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Showing posts with label Shell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shell. Show all posts

April 23, 2013

Coffey & Wilson in North Carolina

Ron Wolden and I began exchanging e-mails a few weeks ago.  He is in search of his Coffey and Wilson ancestry.  Ron would like to know more about his Wilson side.

Jordan H. Wilson was his 3d great grandfather who married Nancy Baker c1832 in NC.  Jordan was born sometime between 1798 and 1811 in Burke Co., and died in Caldwell Co. on Apr. 10, 1892.  He married Nancy Baker, born c1806 in Burke Co., died Dec. 16, 1894 in Caldwell Co.  Both are buried at the Lindsay Cemetery near Collettsville, in Caldwell Co.

Jordon and Nancy had at least six children:

Joseph Coleman Wilson, born Jun. 11, 1834 in Burke Co., died Mar. 18, 1884 in Caldwell Co.  Joseph married Martha Lindsey (var.) in Caldwell Co. on Jan. 15, 1861.

Robert Monroe Wilson, his 2d great grandfather, was born Apr. 26, 1837 in Burke Co. and died Jun. 29, 1920 in the Mulberry township of Caldwell Co.  He is buried at Harpers Chapel Cemetery in Patterson.  He married Susan Caroline Coffey c1862.  She was the daughter of Athan and Mary McGuire Coffey, born Oct. 6, 1845, died Jan. 23, 1949 in Mulberry Twp.

Robert and Susan's children were at least six:  Joseph J., born c1865; Mary Addie, born c1866, married John A. Lutz c1895; Annie J., born c1875; Nina Victoria, born c1879, married Flaveous Josephus Sherrill.  He was born in the Yadkin Valley on Oct. 15, 1875, died May 29, 1959 in Washington State.  He and Nina were married Mar. 25, 1900 in Patterson Twp.  I do not have death or burial information for Nina.   R. Athan, born Oct., 1881 and Martha C., born Aug., 1884.

Other children of Jordan and Nancy were:  John Alexander., born c1840, Burke Co., died 1919 in Caldwell Co.; Mary Jane, born c1844; Nancy P., born Jun. 17, 1847, died Sep. 8, 1899, buried at Lindsay; Laura, born Aug. 10, 1850, died Mar. 28, 1870 and also buried at Lindsay.

Ron tells me that Jordan's name first appears on an election list of voters in Lenoir, NC who submitted ballots at White's Election Ground on Johns River, Aug. 13, 1835.  In 1838 he enlisted as a Private in Co. D. of the Burke Co. Volunteers during the Cherokee Removal.  Sons Joseph Coleman and Robert Monroe had already been born.  Jordan's actual birth is likely to be somewhere between 1798 and 1811 in Burke Co.  Ron speculates the 1811 date may have been used at the 1838 enlistment to make him appear to be younger in order to serve.

Page 1 of Jordan's Will
His wife, Nancy Ann Baker was the daughter of John Menefee and Lucenda Puett Baker. In 1840 the couple lived in the Beaverdam District of Cherokee Co.

The executor of Jordan's will was his son, John Alexander Wilson.  Named heirs were M. E. Shell, R. T. Wilson, R. M. Wilson, J. W. Wilson, J. L. Wilson, Minnie Wilson, Mary M. Greene, Jesse Wilson and W. H. Lloyd.  The Shell and Lloyd portions appear to be payment for preparing the will.

R T., Robert Theodore Wilson, Minnie Wilson and Jesse (Hasty) Wilson were children of his son Joseph Coleman.  J. L. Coleman may be Joseph's son Lafayette and J. W., his son John.  Ron says that Mary M. Greene is a bit confusing since Joseph Coleman's daughter Mary was only 13 at the time and Jordan's daughter Mary had the middle name Jane.  But, Mary Greene is probably one of the two.  However, Mary Jane is known to have married M. M. Slagle.  R. M. Wilson is probably Robert Monroe.

[Jordan and Nancy were in Lower Creek Twp., Caldwell Co. in 1850; Beaverdam Dist., Cherokee Co. in 1860 and in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co. in 1870.  I haven't found them in 1880.  Ron also mentioned in his e-mail the marriage of Joseph Coleman Wilson to Martha Lindsey, a daughter of Grief Lindsey and Mary Elizabeth Coffey.  This is a union that I do not have recorded and, pretty much unsure who the parents were of Mary Coffey.  Click to contact Ron via e-mail.]


