Charles Coleman "Cole" Coffey (1891-1920) Murder-Suicide

[See earlier blog at https://coffeycousins.blogspot.com/search?q=Cole+Coffey]

Source: The Lexington Herald, Lexington, KY  11 May 1920

And

The Somerset Journal, Somerset, Ky., Friday May 14, 1920.

Murder - Suicide. Cole Coffey, Slayer of Oliver Slaven, Takes Own Life When Surrounded at Stearns.

Cole Coffey shot and killed Oliver Slaven at Stearns last Sunday afternoon about five o'clock, Slaven dying Sunday night. From information as near as the Journal was able to get, Slaven, who was deputy sheriff, arrested Coffey Sunday morning for peddling whisky and took from him eight quarts of the genuine article. Somewhere near the coal chutes Coffey made his escape. Later in the afternoon while a ball game was in progress at the ball park a man named West informed Slaven where Coffey was hiding in a nearby house and when Slaven attempted to again place him under arrest, Coffey fired five shots three taking effect. Coffey was at large till Monday morning when officers approached a house to arrest him when he fired a bullet into his own head, dying instantly. Coffey was a miner, employed by the Stearns Coal & Lumber Company without family and was being held under $3,000 bond for complicity in the murder of George Staley two months ago. Slaven leaves a wife and several children.

Source: The Somerset Journal, Somerset, KY, Friday, May 14, 1920.  Found at Bit.ly/2D3rCAr - a pay to view site.

New Headstone for Annie Lewis (Alexander) Coffey

The following was submitted by Kevin D. West [kdwest@sandspringsok.org]. Annie was his GG-grandmother:

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Annie Lewis Alexander was born on 24 Jan 1863 in Parker Co., Texas.  She was the daughter of Lewis and Sarah E. (Culwell) Alexander.  Around 1878, while still residing in Parker Co., Annie married Frank Hudson Coffey.  Frank was born 10 Jan 1861 in Texas, the son of Elijah D. Coffee and Margaret “Peggy” Armstrong.  Frank and Annie Coffey later moved to the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) in late 1889 or early 1890.  They were still residing there when the 1900 Census was taken.  A decade later they were living in Oldham and Carson Cos., in the Texas panhandle, where Frank worked for the railroad.  But, by 1920 Frank and Annie had moved back to Oklahoma, settling in Tulsa, where they remained into the 1930s. 

Photo by Kevin D. West

Annie Lewis (Alexander) Coffey passed away sometime in early January of 1936.  Regrettably, no death certificate is on file for her at the State Health Dept.  I have attempted to determine her exact date of death, having searched in newspapers, funeral home and other records, as well as by submitting queries both printed and online, all without success.  Fortunately, Tulsa’s Memorial Park Cemetery, where Annie Coffey is buried, does have a record of her date of internment, that being 7 Jan 1936.  For nearly eighty years, my great, great-grandmother’s grave has remained unmarked, but no longer.  Her specific date of birth and date of burial are inscribed on the headstone. 

After his wife’s death, Frank Coffey moved to Bristow, Creek Co., Oklahoma where he later passed away on 13 Jun 1940.  According to his death certificate, he is buried in the Bristow City Cemetery.  Unlike his wife Annie, Frank’s grave is still unmarked.  And, unfortunately, the City has no record of where in the cemetery he is buried.  My paternal grandmother, Annie Jewel (Smith) West, daughter of Arizona Pearl (Coffey) Smith, often said of her maternal grandparents, Frank and Annie Coffey, that they were “good, Christian people.”  What better epitaph could anyone wish?  

Edward Coffey (c1700-c1776)

Very little factual information is known of Edward Jr., a son of Edward and Ann Powell.  He is "said" to have been born c1701 in Essex Co., VA and, died in Albemarle Co., VA after 1774.  He married Grace Cleveland, a daughter of Alexander and Mildred Presley¹ Cleveland sometime between 1737 and 1740.

Marvin Coffey wrote in his ancestral work on James Blueford Coffey, a descendant of Edward and Ann, that he had found no proof of the children of Edward and Grace.  He speculated that Cleveland, Coffey, who married Elizabeth² is one of their sons.  Or, he might be the Cleveland Coffey who entered land in Burke Co., now Caldwell Co., on Zack's Fork, in the year 1778.

Marvin thought that Edward Jr. might be a twin of the better know John who married Jane Graves. John is thought to have been born between 1699 and 1700 followed soon thereafter by Edward Jr., with perhaps less than a year between the births.

No proof of the names of Edward and Grace's children has ever been found.³  Marvin, again speculating and, based on time and location, thought that Benjamin, born in VA in 1763 and on the Burke Co., NC census from 1790 to 1850 (Caldwell Co. in 1850) was the son.  He married Leah, born c1760 in VA.  A Leah Coffey who married Francis Hickman in Jefferson Co., TN in 1798 might be their daughter.

Other possible children were James, on the 1785 census in Botetourt Co, VA and William in Montgomery Co., VA from 1781 to 1785.  They could also have been the children of Peter and Susannah Coffey of Prince Edward Co., VA. The William found on tax lists in Buckingham Co., VA from 1783 to 1797 is likely to have been a son of Peter.

Jesse Cleveland Coffey found in Wilkes Co. up to about 1786 could be the same found later in Pendleton Co., SC in 1790 and 1800.  He was the father of Cleveland, Edward, Joel, Elijah, Elisha and John.4  

Jesse is found in the Pendleton District, South Carolina census of 1800.5 6  He married Nancy Alexander, probably before 1766.

I have been in recent contact with descendants of Jesse and Nancy.  Their ancestor was Jesse's son Joel who married Martha "Patsy" Cobb.  For the most part, descendants of Joel remained in Rabun Co., GA all of their lives.

Joel and Martha had at least four children, the first being John Coffee, who is often referred to by the title of Reverend.  He is buried as "Elder John Coffee." He married Lavinia Carter in that county on Dec. 31, 1833 and died c1835, likely in childbirth. and later married Martha Singleton on Feb. 4, 1837.  With Martha, they raised 11 children.  John died in 1886 and Martha in 1887.  Both are buried

at the Clayton Baptist Church Cemetery in Clayton, Rabun Co.

