William Franklin Coffey

The subject of this rather blurry photograph is William Franklin Coffey. It was enlarged from a smaller print and I was unable to remove sufficient shadow to reveal more than the lower half of his face.

William was born Mar. 14, 1882 (probably in TN) to John Cleveland (Boney John) and Margaret Jane Wolfe. He died Aug. 28, 1950 in Grainger Co. William married Nancy Leoda White, born to Thomas Jefferson and Susan Isabell Dalton White on Mar. 20, 1893, on Sep. 6, 1912 in Grainger Co. Nancy died in Grainger Co. on Jan. 12, 1977

"Boney John" was a son of William Wesley and Gelina E. Shouse Coffey. John was born Nov. 4, 1859 in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., and died there on Jun. 2, 1936. Margaret Jane was born Jul. 29, 1863 in Hancock Co. to William and Maleta Hipsher Wolfe. She died Sep. 8, 1935 in Thorn Hill. They were married on Jan. 7, 1880, probably in Grainger Co.

William was the eldest of 12 children born to "Boney John" and Margaret. Children born to him and Nancy were:

Velva, born c1914, married Cornelius E. Dalton on Sep. 4, 1930. Cornelius was born Dec. 3, 1893 in Grainger Co., and died there on Mar. 22, 1964. Dates for Velva are unknown. They were parents of 10 children: Edna, Bernice, Kermit, Ray Von, Coy L., Mary Ruth, Jeanette, Gary Wayne, Elora, and Leoda. Leoda, born Jan. 7, 1953, married John Wayne Shortridge.

John Thomas, born Mar. 19, 1915 in (probably) Grainger Co., died Aug. 29, 1990. He married 1) Ethel Raines, 2) Mageline Gamble.

Ida Belle, born 1917 in (probably) Grainger Co., and died Sep. 23, 1995. She married Chester Atkins and was the mother of 11 children: Evelyn Jean, Joyce Ann, Buddy, Billy, Hugh Gardner, John Henry, William Frank, Joe Steve, Virginia Sue, Sarah Ruth, and Carylon.

Charles Jeff (Charlie), born c1919 in Tennessee, married Lena Artimus King on Nov. 28, 1938 in Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN. They were parents of six: Betty Louise, Janie Lynn, Charles Douglas, Judy Saundra, Arnold Joe, and Karl Dennis.

Linda M., born Nov. 12, 1921, died Oct. 9, 1927.

Jessie Willard (Jess), born c1925, died Apr. 4, 1993. Jess married Margie Harville.


Please contact me at the e-mail address below with additions and/or corrections.


Thanks to Jean England of Talbot, TN for much of this family information.

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.

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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.

Francis Richmond Coffey

Francis Richmond Coffey was a son of Silas Carroll and Eleanor (Nellie) Green Coffey. He was born in March of 1863 in the Globe community of Caldwell Co., NC. He died in that state on Jun. 13, 1928. He and Etta May Hayes were married in the Globe on Dec. 25, 1891.

Etta was born Jul. 23, 1876 in Caldwell Co. to Richard and Delphia L. Hayes Hayes. She died April 10, 1932 in North Carolina.

There were at least 13 children born to this union. I have some descendant information for seven of them:

Mary E., born Jul. 1, 1894, died Jan. 7, 1896. She died unmarried and is buried at the New Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery near Cary's Flat in Avery Co., NC.

Netie L., born Dec. 1896

Queen Vester, born Oct. 8, 1898 and died Sep. 2, 1988. She married Sylvestere Gragg on May 2, 1920 in NC. he was born c1891 in that state. I do not yet have a death date or parents for Sylvester. She and Sylvester had at least 10 children: Goldie, Hobert, Rolhen Sylvester, Mabel, Agnes, Lewis, Russell, Cecil D., Herman Ray and Dorothy Jean.

[It appears that Sylvester is the son of Luther Burgess and Mary J. Crump Gragg. His birth year c1891 fits in with the other three identified children of Luther: Cora Ella, born Feb. 1894, died May 14, 1973, married Grover C. Coffey, son of David Columbus and Julia N. Beard Coffey; William E., born Nov., 1896; and Sanford Robert, born Jan. 25, 1899, died May 20, 1992, married Edna Mae Raby]

Exie Mae, born Oct. 21, 1901 in NC, and died in that state on Feb. 15, 1926. She married Ivey Watson Coffey, date unknown. He was born May 10, 1900 in Gragg, Avery Co., and died Oct. 20, 1982 in that county. They had at least three children: Odell Joseph who married Velma Gragg; Janet Ruth, and Opal. Ivey was a son of David William and Gertrude Trivette Coffey. After Exie's death, Ivey married Virginia May Woodie, born May 30, 1892, died Jun. 1976 in Caldwell Co. She was the daughter of Rufus Asbury Woodie and Sara Elizabeth (Betty) Reed.

Ellis, born Jul. 10, 1903 in Avery Co., died Apr. 15, 1994 in Banner Elk, Avery Co. She married Walter Raleigh Gragg, a son of David Obodiah and Frances Elizabeth (Fanny) Dellinger. Walter was born Oct. 18, 1900 in Avery Co., and died Mar 12, 1987 in Watauga Co. Ellis is buried in the Gragg Family Cemetery - which I understand is also the Hopewell Cemetery. They were parents of at least eight children: Rome, Ruth, Howard, Ethel, Dallas, Alma, Irene E., and Rachel R.

Dartha (Dolly), born Mar. 8, 1904 in Avery Co., died Mar. 20, 2006 in Caldwell Co. She married Virgil Clingman Gragg on Jul. 24, 1920 in Caldwell Co. He was the son of Larkin Henderson and Lee Ella Gragg Gragg, and was born Jul. 31, 1900 in Caldwell Co. He died there in 1980. There were at least five children in this family: Orville, born c1922; Homer Lee, born 1924, died 1989; Troy, born c1926; Jesse, born c1928; and Lafayette Anthony, born 1945. This last child seems to have been born a bit too long after Jesse, but his birth to this couple is recorded in Caldwell Co. birth register, book 32, Page 1042.

Donald, born May 20, 1906

Fred J., born Aug. 23, 1907, died Feb. 22, 1958.. He married Nellie Gragg, dau of Tilmon Monroe and Lillie May (Mary?) Fortner Gragg.

Nellie was born c1908.

Dallas, born c1910

Edgar, born c1912

Netta Belle, born Feb. 13, 1915. She married Alfred Argie Gragg, a son of John Robert Joshua Gragg and Mary Adelaide (Addie) Coffey. Addie was a daughter of Julius Calvin and Eugenia Lavinia (Genie) Dellinger Coffey. Alfred and Netta Bell had at least 10 children: Busalee, born Jan. 7, 1935; Lela D., born May 15, 1936; Ramona, born Jul. 13,1937; Nellere, born Apr. 17, 1939; Patie, born Jul, 13, 1942; John R., born Nov. 14, 1942 (unlikely, but their births are recorded as such in the Caldwell Co. records); Magatha, born Mar. 7, 1943; Alfred Deane, born Feb. 22, 1948; Billy Brown, born Mar. 5, 1950, died Apr. 2, 2006; and Linda Faye, born Nov. 18, 1952.

