William Lee Coffey (1870-1915)

William Lee Coffey was a son of Milton Wolford "Mint" and Amanda Virginia "Jenny" Lewis Coffey.

He was born on Oct. 29, 1870 in Collin Co., TX and died in Lone Grove, Carter Co., OK on Jan. 12, 1915.  He was married on Oct. 31, 1901* to Mary Lillie Cannon in Indian Territory, Southern District, Carter Co., OK.  The couple remained in Lone Grove, Carter county until William's death and he was buried there in the Lone Grove Cemetery

His obituary reveals that he "...was born...in Collin county [TX], near the town of Allen; and lived there until about eighteen years of age, when he removed with his parents to Oklahoma (then Indian Territory.)"¹

In 1922 the following "Notice of Sale of Oil and Gas Lease" appeared in the local paper:

"In the county court of Carter county, Oklahoma.

"In the matter of the guardianship of the estate of Dorris O. Coffey, Daniel Joyce Coffey and Lillian Idell Coffey, minors, Lillie Coffey, Guardian.

The Daily Ardmoreite Jan. 18, 1922

"Notice is hereby given in pursuance of an order of the county court of Carter county, Oklahoma, made and entered on the 18th day of January, A. D., 1922, the undersigned guardian of the estate of Dorris O. Coffey, Daniel Joyce Coffey and Lillian Idell Coffey, minors, will offer for sale and sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder an oil and gas mining lease on the 25th day of January, 1922, at 10 o'clock a, m. on the following described lands situated in Carter county, state of Oklahoma, to-wit:..."]²

Sometime after 1922 Lillie remarried to Charles F. Sullivan, In 1930 he was 67 years old; she was 49.  Two Coffey children, Joyce and Lillian were enumerated in the household but also shown as "absent" and without occupation.  There appears to be no other children born to Lillie in her union with Mr. Sullivan.

The Coffey children included one that died young.  She was Omal Lee, born Nov. 4, 1903 in Carter Co. and died there on Oct. 6,1904.  She is buried near her father in the Lone Grove cemetery.

Dorris Overton Coffey, born Jul. 27, 1905 in OK, married Gayle Wilkinson in Ardmore on Apr. 6, 1930.³  She was born in OK on Nov. 22, 1908.  He died on Nov. 7, 1977 and she on Sep. 25, 1993, also in OK.  Both are buried at the Rose Hill cemetery in Ardmore.

Daniel Joyce Coffey, born Aug. 24, 1907 in OK, died Apr. 17, 1981 in OK and buried at Rose Hill.  A marriage record for him has not been found.

Lillian Idell Coffey, born c1914 and no other info yet found.

Additions and corrections invited!

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*"Oklahoma County Marriages, 1890-1995", index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VXL5-5QG : accessed 30 Sep 2014), Lee Coffey and Lillie Cannon, 31 Oct 1901; citing p. 62, , Carter, Oklahoma, United States; FHL microfilm 1313671.

¹Easley, John F., editor. The Daily Ardmoreite. (Ardmore, Okla.), Vol. 21, No. 88, Ed. 1 Monday, January 18, 1915, Newspaper, January 18, 1915; digital images, (http://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc154128/ : accessed August 11, 2013), Oklahoma Historical Society, The Gateway to Oklahoma History, http://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

²The Daily Ardmoreite - Ardmore, OK 1893-Current, http://tinyurl.com/k824mq8, Jan. 19, 1922, Page 5, Col. 1

³"Oklahoma County Marriages, 1890-1995", index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VXL1-YMZ : accessed 30 Sep 2014), Dorris O Coffey and Gayle Wilkinson, 06 Apr 1930; citing p. 41, , Carter, Oklahoma, United States; FHL microfilm 2295520.

Gilliam Wyatt & Sarah Jane Isenhower Coffey

In February of this year I wrote a short family history of Larkin and Sibby Wyatt Coffey. In that blog I touched on their son Gilliam Wyatt Coffey and his wife Sarah Jane Isenhower.

Sarah Jane was the daughter of Joseph Isenhour [sic] and wife Lettie, and was born in Jan., 1854 in North Carolina.  She and Gilliam were married on Jan. 10, 1875 in the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina.  Later that year, on Nov. 14, Sarah's widower father and Gilliam's widowed mother also married.

Gilliam and Sarah remained in and around Caldwell and Watauga Counties until sometime after 1900 when they headed west to Washington state.  Gilliam died in Omak, Okanogan Co., WA on May 22, 1914.  Sarah followed in 1928 and both are buried at the City Cemetery in Okanogan city.

Their children were:

Candes Lowellen or Candus, depending on which records you choose, was born in Watauga Co. in May, 1877 and died in Omak on Jul. 15, 1942.  She married Lee L. Cook c1897 in NC.  Lee was born in that state in Apr., 1871 and died in WA on Oct. 18, 1957.  There were no known children born to this union.  Very shortly after Candes' death Lee married a lady named Bessie.  She died shortly thereafter and he married a lady named Julia Ann, who outlived him and died in 1978.  All are buried the Okanogan City Cemetery.