The second child of Joel and Martha was Mary Frances, born c1818 in SC, died 1873 in GA.  She married Silas B. Price on Mar. 19, 1835 in Rabun Co. and were parents of at least five: Nancy Elizabeth, Martha, William J., and John R.

William Rowland was third and his wife was Ruth M. West, born 1851.  They married on Aug. 25, 1879 in Habersham Co., GA.  William was born on Nov. 4, 1834 in Rabun Co., died in GA in 1909. Ruth died in 120.  Both are buried at Head of Tennessee Baptist Church Cemetery at Dillard in Rabun Co.  Their children were Mable, Georgia, John Benjamin; Franklin, James Clinton and William H.

Jesse Leonard was the last known child.  He was born on Oct. 10, 1828 in Rabun Co. and married first to Nancy O. Singleton on Sep. 2, 1845.  She was born c1828 in GA.  Their children were Terrel, Mary M., Jemima, John E., James Jefferson, Lucinda and Martha, all born between 1847 and 1860. These children remain a work in progress.  More is known of the children by his second wife, Arzelia P. Thomas, born 1839 in Rabun Co.

Those children were Sarah B. "Sally," born c1863, married James A. Canup on May 4, 1886 in Rabun Co.  Robert Douglas, born Dec, 1866, married Martha Hazeltine Bowen on Dec. 10, 1888 in Towns Co., GA.  Joseph T., born c1869, no other information.  Rachel L., born c1872, married W. Virgil Bowen, no other information.  Franklin Alexander, no further information; Naoma Callie, born c1875, married Anderson Eller on Apr. 8, 1900 in Rabun Co. and lastly, Genela F., born Jun., 1877, married Martin Baker on Aug. 25, 1895.

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Footnotes

¹ Some Cleveland researchers reject Mildred Presley as the wife of Alexander and name an anonymous "Mary" as the mother of his children.  My source for her name is the work of  Marvin Coffey whose source appears to be by tradition. I consulted The Genealogy of the Cleveland Families, Edmund James Cleveland, 1899 and Virginia Cleveland Ancestor Discovered, George A. Martin, National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 46, Sep., 1958. Cleveland's work appears to me to mix two different Cleveland families and, is the source of the Presly surname.  I have not made a study of the Cleveland line and have only those two references to go by.

² Elizabeth is suspected to be the daughter of a man named Benjamin Franklin of Albemarle Co.  He had a daughter named Elizabeth who is known to have married a Clifton or Cliff Coffey and to have lived in Albemarle Co.  Marvin believed that Cliff or Clifton was a nickname for Cleveland because Joel and Martha Stapp Coffey had a son named Cleveland and nicknamed Cliff.  According to Tim Peterman, Elizabeth Franklin Coffey was the mother of Grace Coffey who married Rutherford Coffey in Green Co., KY in 1801.

³ At least by any Edward Sr. researcher that I know.

4 According to Marvin Coffey.  Others name his wife as Nancy Alexander and children as Cleveland, Bathsheba, Edward, John, Joel, Nancy and Elisha. Some descendants continue to spell their name Coffey while others, up through about the middle of the 20th century began spelling their name Coffee.  It appears now that practice ended and descendants have once again accepted Coffey as the correct spelling.

5 Attenpt to reconcile family members: 3 under 10 males: Edward, Joel and Elisha; Male 16-25, Cleveland; Male 45, Jesse; Female under 10: Nancy; Female, 10-15, Unknown; Female, 45, Nancy.  John should be here, born between 1786 and 1822.

6 Some family researchers claim that Jesse was born c1855 in VA and died c1807 in the Pendleton Dist., SC.  Some write that his parents were Joel Coffee [sic], and Martha Seely, and that he married Nancy [lnu] and was the father of Joel, born c1799 in the Pendleton Dist., and married Martha "Patsy" Cobb.  Joel is said to have died Sep. 15, 1849 and is buried in the Old Kingwood Cemetery.  The only reference I have found thus far to any Kingwood cemetery, places it in Preston Co., WVa.

^{Sources used were Rabun County Marriage Records; Census records, and family histories of Karen Coffey Galanski and Victoria Isham.  Heavily relied on for early Edward and Ann Powell research is credited to Marvin Dale Coffey and his work, James Bluford Coffey, His Ancestors and Descendants in America, and Vol. II, privately printed in 1984, second printing in 1994.  See http://bit.ly/1zUm0Sn for more information about this book.}

William Perry Coffey (1857-1926)

Part III


I have written previously about William Perry; once on Feb. 7, 2006 (Part I) and again on Dec. 20, 2010 (Part II).  Please read those blogs first to gain some context.  This blog will deal mostly with his child with Jane Helen Wemple and his nine children with her sister, Mary Ellen Wemple.  A photo of this family can be view in the 2006 blog.

This blog will deal mainly with the one child that he fathered with Jane Helen and, the nine that he fathered with her sister, Mary Ellen.  Jane and Mary were daughters of Myndert Veeder Wemple and Sarah C. Dakin, natives of New York.

To recap a bit, William Perry and Jane Helen were married on Jun. 9, 1878 in Howell Co., MO.¹  One child, a daughter named Nora N., was born to this union.  Jane died on Jan. 11, 1923 in West Plains, Howell Co. and was buried there at Howell Valley Cemetery.²

Nora disappeared after her birth but may have appeared in the 1890 census, had it survived.  She married George Ernest West, a Canadian from Nova Scotia in about 1902, and lived for awhile in West Plains.  Sometime between 1906 and 1909 the family moved to Sterling, Logan Co., CO.  Between 1912 and 1915 they moved to Fort Collins in Larimer Co., CO.

Nora and George had seven children, six of which survived to marry and have descendants of their own:

Harold Virgil was their first born on Apr. 30, 1903 in Howell Co.  He died on May 10, 1909 in Sterling and was buried there at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

William Norman, born Nov. 3, 1904 in Howell Co. and died Nov. 28, 1995 at South Gate in Los Angeles Co., CA and was buried at Rose Hills in Whittier.  He married Ethel Mildred Hector in Los Angeles on Oct. 3, 1929.³  She was the daughter of George and Mary Agnes Anlauf Hector, born Jun. 19, 1907 in Ventura Co., CA and died Jun. 26, 1975 at South Gate and was also buried at Rose Hills.