Esselene, no birth or death information. She married Shelby Delon Gragg on Oct. 23, 1937 in Watauga Co. He was born Sep. 20, 1915 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Sep. 28, 1974. He was a son of Leason Carrol and Dora Belle Bean Gragg. Esselene and Shelby had at least five children: Billy Wess, born 1936; twins David L., and Kenneth, born 1039; Lois, born 1941 and Shelby Wayne, born 1943.

And finally, Lois Agnes, born Jun. 30, 1919. No other information.

Please send additions and/or corrections to me at the e-mail address below.

---

Update, Oct. 14, 2010:  Another child of Rufus and Sarah Reid Woodie, Alfred Wilson Woodie, married Viola Gertrude Coffey, a daughter of Julius Adore and Aster Jane Dellinger Coffey.  Alfred was born May, 1894 and died May 12, 1979 in Banner Elk, Avery Co.  Viola was born in 1903 and died May 23, 1986 at Blowing Rock.

Update, Jul. 28, 2011: Ivey Watson and Exie marriage date was Dec. 28, 1918 in Avery Co., NC.  Odell Joseph Coffey and Velma Gragg were married Mar. 10, 1941 in Carter Co., TN.  Odell died Nov. 14, 2005 in Newland, Avery Co.; Velma on Nov. 19, 2009 in Linville, Avery Co.

Update, Aug. 23,2011:  Louise Woodie, daughter of Alfred Wilson and Viola Gertrude Coffey Woodie, born Jun. 3,1924, passed away on Apr. 25, 2007 in Burke Co. She was first married to Floyd Clark and second to a Mr. Lane.

Her obituary:

Louise Woodie Clark Lane, 83, of Robey Street, Morganton, made an unexpected move to heaven on Wednesday, April 25, 2007.

Born in Avery County, on June 3, 1924, she was a daughter of the late Alfred and Gertrude Coffey Woodie.

She was a retired employee of Broughton Hospital and was a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. Throughout her life, Louise was a tower of strength to her family and was a loving, caring and sharing woman who adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always offered a ready smile, a hug and food whenever visitors came to her home. Her accomplishments were many but her greatest ones were the strength, love and faith she instilled in her children and grandchildren. Louise's passing on will leave a vast empty space in many lives; but her arrival in Heaven is reason to rejoice.

She is survived by her children, Jerry Lynn Clark of Morganton, Jean C. Harrell of Asheville, Lonnie F. Clark and June Kunhe of Morganton, and Janell C. Wakefield and her husband, Charles, of Morganton; grandchildren, Chris Clark and his wife, Anita, of Denver, Stacy Clark and his wife, Dana, of Bardstown, Ky., Joel Harrell and his wife, Jenny, of Raleigh, Monica Wakefield, Lisa Dooley and her husband, Floyd, and Stephanie Clark, all of Morganton; great-grandchildren, Zane and Wylie Clark, Camden and Bailey Dooley, Marcus Clark and Elias Wakefield; brothers, Roy Woodie and his wife, Irene, of Jonas Ridge and Ralph Woodie and his wife, Anna, of Oak Hill; a sister, Myrtle Clark of Jonas Ridge; a sister-in-law, Christine Woodie of Jonas Ridge; many special nieces and nephews who loved her as a second mother and all of their spouses and children; and special friends, Jettie Causby and Verna Beach. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Ronald Woodie; and infant sisters, Mary and Betty Woodie.

The funeral will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Holland officiating.

Burial will follow in the Calloway Cemetery at Jonas Ridge.

The family will receive friends at the church on Sunday beginning at 1:30 p.m. At other times the family will be at Mrs. Lane's home, 103 Robey St. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942 or to Calloway Cemetery, c/o Long Ridge Baptist Church, Newland, NC 28657. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Note: Bettie, born Apr. 27, 1936, died Jun. 7, 1938. No information on Mary.  Ralph Woodie died Jun. 23, 2009 and is buried at Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Oak Hill, Burke Co.

Willis Coffey (1804-1893)

Willis Coffey was born May 2, 1804 in Kentucky to the union of Eli and Mary (Polly) Coffey Coffey. Eli was a son of Salathiel and Elizabeth Gore Coffey while Mary was a daughter of Nathan Coffey and Mary Saunders (var). Nathan and Salathiel were brothers. Researchers are not yet clear on who their parents were.

Willis was the second of twelve children born to Eli and Mary. He married Violetta (Lotty) Haynes on Mar. 28, 1828 in Russell Co., KY. Lotty was born Mar. 17, 1805 in Virginia and died Oct. 10, 1869 in DeKalb Co., MO. Willis died there on Sep. 26, 1893.

Nine children were born to this marriage:

Eliza, born Jul. 28, 1829, died Jul. 27, 1870, married to Willis Washington Warriner.

Nebuzaradon, born c1832 in Russell Co., married Ann Baxter

Teckley, born May 18, 1833 in Russell Co., died Mar. 11, 1902 in Jefferson Co., KY. She married John Rippetoe, born Aug. 6, 1829 in Russell Co., died Apr. 18, 1903 in Jefferson Co.

Sarah, born Feb. 22, 1835 in Russell Co., died Jun. 1, 1908 in DeKalb Co., MO, married Barnes Clark.

Mary, born c1837 in Russell Co.

Jackson, born c1839 in Russell Co.

Lotty Emeline, born c1840 in Russell Co., died Jan. 4, 1899 in OK, maarried William Henry Carter Oct. 22, 1857 in DeKalb Co., MO.

Nancy, born c1843

James C., born Mar. 16, 1845, died Oct. 1, 1875 in DeKalb Co., MO.

Willis and Lotty left Kentucky sometime between 1850 and 1860 and settled in Washington Twp., DeKalb Co., MO where they remained for the rest of their lives.

After Lotty died Willis married the widow, Susan Pickett, who had children of her own. At the age of 71 years, Willis fathered another son, Willis Franklin, born
in Oct., 1874.

When he was 20, Willis Franklin married Laura Alice Thornton. They were the parents of three children:

Elva L., born Jul. 1894, died Aug. 21, 1970. She married Forest James, born Jan. 1895 in Kansas and died Nov. 5, 1973 in Multnomah Co., OR. Their children were Howard, born 1920; Wendell, born c1923; and Kenneth, born c1926.

Alice B., born Oct., 1896, married Benjamin Charles Knight, born c1895 in Washington. I know of one child, Velma E., born c1917.

Erin M., born c1902, died Mar. 19, 1942 in Multnomah Co. He married Delores (LNU), born c1906 in Wyoming. They had at least two children: Willis C., born c1926, and Ronald G., born Oct. 3, 1927, died Jul. 3, 1900.