  Jack




January 30, 2013

Elijah & Martha Coffey Coffey

Elijah Coffey Family
This Elijah was a son of Samuel "Sam" and Martha Wolfe Coffey, born April, 1881 in Grainger Co., TN.  Martha was the daughter of Jasper Newton and Lucy Jane Shell Coffey.  Jasper and Sam were second cousins with their common ancestor being Revolutionary War veteran Benjamin and Mary "Polly" Hayes Coffey.  Benjamin was a son of John and Jane Graves Coffey.  Martha was born in Hancock Co., TN in May of 1883.

I have not yet found a marriage record for Elijah and Martha.  The birth years of their 12 - at least - children, all born in Grainger Co., change from census to census making it difficult to document their birth order.

Their first child is thought to have been Martha, born c1899.  No further info

George Washington "Washie", born Dec. 29 1902, died Jan. 1, 1978 in Grainger Co.  Washie was twice married, first to Mandy or Manda Atkins (1903-1924) who likely died at or shortly after the birth of their only child, George Washington "Jessie" Coffey, born Jan. 1, 1924, died Mar, 1969 in Grainger Co.  His second wife was Gelina Atkins, a cousin to Manda.  I haven't found this couple in 1930 but, in 1940 they had a son, James, age 14.

Dexter Coffey Hedrick
Dexter, a daughter, is said to have been born in 1907 and married on May 5, 1928, Robert William Hedrick.  Robert appears to have died before the 1930 census because Dexter was a widow, living with her parents in Grainger Co.  They had one son, Robert William Hedrick, Jr.

Vara, fourth born, May 19, 1909, married Oscar Wallace on Oct. 3, 1926 in Hamblen Co., TN.  Oscar was born Jul. 21, 1901 in Grainger Co.  He died on Mar. 22, 1983 at Bean Station, Grainger Co.; she on Jan. 20, 1995 at Bean Station.  Their children were Minnie Ruth; Henry P. (Paul Earl?), Ruby Lee; twins Jerry and Perry, Charles Elmer and Oscar Lee.  Oscar and Vara as well as sons Jerry and Perry are buried at Bean Station Cemetery which I believe is also known as the Bean Station Baptist Church Cemetery.[1]

Samuel, born c1911.  No other information.

Walter Preston, born c1913.  No other information

Newton, Jul. 19, 1914, died Jun. 22, 1915 at Tate Springs in Grainger Co.

Thomas, born c1917.  No other information.

Ophia Coffey Coffey

Ophia "Ophie", born c1918, married Enos Garfield Coffey on Apr. 12, 1937 in Grainger Co.  She and Enos were related at least seven different ways as 3d, 4th, and 5th cousins.  Enos was the son of Charles Edward and Susan McDaniel Coffey.  Charles and Elijah were 4th cousins, once removed.  Enos and Ophie had at least two children, daughter Dussie (?) and son Charles W.

Irene, born c1920.  No other information.

Clint, born c1926.  No other information.

Henry, born Aug. 28, 1928, died Mar. 10, 2006 at Bean Station.

Washie, Newton, and Henry [perhaps other siblings as well] are said to be buried at the Atkins Cemetery in Thorn Hill.  In particular, they are said to be buried at the Atkins Cemetery in "Poor Valley" or, along "Poor Valley" Ridge.  There are several Atkins cemeteries in Grainger Co., found on Find-A-Grave including one with the name "Poor Valley" attached.  An internet search for this particular cemetery shows it in a densely wooded area.  At Find-A-Grave, this hidden cemetery is referred to as "Atkins Cemetery (Dixie Highway)" but, does not show any Coffey Graves.

Please contact me if you know exactly which Atkins Cemetery at which these Coffey families are buried.

Additions and corrections welcomed.

Jack





[1]This cemetery is located off US11W at the end of Lake Cove Lane on the south side of US11W about 5 miles west of Bean Station, on the north side of Cherokee Lake. Take the Old, or New Lee Hwy. from Bean Station, past the Dixie Highway turn all the way to a right turn onto the Bean Station Cemetery Road. Follow this road all the way to the cemetery.

July 5, 2011

Odell Cletus & Thelma Edna Coffey Deal

Sylvannas Deal, born Nov. 1, 1832, died Jul. 30, 1899 in Burke Co., NC and his wife, Mary J., maiden name unknown, were the parents of Nathaniel T. "Nathan" Deal, born in Aug., 1862.