Mason Alfred, born Jan. 3, 1906 in Howell Co., died Sep. 17, 1989 at Rialto in San Bernardino Co., CA.  His wife was Hilda Irene Shay - marriage date not found - who was born in Sandy Lake, Mercer Co., PA on Oct. 7, 1905 and died on Nov. 7, 1976 in San Dimas, Los Angeles Co.  She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Covina, Los Angeles Co..  Having served as a Private First Class in the US Army during WW2,  he is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside Co., CA.

Maurice Samuel, born Apr. 1, 1909 in Sterling, married Veronica Marguerite Trank in c1935.  She was born in Loomis, Phelps Co., NE in 1913 and died Mar. 28, 2007 in Las Vegas, Clark Co., NV.  Maurice died on Jul. 5, 2002 in Las Vegas.  His remains were cremated and inurnment at the Desert View Memorial Park in Victorville, San Bernardino Co.4  Veronica died on Mar. 28, 2007 and was buried at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Apple Valley, San Bernardino Co.

The only daughter born to George and Nora was Marjorie Marie on Mar. 21, 1911 in Sterling.  She married Chester Arthur Hector, brother to Ethel Mildred Hector who married Marjorie's brother William, on Dec. 11, 19345 in Los Angeles Co.  Marjorie died on Sep. 16, 1987 in Vancouver, Clark Co., WA and was buried there at Park Hill Cemetery. Chester, born on May 3, 1905 in Santa Paula, Ventura Co., CA, died on Sep. 16, 1987 in Vancouver and was also buried at Park Hill.

Marvin Woodrow, born Dec. 17, 1912 in Sterling, married Dorothy Grace Heaman on May 7, 1938.6
Marvin died on Jun. 3, 2001 in San Bernardino Co. and was buried at Green Acres Memorial Park & Mortuary in Bloomington, San Bernardino.  Dorothy appears to be the daughter of Albert and Elizabeth Rogers Heaman.  Other than that, I have found no other information about her.

Finally, the last child was Lowell Vernon, born Dec. 20, 1915 at Fort Collins in Larimer Co., CO.  He married Edna Gale Gilmore in Los Angeles Co. on May 22, 19377 and died on Apr. 10, 1998 in Ojala, Ventura Co., CA.  Edna was born c1916 in OK. His remains were cremated and ashes scattered at sea.  Like Dorothy above, I have no other information about Edna.

The children of William and Mary Ellen numbered nine and I will write more about them over the next few days.

  Jack

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Sources:

¹"Missouri Marriages, 1750-1920", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V28N-C3M : accessed 06 Aug 2013), W. T. Coffee and Jane H. Wimple, 1878.

²See Find A Grave memorial no. 55891203. 

³"California County Marriages, 1850-1952", index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K8NT-C61 : accessed 04 Sep 2014), William Norman West and Ethel Mildred Hector, 03 Oct 1929; citing p. 58, Los Angeles, California, United States; FHL microfilm 2074766.

4He also shares a marker with his wife at Sunset Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary at Apple Valley in San Bernardino Co.

5"California County Marriages, 1850-1952", index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K8JN-G7B : accessed 04 Sep 2014), Chester Arthur Hector and Marjorie Marie West, 11 Dec 1934; citing p. 178, Los Angeles, California, United States; FHL microfilm 2113658.

6"California County Marriages, 1850-1952", index and images, FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K8VQ-8Y1 : accessed 04 Sep 2014), Marvin Woodrow West and Dorothy Grace Heaman, 07 May 1938; citing p. 34, Los Angeles, California, United States; FHL microfilm 2114220.

7"California County Marriages, 1850-1952", index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K8JB-ZR3 : accessed 04 Sep 2014), Lowell Veron West and Edna Gale Gilmore, 22 May 1937; citing p. 123, Los Angeles, California, United States; FHL microfilm 2114022.

See also the 1880 census for Howell Twp., Howell Co., MO and, the 1910 census for Sterling, Logan Co., CO; 1920 census for LaPorte, Larimer Co., CO; 1930 and 1940 census for Los Angeles Co.

Walter Curtis Coffey (1886-1955)

Walter was a son of Thomas Arvil and Hannah Henson Coffey, and was born on Nov. 21, 1886 in Denton Co., TX.  He and Clara V. Cops were married c1910 in OK where she was born on Dec. 6, 1890.

From 1911 to 1934 Clara gave birth in OK to at least eight children, some of which do not appear in the census record between the year said to have been born and the next census year.

Henry C., born c1911; Pearl E., born c1913; Clara, born c1920; Albert, born c1923; Mary L., born c1926; Harold E., born c1929; Wanda J., born c1930 and Barbara R., born c1934.

Walter and Clara and two of their children were in Davis, Garvin Co., OK in June, 1918 when Walter registered for the WW1 draft.   He was described as being short and stout with brown eyes and hair.  He farmed in Davis.

In 1920 the family was in Allen Twp., Murray Co., OK where Walter continued to Farm.  Clara's father was German.  They had Henry C., age 9, Pearl E., age 7, Harold E., age undetermined.  It appears to be 1/6, an unusual age that I have not seen before in any census record.

In 1930 they were still in Murray Co., but this time in Davis Twp.  Walter was a foreman on a road gang.  Children were: Clare, age 10; Albert, age 7; and Mary L., age 4 yrs., 6 mos.  Henry, Pearl and Harold were not mentioned.

The 1940 census found the family in Garvin Co., OK, Elmore Twp.  Children in the household this time were:  Harold E., age 20; Albert C., age 18; Mary L., age 14; Wanda J., age 9 and Barbara R., age 6.

Walter died in La Harbra, Orange Co., CA on Aug. 15, 1955.*  He was 68 years old, meaning he was born in the 1886-87 timeframe.  His obituary tells us that he had been in California for the past nine years, meaning he arrived there in about 1946, apparently with his son Albert who would then have been about 23 years old.  It also tells us that he was survived by his wife Clara, and two sons, Harold E. of Whittier Ca., and Albert C. of Davis.  Also surviving were three daughters, Mrs. Roy West of OK City; Mrs. Eddie Werda of Norwalk, CA and, Mrs. Al Crappo of La Harbra.  There were nine grandchildren.  His remains were returned to Davis where he was laid to rest in the Green Hill Cemetery.  The headstone tells us that he lies next to Clara who did not die until 1983.