I know very little about the children of Willis and Lotty Haynes Coffey. Additions and/or corrections can be sent to me at the e-mail address below.

Descendants of Eli Davis COFFEY

Eli Davis COFFEY was born in Virginia on Feb 2, 1868.1 and died on Oct 29, 1942 in Nelson Co., VA.1 He was buried in Oct 1942 in White Rock Cemetery, Nelson Co., VA.1

Eli and Frances Catherine (Fannie) COFFEY, first cousins, were married on Mar 25, 1890 in Nelson Co., VA.2 They appeared in the census on Apr 22, 1910, 3 Jan 26, 1920,4 and on Apr 9, 1930, all in Massies Mill, Nelson Co, VA.5 He was a son of David A. and Mary Jane Fitzgerald Coffey, and Frances was a daughter of Alexander S. and Sarah Ann Fitzgerald Coffey. David and Alexander were brothers. Sarah and Mary Jane were likely related, but I have not yet found the connection.

Unnamed infant twins of Eli and Frances are buried at White Rock Cemetery in Nelson Co., VA.

Frances Catherine (Fannie) COFFEY was born in Virginia in Mar 1874,1 and died on Jun 6, 1948 in Nelson Co., VA.1 She was buried in Jun 1948 in White Rock Cemetery, Nelson Co., VA.1

They had the following children:

+2 i. Zina COFFEY, born in 1892, Virginia1; married Henry M. TAYLOR, about 1913, Nelson Co, VA; died on Feb 27, 1927, Nelson Co., VA1.
+3 ii. Hersey F. COFFEY, born on Jul 9, 1895, Virginia; married Lawell B. (LNU) about 1923, Virginia; died on May 28, 1956, Nelson Co, VA.
4 iii. Gwendolen (?) COFFEY was born in Virginia about 1898.
5 iv. Lester Thornton COFFEY was born in Virginia on Jun 12, 1901. He died on Aug 26, 1964.

Zina COFFEY (Eli Davis-1) was born in Virginia in 1892,1 and died on Feb 27, 1927 in Nelson Co., VA.1 She was buried in Feb 1927 in White Rock Cemetery, Nelson Co., VA.1

Zina COFFEY and Henry M. TAYLOR were married about 1913 in Nelson Co, VA. They appeared in the census on Jan 9, 1920.6 Henry was born in Virginia on Mar 12, 1890.1 He appeared in the census on Apr 9, 1930 in Nelson Co, VA as a widower.7 Henry died on Apr 6, 1963 in Nelson Co., VA,1 and was buried in Apr 1963 in White Rock Cemetery, Nelson Co., VA.1

Henry and Zina COFFEY had the following children:

6 i. Asa (Orsey?) W. TAYLOR was born in Nelson Co, VA about 1914.
+7 ii. Willard Vane TAYLOR, born on Jun 6, 1915, Montebello, Nelson Co., VA1; married Wavie Ann TAYLOR; died on Jul 24, 1990, Charlottesville, Fairfax Co., VA1,8.
8 iii. Elwood TAYLOR was born in Nelson Co, VA about 1924.

3. Hersey F. COFFEY was born in Virginia on Jul 9, 1895 and died on May 28, 1956 in Nelson Co, VA. He was buried in May 1956 in Hatter Cemetery, Tyro, Nelson Co., VA.

Hersey F. COFFEY married Lawell (LNU) were married about 1923 in Virginia. They appeared in the census on Apr 9, 1930 in Massies Mill, Nelson Co, VA.9 Lawell was born in Virginia about 1904.

They had the following children:

9 i. Margie COFFEY was born in Nelson Co, VA about 1922.
10 ii. Laura COFFEY was born in Nelson Co, VA about 1923.
11 iii. Laurene COFFEY was born in Nelson Co, VA about 1925.

7. Willard Vane TAYLOR (Zina COFFEY-2, Eli Davis-1) was born in Montebello, Nelson Co., VA on Jun 6, 1915,1 and died on Jul 24, 1990 in Charlottesville, Fairfax Co., VA.1,8

Obituary, The Staunton News Leader, Jul. 25, 1990

CROZET - Willard Vane Taylor, 75, of Meadow Drive died Tuesday morning (July 24, 1990) at Martha Jefferson Hospital Charlottesville. He was born at Montebello June 6, 1915, a son of Henry and Zina (Coffey) Taylor. He was a member of White Rock Christian Church, Tye River. He is survived by his widow, Wavie (Fitzgerald) Taylor of Staunton; three daughters, Mrs. Ermon Griffin of Reva, Mrs. Robert Henderson of Afton and Ms. Patricia Pugh of Charlottesville; two brothers, Orcie and Elwood Taylor, both of Waynesboro; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews. A service will be conducted 11 a.m. Thursday at McDow Funeral Home by the Rev. Howard Payne, with burial at White Rock Christian Church Cemetery, Tye River. Pallbearers will be Sonny, Donald and Butch Taylor, William Coffey and Elwood and Donald Quick. Honorary pallbearers will be family and friends attending the service. The family will receive friends at 7 tonight at the funeral home and at the home of Mrs. Robert Henderson, on Rt. 2 Afton.

He was buried in Jul 1990 in White Rock Cemetery, Nelson Co., VA.1

Willard Vane TAYLOR married Wavie Ann TAYLOR. Wavie Ann was born in Virginia on Apr 22, 1922,1 and died on Aug 25, 1998 in Nelson Co., VA.1 She was buried in Aug 1998 in White Rock Cemetery, Nelson Co., VA.1

