Coffey Sisters & Ketron Brothers

James Madison and Lydia Ann Wolfe Coffey of Tennessee, and later of Rockcastle Co., KY, were parents of at least 12 children.

One of their daughters, Hulda Elizabeth Coffey, was born Oct. 10, 1870 in Rockcastle Co., and died on Nov. 3, 1951 in Eaton, OH. She married George Nelson Ketron, a son of Jacob Nelson and Lydia Royston Ketron.

George was born Aug. 22, 1867 in Wayne Co., KY and died Jun. 8, 1945 in Winchester, Randolph Co., IN. He and Hulda were married Apr. 21, 1897 in Rockcastle Co. There were at least six children born to this union:

• William Allen, born Mar. 30, 1898, died Dec. 23, 1942.
• James B., born Jul. 24, 1899, died Jan., 1981
• John C., born Oct. 23, 1901, died Oct., 1985
• Freeman D., born Mar. 28, 1905, died Dec., 1982
• Lydia Loretta, born Mar. 25, 1909, died Nov. 8, 1989
• George Conley, born Jul. 21, 1913, died May, 1982

William Allen and James B. were old enough to register for the WW1 draft. They reported to the registrar on Sep. 12, 1918 in Winchester, Randolph Co., IN.

William registered as Willie A. and was described as being of medium height and build with gray eyes and dark brown hair. He was 20 yrs. old, born Mar. 30, 1898. He named his mother as his nearest relative.

James gave his birthdate as Jul. 24, 1899 and age as 19 yrs. He was also described as having a medium build and height with light blue eyes and dark brown hair.

Both men were laborers with the Woodbury Glass Co. in Winchester.

Their father was also employed as a laborer in a glass factory, but I do not know if it was the same factory.

This family remained in Kentucky at least through April, 1910. By Feb., 1920 they were in Randolph Co., IN where most of them lived out their remaining lives.

George Ketron's brother, Freeman, was born Feb. 21, 1875 and died Nov. 6, 1928. He married Hulda's sister Cordelia on Nov. 3, 1897 in Rockcastle Co. "Delia" was born Sep. 14, 1878 in Rockcastle Co., and died Jul. 6, 1952 in Berea, Madison Co., KY.

Children born to Delia and Freeman were:

• Johnny Love, born Nov. 4, 1898, died before 1900
• Benton, born May 22, 1900, died Dec., 1976
• Allen A., born c1903
• Daisy B., Jan. 7, 1905
• Hagie [?], a daughter, born c1910
• Thurman, born Mar. 10, 1912
• Miriane [?] Victoria, born Dec. 30, 1916

At age 18, Benton was the only child old enough to register for the WW! draft. He registered in Rockcastle Co., and was described as being of medium build and height with brown hair and eyes. He confirmed his birthdate as May 22, 1900. He was still living with his parents in 1920.

In 1930, all of the children with the exception of Floy, age 15 and Victoria, age 13 were out of their widowed mother's household.

According to her death certificate, Cordelia died of a cerebral hemorrhage and was buried at the Scaffold Cane Cemetery in Rockcastle Co.

It appears that most of this family remained in and around Rockcastle and Madison counties. Benton did move to Indiana sometime after 1920 and died there in 1976.

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

Sources: Social Security Death Index, US Census Records, Kentucky Marriage Records, and David B. Trimble, Wolfe and Hickman of East Tennessee (Microfilmed by Brigham Young University: David B. Trimble, 2506 Hartford Rd., Austin, TX 78703, 2006)and WW1 Draft Registration cards

Rickey Allen Coffey

[Update Apr. 18, 2008: The link to this article in the Morganton paper is dead. This one leads to the Burke Co., NC Sheriff's website containing information about Rickey Allen Coffey.]

According to a Sep. 2006 article in the Morganton News Herald, Rickey Allen Coffey shot and killed his father-in-law, Maynard Memory Reece in Dec. 2001. Coffey then attempted to take his own life by shooting himself in the face. The attempt failed, and now after five years of rehabilitation, Coffey finally faces justice.