In looking back at my notes on Walter and his immediate ancestors, I wrote that he was married to Liddie Fulfer but, I had no additional information about her.  Later, I found an obituary dated Jun. 12, 1970 that reports the death of Liddie Dollarhide, "wife of the late Samuel E. Dollarhide; loving mother of the late Albert Coffey,..."  in San Joaquin Co., CA.  Her remains were shipped to Hatch in Dona Ana Co., NM and laid to rest in the Municipal cemetery, adjacent to those of Samuel.

I wonder what the story is about Walter and Lydia!  Did they marry or merely live together for awhile?  Was Lydia the wife of this Walter C. Coffey?  Perhaps not, but there are enough similarities that it makes me very curious.

  Jack

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*Source: California Death Index @ Rootsweb.com.  His obituary reports death on Aug. 15.

COFFEY

WALTER

CURTIS

11/21/1887

HANSON

COFFEY

M

TEXAS

LOS ANGELES(19)

08/16/1955

447-01-2646

67 yrs

Larkin & Sibby Wyatt Coffey

Larkin Coffey was a son of Thomas and Nancy Barlow Coffey, born c1832 in Wilkes Co., NC.  He married Sibby Wyatt on Nov. 28, 1853 in Wilkes Co. and died in TN in 1863. Some sources report that he died from complications of measles while others report he died of diptheria, while serving with the CSA in La Follette, Campbell Co., TN.  I have not found any proof to substantiate this, however.

What is known is that he and Sibby Wyatt, a daughter of Solomon and Polly Wyatt, were parents of at least four children:  Gilliam Wyatt, Sarah Lou Ellen, John Nelson and Mary Ann.

Gilliam, born in North Carolina - probably Caldwell Co. - in Mar., 1854, married Sarah Jane Isenhower (var.) on Jan. 10, 1875 in Caldwell Co.  Sarah, the daughter of Joseph who later became Gilliam's step-father, was born in NC in Jan., 1854 and died in Okanogan Co., WA in 1928.  Gilliam died there in 1913.

Their children, all born in NC, were:

Candes L., born May 1877, married Lee L. Cook c1897.  Lee was born in Apr., 1871 in NC.

Sidney G. S., born c1878

Etta Cordelia "Cordie," born Feb., 1880

Martha J., born Mar., 1882

William Larkin, born Jun., 1884, died Jun. 11, 1968 in Omak, Okanogan Co., WA.  William married Emma J. Lingle c1907 in NC.  She was a daughter of J. Monroe and Frances J. Sullivan Lingle.  She and William were parents of Ethel M, born NC; Edna Y., born c1912 in WA; John Albert, born Jun. 29, 1915 in WA, died in Okanogan Co. on Oct. 14, 2003; and James Edward, born Dec. 17, 1919 in WA, died Jul. 3, 1998 in Okanogan Co.  James Edward married Ellen J. Dinger in Spokane, WA in 1947.  They had at least one child, John Allen Coffey, born Dec. 8, 1951 in Okanogan and died there on Aug. 7, 1980.

Joseph Monroe, born Feb. 23, 1887 at Shulls Mill in Watauga Co., NC, died in Okanogan on Jun. 5, 1958.

Minnie Lee, born Jul. 31, 1890 at Blowing Rock in Watauga Co., NC, died Dec. 2, 1972 at Peteros, Okanogan Co.  She married first to Charles Martin Harrell on Jun 30, 1911 in Okanogan Co.  Two children are known: Leda Ruby and Doris Jane.  Charles died in 1917 and Minnie married George Walter Brownlee on Feb. 16, 1919 in Okanogan Co.  He was a son of Andrew Brownlee and was born Jan. 17, 1875 in IL, died in Okanogan Co. in 1962.  Their children were at least two:  John Charles, born Jul. 16, 1924, died Sep. 11, 2003 at Wenatchee, Chelan Co., WA and, Grace, born c1928 in Okanogan Co.

The last child born to Gilliam and Sarah was Ethel, born Oct., 1894 in NC.

The second child born to Larkin and Sibby was Sarah Lou Ellen on Nov. 8, 1856 in Caldwell Co.  She married John M. Stamey, a son of Daniel and Catherine Stamey, on Jan. 4, 1874 in Caldwell Co.  John was born in Cherokee Co., NC on Jan. 9, 1846 and died in Catawba Co. on Sep. 4, 1934.  Sarah died in Catawba Co. on Jun. 24, 1947.

Third born was John Nelson "Nels" on Aug. 7, 1858 in Caldwell Co.  John Married Laura Ann Henley, a daughter of Henry and Loanna "Loany" Greene, on Sep. 23, 1881 in Watauga Co.  John died on Dec. 10, 1932 in Blowing Rock, NC; Laura died there on Jun. 2, 1936.  This couple had at least nine children, all of which married and have descendants.  The family is too large to write about here but I will in a future blog.  In the meantime, any reader wanting information about "Nels" and Laura Ann, can drop an e-mail with the request.

The last child of Larkin and Sibby was Mary Ann, born Mar. 27, 1859 in Caldwell Co., died there on Nov. 24, 1944.  She married William Alexander West, a son of Hiram and Juliatha [sic] Haas West, born Jan. 18, 1856 in Caldwell Co.  William died Jan. 26, 1919 at the State Hospital in Morganton, Burke Co., NC after breaking a hip.  He and Mary Ann had at least three children:  Dora A., born Jun., 1885, married Adolphus Price on Apr. 21, 1907 in Lenoir; Willard Newton, born Apr. 18, 1888, died Jan. 9, 1969 at Black Mountain in Buncombe Co., NC.  Willard married Emma Andrews on Dec. 26, 1915 in Lenoir.  Third and last child was Georgia, born Aug., 1890.

Following Larkin's death, Sibby Wyatt Coffey married Joseph Isenhour on Nov. 14, 1875 in NC.  They had at least one child, Solomon Tilden Isenhour, born Nov. 30, 1876, died Dec. 26, 1950 in Blowing Rock.  Solomon married Ruth Callie Moody c1895 and they had at least one child, a son Franklin Albert Isenhour, born in Watauga Co. on Dec. 11, 1898.  As mentioned above, it was Sibby's son Gilliam Coffey who married Sarah Jane Isenhour, Joseph's daughter by his first wife, Lettie.

