the Israelites revolted against Rehoboam's taxation.
**Indiana Marriage Records Index, 1845-1920;.Index to Marriage Records Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940:  Name: Adnoviam [sic] J Coffey Spouse Name: Emily C Rone Marriage Date: 28 Oct 1852 Marriage County: Owen  Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Inclusive Vol Source Title 3: W. P. A. Original Record Located: Compiled by Indi Book: 27 OS Page: 309
***Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch Historical Records from Illinois Department of Health. "Certificates of Death." Illinois Department of Health, Springfield, Illinois. FHL microfilm. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah:  name: Elzy Coffey titles and terms (original):  death date: 22 Mar 1937 death place: Decatur, Macon, Illinois gender: Male marital status:  race or color:  age: 77 estimated birth year: 1860 birth date: 20 Aug 1859 birthplace: Owen Co., Indiana father: Adimiriam J. Coffey father's titles and terms (original):  father's birth place: North Carolina mother: Emily C. Rhone mother's titles and terms (original):  mother's birth place: South Carolina occupation: carpenter residence: Stuttgart, Arkansas street address:  spouse: Elizabeth spouse's titles and terms (original):  spouse's birthplace:  burial date: 24 Mar 1937 burial place: Decatur Twp., Macon, Illinois cemetery: Graceland informant:  additional relatives:  digital folder number: 4008433 image number: 888 film number: 1786729 volume/page/certificate number: cn 12621 

Salathiel and Elizabeth Gore Coffey

Salathiel, along with Joel, Chesley Jr., Nebuzaradon, Mary, Nathan, Martin and Jesse Cleveland are said by some to be children of a mysterious Chesley Coffey.

Tim Peterman, a Chesley researcher, has speculated that Chesley may have been a child of Edward and Ann Powell, with Ann expecting him at the time of Edward's death. That might be one explaination for the child not being mentioned in Edward's will. Another possibility is that he was born much earlier (c1716) and away from home, or doing so well that he was not mentioned as a heir with Ann died.

There is actually no evidence that Chesley, Sr. ever existed. Tim wrote that Eliza Porter, a descendant of Joel, left an "often cited note" in which she mentioned that Joel was a son of Chesley Coffey. I personally have never seen that note.

With that in mind, the following attempts to trace the descendants of Salathiel who married Elizabeth Gore.

Salathiel was born between 1750 and 1755, probably in Wilkes Co., NC. He and Sarah were apparently married before 1773 because their first child, Newton, is said to have been born that year.

Dates for Elizabeth, and her parents are not known to me.

Newton married twice. His first marriage was to Sarah Meridith (no dates) in about 1802 in Adair Co., KY.1 He and Sarah had at least seven children:

Cleveland Salathiel, born Jun. 24, 1803, married Harriet Louisa Greer Apr. 26, 1836 in Montgomery Co., IL.2 This family apparently lived out their lives and died in Montgomery Co. They were parents of at least 10 children: Artemisia, Newton, William, Elizabeth, Mary, Frances, Ritta, Sarah, John and Miller [?].

Martha (Patsy), born 1804 in Wilkes Co., died Jun. 11, 1873 in Illinois. She married John Reavis on Dec. 27, 1821 in Montgomery Co.3 I have not found any children. John was born c1800 in IL

Ruth Eliza, born 1808 in KY, died Jul. 5, 1888 in Montgomery Co. She married William Reavis on Oct. 6, 1825 in Montgomery Co. They can be found in the 1860 Montgomery Co. census. Children enumeraed that year were Martha, born c1837; Sarah, born c1838; Mary, born c1844; and Newton, born c1847.

Thomas L., born c1809 in KY, married Nancy Bradley Jul. 20, 1826 in Montgomery Co.4 Their children were Newton Henry, born c1828; Sarah, born c1830; Richard, born c1830 (said to be twins); Cleveland, born c1837; Thomas, born c1841; and Nancy, born c1845. Nancy was found in Jackson Co., IA in the 1850 census with those children. Thomas was not in the household and is presumed dead by that year.

Nancy, born c1810, married Thomas Wiley Feb. 7, 1831 in Montgomery Co.5

Colbert Larkin, born c1811 in Adair Co., KY, and believed to have died on Jun. 11, 1873. He married Catherine Ellis in KY in about 1829.6 They had at least two children, both born in Illinois: Elizabeth, born c1838 and Nancy, born c1842. Colbert's second marriage was to Milly Davis on Jul. 16, 1847 in Bond Co., IL.7 Colbert bought property in Bond Co. in 1838 and was enumerated in the 1840 census for that county. He purchased property in Montgomery Co. in 1850 and apparently died c1873. I found Milly remarried in Montgomery Co. in the 1860 census to Jacob Layerly (var.). With her was Andrew, her only known child by Colbert, born c1848. Milly had other children by Jacob, but I have made no attempt to sort them out. I have not found Colbert anywhere between 1850 and 1873.

Murry (var.), born c1812, died c1828.

I have more data for anyone researching these families. Please contact me at the e-mail address to add to and/or correct any of this information.

1 Coffey Cousins' Newsletter, Dec. 1991, Page 6; Newton Coffey (b. 1773, Wilkes Co., NC) married Sarah Meredith in 1802, Adair Co., KY. Newton's daughtger, Nancy (b. 1810, Adair Co., KY) married Thomas Wiley in Montgomery Co., IL.. 7 Feb 1831. Newton and family had moved to Montgomery Co. before the 1820 Federal Census. (Ruby Buck of Sacramento, CA)

2 Illinois Marriage Index 1763-1900, Book 1, Page 46, License No. 274

3 Family History Library, SLC, UT, Microfilm 1315683

4 Dodd, Jordan, Illinois Marriages to 1850

5 Illinois Marriage Index, 1763-1900, Vol. 1, Page 21, License No. 123

6 US and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900

7 Illinois Marriages 1790-1860, Family History Library, SLC, Utah, Microfilm 1317522

Charles Lewis & Emily Coffey Coffey

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

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

Their children were:

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

- Ruth Mildred, born Aug., 1899

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

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

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

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

- Collett C., born Apr. 1887

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

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

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

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

---

Update 9/17/2015

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

Part of the e-mail follows:

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

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

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

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

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

Charles L. Coffey, Head of Household

Emily Coffey, wife

Haywood Powell, son-in-law

Jane Powell, daughter

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

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