He apparently did not come to trial until 2005 when, after a plea agreement, he was sentenced to 11-15 years in prison. He was expected to report to prison on Oct. 1, 2006 to begin serving his sentence.

Click on the title link to read more about Rickey Allen Coffey.

If any reader can identify the parents and/or grandparents of Coffey, please write to me at the above e-mail address.

Happy New Year!

This new year ushers in my 69th on earth and 49th in marriage! I've been researching family ties since the early 1980's, and have been blessed with an understanding wife who has followed me around the world in both my military and civilian life in pursuit of various goals. She has (more or less) supported me in all of my hobbies. I have been a fox hunter, with all that entails, a radio amateur (WD5ELJ, WS5X, 9V1UQ, and currently W5JKC) and since 1978-9 when I bought my first Tandy TRS-80 Model 1, a "computer freak" (as she tells her friends) "with a weird habit of reading obituaries from all over the country."

She is also a licensed radio amateur with the call sign WB5TQL. The TQL part does NOT stand for "tender, quiet and loving." Well, maybe T and L is accurate, but surely not Q!

Neither of us are any longer active on the bands, but we do keep out licenses current.

For the most part 99.9% of all researchers that I have met over the course of my "genealogical life" have been great people. Many of them have remained great friends over the years to both me and my wife. Hopefully, I have been just as good a friend to them.

Forgive me while I digress!

The purpose of this blog is to provide information, seek to make it accurate and, to give it to as many people as need it. Errors are a given. It's up to you to correct them.. I am always glad to hear from anyone who can provide correct info on any family I write about.

Only occasionally does someone come along with an attitude that really chaps my $@#!

Fortunately, that happened only once in 2007. It was a tirade-turned-hissy-fit by someone who failed to recognize that what I do here is neither advertised as 100% accurate, nor is 100% accurate. Neither is it 100% inclusive. That is, I might not have found all children; some names may be spelled incorrectly, etc. It's sometimes difficult to determine just how a person's first name was spelled, or even what it really was. Family members may have grown up hearing it said one way and spelled it phonetically when they put together the family tree.

That very thing arose the other day when I received a very nice e-mail from someone whose ancestor's first name was Dorothy. Someone else had written to me earlier about her and had spelled her name as Dartha. Names being what they are - labels applied by our parents - it's impossible for me to determine if a name given to me by a descendant is accurately spelled.

At any rate, the greater majority of readers understand and relate courteously to what I attempt to do here.

I am grateful and thank you for your support!

Digression over!

One of my resolutions for 2008 is to continue to put together the best documented genealogy that I can of the descendants of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey. That project has turned into a more-or-less genealogy of the descendants of their son John and his wife Jane Graves. I don't know of any researcher who descends from any of Edward and Ann's other children. And, I have yet to meet a researcher interested in Ann's sons, William and Thomas, by her second marriage to a Mr. Duling (Dulin, Dula, Dooling?). They of course, would be half-siblings to her children by Edward.

Feel free to write, ask questions, make corrections, or even to just say 'Hi-de!'

Be nice, and please have a safe New Year!


















*Bulletin Board Service

Rufus Anson Coffey

Rufus was another child of John Calvin and Nancy Caroline Tuttle Coffey. He was born on Jul. 21, 1888 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC and, did Sep. 5, 1981 in Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC.

Rusus married Beatrice Chloe Moore in 1910 and, in Caldwell Co. He registered there for the draft on Jun. 5, 1917. He was described then as being tall with medium build, grey eyes and black hair. He resided in Gastonia with his wife and two children and, was in the insurance business. I am unable to read the name of his company on the card. In 1920 the family resided in Hendersonville, Henderson Co.