Nathan married Mary Elvira Shell on Mar. 27, 1884 in Lovelady Twp., Caldwell Co..  Mary was the daughter of John Tipton and Martha Bisanar [sic] Shell and, was born Aug. 22, 1867 in Caldwell Co., died May 14, 1953 in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC.

Odell Cletus Deal
Among their six known children was Odell Cletus, born Jun. 2, 1904 in Catawba Co., and who died there on Jan. 6, 1989.  Odell married first to Constance Eliza Chester in NC, c1929.  I know of one child, Robert Bernett, born Feb. 16, 1929 in Catawba Co.  Constance died on Aug. 19, 1957 in Hickory, Catawba Co. and was buried at Catawba Memorial Park on Aug. 21.

Odell then married Thelma Edna Coffey in 1959.  There were no known [to me] children.

Thelma was the daughter of William Leon and Marion Edna Norris Coffey.  She was born on Feb. 28, 1915 in Watauga Co to Millard Harrison and Ida Delrea Davis Norris.  She died on May 26, 1995 in Hickory and was also buried at Catawba Memorial Park.  Odell died on Jan. 6, 1989 in Catawba and is believed to also be buried at Catawba Memorial Park.

Dale Cloyd Norris
Anna Bell Coffey Norris
Two of Millard and Ida's children also married Coffey women. Lyman Paul Norris, born Jan., 1900, married Addie Lee Coffey, a daughter of Daniel Carlton "Dell" and Mary Jane Bodenhamer Coffey.   Dale Cloyd Norris, born Jan., 1910, married Anna Belle Coffey, sister to Addie Lee. Ida Delrea Davis was the daughter of Harvey Alexander and Mary Hodges Davis.  Millard was a son of Isaac and Amanda Spencer Norris.

Thelma was the second to oldest of the at least nine children born to William and Marion.  William was a son of William Luther and Mary Salome Moretz Coffey.  William Luther was a son of Jesse Calton and Nancy A. Raines Coffey.  Jesse Calton was a son of Reuben and Rachel Hayes Coffey.  Reuben was a son of Jesse and Margaret Edmisten Coffey.  Jesse was a son of Reuben and Sarah Scott Coffey.  Reuben's parents were John and Jane Graves Coffey.  John was a son of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.*

Sylvannas Deal is buried at Abees Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery in Valdese, NC

Mary Elvira Shell Deal is buried at St. Lukes Lutheran Church Cemetery in Hickory, NC

William Leon and Marion Edna Norris Coffey; Millard Harrison and Ida Delrea Davis Norris; Daniel and Mary Jane Bodenhamer Coffey; andHarvey and Mary Hodges Davis are all buried at the Old Mount Pleasant-Bethany Lutheran Cemetery in Boone, NC.




More on these families is available on "The Edward Coffey Project" DVD or, through limited request.
Photos of Dale and Anna Bell Norris appeared with their obituaries

March 8, 2011

Robert Lawrence "Bob" Coffey

Relatively speaking, this is a "modern" family.  However, it did take a bit of concentration on my part to finally figure out that he had two wives, each named Lula!

Robert was born in Caldwell Co., NC in 1897 to Jesse Finley and Mary Elizabeth Craig Coffey.  He married Lula Shell on Aug. 30, 1913 in Lenoir, the daughter of Robert and Laura Sigmon Shell. 

Lula Shell Coffey gave birth to three children: 

Laura Mozelle, born Jun. 8, 1914, died of tuberculosis and unmarried on Jul. 22, 1938.  Laura is buried at the Union Church Cemetery in Lenoir.

Second child was Finley Tuttle, born in 1915 and died Dec. 23, 1979 in Lenoir.  He married Jewel Genett Andrews, a daughter of John Finley and Lucy Bean Andrews in Caldwell Co. in 1953.  Jewel was born in 1923 and died Jan. 1, 2006 in Caldwell Co.  She is buried at Belleview Cemetery in Lenoir and, I suspect Finley is also buried there.

The last child born to Lula Shell Coffey was Charles Woodrow, born Oct. 26, 1917 and died of tuberculosis on Mar. 10, 1919 in Lenoir.  He and his mother died very close together, perhaps on the same day but, although a death certificate for Charles has been found, none has been found for Lula.