Jefferson (Jeff) and Margie M. King Coffey

Jefferson was born on Jan. 24, 1866 in Scott Co., TN to Joseph and Beth Ada (Bethada?) Strunk Coffey.  He died in Whitley Co., KY on Jul. 7, 1899.  Joseph was a son of James and Sarah "Sally" Sumpter Coffey and Beth Ada was the daughter of William and Charlotta Sellers Strunk.  Ada was born Feb. 28, 1835 in KY - perhaps Pulaski Co., where she and Joseph were married on Dec. 8, 1853.  Both Joseph and Ada died in Oneida, Scott Co., TN; he on Jun. 4, 1882, she on Jun. 3, 1920 and were buried there in the Coffey cemetery.* 

Margie M. King was born Mar. 25, 1870 in KY and died there in McCreary Co. on Aug. 16, 1921.  A marriage date for her and Jefferson has not been found.  They were however, likely married in McCreary Co. in early 1889.  Their first child was born there in Mar., 1890.  Margie was a daughter of Burrell (var.) and Margie M. Foster King.  Burrell was born Feb. 11, 1826 in KY and died in McCreary Co. on Jan. 26, 1917.  Margie was born May 26, 1835 in KY and died there on Oct. 16, 1884.  Both are buried in the Burrell King Family Cemetery at Pine Knot in McCreary Co.

Following the death of Margie, and of Joseph Coffey, Burrell married Beth Ada on May 17, 1885 in Scott Co.  She is however, buried with Joseph in Oneida while Burrell is buried with Margie at his family cemetery in Pine Knot.  Her death certificate reads "Mrs. Ada Coffey or (King)" and her headstone reads "Ada Coffey."  There are no known children born to Burrell and Ada.

Children of Jefferson "Jeff" Coffey and Margie M. King

The first child was William Oscar Coffey, born Mar. 6, 1890 at Pine Knot, died Feb. 18, 1955 in McCreary Co.  His wife was Martha Angeline Trammell (var.), born Oct. 10, 1884 in KY and died there on Jul. 7, 1962.

Their children were:

Ada Bell, born Jul. 4, 1912 in McCreary Co., died Aug. 31, 1995 in Oneida, Scott Co.  Ada's spouse was William Clark, born Sep. 23, 1915, died Mar. 23, 1989.  Both are buried at the Smith Cemetery in Stearns, McCreary Co.

Edith Mae, born May 25, 1917 in McCreary Co., died there on Dec. 28, 1961.  Her spouse was Roscoe Bowling, born Jun. 6, 1916 and died Dec. 18, 1997.  They too are buried at the Smith Cemetery.

Their last child (as I know them) was Margie Marie, born Aug. 30, 1921, died Jul. 4, 2002 in KY.  She married George Arnold Taylor, born Mar. 31, 1921 in McCreary Co., died in Pulaski Co. on Mar. 2, 2003.  They share the Smith Cemetery.

Cole is believed to be on left

The second child born to Jefferson and Margie was Charles Coleman "Cole" Coffey, born Dec. 10, 1891 in TN - probably Scott Co. - and died May 10, 1920 in McCreary Co.  On his WW1 draft registration card, Coleman was described as being of medium height and build with blue eyes and red hair.  He was a veteran of "The Great War," having served as a Private in the 112 AM, Tn., 37th Div.  I believe the 112th AM was an ammo supply unit that trained at Camp Sheridan in Montgomery Co., AL with the Ohio National Guard's 37th Infantry Division.

Cole is said to have "drank excessively" after he came back home and soon found himself in trouble with one George Staley.  Having heard that George was out to kill him, Cole went to the man's home where he shot and killed George.  He was released when the court decided that it was "self defense."  Some time later, on May 14, 1920, Cole was accused of peddling whiskey and arrested by Oliver Slaven, a deputy sheriff in Somerset, KY.  Cole was able to escape and later that same day was discovered hiding in a nearby home where Slaven, while attempting to again arrest him, was shot and killed.  A few days later, with officers approaching his hideout, Cole fired a bullet into his own head and died instantly.  He was buried at the King Cemetery in Pine Knot.

An article in the Somerset Herald on May 10, 1920 reads:

(Special to the Herald) Somerset, Ky., May 10-- The town of Stearns, near Somerset, was thrown in turmoil this afternoon when Cole Coffey, a miner, shot to death Deputy Sheriff Oliver Slavens, who was attempting to arrest him and a companion named West and afterwards killed himself by shooting through the head with the same revolver with which he had killed the deputy sheriff. Coffey had been accused of having some whisky and when Slavens went to the place where he and West were stopping, Coffey opened fire on Slavens, shooting at him three times, three of the shots taking effect, from which Slavens died a few hours later. When the sheriff went to the home of Coffey to arrest him for the crime Coffey placed a revolver to his head and blew his brains out.

Other children of Jeff and Margie were Ada, born Nov., 1893 in TN; Gertrude M., born 1895 in McCreary Co., died there in 1899; and Fanny, born 1897 in McCreary Co., died there in 1898.  Both Gertrude and Fanny are buried at the King Cemetery.  The disposition of Ada is unknown to me.

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*This cemetery is north of the intersection of US27 (Depot St.) via W. 3d Ave. to Stanley St. Geo-coordinates are Lat. 36 deg., 29 min., 43.02 sec.; Lon. 84 deg., 30 min., 46.01 sec.
After Jeff died, Margie remained a widow for sometime before finally marrying Jess Crabtree of McCreary Co.
Photo and other information about Cole is courtesy of William Jones.

James & Nancy Greene Coffey

This James was born in 1806, probably in Cherokee Co., NC.  He was a son of Levi and Dolly Edmundson Coffey and, brother to Rice, Mary Ann, James, Robert, John, Keziah, Elisha, Levi, Jr., and Nancy.

Rice married Dorothy Jane Medaris; James married Nancy Greene; Robert married Mary LNU, Elisha married Anna Harmon Moody; and Levi, Jr. married Louisa Turnbull.

My interest at the moment is centered on James who married Nancy Greene, a daughter of John “Moccasin” and Elizabeth Coffey Greene.  Elizabeth Coffey Greene was a first cousin to James.