Sources

1. Rootsweb. [http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/nelson/cemeteries/c-whtrk.txt].
2. Marriage Register, Nelson Co., VA - Part 1 is from Marriage Register, Book No. 2, 1854 - 1926 and only includes entries for Allen and Coffey surnames thru 1899. See the files located at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/nelson/vitals/marr0001.txt. 25 Mar 1890, Eli D. Coffey, age 22 yrs., to Fns. C. Coffey, age 16 yrs; parents of groom: David A. and Mary J. Coffey; parents of bride: Alex S. and Sallie Coffey.
3. United States Federal Census: 1910 Nelson Co., Massies Mill, North Fork of Tye River, ED98, Sheet 3B, dwelling/family 68, Coffey, Eli D., head, male, white, age 42, married once for 20 yrs., born VA, parents born VA, farmer; Frances C., wife, female, white, age 36, married once for 20 yrs., born VA, parents born VA; Z[?], dau., female, white, age 15, single, born VA; Hersey F., son, male, white, age 14, single, born VA; Gwendola [?], dau., female, white, age 11, born VA; Lester T., son, male, white, age 8, born VA.
4. Ibid., 1920 Nelson Co., Massies Mill Dist., ED not given, Sheet 10A, dwelling 163, family 164, Coffey, Eli D., head, male, white, age 50, married, born VA, parents born VA; Frances C., wife, female, white, age 46, married, born VA, parents born VA; Hersey F., son, male, white, age 23, single, born VA, parents born VA; Lester T., son, male, white, age 18, single, born VA, parents born VA; Ramsey, Cland [?], Lodger, male, white, age 13, born VA, parents born VA.
5. Ibid., 1930 Nelson Co., Massies Mill, Nash, ED5, Sheet 4B, dwelling 76, family 89, Coffey, Elli [sic] D., head, male, white, age 62, married at age 22, born VA, parents born VA, farmer; Fannie, wife, female, white, age 58, married at age 18, born VA, parents born VA.
6. Ibid., 1920 Nelson Co., Montebello Pct., ED107, Sheet 4A, dwelling 59, family 60, Taylor, Henry M., head, male, white, age 28, married, born VA, parents born VA, farm laborer; Zinnia [sic], wife, female, white, age 27, married, born VA, parents born VA; Orsey [sic] W., son, male, white, age 6, born VA; Willard, son, male, white, age 4 yrs., 6 mos., born VA.
7. Ibid., 1930 Nelson Co., Nash, Massies Mill Dist., ED5, Sheet 4B, dwelling 73, family 86, Taylor, Henry M., head, male, white, age 28, widower, married at age 20, born VA, parents born VA, farmer; Asa [?], W., son, male, white, age 16, single, born VA; Willard V., son, male, white, age 14, single, born VA; Elwood, son, male, white, age 6, born VA; Taylor, Martha J., mother, female, white, age 70, widow, married at age 20, born VA, parents born VA. [Enumerator was Forrest Coffey].
8. Rootsweb. [http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/augusta/obits/tay01.txt].
9. United States Federal Census. 1930 Nelson Co., Nash, Massies Mill Dist., ED5, Sheet 4B, dwelling 77, family 90, Coffey, Hersey F., head, male, white, age 33, married at age 26, born VA, parents born VA, clerk in grocery store; Lawell B., wife, female, white, age 26, married at age 19, born VA, parents born VA; Margie, dau., female, white, age 8, born VA; Laura, dau., female, white, age 7, born VA; Laurene, dau., female, white, age 3 yrs., 7 mos., born VA.

Please send additions and/or corrections to my e-mail address below.

2008 Coffey Cousins' Convention

UPDATE: Due to hotel scheduling conflicts, the 2008 Reunion will be held at The Natural Bridge Inn near Lexington, VA on May 2-4, 2008. This is one week later than normal, but is the earliest we could book sufficient rooms for our meeting.

As more details become available they will be published here, as well as on the Coffey Cousins' website. They will also be printed in the Dec., 2007 and Mar., 2008 Coffey Cousins' newsletters.

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Where will you be on the last full weekend in April, 2008? Hopefully you will be attending the Coffey Cousins' Convention to be held in Lexington, VA.

The actual dates are (check in) April 24, 2008 through (depart) Apr. 27, 2008. Come early or stay late and see this magnificant area in one of the most significant states in the lives of our Coffey ancestors. There are likely more Coffey families in this area than in any place else in the United States.

Think about this historical area! Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson walked in this area. Both Lee and Jackson are buried at Lexington. The Lee Chapel and Museum, Stonewall Jackson home, Virginia Military Institute (VMI), The George C. Marshall museum, Hunter's Rain Civil War Trail, and Washington and Lee University are all places you should see.

I will write more about this convention as details become clearer. In the meantime, visit The Historic Rockbridge website and ask for a copy of their visitor's guide. It's an impressive booklet, and does much more justice describing the area than I can here.

William Luther and Mary Salome Moretz Coffey (Corrected)

William Luther Coffey was a son of Jesse Calton and Nancy Raines Coffey. He was born Mar. 6, 1850 in TN, and died Mar. 5, 1925 in Watauga Co., NC. He married Mary Salome (Sallie) Moretz, a daughter of Daniel and Catharine Bolick Moretz. Sallie was born Aug. 20, 1850 in Watauga Co., and died Mar. 20, 1940 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC. I have not found a marriage date for them.

The following information was received from Brenda Trivette, a GG-Granddaughter:

"Although in the 1870 and 1880 census records for Watauga County Sally Coffey is said to be one year older than her husband William and the couple's tombstone in the Old Mount Pleasant Cemetery reads: William L. Coffey, March 6, 1850--March 5, 1925 and Salome Moretz Coffey, August 20, 1850-- March 20, 1940. These dates agree with those in the family Bible.

William Luther Coffey was the son of Jesse Calton Coffey (April 21, 1821--Aug.28, 1904) and Nancy Raines Coffey (Sept. 30, 1822--Jan. 14, 1899), who lived below where Tweetsie Railroad now runs and are buried in the Middle Fork Cemetery above the railroad...William and Sally had 12 children...

Will and Sally Coffey lived in the Big Hill section of Meat Camp Township on land given to Sally by her parents. Will was a nursery-man who grew, grafted and sold all kinds of fruit trees and grape vines. He is remembered by his granddaughter Georgia Bodenheimer Norris (born June 10, 1908, daughter of Lizzie) as a kind, strict man who would stand for no cutting up at the table. ("He'd give you one look and you knew what he meant.") He worked hard and provided well for his family. He would get up early and go out to work awhile before breakfast, (Georgia recalls her mother saying), but would never ask his children to go out and help him before breakfast.

He did not use tobacco in any form, but Sally chewed. She kept the habit a secret at first but finally told her husband, deciding "if he killed me he couldn't eat me". He did neither and after that she could chew with a clear conscience.

Around 1912 Will built a new house near the old one in which he and Sally had raised their family. The new house had a unique double staircase so you didn't have to go down the way you went up.

Will is said to have been a man of medium height who walked with a limp. He suffered from high blood pressure and heart dropsy. After he died, Sally stayed on in the house for eight years with her daughters Maud and Edna and her granddaughter Rose (Victor's daughter, who had come to live with her grandparents after her mother died). In 1923 the four of them moved to Lenoir where Sally died."

There were at least 12 children born to this union:

Arthur A., born Oct. 17, 1870

Victor Judson, born Oct. 29, 1872, died Feb. 1863. He married Frances Adeline Moretz on Aug. 3, 1899 in Watauga Co. Frances was born Apr. 15, 1873, and died May 11, 1913. They had at least four children: Hernando LeRoy, born Feb. 13, 1900, died Dec. 7, 1969; Frances Leona, born Mar. 6, 1902; Doris Winona, born Nov. 9, 1904; and Charles Raymond, born Apr. 2, 1907, died Apr. 28, 1987. Victor is also said to have been married to Emma Moretz, born Jun. 6, 1897, died Aug. 28, 1963. I have not found a record of this marriage.