Three years after the death of Lula Shell Coffey, "Bob" Coffey married Lula Lovina Hart, a daughter of Calvin Jones and Amanda Emmaline Wise Hart.  The wedding took place on Mar. 11, 1922 in Caldwell Co.  Lula Lovina Hart was born c1905 and died Apr. 5, 1978 in Caldwell Co.  I do not know where either of them are buried.

Bob and Lula Hart Coffey had at least 10 children, all born in Caldwell Co.:
Frances, born Mar. 3, 1923, died Jun. 21, 2010 in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC.  She married  Foke Lenoir Hartley, born Apr. 2, 1922 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., a son of George Sidney Hartley and Callie Bentley.  Foke died Oct. 19, 1988 in Valdese, Burke Co., NC.  Their children were Doyle Sidney; Mavis Ann; and Thelma Susan, all of which are now deceased.

Mable Ruth, born Jun. 6, 1924, died Oct. 26, 1989 in Lenoir.  She married George James Prestwood, born c1918 in Caldwell Co.  Her obituary reads:
Mabel Ruth Coffey Prestwood, 65, of 310 Reform St. SW, Lenoir, died Thursday, Oct. 26, 1989, at Caldwell County Hospice.
She was born June 6, 1924, in Caldwell County, a daughter of Robert Lee Coffey of Lenoir and the late Lula Hart Coffey.

She was a homemaker.

In addition to her father, Mrs. Prestwood is survived by her husband, George James Prestwood of Charlotte; three sons, Gordon James Prestwood and Ralph Edward Prestwood, both of Lenoir, and David Lee Prestwood of San Diego, Calif.; three daughters, Georgia Ann Harris of Aiken, S.C., Shirley Jean Hitt of Statesville and Mary Jane Lebuff of Homa [sic], La.; two brothers, Lawrence Coffey of Waynesville, Mo., and Daniel Coffey of Wilmington; five sisters, Frances Hartley, Sarah Stone and Florence Prestwood, all of Lenoir, Mrs. Clyde (Alice) Smith of Morganton, and Mrs. Paul (Grace) Spears of Phoenix, Ariz.; 17 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

The service and interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell County Hospice.

Greer-McElveen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
James O., born 1926, died 1926

Lemuel Hart, born Jun. 13, 1927, died Jun. 26, 1976.  Lem married Dorthy Mae McMillan on Jun. 30, 1949 in Caldwell Co.  She was born May 16, 1931 in Caldwell Co. to John Franklin and Amelia Ann Bishop McMillan.  Dorothy died Sep. 17, 2001 in Lenoir.  His obituary reads:
Obituary, Lenoir News-Topic, Monday, June 28, 1976

Lemuel Hart Coffey, 49, 210 Clearfield Drive, died Saturday evening in a Veteran's Administration hospital after an extended illness.

He was born June 13, 1927 in Caldwell County, son of Robert Lawrence and Lula Hart Coffey of Lenoir.

Coffey was employed at Kincaid Furniture Co.

Survivors, in addition to his parents, include his widow, Mrs. Dorthy Mae McMillian Coffey of the home; four sons, Terry Robert Coffey, Paul Gregory Coffey, Scott Bradley Coffey, all of Lenoir, and Jerry Franklin Coffey of El Paso, Tex.; three brothers, Finley Coffey of Collettsville, Larance Coffey of Missouri, and Dan Coffey of Wilmington; six sisters, Mrs. Alan (Sarah) Stone of North Wilkesboro, Mrs. Forke (Frances) Hartley of Baton, Mrs. Clyde (Alice) Smith of Morganton, Mrs. Paul (Grace) Spears of Phoenix, Ariz., and Mrs. George (Ruth) Prestwood and Mrs. Richard (Florence) Prestwood born of Lenoir.

The funeral was to be conducted at 2 p.m. today at Lakeview Baptist Church by Rev. Michael Barlowe and Rev. Dean Harold.

Burial was to follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Park.

Pendry's Lenoir Funeral Home was in charge of Arrangements.
After Lem's death, Dorothy married Reynold Lee "Sarge" Setzer in 1976.  Sarge was born Jun. 29, 1930 in Caldwell Co. to Walter C. and Amanda Walsh Setzer.  He died Feb. 6, 2007 in Caldwell.  His obituary reads:
Obituary, News-Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC, Feb. 8, 2007

Reynold Setzer

Reynold Lee "Sarge" Setzer died Feb. 6, 2007, at Lenoir Health Care after a lengthy period of declining health.