Their children were Abram, born c1829; Charity, born c1831; Sarah Elizabeth, born 1836; Daniel M., born c1844; James W., born c1846; and Mary Jane, born c1847.  All were likely born in Cherokee Co.

Sarah Elizabeth married Thomas Cummins West on Dec. 16, 1855 in Murphy, Cherokee Co.  He was born May 14, 1834 in Buncombe Co., NC and died in Graham Co., AZ on Jan. 8, 1888.  Sarah died Dec. 19, 1877 in McKinley Co., NM.  Thomas is buried at Graham Cemetery while Sarah was buried at Savola Pioneer Cemetery in McKinley Co.

James W. married Jane LNU and had a daughter named Dora, born c1878 in NC.

Mary Jane was born c1847 and is said to have married Henry Alexander Ditmore.

While researching this family I found a marriage for a Jane Ditmore in Clay Co., NC dated 25 Feb. 1875.  Her parents were named as James and Nancy Coffey.  One genealogy that I have found reports that a Mary Jane Coffey married Henry Alexander Ditmore c1865 in Cherokee Co.  A search for Henry Alexander Ditmore found him in Tom Greene Co., TX where he died in 1923.  His wife was named Elvira and they are said to have married c1869 in Panola Co., TX.  He was a native of McMinn Co., TN.

The thought occurred to me that the above Jane LNU who James W. Coffey might be Mary Jane Coffey Ditmore. There are problems with this thought, however:  James W. and Mary Jane Coffey Ditmore were brother and sister and, the marriage record for Jane Coffey Ditmore shows her groom to be James M. Coffey, a son of John Coffey.*

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Update 8/15/2013:

Henry Alexander Ditmore (son). Henry was born September 27, 1841 in McMinn County, Tennessee. About 1844 his family moved to Cherokee County, North Carolina. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served for the duration of the war. After the war ended he returned home to Cherokee County, North Carolina where he married Mary Jane Coffey. They had one son.

He left Mary and moved west where he settled in Panola County, Texas and remarried to Elvira C. Mathews. They had thirteen children. Around 1886 the family moved to San Angelo, Tom Green County, Texas. Henry died there on January 29, 1923. 

Thanks to Elizabeth [lizzyiscrazy23 @ gmail.com] for the update!

The marriage info below* is that of Henry's former wife, Mary Jane Coffey and her marriage to James M. Coffey.  James M. was a son of James Coffey and Nancy Greene, born c1846 in NC.  

Henry Alexander Ditmore and his second wife, Elvira C. Mathews, are buried at the Grape Creek Cemetery in Grape Creek, Tom Green Co., TX. 

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*Groom's Name: James M. Coffey Groom's Birth Date: Groom's Birthplace: Groom's Age: Bride's Name: Jane Ditmore  Bride's Birth Date: Bride's Birthplace: Bride's Age: Marriage Date: 25 Feb 1875 Marriage Place: Brasstown, Clay, North Carolina Groom's Father's Name: John Coffey Groom's Mother's Name: Bride's Father's Name: James Coffey Bride's Mother's Name: Nancy Coffey Groom's Race: Groom's Marital Status: Unknown  Groom's Previous Wife's Name: Bride's Race: Bride's Marital Status: Unknown Bride's Previous Husband's Name: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M75237-1 System Origin: North Carolina-EASy Source Film Number: 840423 Reference Number: P 5

Continuing with children of Jesse & Nancy F. Allen Coffey

Beatrice Anna Coffey

The fourth child born to Jesse and Nancy was Beatrice Anna Coffey.

Beatrice, apparently called Anna was born Feb. 24, 1860 in Nelson Co., and died May 12, 1940 in Lima, Allen Co., OH.

Her first husband was Thomas Givens Mays.  He was born c1851, probably in VA, and they were married on Sep. 25, 1877 in Nelson Co.

Her second husband was David Robinson who was born on May 31, 1843 and died Jun. 13, 1927 in Miami Co., OH.  They were married on Sep. 12, 1889 in Waverly, Pike Co., OH.  Her last spouse was William Neely to whom she was married - when both were age 70 years old - on Dec. 4, 1930 in Allentown, Allen Co., OH.  Anna apparently had only one child.  In the 1900 census she reported that she was the mother of one child, none living.

Nancy E. Coffey

William Garland followed Anna and was born Jun. 3, 1862 in Rockbridge Co., VA.  He appeared in the 1870 Augusta Co. and 1880 Nelson Co. census records with his family but, nothing else is yet known about him.

The fifth child was Nancy Elizabeth, born May 21, 1864 in Rockbridge Co.  She married James F. West on Jul. 20, 1902 at AllBasic City, Augusta Co.  James was born c1848 in Hanover Co., VA.  James was a son of Overton and Virginia Harris West.


Allen F. Sherman followed Nancy.  Read about his family here.

George R. Coffey

George Robert was next, born Mar. 16, 1869 in Lyndhurst, Augusta Co.  He married Sarah Emma Lotts on Feb. 10, 1891 in Nelson Co.  I believe she was born c1867 in MD to Martin H. and Margaret Sarah Allen, younger sister to Jesse's wife, Nancy.  I know of one child born to Sarah and George:  Estelle, born May, 1891 in Lyndhurst.

Jacob W. Coffey

Jacob W. was the eighth child.  He was born Jun. 4, 1871 in Lyndhurst and died Sep. 28, 1936 in Rockbridge Co., VA.  His first wife was Sallie J. Fitzgerald, a daughter of Parks G. & Sarah Ramsey Fitzgerald who were married in Nelson Co. on Apr. 13, 1840.  Sallie died in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH on Aug. 29, 1928, and was buried at Bells Valley Cemetery in Rockbridge Co.  His second wife was Stella Austin Hite, born c1879, died Apr. 15, 1938, also in Rockbridge Co.  They were married on Jan. 20, 1929 in Cincinnati.  Stella died in Rockbridge Co. on Apr. 15, 1938.  She and Jacob are also buried at Bells Valley.  Stella's previous spouse was William Henry Ingram.  He was born c1880 in Rockbridge Co., and they were married there on Jun. 30, 1903.