Dell Carlton, born Jul. 1, 1875 in Watauga Co., died Jun. 4, 1963 in Watauga Co. He married Mary Jane Bodenheimer on Nov. 6, 1895. She was born Apr. 18, 1876 in Yadkin Co., NC, and died Nov. 7, 1974 in Watauga Co. There were 13 children born to this union: Robert Leroy, born Oct. 28, 1896, died May 13, 1974; Ora Estella, born Aug. 1, 1898, died Nov. 27, 1985; William Edgar, born Feb. 5, 1900, died Oct. 3, 1906; Mamie, born Nov. 15, 1901, died Dec. 22, 1901; Emma Edith, born Nov. 11, 1902, died Dec. 19, 1902; Addie Lee, born Jan. 10, 1904, died Feb. 15, 1964; David Glenn, born Feb. 27, 1906, died Apr. 17, 1996; Ira Calton, born Jul. 15, 1908, died Jan. 30, 2000; Paul Alfred, born Dec. 30, 1909; Walter Murray, born Jul. 22, 1912, died Mar. 3, 1985; anna Belle, born Jan. 28, 1915; Ray Albert, born Sep. 20, 1918, died Oct. 29, 1929; and Viola Mary, born Oct. 31, 1920, died Mar. 20, 1921.

Norman Oran, born Aug. 27, 1877 in Watauga Co., died Aug. 18, 1937 in Port Henry, Essex Co., NY. He married Carrie Norris, a daughter of John H. and Miriam Loretta Crowell Norris on Jan. 5, 1898 in Watauga Co. Carrie was born May 22, 1879 in Watauga Co., and died Feb. 15, 1968 in Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC. They had at least 6 children: Mabel Loretta, born Oct. 23, 1897, died Sep. 30, 1932; John Bynum, born Feb. 23, 1899, died Sep. 6, 1959; Clyde D., born c1903; Wilson H., born c1905; Virginia Clara, born Apr. 26, 1906, died Apr. 27, 1977; and Lorena, born c1912.

Nora Ellen, born Jan. 8, 1880, died Jun. 14, 1966

Kenneth P., born Oct. 21, 1881, died Aug. 19, 1886

Frances Elizabeth, born Mar. 23, 1884, died Oct. 31, 1961. She married Will A. Bodenheimer, born Jul. 31, 1885, died May 11, 1977. At least four children were born: Georgia Sallie, born Jun. 10, 1908; Earl McCoy, born May 22, 1912; Lillian, born c1917; and Ruby Helen, born Mar. 27, 1922.

Rachel Ada, born Mar. 31, 1886 in Watauga Co., died Mar. 14, 1975. She married W. Johnson Green, born Apr. 20, 1883, died Apr. 4, 1967. They had at least two children: Jodie Velma, born Feb. 23, 1914, and William Dale, born Mar. 1, 1915.

Margaret Alberta, born Jul. 4, 1888 in Watauga Co., died Jan. 31, 1918 in Watauga Co. She married Elbert Solomon Norris, born Aug. 1884, died Oct. 1933. At least six children were born to their union: Nina Beular, born Jan. 31, 1910; Walter Denver, born Mar. 27, 1911, died Oct. 24, 1987; Clara E., born Nov. 14, 1912; Unnamed, born Jul. 7, 1914; Nancy S., born Sep. 4, 1915; and Lola Maude, born Aug. 28, 1917.

William Leon, born Jul. 29, 1893 in Watauga Co., died Aug. 11, 1963. He married Marion Edna Norris, born Oct. 7, 1895 in Watauga Co., died Mar. 10, 1987. They had at least nine children: Homer Leon, born Jun. 29, 1913; Thelma Edna, born Feb. 28, 1915, died May, 26, 1995; Arthur Wade, born Jun. 29, 1917; Ida Irene, born Feb. 23, 1919; Jewel Salome, born c1920; Marion Helen, born Jun. 16, 1924; Rena Marie, born Jul. 21, 1926; Waymon Wayne, born Jan. 7, 1929; and Stanley Owen, born Apr. 26, 1931, died Oct. 4, 2005.

Maude Estella, born Aug. 29, 1894, died Mar. 27, 1949

Edna Mae, born May. 6, 1898, died Oct. 14, 1964.

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

How to Create a Convoluted Family History

William Obediah Gragg, referred to in some genealogies as "Revolutionary Bill," married his second wife, Nancy Coffey, the daughter of Joseph and Isabella Lindsay Coffey. William was born Apr. 15, 1878 in Virginia and died Oct. 20, 1847 in North Carolina. Nancy was born c1816 in Burke Co., NC and died in 1887, Caldwell Co., NC.

William's first marriage was to Elizabeth Pulliam, probably in the late 1700's, and perhaps in Virginia. One of their children was David Obediah Gragg, born Jul. 4, 1796 in Albemarle Co., VA, and died 1846 in Caldwell Co.

William's marriage to Nancy Coffey produced at least two children: Indiana Isabella, born c1838, died 1909; and G. L. Taylor, born c1846 in Burke Co., died Nov. 4, 1925 in Avery Co.

David Obediah married Elizabeth Webb c1820 in Caldwell Co. Elizabeth was born Mar. 25, 1794 in Caldwell Co., and died in that county in 1881. I have found 10 children for them, one of which was Edmond, born c1829 in Burke Co.

Edmond married his aunt, Indiana Isabella Gragg on Mar. 10, 1857 in Caldwell Co. They had at least six children, all of which were also his first cousins. Indiana was also their grand aunt.

Mary Gragg, one of Edmond and Indiana's daughters, married Joseph Burgess Coffey, her double first cousin1, and a son of Brice Brisco and Susannah (Sookie) Gragg.

Larkin Henderson, another of Edmond's children, married his first cousin1, Lee Ella Gragg, daughter of G. L. Taylor and Elizabeth E. Pendley Gragg.

I hope I have this correct! If not, please send corrections and/or additions.

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1 Also first cousin, once removed

Caroline Jackson and Noble R. Ladd

Caroline was the daughter of Stewart Jackson and Elizabeth Woodson Coffey. Elizabeth was a descendant of Peter Coffee through her father, Thomas Graves and Mary Knight Coffey.

Caroline was born c1820 in Alabama and married first to Carlisle Woodson Knight on Apr. 18, 1842 in Lauderdale Co., AL. In the 1850 Lauderdale Co. census, Caroline was enumerated with her widowed mother as Caroline Knight, age 30 with Elizabeth Knight, age 8. I presume that Elizabeth was Caroline's daughter, and that Carlisle had died.

The following year, on Dec. 18, 1851, Caroline married Noble R. Ladd. Noble was born c1799 in Virginia. Together they had at least two children: Caroline "Callie" Coffee Ladd, born c1854 (in photo), and Linnie, a daughter, born c1862.

Photo courtesy of Betty Moss

The Wright, McCroskey and Coffey Families

Sarah Ellenora (Ellie) Wright was born Jan. 26, 1877 in Caldwell Co., NC to the union of Thomas A. and Margaret Ann Coffey Wright. She was the fourth of their nine children, and their third daughter to that time.

