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

James Avery & Mary Jane Lainey Coffey

I noticed today that someone had been searching the blogs for information about James Avery Coffey.  As it happens, I have been trying to fill out his family information over the past couple of weeks.

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James was a son of James and Mary Keller Coffey and was born on Apr. 30, 1847 in Caldwell Co., NC and probably in the Yadkin valley. He was married there on Oct. 4, 1872 to Mary Jane Lainey (var.), born in April 1848 to James and Mariah Lainey.

There were at least nine children born to this union, all in the Kings Creek Twp. of Caldwell Co.  Each of them lived to become adults, marry and leave some descendants.  I'll name and report on each of them and their families.

The first born was James Columbus on Aug. 11, 1873.  James married Ann Etta "Etta" Barnett, daughter of Thomas Horton and Sarah Isabella Sherrill Barnett on Sep. 7, 1895 at Kings Creek..  Etta was born May, 12, 1874 in the Yadkin Valley and was the mother of at least two children:  John P., born in 1896, died in 1962 in Gaston Co., NC.  He married Lela Elrod - date not yet known - who was born in NC in 1910 and died there in 1999.  Both are buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Gastonia.  Second was Thomas Frank, born 1898, died 1967 in Kings Mountain, Cleveland Co., NC.  Thomas' wife was Naomi Farris and I have no information about her.  Thomas is buried at Mountain Rest Cemetery at Kings Mountain.

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Next was George Wesley, born in 1875.  His spouse was Lula Jane Barlow and they were married on Jun. 17, 1911 in Caldwell Co.  Lula was born to John Horton and Martha M. "Mattie" Grubb Barlow on Oct. 10, 1895 in Kings Creek Twp.  Their children were Nora Lee, born Nov., 1912, died May 7, 1944.  Here spouse was Lee Otis Keller, a son of Anderson and Emma Mayberry Keller, born in Yadkin Valley in 1893.  They were married c1933 in Caldwell Co.  Nora died in Lenoir in 1944, Lee in 1958. Both are buried at Kings Creek Baptist Church Cemetery [KCBCC].  I know of no children.  Nora Lee was followed by Charles, c1915; Viola, c1917; Callie, c1919; Ellen, c1922; Annie, c1924 and Clara Mae, c1928.  Clara Mae married George Lincoln Smith and died on Mar. 21, 2012 at Hickory in Catawba Co.  She was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Lenoir.  Her obituary reports that she had a son and two daughters.

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Third born was Mary Genelia in 1878.  She married Finley Green Andrews [date not known], who was born on Apr. 22, 1882 in Watauga Co., NC.  He was a son of Avery J. and Sarah Knight Andrews.  He and Mary had at least five children:  Troy Lawrence, 1907 in Caldwell Co., died 1946 in Forsyth Co.  His wife was Edna M. Mooney.  No other information.  Following Troy was Elizabeth, c1910; Roy Green, c1912; Sarah Jane, c1916 and Marvin Pershing, c1918.  Mary died in 1946 and Finley in 1961.  Both are buried at KCBCC.

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Julia Emma was fourth.  She was born in 1879 and married Rufus T. Barlow, a son of Horton and Nancy Maltba Barlow.  Rufus was born in Lower Creek, Caldwell Co. on May 11, 1864 and they were married there on Dec. 8, 1901.  Their children were Nellie Mae, born 1904, died 1940.  She married James Fox on Nov. 1, 1924 in South Lenoir Twp., Caldwell Co.  James was born c1899 but I have no death information. Nellie is buried at KCBCC.  James is probably there as well.  Nellie's sister, Hattie Emma, was born c1908 and married Ralph Raymond Clippard in 1927.  He was born c1902 in NC.  I know of two children:  Richard, born c1937 and Maynard, born c1939..  I do not know where Hattie and Ralph are buried.  There were probably other children born to Rufus and Julia, but the last one I know of was Jack Christie, born 1915, died 1978 in Caldwell Co.

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Amanda Lou followed Julia in 1992.  She married Joseph Hamilton Kirby in 1906.  He was born in 1883, a son of William Jackson Kirby and Nancy Emma Nelson.  Their children were:  William Avery, 1907-1968, married Ruth Eva Montgomery, 1918-1998.  Both are buried at KCBCC.; Luther Iron, 1909-1958; Mallie Filmore, 1912-1978; and Edgar Lee, 1915-1969.  Edgar's wife was Gladys Lola Barlow, daughter of John Walter and Frances Ella Prestwood Barlow.  She was born in 1910 and died in Wilkes Co. in 1992.  They were apparently not married until 1964 and are likely to have been previously married to others.