John Franklin was born Apr. 20, 1874 in Back Creek, Augusta Co. and died Dec. 21, 1933 in Allen Co., OH.  He was married to Willie Winsor, a daughter of Sherman and Mary Engram [Ingram?] Winsor on Aug. 19,1908 in Rockbridge Co.  Willie was born Dec. 25, 1888 in Rockbridge Co. and died Nov. 10, 1924 in Lima, OH.  They had at least four children:  Mable Virginia, born Sep. 11, 1909, died Jul. 1, 1972; Anna Ruth, born Jan. 10, 1911, died Jan. 9, 1993; Thelma, born c1914, and Nancy Mildred, born c1918.

Emily Susan followed John.  She was born July 9, 1876 and died on Dec. 9, 1876.

Rosa Belle Coffey

Rosa Belle was next.  She was born Jul. 21, 1878 in Lyndhurst and died there on Jun. 14, 1920.  She married Robert Oceola "Osie" Nukols on Oct. 4, 1899 in Avis, Augusta Co., VA.  He was born in Lyndhurst on Dec. 24, 1878 and died there on Jul. 7, 1933.  Both are buried at Pines Chapel Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Greenville in Augusta Co.

Their children were Emily; Elmer Juett; William Hyder; Annie; Evelyn Isabel; Henrietta Elizabeth; Fannie Catharine; Mary Magdalene; and Margarette Hazel.

"Osie" Nukols was a brother to Callie C. Nuckols who married Eric Harris, a son of John Abraham Harris and his wife Mary Jane Coffey.  Mary Jane's family was written about in the previous blog.  The Nukols were children of Henry Juett and Georgianna Miller Nukols.

The last child born to Jesse and Nancy was James Rucker.  He was born on Feb. 22, 1881 in Nelson Co. and died in Allen Co., OH on Aug. 10, 1934.  His wife was Martha Rebecca Anderson, born  c1881 in Staunton, VA, died Dec. 11, 1938 in Lima, OH.  I know of one child, Virginia B., born c1915 in VA, and she may have been a foster child.  James and Martha are buried at Cairo East Cemetery in Allen Co., OH.

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This concludes the children of Jesse and Nancy Allen Coffey as I have them.  All of the photographs and much of the family data are from the collection of Shirley Houk for which I am grateful.

Woodson Coffee (1862-1953)

Update May 24, 2012

After Ollie died in 1930, Woodson married a second time to Velda Marguerite Bangs in 1932.  Velda was then 36 years old and had not been previously married.  She was apparently visiting with Andrew Bangs, her brother, who was a resident of Amarillo in 1930.

There were no children born to Woodson and Velda.  However, in searching for more information about her life I found that she was a daughter of Waltus Justus and Cora Maria Powers Bangs.

The Bangs ancestors seemed to have migrated to the plains of IL sometime in the early to mid-1800's.  I start Velda's ancestry with Andrew Cook Banks, born in VT in 1830 and his wife, Frances Morse, also born in VT in 1931.

The first Bangs in that part of IL now known as Wauconda (a Sioux word meaning "great spirit") was Justus Bangs.  The area was first known as Rice's Prairie and later renamed Bangs Lake for Justus.  By 1850 it had become the township of Wauconda.*

Justus Bangs was the father of Andrew Cook Bangs.  Andrew was the father of Walter Justus Bangs who married Cora Powers and, they were parents of Velda.

*Kathy Catrambone, Author, Images of Ameria: Wauconda, Marianne Folise, Author (Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2011), Page 7.

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Woodson, born Mar 1, 1862 in Gonzales Co., TX, died June. 12, 1953 in Amarillo, Potter Co., TX.  Woodson married Ollie Pickens on Aug. 14, 1890 in Throckmorton, the daughter of Judge Cornelius Kinchelo and Ruth B. Greenwood Stribling.  She and Woodson had at least nine children: Ruth, Benjamin, Grace, Woodson, Jr., Oran, Roy Coburn, Frank (died young), Ollie and Jack Kinchelo.  Ollie died of influenza on Jan. 23, 1930 in San Antonio.  She and Woodson are buried at the Llano Cemetery in Amarillo.

The above was published in the June 4, 2010 blog about Mansel Matthews & Georgiana Frances Reynolds Coffee.

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Woodson Coffee, Sr.

Woodson and Ollie were the parents of nine children:

Ruth, born Nov. 17, 1891 in Throckmorton Co., TX, died in Amarillo, Potter Co., TX on Mar. 30, 1987,  Ruth married Edgar Coble on Apr. 7, 1915 in Throckmorton.  He died on Aug. 21, 1954 in Amarillo.  Both are buried there at the Llano cemetery.

Benjamin Stribling, born Dec. 1, 1892 in Throckmorton, died in Amarillo on Oct. 9, 1914.  He was buried in Miami, Roberts Co., TX at the Miami cemetery.

Grace, born Mar 9, 1894 in OK Indian Territory, died there Mar. 28, 1894.  Burial place not given.

Woodson, Jr and Mamie Coffee

Woodson, Jr., born May 29, 1895 in Morton Co., TX, died in Amarillo on Sep. 1, 1984.  He married Ida Mae "Mamie" LNU on Jun. 10, 1916.  She was born Dec. 8, 1893 in MO and died Jun. 2, 1984 in Amarillo.  They too are buried at Llano.

Oran, born Jan. 24, 1897 in Roberts Co., TX, died Nov. 3, 1965.  He married Frances Elizabeth Rock on Aug. 9, 1931 in Pagosa Springs, Archuleta Co., CO.  She was born there on Jul. 10, 1912 and died on Jan. 3, 2004 in Boerne, Kendall Co., TX.  They were the parents of my friend, Kathy Coffee Simmons.  They too are buried at Llano.

Roy Coburn Coffee

Roy Coburn, born Sep. 15, 1898, died Sep. 12, 1964 in Dumas, Moore Co., TX.  He married in Feb. 1941 to Celia Catherine West, born Jan. 7, 1903, died Jan. 11, 1985 in Amarillo.  Also buried at Llano.

Frank, born Nov. 11, 1900, died Apr. 14, 1901.