She married Samuel Wiley McCroskey in Nov., 1900 in Knox Co., TN. He was born Apr. 10, 1869 in Bluff City, Sullivan Co., TN and died Apr. 14, 1926 in Burke Co., NC.

To the union was born eight children:

Raymond McCroskey, born May 1902, died Feb. 16, 1926

Mae McCroskey, born Jul. 11, 1904,died Jul. 17, 1983. Mae married Samuel Woodie who died Jul. 11, 1966.

Lula Nevada McCroskey, born Apr. 15, 1907

Earl Lemuel McCroskey, born Feb. 1909, died Jan., 1967. Earl married Mary Lois Coffey, a daughter of Thomas Leroy and Alice Sanders Coffey. Mary was born Mar. 10, 1926 in Caldwell Co., NC and died Apr. 16, 2005 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC. Their children were Jessie Irene, born 1946; Estie Rosie, born 1952; and Joy Lela, born 1962.

Lany Esther married Clayton McDonald (Mack) Coffey, a son of Samuel Monroe and Safari Josephine (Josie) Dellinger. Lany was born Dec. 13, 1910 in Coffey's Gap, Watauga Co., and died Jun. 7, 1973 in North Carolina. Clayton was born Jun. 1, 1903 in Avery Co., NC and died Jun. 11, 1992 in Watauga Co. I do not have a marriage date or place for them. Their children were: Bertha May; Gladys Virginia; Nellie Alliene; James (Jim) Edward; Margaret Josephine; Clayton McDonald, Jr.; Lonnie Ray; and Steven.

Lawrence Edward, born Mar. 15, 1915

Virgie Edith, born Apr. 10, 1917, died Nov. 12, 1970

Roy Lois, born Oct. 27, 1921, died Jul., 1970

Please contact me with additions and/or corrections.

Thomas Avery & Louisa Gragg Coffey

Thomas Avery Coffey was a son of Austin and Mary A. Blalock Coffey. He was born June 3, 1854 in Watauga Co., NC and died Dec. 21, 1917 in Avery Co., NC. Thomas married Louisa E. Gragg on Sep. 20, 1873 in Caldwell Co. Louisa was a daughter of Johnson P. and Nancy Jane Cuthbertson Gragg. Louisa died in 1922.

They are believed to have had 10 children, but I have found only eight:

Mary Jane, born Aug., 1874, died May 26, 1955. She married Arthur Hill Dula on Oct. 11, 1892 in Watauga Co. Arthur was born Jan. 1867 in North Carolina and died Sep. 7, 1948 in that state. Their children: Clyde Lester; Charlotte Nevada; Olive M.; Beatrice Rema; Ruth Virginia; Earnest; Ruby Evelyn; Lois Esther; Cleda Elizabeth.

John Wesley, born Jan. 28, 1878 in Caldwell Co., died Mar. 17, 1962 in North Carolina. He married Kizzie Ann Hatley on Oct. 9, 1902 in Watauga Co. Kizzie was born Feb. 12, 1882 in North Carolina and died Jun. 19, 1962 in that state. Their children were: Ira Vance; Edgar Hugh; Lillian Delana; Opal; Louise; Avery Jamison; Ernest Reid; and Adell

Milton F., born about March, 1880 - no further information

 Lee Ella, born Nov., 1881 in Caldwell Co., died Dec. 16, 1963. Married 1) Joseph Commodore Church and 2) William Washington Collins

 James Hardy, born Jan. 1884 in Caldwell Co., died Apr. 5, 1936 in Avery Co., married Lillian May Gray.

Theodocia (Docia), born Aug. 28, 1884 in Caldwell Co., and died Feb. 14, 1941 in Watauga Co. She married 1) Columbus Filmore (Lum) Blalock (son of William McKesson "Keith" and Sarah Malinda Pritchard Blalock). Child by Lum was Hazel, born c1913. She married 2) Luther Farthing. Lum had previously married 1) Emma McNeely and 2) Esther Caldonia Calloway.

Emma Viola, born Nov. 2, 1888 in Caldwewll Co., died 1988 in North Carolina. She married Emory Joel Young on Dec. 28, 1907 in Watauga Co., NC. Emory was born Apr. 4, 1882 and died Mar. 14, 1929 in North Carolina. Their children were: Charles Howard; Mary Lou; Thomas Wood; Emery Hugh; Hardin Darrell; and Rawleigh Edgar.

 Kelsey A, a son, born Dec. 7, 1891 died Aug. 12, 1907 and buried at White Springs in Blowing Rock.

Thomas is buried in Avery Co. It is said that the snow was too deep to bring him to White Springs. Louisa is buried in the White Springs Cemetery in Watuaga Co.

Please contact me to add to or correct this information.

Bartlett Coffey of Caldwell Co., NC

Bartlett "Bart" Coffey was a son of William and Margaret Robbins Coffey. He was born in Feb., 1842 in (probably) Caldwell Co., NC. He married Mary Hicks in that county in 1874. Mary was born c1848 in North Carolina.

Mary had been previously married to Finley G. Messick with whom she had three children: Henry, born c1866; George H., born c1868; and Dugan F., born c1871. She bore at least three additional children by Bart: Thomas Franklin, born 1877 in Caldwell Co., married Mary Linglefelt, and died 1942 in that county; Bynum Nelson, born 1878 in Caldwell Co., married Eva May "Evie" Crisp in 1901, and died 1950 in that county; and Ada Hanna, born Dec. 1880 in Caldwell Co. She married Robert Amzy Woods in 1896, Caldwell Co. A death date has not been found for Hanna.

Descendants of Thomas Franklin have not yet been discovered.

Bynum Nelson and Evie Crisp Coffey has at least nine children:

Shuford Finley, born Sep. 5, 1901, died Jul. 15, 1973. He married Claudia Leigh Kirby, born Jul. 20, 1912 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., and died Aug. 5, 1984 in Granite Falls, Caldwell Co. A marriage date has not been found. They had at least one child, a daughter named Gail Mavis Coffey, born Sep. 7, 1935 and died Mar. 25, 2003 in Caldwell Co.

Descendant information has not been found for the remaining eight children:

Fred T., born 1903, died Aug. 13, 1962
Mary Vienna, born May 15, 1905, died 1984
Ada Carolina, born 1907, died 1976
Bina Lee, born Aug. 29, 1909, died Jan. 12, 2001
Jessie M. (female), born c1912
George Stanley, born Apr. 6, 1914, died Jan. 8, 1979
Johnsie Hazel, born Jul. 17, 1916
Edgar Nelson, born 1919, died Oct. 5, 1932

Ada Hanna and Robert Woods had at least seven children:

Mary Irene, born Feb. 15, 1897; married her distant cousin John Ross Coffey, a son of John Calvin and Nancy Caroline Tuttle Coffey. Their children were Vera Caroline, born Dec. 5, 1917; Ulah Christine, born Feb. 28, 1919; John Davis, born Jun. 28, 1922, and Ada Louise, born Jun. 2, 1931.