Beatrice was born in May, 1894 in Caldwell Co., the daughter of John B. and Olive Moore. She and Rufus were the parents of at least three children:

James Cecil, born Jul. 22, 1912

Ivan Moore, born 1916

Dr. Robert (Bob), born Oct. 19, 1921, died Mar. 12, 2004

His obituary:

Obituary, News-Record, Greensboro, NC, Mar. 16, 2004

ROBERT "BOB" TUTTLE COFFEY

03-14-2004

MOORESVILLE — Dr. Robert "Bob" Tuttle Coffey, died Friday, March 12, 2004, at his residence.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, 2004, at the Cavin-Cook Funeral Home Chapel, Mooresville.

He was born in Hendersonville, N.C., and was a son of the late Rufus Anson and Beatrice Chloe Moore Coffey. Dr. Coffey earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Wake Forest University, Medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and did his internship at George Washington University. He practiced family medicine in Greensboro for several years before specializing in psychiatry at Bowman Gray School of Medicine. Upon completing his residency in 1969, Dr. Coffey opened a private practice in Greensboro before joining Tri-County Mental Health as clinical director. After retiring from Tri-County Mental Health, he joined the staff of Broughton Hospital in Morganton. Dr. Coffey was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and the elite and prestigious Society of the Quiet Birdman. He was a U.S. Army veteran having served in World War II. Dr. Coffey was preceded in death by brothers, Dr. James Cecil Coffey and Ivan Moore Coffey.

He is survived by his children, Leigh Coffey Byers and husband, Marty, and Robert Anson Coffey; and former wife, Nancy Koontz Coffey, all of Mooresville.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, c/o Lib Cooke, 129 Pampas Lane, Mooresville, N.C. 28117, and/or Williamson's Chapel United Methodist Church Building Fund, 575 Brawley School Road, Mooresville, N.C. 28117, and/or the charity of donor's choice.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, 494 E. Plaza Drive, Mooresville, is serving the family of Dr. Coffey.

I have some information on the remainder of John and Nancy's children that I will share via e-mail.

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

Bessie Maude Coffey

Bessie was a daughter of John Calvin and Nancy Caroline Tuttle Coffey. She was born in Nov., 1885 and in North Carolina, probably Caldwell Co. She died Feb. 28, 1972 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.

Bessie married John Hill Lee in Caldwell Co. in 1907. Census records from 1910 to 1930 show them as residents of first, Patterson Twp., then 20 years in Mulberry Twp.

There were at least five children born to John and Bessie:

Rose Helen, born Jun. 12, 1909, died Mar. 28, 1995. She married Hal Pettigrew Presnell, a son of Jefferson Pettigrew and Ella Gertrude Tuttle Presnell. They had at least one child, Linda Jean, born Feb. 5, 1942.

Horace Randolph, born Mar. 10, 1912, died Sep. 23, 1997.

Walton Hill, born Apr. 29, 1914, died Nov. 8, 2003. Walton married Hazel Hayes and, they were the parents of at least two sons: Clarence (Toney), born Feb. 27, 1945, died Apr. 24, 2004; and Douglas.

Edith C., born 1916, died 2002

Robert, born c1922

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

Booker and Hannah Ann Dalton Shockley

Booker was born c1795 in Pittsylvania Co., VA. He married Hannah Ann Dalton, a daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth Shockley Dalton, on Dec. 22, 1819 in Grainger Co., TN. There is likely a relationship between Booker and Elizabeth but I have not yet found it.

Hannah was born c1802 in Grainger Co. and died there in 1880. Booker died prior to the 1870 census, and probably in Grainger Co.

I have found six children for them, most of which married Coffeys.

First born was Rebecca, born Oct., 1820 and died Aug. 11, 1890. She married Elijah Coffey, a son of George and Margaret L. Rucker Coffey, on Jan. 11, 1840 in Grainger Co. Elijah was born Feb. 23, 1819, probably in Grainger Co., and died there on Jul. 13, 1890. Rebecca and Elijah were parents of at least 10 children:

Austin, born c1840, died before 1880; married Elvira Wolfe Jan. 8, 1856 in Grainger Co. Elvira was the daughter of William and Maleta (Lette) Hipsher. I have one child for them: Martha Emeline, born c1856.