Sarge was born June 29, 1930, in Caldwell County to W.C. and Amanda Walsh Setzer. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy McMillan Setzer; and a brother, Forest A. Setzer; and three infant brothers.

Survivors include his step-sons, Terry Coffey and wife Vicki of Lenoir, Jerry Coffey and wife Donna of Gray, Tenn., Scott Coffey and wife Linda of Asheville and Paul Coffey of Concord. He also is survived by five grandchildren, Suzanne Moore, Michael Coffey, Autumn Coffey, Nick Coffey and Yvonne Coffey, and two great grandchildren, Mason and Jessie Moore; a brother, Cecil B. Setzer and wife Mae; a sister-in-law, Bea Setzer; and a niece and nephew.

Sarge was assigned to the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry and completed 25 years of distinguished service, including the Korean Conflict and two tours in the Vietnam Conflict. He was later transferred to the First Armored Division and retired with honors in 1975. Master Sergeant Setzer received several commendations including the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, National Defense Medal, The Army Commendation, The United Nations Medal and The Occupational Medal in Japan.

Sarge was a long-time member of First Advent Christian Church in Lenoir where he was a member of the senior men's Sunday school class. He was a collector of military books and extensive in his knowledge of military history. He attended Lenoir High School.

At his request, there will be no public funeral services. Memorials may be made to the First Advent Christian Church Music Program, P.O. Box 1714, Lenoir, NC 28645.
Dorothy's obituary:
Dorothy Mae McMillan Setzer, 70, of Camelot Court, Lenoir, died Monday, Sept. 17, 2001, at Caldwell County Hospice.

She was born May 16, 1931 in Caldwell County to the late John Franklin McMillan and Amelia Ann Bishop McMillan.  She was also preceded in death by her fi[r]st husband, Lemuel H. Coffey; and three brothers, Bill, Clifton and Paul McMillan.

She was a homemaker and a member of the First Advent Christian Church.

Survivors include her husband, Raymond Setzer of Lenoir, four sons, Terry R. Coffey of Lenoir, Jerry F. Coffey of Kannapolis, Paul G. Coffey of Hudson and Scott B. Coffey of Fletcher; one brother, the Rev. Eugene McMillan of Stuart, Va.; and five grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held.

Memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, N.C. 28645

Pendry's Lenoir Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Bob and Lula's next child was Lawrence Craig Coffey, born Feb. 18, 1929, died May. 25, 2005 in Crocker, Pulaski Co., MO.  His wife was Maggie Lee "Peggy" Benefield.  No other information.

Following Lawrence was Florence Elizabeth, born 1932.  No further information.

Alice Hart, born 1935, married Clyde William Smith.  No further information.

Their last three children were:  Daniel Luke, born 1937; Grace Levina, born 1940 and Sarah Nell, born 1945.  No further information on them.

March 3, 2008

Ruby Shell Coffey

Obituary, Published Mar. 3, 2008, Commonwealth Journal, Somerset, KY

"Ruby Shell Coffey, 83, Faubush, Ky., died Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008, at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital.

Born in Casey County on Dec. 31, 1924, she is the daughter of the late James D. and Mary Lue Shell.

She is survived by her husband, Robert "Bobby" Coffey..."

Click on the title link to read the complete obituary.

Somerset and Faubush are in Pulaski Co.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you know who Robert "Bobby" Coffey descends from.

December 18, 2007

John D. and Rosa Coffey Welch

Rosa Coffey was the daughter of Jasper Newton and Jane Shell Coffey. Jasper Newton descended from Bennett and Sarah Ferguson Coffey through their son William Carrol who married Martha Jane Jordan. Jasper was fourth of 14 children born to William and Martha.

Rosa was born Aug. 20, 1880 in Morristown, Hamblen Co., TN, and was married there on Mar. 14, 1900 to John D. Welch. John was born in Morristown on May 17, 1878 to Henry E. and Mary Matilda Coffey Welch. Mary Matilda descended from Thomas and Mary S. Hipsher Coffey through their son William Ira and Sarah Jane Hipsher Coffey.

John Welch and Rosa Coffey were distant cousins through their common ancestor, Benjamin and Polly Hayes Coffey.

Three children were born to them in Tennessee: Birda, born 1901; Charley, born 1902; and Hubert, born 1905. Sometime between 1905 and 1909 when their fourth child was born, the family moved to Oklahoma. They were in the 1910 Atoka Co., OK census and, were residing in Wilson Twp.