The next three children of Gilliam and Sarah were:  Sidney, born 1878; Etta, born Feb., 1880; and Martha J., born Mar., 1882.  I have no further information on any of these children.

William Larkin was child number four, born in Jun., 1884.  William married Emma J. Lingle, a daughter of J. Monroe and Frances J. Sullivan Lingle, about 1907 in NC.  Emma was born in that state in Dec., 1886 and died in Okanogan Co., WA on Nov. 12, 1969.  William died Jun. 11, 1968 and both are buried at the Okanogan City Cemetery.  He and Emma had at least four children:  Ethel, born c1908 in NC; Edna Y., born 1912 in WA; John Albert, born 1915 in WA and James Edward, born 1919, also in WA.  Edna married Frances H. "Frank" Nickell, a son of David Franklin and Jaqueline Fulton Nickell, on Aug. 15, 1934 in Okanogan Co..  Frank died in 2002; Edna just a few days ago on Aug. 17, 2012 in Spokane.  In 1947, James Edward married Ellen J. Dinger, daughter of Anton and Mary Dinger.  James died Jul. 3, 1998 in Omak and Ellen died Feb., 28, 2006, also in Omak.  Both are buried at Okanogan Valley Memorial Gardens with their only known son, John Allen Coffey, born Dec. 8, 1951, died Aug. 7, 1980.

Child number five was Joseph Monroe, born Feb. 23, 1887 at Shulls Mill in Watauga Co., died  Jun. 5, 1958 in Okanogan.  He married a lady by the name of Neata [sic] E., born 1889 in TN, died on Okanogan Co. in 1927.  Their only known child, a daughter, Letha Mae was born May 19, 1920 in Washington and died Feb. 8, 2012 at Wenatchee in Chelan Co., WA.  Letha married Glenn Arthur Payne on Sep. 21, 1940 in Okanogan Co.  Glenn was born Jun. 26, 1917 in WA and died in Omak on Sep. 5, 1994.  Both are buried at Okanogan Valley.

Number six was Minnie Lee, born Jul. 31, 1890 at Blowing Rock, died Pateros, Okanogan Co. on Dec. 2, 1972.  Minnie was first married to Charles Martin Harrell on Jun. 30, 1911 in Okahogan and, he died 6 years later in 1917.  Their marriage produced two known children, Leda Ruby, born Apr. 26, 1912, died Oct. 6, 2002 and, Doris Jane, born Dec. 8, 1913, died Feb. 10, 1999, both in Okanogan Co.  Minnie's second husband was also twice married George Walter Brownlee.  His first wife was Pearl Best of South Dakota and who died in Pateros in 1909.  They were parents of David, Walter and Robert.  Minnie and George were married on Okanogan Co. in 1919 and are known to have had at least two children:  John Charles, born 1924, died 2003 at Wenatchee and, Grace, born c1928.

Gilliam and Sarah's last known child was Ethel M., born Oct., 1894 in NC.  No further information is known about her.

Chicago Funeral Notices

This is data from my collection of miscellaneous Coffee/y notes. This list contains funeral notices from the Chicago Daily News, 1878-1902. They are abstracts only, and not the full citation. All of the deceased were Irish emigrants.

Jan. 12, 1885: James Coffey, died at his mother's residence, 568 S. Jefferson St., aged 30 years, native of Newport, County Tipperary. Funeral from Holy Family Church to Calvary; member of A. O. H.

Jan. 7, 1885; John Coffey, brother of James and Dan Coffey, aged 36 years, a native of Newport, County Tipperary; funeral from residence at 66 W. 19th St. to Sacred Heart Church to Calvary

Jun. 19, 1901, John Coffey, husband of Mary, nee Sullivan, father of Mary, Maggie, Josie, Annie and Ella, Mrs. John Cahill, and brother in law of John H., Michael, Maggie Sullivan and Mrs. Murphy, and Mrs. Murnane, age 60 years (all assumed to be surviving kin), native of Kilteely, County Limerick. Funeral from residence at 54 Sigel St., to Immaculate Conception Church to Calvary

Dec. 2, 1885, Maggie Coffey, nee Ryan, second daughter of Michael Ryan of Anna, County Limerick, age 24 years. Funeral from residence at 409 S. May St. to the Jesuit Church to Calvary.

Jul. 17, 1888, Ryan, Johanna, age 80 years, native of Fiddane, County Tipperary, mother of Michael, Patrick, and Dennis Ryan, and Mrs. Coffey (Mrs. Coffey not further defined). Funeral from her son's residence, Dennis Ryan, 3512 S. Dearborn, to St. Elizabeth's Church to Calvary.

Oct. 31, 1888, Michael Coffey, age 75 years 7 months, father of the late Patrick and Michael Coffey, native of Fethard, County Tipperary. Funeral from his daughter's residence, Mrs. Thomas Coffey, 2913 Emerald Ave., to All Saints Church to Calvary.