Claude and Girlie Coffee Arnot

Oliver "Girlie", born Oct. 8, 1901, died Jan. 31, 1984 in Bexar Co., TX.  She married first Waid Scott Willis and had a son, Waid, Jr., born Aug. 16, 1923, died Feb. 16, 1947 in Bexar Co.  Waid, Sr. died in 1951 and sometime after that, Girlie married Claude William Arnot, born 1895, died Jul. 16, 1991 n Bexar Co.  Waid, Sr. and Jr. are buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Wolfe City, Hunt Co., TX.  Girlie and Claude are buried at Locke Hill cemetery in San Antonio.

The last child was Jack Kinchelo Coffee, born Ju. 24, 1903, died Mar. 11, 1969.  He was married on Dec. 19, 1929 to Vida Pearl Davis, born Mar. 11, 1905, died Jan. 18, 1991.





No. 998

John Nelson & Laura Ann Finley Coffey

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The following information about the John Nelson Coffey Family was found in an undated document titled The John Nelson Coffey Family, prepared by Mr. Howard M. Day, 3532 28th Parkway, Temple Hills, MD 20748.

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The John  Nelson  Coffey Family

The John Nelson Coffey Family

John Nelson Coffey was born 7 Aug 1858 in the  Kings Creek  District of Caldwell County, N.C.  He was the son of Larkin Coffey (b1830, d.1863) and Sibby Wyatt (1831- ). His progenitors can be traced through his grandfather, Thomas Coffey, Jr. (b1804) who on 22 Sept 1823 in Wilkes Co., N.C. married Nancy Barlow (b1804). Thomas Coffey Sr. is thought to be the son of Thomas Coffey from Essex Co., Va. (b7 Mar 1742, d 1825) and his first wife, Elizabeth Smith. He in turn was the grandson of the Coffey who immigrated from Ireland to Virginia about the year 1690 according to a compilation by Laurence H. Coffey.*

*"Thomas Coffey (b7 Mar 1742) and his second wife Sally Field along with six children moved to the area of present day Wilkes County sometime between 1775 and 1780 settling on the Upper Waters of the Yadkin River where he died in 1825 at the age of 33”.

Thomas Coffey (b 1777) was married first to a Coffey and second to Nancy Pend1ey .

Larkin Coffey died of diphtheria while serving in the Confederate Army and is buried in Lafollette, Tennessee, His widow raised their family in the old home place, and on 14 Nov 1875 at the age of 44 married Joseph Isenhour of Wilkes Co. who was then 60 years of age and had a family of his own. In fact on 10 Jan 1875, just 11 months prior to their marriage, her first son, Gilum W. Coffey (b1855), was  married to Sarah Jane Isenhour ( b1853) . To the union of Joseph and Sibby Isenhour was born one son Solomon Tilden Isenhour.  .

The children of Larkin Coffey and Sibby Wyatt were: Gilum W. (bl855); John Nelson (1853); Candus who married Lee Cook; Cordey who married Larkin Cook; Mary Ann who married William West; and Lue who married John West.

John Nelson Coffey came to Watauqa County around the year 1880 probably to work on the Moses H. Cone estate. In Blowing Rock he soon met Laura Ann Henley (10 Apr 1863, 2 June 1936) who 1ived with her mother, Loany Greene Henley (5 Feb 1836, 14 Nov 1917), the widow of Henry Henley (2 June 1821, 5 May 1865).  Henry Henley was a member of the Home Guard who was killed in the raid on Hamby's Fort at the end of the Civil War (2). Laura and John Nelson were married 23 Sept 1881 and took up residence at the old Tom Henley place near where Loany Henley 1ived.

John Nelson Coffey was described as a strong willed man, a little stubborn you might say, but he was known to take great pleasure in his work and his family. He was, of necessity, a subsistence farmer, but he also made shoes and worked on the Cone Estate to fill in. Like many of the local farmers in those days he grew more produce than necessary for his family and hauled it down the mountain with horse and wagon to markets in Lenoir. Members of his family often spoke of taking turns living with and taking care of Grandma Henley since she lived alone until her death in 1917. Soon thereafter Nelson and Laura moved to their last home which was at Cook's Gap east of Boone near the Mt. Vernon Church community.

Apparently Nelson and Laura Coffey were musically inclined because several of their [children] played string instruments and loved to dance. My mother, Bertha, knew many traditional mountain songs which she often sang while accompanying herself on the guitar or banjo.

The progeny of John Nelson Coffey and Laura Ann Henley together with the spouse and children of each are as follows: Henry Edward (23 June 1832, 20 Sept 1960) m. 20 Dec 1903 to Elizabeth Foster with whom he raised three children: Malory James, Marjorie and Edward, George F. (23 Oct 1334, 10 Dec 1941) m. 23 April 1905 to Emma Greene with whom  he raised two boys: Arnold (-) and William Franklin (4 Sept 1923); Essie (9 Jan 1837, 5Feb 1972) m. 25 Dec 1904 to Carol Herman with whom she raised 8 children: Fannie Lee, George Alton, Tracy, Bonnie, Marvin, Edith, Phylis and Dessie; Delia (9 Oct 1889, 10 Now 1973) m. 22 July 1909 to Jacob Dillinger (12 Oct 1833, 14 April 1945) with whom she raised six children: Earl, Margaret, Inez, Jay, Wi11iam R. and Robert L. ; Stella (30 April 1393, 21 Oct 1965) m. 3 July 1914 to Grover Walters with whom she raised 5 children: Elizabeth, Verdola, Clifford, Norman and Robert; C1ara (31 Oct 1896, 3 Dec 1977) m. 18 Jan 1914 to George Danner with no children;,Bertha R. (24 Sept 1899) m. 23 Dec 1917 to Howard Day and they had 3 children: Obed, Dorothy and Howard Jr.; Bernice (29 May 1903) m. 29 June 1921 to Charlie Watson, they raised 6 children: Mary Helen, Kathleen, Carma Lee, Bobby, Clemmon and Harold, (three additional children: Laura Mildred, Charles W. and Claude Wayne died in infancy; Milton (1904..,) m. 9 May 1924 to Bell Gilley (1906), who raised one child, Harvey Edward (27 May 1925). After the death of her husband Bertha married Charlie Cook in 1932 with whom she had one child, Kenneth (b 1 Jan 1933). On 22 Feb 1959, after the death of her husband, Delia married Robert Bratton (1904,1960).

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