Jasper and Jane along with several of their other children followed. Jasper died on Mar. 30, 1915 in Tushka and is buried there. Jane died in about 1939 and is thought to also be buried in Tushka.

Four more children were born to John and Rosa after the move: Dolley, born 1909; John Leslie, born 1911; Cecil, born 1912; and Mary Jane, born 1913. Both Dolley and, Mary Jane died in 1914 at about the same time as Rosa. Rosa died on Feb. 27, 1914 at Tushka in Atoka Co. and was buried in the Tushka Cemetery.

John remarried on Jul. 16, 1927. He married Rebecca Isabella Larkey in Buffalo, Harper Co., OK. She was born Sep. 24, 1885 in Gate City, Scott Co., VA and died Jun. 15, 1968 in La Harpe, Allen Co., KS. John died there on Sep. 25, 1947. There were no children born to this union.

I am not certain when John and Rebecca moved to Kansas. They were in Good Twp., Harper Co., OK in the 1930 census.

More on this family later.


The Welch family photo is courtesy of Rick Miller, a descendant of John and Rosa

June 28, 2007

Milton Wolford and Amanda Virginia Lewis Coffey


The following appeared in The Lone Grove Ledger, Lone Grove, OK on Jun. 26, 1985, and was authored by Sue Miller:


Milton Wolford "Mint" Coffey and Amanda Virginia Coffey were married in 1869 at Colbert Station, south of what is now Durant, and moved to the Lone Grove area shortly afterward, although their descendants have been unable to establish the exact date.

It is believed by family members that all of their eleven children - William,Taylor, Ivy, Myrtle, Merrit, Ernest, Mary, Anderson, Salathial, Walter and Gertrude - were born after the couple moved to this area.

Research done by the family indicates that Mint and Amanda settled two miles south of (now) Highway 70 on (now) Brock Road. In 1903, Amanda, who was a Chickasaw Indian, was allotted their homestead, which has never left the family.

Three of the many Coffey cousins - Leona Coffey Sanders, Cleo Coffey Jones, both of Lone Grove, and Stella Lee Coffey Stogsdill, Duncan, - shared memories of their grandparents recently.

Mint Coffey was a farmer and rancher and is remembered by his granddaughters as a handsome man. Amanda is recalled as a very small, extremely clean woman, and an excellent cook.

Mint died in 1922 at the age of 76, and Amanda was 73 at the time of her death in 1924. Both are buried in the Lone Grove Cemetery, as are most of their 11 children. None of their children are living and all are buried in Carter County.

William Lee Coffey married Lillie Cannon. He was a farmer-rancher, as were his two sons, Dorris O. and Joyce, who owned and operated ranches in Carter and Love County. They also had one daughter Lillian Idell.

Dorris was married to Wail Wilkerson.

Lillian and her husband, T. J. Kennedy, make their home in Norman, where he retired as a division manager for General Motors.

Taylor Otis "Odie" Coffey never married. He was a deputy U.S. Marshal in Lone Grove for many years.

Ivy Coffey was a farmer in this area for some time before he moved to Duncan, where he later served as a city commissioner.

He and his first wife, Stella Masterson had three children, Stella Lee, Finis, and Eulis.
Stella died when Stella Lee was just hours old, and Stella Lee lived with her grandmother, until Amanda's death when Stella Lee was 14.

StellaLee and her husband Gilbert Stogsdill now make their home in Duncan.

Finis also lives in Duncan. Eulis died in 1923 at the age of 18.

Ivy Joseph and his second wife, Nellie, had one daughter, Ivy, who is a retired feature writer for the Daily Oklahoman.

Myrtle Gayle Coffey married Wood Herndon, who was a farmer-rancher. They had three sons, Milton, Ono, and Clyde.

Milton, a farmer-rancher near Ardmore, married Carmen Byrd.

Otto, who ran a store in Ardmore, was married to Betty Davis.

Clyde was a rancher in Wyoming.

Merritt Price "Doc" Coffey married Willie Ann Byrd. They had one daughter, Virginia Catherine, who died as a youth.

Doc was a pecan producer in the Lone Grove area, and we well-known for developing a process to graft paper shell pecans.

Ernest Wilson "Ern" Coffey and his wife, Ninnie Cannon, had one daughter, Cleo Ernestine. Cleo was married to Ray Richards, and later to Warren Jones.