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Robert Lee was next, born in 1885.  His wife was Bessie Church to whom he was married in Valmead, Caldwell Co. on Oct. 15, 1911.  He died in 1937 and was buried at KCBCC.  Bessie was born c1895 but I have no other information about her.

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William Henry "Will" was born in 1886.  His first wife was Naomi Genely [sic] Keller, daughter of Milas and Demaris Barlow Keller.  She was born in 1883 and died in 1933.  Her two children were Albert L., born c1907 and Mary Ethel, born 1910.  In c1938 Will, age 52, married 15 year old Annie Mae Summerow, a daughter of Joe F. and Florence Kincaide Summerow.  Annie was born in 1923 and gave Will at least five children:  Thelma Lore, 1939-2011, married James Garlen Laws; Ira Lee, 1940-?; and infant son, born 1943; Steve Wilson, born 1946 and Stanley Edward, birth date not known.  Annie died on May 2, 1989 in Hickory, Catawba Co. and was buried at Littlejohn Methodist Church cemetery in Hickory.  Will died on 1959 and was buried at KCBCC.  Sometime after Will's death, Annie married Gurner Walter Hamby, 1910-1996.

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Elisha Elmore was born in 1888 and c1919 married Fannie Bell Kirby, a daughter of William N. and Sarah G. Kirby Kirby.  Fannie was born at Kings Creek in 1898.  They were parents of Edgar Lee, born 1922; Toye Mae, born Dec., 1925, died 1987.  Toye (or Toy) married Earl Pearson in 1948; and Claude William born 1928.  Claude married Clara Dean Walker, daughter of Oscar Walker, on Mar. 26, 1954 in Granite Falls.  Claude died on Oct., 2010 at Rhodhiss, His burial place is unknown and there were no services scheduled.  Elisha is buried at KCBCC.  Fannie is likely there as well.

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Finally, we arrive at the last child, Millard Monroe, born 1889.  He married Mary A. Nelson in 1909 at Watauga Co.  She was born in 1892 to Thomas and Elizabeth Davis Nelson.  Their children were Rosa Bell, 1909-?; Mamie Bell, 1910-1993, married William Lee Turnmire in 1925, a son of John Calvin and Fannie Green(e) Turnmire.  They were parents of one unnamed, 1926-?; Grady, 1927-?; Nina, 1929-2009; Eugene, 1931-1969; Vilas, 1933-1940; Pauline, 1936-2002; William, Jr., 1938-1996; Lucille, 1940-?; and Edity, 1944-?.  Everett Turner follower Mamie in 1914, Watauga Co..  His wife was Thelma Green and they had at least one child, Lee Roy, born/died in Jan., 1937.

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So, that's what I have on this family.  There are more exact details available.

Additions and corrections welcomed!

Jack

David & Nancy Coffey Ernest

Nancy was a daughter of Thomas and Nancy Barlow Coffey, and was born in Caldwell Co., NC in 1836.  She married David Ernest*, born c1835 in North Carolina, on Oct. 17, 1858** in Caldwell Co.  He died in 1885 and she in 1879.  Both are buried at Lower Creek Baptist Church cemetery in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC.

I have found seven children for this couple, all born in Caldwell Co.:

Thomas Levi, born Apr. 9, 1859.  He married Mary Clippard, who was apparently previously married to a Clippard, in Caldwell Co. on Apr. 26, 1888.**  The marriage record for her and Levi tells us that she was the daughter of Crump and Louisa Barlow.  However, I have been unable to find a Crump Barlow in a North Carolina census record.  Neither have I been able to find a death record for Mary.  Levi died Nov. 11, 1921*** and is buried as "Lee T." at the Lower Creek cemetery.

Mary Selena, born May 19, 1862, married John P. Sherrill on Jan. 9, 1890** in Lower Creek Twp.  John was a son of Milton and Caroline Barlow Sherrill and was born Sep. 16, 1863 in Caldwell Co.  He died there in Lower Creek Twp. on Oct. 20, 1945 and was buried at the Tabernacle Advent Church Cemetery in Lenoir.  Mary died on Jun. 14, 1954 and is also buried at the Tabernacle cemetery.