Dec. 29, 1894, Kate Coffey, age 36 years, sister of John, Jerry, and Dennis Coffey, and Mrs. Peter Ambrose. Native of Ballydarrig, Cahirciveen, County Kerry. Funeral from her sister's residence at 985 W. 37th Ct. to Nativity Church to Mt. Olivet.

Aug. 4, 1895, Catherine Coffey, nee O'Brien, died at residence 6831 Wabash Ave., widow of late Thomas, mother of Mary Welling, Elizabeth Bracken, James F. and Theodore M. Coffey, Katherine Kenny, Thomas A., and Ann Jordenson, Ella Barclay, Georgenia Wilson and Gertrude F. Coffey, aged 64 years, native of Rathhangan, County Kildare. Funeral from St. Bernard's Church to Mt. Olivet.

Mar. 11, 1895, McCarthy, Michael, husband of Mary, nee O'Brien,, and brother of John McCarthy and Mrs. D. Coffey, native of Newport, County Tipperary, age 62 years. Funeral from residence at 282 Hastings St. to Calvary. Mary McCarthy, his wife, died Apr. 23, 1895, age 58 years, a native of Nenagh, County Tipperary.

Mar. 16, 1895, Dennis Coffey, age 29 years, brother of Simon and Ellen, born in Corrigrous, Parish Cahirciveen, County Kerry. Funeral from residence at 758 W. 29th St., to Mt. Olivet.

Aug. 6, 1895, Michael Coffey, aged 67 years, husband of Nora, nee Ryan, father of Daniel, Dennis, Edward, Joseph, and Frank Coffey, a resident of Chicago since 1849, and was engaged in the ice business. Funeral from residence at 43 Newberry Ave., to Holy Family Church to Calvary.

Mar. 4, 1896, Bridget Coffey, nee Ryan, died at son's residence 22 Sibley St., age 62 years; mother of Mrs. Maggie Corcoran, Patrick, Edward, Bina and Henry Coffey, antive of Annaholty, County Limerick. Funeral from St. Patrick's Church to Calvary.

Nov. 7, 1896, Catherine Coffey, age 55 years, wife of James and mother of Mary. Native of Tralee, County Kerry. Funeral from residence at 207 W. Harrison to St. Patrick's Church to Calvary.

May 27, 1897, Bridget Coffey, age 48 years, wife of Daniel, native of Newport, County Tipperary, died at residence at 2312 Hawley Ave., near 44th and Ogden Ave. Funeral from the Blessed Sacrament Church to Calvary.

Sep. 21, 1897, Michael Coffey, age 42 years, husband of Ellen, nee Sullivan, father of Patrick Coffey and Mrs. Mary Benchie. Died at residence at 3420 S. Union, native of Sneem, County Kerry. Funeral from Nativity Church to Mt. Olivet.

Feb. 18, 1897, Michael Reidy, brother of Mrs. James O'Hearn, Mrs. William Coffey, John and Dennis Reidy of 3405 S. Halsted St., age 25 years, 6 months. Native of Kilmeedy, County Limerick. Funeral from his brother's residence to Nativity Church to Mt. Olivet.

Apr. 23, 1899, Patrick Coffey, son of the late Michael and Ellen, nee Sullivan, brother of Mrs. Burt Beyanky, at his mother's residence, 2809 Emerald, age 23 years. Native of Sneem, County Kerry. Funeral from Nativity Church to Mt. Olivet.

Oct. 19, 1901, William Golden, son of Richard and late Abbey, nee Coffey, father of John, William, Abbey and brother of David, John, Richard, kate, Nora and Mrs. Timothy Sheehan, native of Killurly, Filemore, County Kerry.

Sep. 11, 1901, Meehan, James A., age 26 years, 8 months, native of Murroe, County Limerick, died at residence 4725 Bishop St., brother of Catherine Meehan and Mrs. P. Coffey. Funeral from St. Rose of Lima Church to Mt. Olivet.

Jul. 5, 1901, Richard Coffey, age 87 years, father of Mary and Patrick, and Mrs. Johanna Hogan, and Mrs. Margaret Riley. Funeral from the residence of his daughter Mrs. Hogan, 905 Ogden Ave. to St. Agatha's church to Calvary. native of Parish Nenagh, County Tipperary. (Also mentions Ottawa, Canada, but context unknown).

May 18, 1901, Reidy, John, brother of Denis Reidy, and Mrs. James Ahern, Mrs. William Coffey; native of County Limerick. Died at brother's residence, 4420 Union. Funeral from St. Gabriel's Church to Mt. Olivet.

May 2, 1902, Thomas Coffey, age 49 years, native of County Tipperary, husband of Agnes, nee Coffey, father of John M., Thomas P., Agnes, Edward, Eugene, and Arthur R. Coffey. Funeral from residence at 256 E. 40th St., to Holy Angels Church to Calvary.

Hopefully, some of this information will be useful. Unfortunately, I have no further information on any of these families.