Maggie H., born Mar., 1899; married Clarence Tuttle Coffey, brother to John Ross Coffey. They had at least one child, a son named Clarence Tuttle Coffey, Jr., born 1921.

Albert Kent, born Sep. 21, 1900 - no further information.

Jennie Christina, born c1903, died Sep. 5, 1975. She married Wilburn Cary Coffey, another brother of John Ross and Clarence Tuttle. They had at least eight children: Edgar Anson, born 1920; Virginia, born c1923; Ada Coline, born 1925, died 2001; Wilburn Cary "Bug", born Jan. 23, 1927, died Mar. 17, 2004; Betty Sue, born 1930, died 1984; Lucy Laxton, born Feb. 8, 1933, died Sep. 24, 1998; Mary Helen, born Mar. 17, 1935; and Shirley, born Sep. 1, 1938.

Aldred Newton, born 1904 died 1968 - no further information.

Robert S., born c1908 - no further information.

Ada E., born c1909 - no further information.

Please contact me with additions or corrections.

Reuben Finley Coffey

Reuben was a son of Joseph R. Coffey and Martha Elizabeth Gragg. He was born Jul. 3, 1870 in Caldwell Co., NC and died Nov. 15, 1955 in that county. He married Flora Ellen Hollifield on Dec. 14, 1893 in Caldwell Co. Flora was born May 27, 1876 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Nov. 18, 1956.

They were the parents of four children:

Alfred Linney, born Nov. 19, 1894 in Caldwell Co., and died in France during WW1 on Sep. 18, 1918. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section Euro, Site 3218. He never married. When he registered for the WW1 draft he was employed as a mail carrier in Watauga Co. He was described as being tall with a medium build, brown eyes and dark colored hair.

Martha Viena, the second child, was born Sep. 30, 1896 in Caldwell Co., and died Jun., 1986 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. She married Jethro Ransom Harmon on Nov. 26, 1921 in North Carolina. Jethro was born Feb. 2, 1898 in Caldwell Co., and died Jun. 13, 1996 in Hudson, Caldwell Co. Martha and Jethro had five children: Edna May, born Nov. 25, 1922; John, born and died 1924; Claude Edward, born 1926; Paul Hubert, born Oct. 27, 1929; and Olan Dale, born Jul. 10, 1932.

Their third born was Joseph Meritt, born Jan. 27, 1899 in Caldwell Co., and died Jul. 11, 1981 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC. He married Sue Augustus Childs, born Aug. 8, 1899 in North Carolina and died Jan. 1995 in Blowing Rock. I have not found a marriage date for this couple. Their children were Beulah Mae, born Mar. 24, 1924 in Watauga Co.; Evelyn Flora, born Oct. 24, 1928 in Watauga Co.; Joseph, Jr., birth date not found; and Richard D., born Apr. 27, 1948 in Watauga Co., and died Sep. 28, 2003 in Wilkes Co., NC. Beulah married a distant cousin, Hardin Blaine Coffey, son of Austin Blaine and Emma Mahalia Harris Coffey.

Fourth born was Wiley Earl Coffey. He was born Jul. 11, 1902 in Caldwell Co., and died Mar. 9, 1972 in Watauga Co. He first married Blanche Shumate. The only child found for them is Lena Verdola, born Feb. 23, 1923. His second wife was Edna Mae Story, born Jun. 14, 1904 in Watauga Co., and died Aug. 31, 1980 in Catawba Co., NC. A marriage date has not yet been found. Their children were Wiley Earl Coffey, born Jun. 10, 1928, died Aug. 14, 2004. Wiley retired from the United States Navy as a Lt. Cmdr. He was buried in Virginia Beach, VA but I have not yet found the exact site. Their second child was Kenneth Asher Coffey, born Oct. 14, 1931, died Nov. 21, 1978 in Glendale, CA. He was also a veteran of the US Navy and served during the Korean conflict. His gravesite is at Plains View Baptist Church in Fallston, Cleveland Co., NC. The last child is the Rev. Elmer Deal Coffey, born Oct. 5, 1937.

Please contact me with additions or corrections.

James Edward Coffey (1934-2004)

James Edward Coffey was the fourth child and oldest son of Clayton McDonald (Mack) and Lany Esther McCroskey Coffey. He was born Sep. 13, 1934 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC and died Jan. 11, 2004 in Crestview, Okaloosa Co., FL.

Obituary, Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV, Jan. 16, 2004, and the Lenoir News-Topic, Jan. 17, 2004

James E. Coffey

CRESTVIEW, Fla. - James E. Coffey, MSGT, USMC, retired, 69, of Crestview, passed away Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004.

He was born on Sept. 13, 1934 in Blowing Rock, N.C., and moved to Crestview 17 years ago from Matoaka. He retired from USMC after 27 years of service.

Mr. Coffey was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Lonnie Ray Coffey and Clayton Coffey Jr.; one sister: Mrs. Floyd (Nellie) Coffey; two sons: Rocky and Carl Gene Coffey.

Survivors include his three sons: Curt Coffey of Fallbrook, Calif., Steven Coffey of Blowing Rock, Brad Coffey of Carlsbad, Calif.; three sisters: Mrs. Vencil (Bertha) Akers of Cambridge, Md., Virginia Bailey of Qwinton, Va., Margaret Farley of Blowing Rock; friend: Kim Staley of Crestview; numerous other family members.

Graveside services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Barrancas National Cemetery with military honors.

The family will receive friends today from 5-7 p.m. at the Brackney Funeral Home in Crestview.

Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements

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Clayton McDonald Coffey (1903-1992)

Clayton McDonald (Mack) Coffey was born Jun. 1, 1903 in Avery Co., NC. He was the first child and oldest son of Samuel Monroe and Safari Josephine Dellinger Coffey.

He married Lani Esther McCroskey and they were the mother of my Watauga Co., NC correspondent, Margaret Coffey Farley. Lani Esther was born Dec. 13, 1910 in Coffey's Gap, Watauga Co.

Clayton and Esther's children were:

- Bertha May, who married Vencil Akers
- Gladys Virginia, who married Sherman Eugene Bailey
- Nellie Alilene, who married Floyd Carl Coffey, son of Thomas Leroy and Alice Sanders Coffey. Floyd and Nellie were very distant cousins.
- James Edward, who married 1) Estelle Levy, 2) Yaeshie Yong
- Margaret Josephine, who married 1) Kinney Eugene Ellis, 2) Vivian Edward Farley
- Clayton McDonald
- Lonnie Ray, who married 1) Arlene Dishner, 2) Dorothy Creighton*
- Steven, an adopted son

Photos courtesy Margaret Coffey Farley, Winston-Salem, NC

*Corrected spelling 12/18/2007

Lany Esther McCroskey Coffey

Lany Esther, left in the photograph, was the wife of Clayton McDonald (Mack) Coffey. She was born Dec. 13, 1910 in Coffey's Gap, Watauga Co., NC.