Millie, born c1841

Mira, born c1843

George, born Feb. 24, 1847 in TN, died in Grainger Co., c1946. George married Martha M. Johnson, born Apr. 27, 1846, died Jun. 4, 1922 in Grainger Co. Their children were James H., born Dec. 22, 1871, died Nov. 7, 1907; Samuel B., born Feb. 25, 1873, died Jun. 28, 1961; John Henry, born Aug. 2, 1874, died Oct. 10, 1920; Hattie M., born c1878, died Aug. 31, 1945; Pleasant (Ples), born Aug. 2, 1879; Elijah, born abt Dec. 1884; and Cordelia (Cordie), born Feb. 1887.

Ambrose, born c1851 in TN, married Louisa Blake, born c1854 in TN. The children that I have for them are: Mary, born c1870; Martha Matilda, born c1873; and Simeon, born Dec., 1879.

---

Update: Mar 1, 2013:  Ambrose was born in Nov., 1846 in Grainger Co., TN and died in Morristown, Hamblen Co., TN on Dec. 18, 1915.  He and Louisa Blake, born Oct., 1850 in TN, were married on Sep. 12, 1869 in Grainger Co.[1].  I haven't found a death date/place for Louisa.  Ambrose is buried at Liberty Hill Methodist Church Cemetery at Morristown, Hamblen Co.

Their children numbered at least eight:  Mary, born c1870; Matilda, born 1872, died 1930, married William Henry Coffey, son of Collins and Nancy "Hulda" Wolfe on Sep. 14, 1895 in Hamblen Co.  Their closest blood relationship was 3rd cousin.  Third child was Henry, 1878; Simeon, 1879; Arthur, 1884; Columbus, 1886; John Littleton, 1896, died 1964 in Buncombe Co., NC.  He married Dora Meadows on Feb. 23, 1919 in Hamblen Co.  I have no birth/death info for Dora.  The last child was Frank, born 1896.

---

Samuel (Sam), born Jun., 1855 in TN, died Aug. 20, 1910 in Hamblen Co., TN. Married Martha Wolfe, a daughter of Henry and Elvira Coffey Wolfe, on Dec. 25, 1876 in Grainger Co. I have found only two children: Henry (Pat), born Oct. 18, 1878, died Dec. 3, 1964; and Elijah, born Apr. 1881. Sam later married Mary Hipshire, born Mar. 2, 1869 in TN, died Dec. 29, 1921 in Hamblen Co. I have found nine children for them: Evey, born Aug., 1890; James Archie, born Oct. 22, 1892; Ralph, born Aug. 28, 1895; Daniel (Dan), born c1898; Angie, born c1899; Arkie, born c1901; Lucy, born c1904; Rosie, born c1906; and Myrtle, born c1908.

Martha E., born c1857

Lacy, born Mar. 30, 1861, married first to Elizabeth LNU; married second to Margaret Ogan who died in 1942.

Elijah Jr., born Jan. 4, 1864 in Grainger Co. and, died there on May 14, 1923. He married Rosa Shockley, a daughter of Enos (or, Enoch) Shockley and Mahalia Coffey. Rosa was born Nov. 29, 1864 in Grainger Co. and, died in Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., on jan. 26, 1952. Their children were Lillie M., born Dec. 25, 1885, died Oct. 23, 1923; Etta, born c1890, died Jul. 31, 1969; Lula, born Feb. 4, 1892, died May 4, 1951; James Oscar, born Mar. 20, 1894, died May 31, 1949; and Walter Preston, born Feb. 17, 1908, died Sep. 14, 1984.

Martin, born c1866

Second born was Enos (Enoch?), born Jan. 1, 1822 in Grainger Co. and, died there on Jul. 4, 1901. He married Mahalia Coffey on Jan. 21, 1846 in Grainger Co. She was born Oct. 20, 1827 in Grainger Co., and died there on Jul. 10, 1900. She was the daughter of George and Margaret L. Rucker Coffey.

I have 11 children for them:

Perry Wilson, born Jan. 13, 1847, died Nov. 5, 1923, married Harriet A. LNU.