Eveline or Eva E., was born in 1871 and married August Felt, born 1869, on May 2, 1897** in Lower Creek.  No other information has been found.

John was born Dec. 12, 1868 and died unmarried on Feb. 2, 1936 in Lenoir.  He is buried at the Lower Creek cemetery.

William Calvin was born on Apr. 16, 1871 and died in Lenoir on Apr. 7, 1946.  His spouse was Mary Day, daughter of D. T. & Jerusha R. Day, who was born in 1877, probably in Caldwell Co.  She and William married on Apr. 16, 1896** in Lower Creek Twp.  He is buried at Belleview Cemetery in Lenoir.  Mary's death information has not been found.

Julia A., born in 1875, married John H. Thompson of Feb. 16, 1892** in Lower Creek.  No other information has been found.

The last child was Samuel H., born Mar. 3, 1875, died Mar. 26, 1926 in Lenoir.  His spouse was Bertha Hall to whom he was married on Aug. 25, 1898** in Lenoir.  Bertha's death information has not been found.  Samuel is buried at the Lower Creek cemetery.

Please contact me if you can connect the Barlow women.

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*David's surname, as well as some of his descendants has also been found as Earnest
**North Carolina County Marriages, 1759-1979 , digital images, FamilySearch.Org (www.familysearch.org).
***All complete birth and death dates for this family were taken from NC Death Certificates.  Those death dates consisting of year only were taken from the respective headstones found at Find-A-Grave.

Grover Cleveland & Stella Mae Coffey Walters

Grover was a son of Johnathan A. and Emeline Long Walters.  He was born on Oct. 28, 1884 in North Carolina and died at the age of 83 on Jan. 3, 1968 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC.  He and Stella were married on Mar. 7, 1914 in Watauga Co.

Stella was the daughter of John Nelson "Nels" and Laura Ann Finley Coffey.  She was born Apr. 30, 1893 in Watauga Co. and died at the age of 72 in Blowing Rock on Oct. 21, 1965.

The photo shows Grover and Stella a year or so after their marriage with first born, Clara Elizabeth, born Jan. 23, 1915 in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR.

Clara married Charles Wesley Bolick, a son of Emanuel and Mary Viella Sherrill Bolick.  Charles was born Aug. 15, 1897 in Caldwell Co. and died in Watauga Co. on Apr. 29, 1996.

Clara's obituary:

Mrs. Bolick

Mrs. Elizabeth Walters Bolick, age 85, of 250 Globe Road, Blowing Rock, widow of Mr. Charles Wesley Bolick, died Saturday, Dec. 2, at Union County Hospice in Monroe.

Mrs. Bolick was born January 23, 1915 in Portland, Oregon, a daughter of the late Grover Cleveland and Stella Mae Coffey Walters. She was a homemaker and a member of Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church of Blowing Rock.

Mrs. Bolick is survived by two daughters, Marilyn Reep and husband, Sam, of Charlotte and Linda Yates and husband, Jim, of Granite Quarry, N.C.; one son, Charles Wesley Bolick, Jr. of Blowing Rock; one brother, Robert "Bob" Walters and wife, Ruby, of Blowing Rock and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Ruth Walters of Winston-Salem. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Wesley Bolick; a daughter, Martha Elaine Bolick; a sister, Mrs. Verdola Sykes and three brothers, Cliff Walters, Carl Walters and Norman Walters.

Funeral services for Mrs. Bolick were conducted on Tuesday morning at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel in Boone. Officiating was the Rev. Francis Greene. Interment followed in Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.

Memorials may be considered to Hospice of Charlotte, 1420 East 7th Street, Charlotte, N.C. 28204 or to Hospice of Union County, 700 West Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe, N.C. 28110.

Hampton Funeral Service of Boone was in charge of the arrangements.

Other children born to Grover and Stella were:

Verdola Dare, born Feb. 17, 1916 in Watauga, died Jul 23, 1972 in Asheboro, Randolph Co., NC.  She married Dean William Sykes on Aug. 20, 1939.  Dean was born Jan. 25, 1911 and died Aug. 3, 1972.  Buried at Woodlawn in Blowing Rock.

Carl William, born Aug. 6, 1919 in Watauga Co., died Jan. 28. 1976 in Blowing Rock.  He married Ruth Buxton on Sep. 15, 1938.

Grover Clifford, born Apr. 20, 1921 in Watauga Co., died May 5, 1990 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co.  He married Ruth Delores Hildebrand, born Feb. 22, 1923.