She and Clayton had eight children:

Bertha May, who married Vencil Aker

Gladys Virginia, born Mar. 31, 1931, married Sherman Eugene Bailey

Nellie Alilene, born May 30, 1932, Caldwell Co., married Floyd Earl Coffey, son of Thomas Leroy and Alice Sanders Coffey

James Edward, born Sep. 13, 1934 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., died Jan. 11, 2004 in Crestview, Okaloosa Co., FL.

Margaret Josephine, born Apr. 26, 1936 in Caldwell Co.*

Clayton McDonald, born/died 1938

Lonnie Ray, born 1941, died 1991, married Arlene Dishner

Steven, born 1959

The young woman on the right is Lany's sister-in-law, Pauline Coffey, daughter of Samuel Monroe and Safari Josephine Dellinger Coffey. She married Otis Bell c1944 and had at least three children: Wayne, Chris and Rhonda.

More information shortly on both families.

Additions and/or corrections appreciated.




*Margaret is my source for the photograph, and a number of others that will soon appear here. She is also my source for much of the Caldwell, Watauga and Avery Co. Coffey information in my files.

Coffey Facts You Might Not Know

Places of Origin:

Ireland ranks at the top.

Immigration:

The largest number of Coffey emigrants to the US came in 1852 when a total of 81 were recorded. There was a precipitous drop between 1861 and 1862, but peaked again in 1863 when 53 arrivals were recorded. Coffey emigrants continued to drop until about 1883 when 72 arrivals were recorded. Immigration dropped again between 1885 and 1891 and never again reached 1850-51 levels.

Civil War Service:

300 Coffey Confederates out of 1,050,000 total veterans
295 Coffey Union Soldiers out of 2,213,363 total veterans

Average life expectancy:

This is hard to believe. In 1944 average life expectancy for all Coffeys was 24 years. The general public was not much better off. It rose in 1946 to around 63 years and fluctuated around 50 to 55 until a general rise in the early 1960s. It reached a high in 1964 at 72 years, and has continued to trend generally upward ever since. There is not a large difference in life expectancy for the Coffey population compared to the general public.

Name distribution:

There are Coffeys in every state in the union, including Alaska and Hawaii. The largest concentration in the 1920s was in NY and IL. Go figure! I would have suspected states like Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky would have the largest concentration of Coffey families. California, TX, OK, MO, TN, KY, NC, SC, VA, OH, PA and MA contained the next largest population.

Occupation:

The top Coffey occupation in 1880 - as might be guessed - was farming. Thirty-eight percent of those families were farmers while only 35% of the general public were farmers.

Source: Family Facts, Ancestry.com

Minard Ernest Coffey

Descendants of Minard Ernest COFFEY

Minard Ernest COFFEY was born in Vallonia, Jackson Co., IN on Feb 11, 1883 to John Waid and Elizabeth Matilda Persinger Coffey. John Waid was a descendant of James Harvey and Anna Eliza Graham Coffey.

Minard registered for the WWI draft on Sep 12, 1918 in Washington Co., IN.

Minard and Ida May MCKNIGHT were married about 1908 in Indiana. They appeared in the Washington Co., IN census on May 6, 1910, Jan 15, 1920, and Apr 17, 1930.

Ida was born in Indiana on Oct 27, 1889 She died on Aug 17, 1949 in Washington, Daviess Co., IN. Minard and Ida May had the following children:

I. Wesley Allen COFFEY, born in Indiana in Apr 1910 He appeared in the Washington Co. census on May 6, 1910 in the household with his parents; on Jan 15, 1920 in the household with his parents, and in the census on Apr 17, 1930 in the household with his parents.

II. Arthur COFFEY, born in Indiana about 1914 He appeared in the census on Jan 15, 1920 in the household with his parents, and in the census on Apr 17, 1930 in the household with his parents.


III. Arley COFFEY, born in Indiana about 1916 He appeared in the census on Jan 15, 1920 in the household with his parents, and in the census on Apr 17, 1930 in the household with his parents.


IV. Virginia M. COFFEY, born in Washington Co., IN about 1923 She appeared in the census on Apr 17, 1930 in Washington Co., IN in the household with her parents.


Sources

United States Federal Census

World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918

Additions and/or corrections are welcomed.

Thomas Finley Coffey (1868-1926)

Update: Dec. 15, 2010

Thomas and his first wife Mary Virginia Councill apparently had no children.  They were married on Jun. 10, 1896 in Watauga Co., NC and Mary died on Oct. 1, 1897 at the age of 35; perhaps in childbirth.

In 1900 he was found living with his dad in Watauga Co. and, he remained unmarried until c1903 when he married Blanche Wells of South Carolina.  Both lived their lives in Clarendon Co. in that state. Thomas died Aug. 3, 1926; Blanche outlived him by about 50 years and died on Apr. 7, 1976. Both are buried in the Manning Cemetery.

They were parents to at least 10 children and, at least four of those died in infancy.

They were:

Thomas, Jr., born Mar. 12, 1904, died Jun. 2, 1905, buried at Manning
J. Elizabeth, born July 27, 1905, died Jul. 9, 1906, buried at Manning
Virginia Mary, born c1907
Mattie Curtis, born Aug. 4, 1908, died Jul. 7, 1909, buried at Manning
William Columbus, born Apr. 12, 1910, died Dec. 30, 1996, died at Manning, not sure of burial site
Doris, born c1912
Sarah Margaret, born c1914
Joseph Mitchell, born Jul. 26, 1916, died Sep. 5, 1918, buried at Manning
Susan Almira, born Feb. 27, 1920, died Jul. 29, 1981; married Leslie Josey, buried at Manning
Edgar S., born c1925

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I have been working on several North Carolina families with some success. One family that I have had difficulty with is that of Thomas Finley Coffey, a son of William Columbus and Caroline L. (Carrie) Curtis Coffey.

Thomas was married at least twice; first to Jennie M. Councill. She was the daughter of Dr. William Bowers Councill, a physician, and his wife, Alice M. [LNU], and was born c1872 in North Carolina.

His second wife was Blanche Wells, born Apr. 5, 1877 in Manning, Clarendon Co., SC. The year of their marriage is not yet known. Thomas died Aug. 3, 1926; Blanch in April, 1976, both in Manning. I have a list of ten children for them, but none confirmed:

- Thomas Finley, Jr
- Elizabeth J.
- Mary Virginia, born c1907
- Mattie Curtis
- Doris
- Sarah Margaret
- Joseph Mitchell
- Susan Almira, born c1920
- Edgar S., born c1925

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Merry Christmas to all!

Rev. Reuben A. Coffey

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

The articles are well written and documented.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More details can be obtained by contacting Vivian Zollinger.