Ern was a farmer, and later worked for the county and state in a supervisory position. He and the [sic] Jones also operated a mercantile store in Lone Grove at the time the highway was built through town. The store was located on the corner that is now home to Lone Grove Hardware, recalls Cleo.

Anderson Wolford "Wolf" Coffey also ran a mercantile in Lone Grove for many years, that was located on what is now the northwest corner of Newport Road and Highway 70, where Holt's Grocery stands.

It is interesting that his grandson, John Sanders, now owns a similar modern-day store in Lone Grove.

Wolf was married to Louella Carroll. They had six children, Jewell, Leo W., Ivy Jerome, Leona, Kathleen and James Glenn.

Jewell was married to Clarence O. Bigbie, a Baptist preacher, who preached in Long Grove and Southern Oklahoma, and later was chaplain at the state penitentiary in McAlister.

Leo and Irene Coffey and Ivy Jerome and Georgia Lou Coffey operated a Freight bus in this area for many years.

Leona and Newt Sanders live south of Lone Grove, and Newt manages Sanders' A & M Feeds here.  They are planning to build a home on the property where Mint and Amanda Coffee [sic] made their home and raised their children. The property has been named "The Wolf Coffey Ranch," bearing the name of both Leona's father and grandfather.

Kathleen Walker is a retired beautician and lives in Lone Grove.

James Glenn and Angie Coffey live in Phoenix, where he is a realtor.

Cleo and Leona recalled the stores operated by their fathers during the depression.

The Coffey-Jones Mercantile boasted a filling station, clothing, dry goods, and groceries,. Cleo said. Leona remembered her father selling pickles and crackers from barrels, thread and ribbon, and groceries.

When the highway came through Lone Grove, he expanded the store to feed the men who were building the road. Papa made chili and stew and sold beef he had raised. He also served ham and eggs to the workers," Leona stated.

When Wolf died in 1927, Louella sold the store to Marion Fowler.

It was about this time that Ern Coffey bought a circus wagon from the Ringling Brothers Circus and converted it to a chuck wagon, Cleo said.

Ern took Wolf's sons, Leo and Ivy, with him, and the three followed the highway construction, living and cooking in the wagon, and feeding the construction workers.

Salathial "Sale" Coffey married Selma Baker. He was a pecan producer, a butcher, and an oil landman, and, for awhile, a deputy U.S. Marshal. They made their home in the Lone Grove area.

Sale and Selma had one daughter, Bernice, who married Dale Montgomery. They make their home in Lone Grove, where Dale is a dairyman and carpenter.

Walter Jerome Coffey was a deputy sheriff under Buck Garrett. He told family members that the famous lawman deputized him when he was 18. Walter "always" had a gun on him, the family remembers.

A niece, Patty Coker, remembers Walter and Sale as being fun-loving. She recalls when she was small, that the two came to visit the family and "cooked little biscuits on a toy stove" for her and her sisters.

Patty said that every Christmas, Santa Claus in his red and white suit would come to visit their house loaded down with toys for the girls. As she grew older, Patty recognized the shoes worn by "Santa" as those of her Uncle Walter.

Gertrude Coffey, the youngest child of Mint and Amanda, died as an infant.



Update 2/15/2013

Salathial or Salathiel, known as Sale, was born on Dec. 6, 1889 in the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory.  He was married first to Ida L. Elvira Yell on Feb. 23, 1908 in Ardmore, Carter Co., OK.  Ida was born c1889 in TN and died before 1910 in Carter Co.  I do not know of any children.

His second wife was Selma Estelle Baber, born in GA in 1889, died in Carter Co. in 1923.  They were married in Carter Co. on May 7, 1914. and had at least three children, only one of which survived.  The son Billy Milton died an infant in 1923.  Lucille died in 1916.  Bernice was born in 1917 and was still alive at age 12 and living with her widower father in 1930.  Sale has not been found in the 1940 census.

Sale's WWI draft registration card is extremely difficult to read.  It does seem to report on line 10, Race, that he was Indian.  Or perhaps, it merely reports that he was born in Indian Terr.  What do you see?

In the 1920 census he was enumerated as "Indian;" his wife as "white."  Bernice was also recorded as "Indian."  In earlier and subsequent census records he was recorded as "white."  His siblings as well as his parents were always enumerated as being "white."

Sale died on Feb. 17, 1957 in Carter Co. and was buried there with Selma at the Lone Grove Cemetery.