Norman Cicero, born Nov. 5, 1923 in Watauga Co., and died there on Dec. 5, 1969.  He married Doris Moody.  Buried at Woodlawn.

Grover and Stella are also buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.

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

Joseph Harrison and Carrie Elizabeth Coffey Wellborn

Joseph Harrison Wellborn was born c1873 in North Carolina and died there before 1920. He married Carrie Elizabeth Coffey in Caldwell County, NC in 1896 [Marriage Book 11, Page 245]. Carrie was the daughter of Thomas, a son of William Coffey and Margaret Robbins. Carrie's mother was Rachel M. Coffey, the daughter of McCaleb Coffey and Elizabeth Collett.

Carrie was born Aug. 14, 1877 in Caldwell Co., and died in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co. on Mar. 22, 1951.  She is buried at Harper's Chapel Cemetery in Patterson.  An accurate birth and death date for Joseph has not been found.

Children of Joseph and Carrie were:

Jennie Beatrice, born May 11, 1900, died Dec. 30, 1978. Jennie married Thomas Hamilton (Hamp) Robbins in Caldwell Co., NC in 1920. Thomas was born Oct. 17, 1888 [death certificate], a son of Thomas Clingman and Sarah Curtis Robbins. He died Mar. 5, 1965 in Lower Creek, Caldwell Co. [Death Certificate]. Their children were Mary Gwendolyn, born Sep. 7, 1920 [NC Birth Index Book 7, Page 621], died Dec. 14, 1977; Thomas Hamilton, born Sep. 11, 1922; George Welborn, born Aug. 17, 1924, died Nov. 21, 2004; and Robert Joseph, born Dec. 5, 1926.

Carl Coffey, born Aug. 6, 1902 in Wilkes Co., died May 15, 1986 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. He was married in 1921 to Lula Belle Hamby, born Oct. 18, 1898 in NC, died Dec. 8, 1933 in Lenoir. Their children were Clyde Colene, born Oct. 6, 1921; Mildred Marie, born 1923; Joseph Henry, born 1924, died 1997; Earl Russell, born Apr. 3, 1928, died Jun. 22, 1994; and an unnamed child, born and died in 1932.

Alma L., born c1906

Robert Louis, born Dec. 11, 1908, died Dec. 29, 1990

Carrie, born Sep. 13, 1910, died Feb. 28, 1985. She married Hugh Hardin Edmisten, born Aug. 19, 1905 in Watauga Co., NC, died Aug. 16, 1963 in Lenoir. He was a son of Newton Edmiston and Alice Holshouser.

Joseph Dale, born May 14, 1913

Blanche Gertrude, born Nov. 19, 1914, died Mar. 8, 2004. Blanche married first William Lee Martin, born Dec. 23, 1913, died Aug. 4, 1966 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC. He was a son of Roby Sherrill and Ivalee Crisp Martin. Blanche was married second to H. C. (Bud) Andrews for whom I have no information. Blanche is buried in Wilson Memorial Park in Caldwell Co.

Obituary, The News Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC

Blanch Andrews

Blanch Gerturde Wellborn Martin Andrews, 89, of Blowing Rock Blvd., Lenoir, died Monday, March 8, 2004, at Lenoir Healthcare Center.

She was born Nov. 19, 1914 in Caldwell County to the late Joseph and Carrie E. Coffey Wellborn. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, William Lee Martin; her second husband, (Bud) H.C. Andrews; three brothers and three sisters.

Mrs. Andrews was a homemaker was a member of Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church.

Survivors include three sons, Williams S. Martin, Jack O. Martin and Charles A. Martin all of Lenoir; a daughter, Mrs. Ivolee Martin McCall of Valdese; 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel conducted by the Rev. Joe Parker and the Rev. Lynn Hawkins. Interment will follow in J.H. Wilson Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Jason Martin, Charles Martin, Jr., Jamie McCall, Travis Coffey, Tom Haus and Joel Coffey. Honorary pallbearers will be: Donovan Moose, Lee Moose and Will Haus.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, NC 28645; or to Mt. Olivet united Methodist Church, 2032 Mulberry Creek Road, Lenoir NC 28645; or to Wellborn Historical Society, 2400 Mourgea Avenue, High Meadow Apt. 4E, Valdese, NC 28690.

Please send additions or corrections to me at the above e-mail address.