Alice (Ally), born Oct. 24, 1848 in Grainger Co. and, died there on Aug. 12, 1909. She married Perry Harville. I have one child for them: Lemuel Harville.

Martha Louise, born c1851

William Gilbert, born Dec. 2, 1852 in Grainger Co., and died Mar. 13, 1901. He married Sarah P. Dalton on Jul. 24, 1872 in Grainger Co. I have found three children: Minnie, born c1875; Loretta, born Nov. 11, 1877, died Aug. 13, 1906; and Hattie, born Apr. 1880.

John, born May 22, 1855, died Jul. 28, 1875

Malinda (Matilda?), born Apr. 6, 1856, died Mar. 12, 1922

Harriet, born Sep, 13, 1859, died Jul. 9, 1940

Cornelia, born May 15, 1863, died Oct. 8, 1887

Rosa, born Nov. 29, 1864, died Jan. 26, 1952, married Elijah Coffey, Jr.

Hannah Elizabeth, born c1868

Lucinda, born Dec. 13, 1869, died Dec. 18, 1887

Third born was Ephraim who married Lucretia Hipsher

Fourth born was Thomas who married Perlina Wolfe

Fifth born was Winright who married Martha Emaline (Emily) Coffey on Feb. 20, 1851 in Grainger Co. Winright was born c1827 in TN; Martha c1831.

Their children were:

Martha Jane, born Dec. 2, 1852, died Aug. 30, 1930. She married Thomas Coffey, born Dec. 7, 1852 in Grainger Co. and, died there on Jan. 3, 1925. He was a son of William Ira Coffey and Sarah Jane Hipshire.

George Winright, born Dec. 2, 1852 (apparently a twin to Martha), died Mar. 13, 1901. He married Harriet Harville, a daughter of R. W. and Mary Harville.

Wyatt, born c1855

Mahala, born c1858

William Berry, born Aug. 2, 1862, died Jan. 15, 1910. He married Eliza Jane Coffey on Jun. 5, 1885 in Grainger Co. Eliza was the daughter of Thomas Nelson and Cornelia Coffey Coffey. Eliza was born Sep. 8, 1868 and died Dec. 6, 1927 in Mooresburg, Hawkins Co., TN.

Rutha, born c1865

Jincey, born May, 1864. She married Rev. Berry Wisdom Lafette (Lafayette?) Coffey, a son of William Wesley and Gelina E. Shouse Coffey. Berry Wisdom was born Oct. 15, 1857 in Grainger Co., and died in TN on Jan. 1, 1936.

Elizabeth (Betsy), born c1869 in TN, died May 11, 1911 in Grainger Co. She married Pleasant Dalton c1888 in TN. He was the son of Hiram and Catherine Howerton Dalton. Pleasant later married Viola Coffey, a daughter of Thomas and Martha Jane Shockley Coffey.

The last child that I have for Booker and Hannah is William, born Mar. 12, 1833 in TN and, died in Grainger Co. on Oct. 22, 1871. He married Louisa Jane Coffey on Mar. 21, 1851 in Grainger Co. She was born Jul. 27, 1833 and died Jun. 1, 1910 in Grainger Co. Louisa Jane was also married to Berry Dalton.

These families tended to marry back and forth into each of the same families. Care must be taken when compiling them. This is especially true since many were given the same names. I believe the above to be mostly accurate and, would appreciate comments adding to or correcting any of it. I also have additional descendant as well as ancestral information for most of these families.

I can be reached at the e-mail address on the right.


[1] index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XD92-K5M : accessed 01 Mar 2013), Ambrose Coffee and Louis Blake, 12 Sep 1869.

James Russell Coffey

I wrote about James Russell Coffey back in April when he decided to join the Coffey DNA project. He was 109 years.
Today, I received the news that James had died.
This is some of the information that appeared on the WTOL-TV 11 website in Toledo, OH:

NORTH BALTIMORE, Ohio (AP) -- One of only three known remaining American World War I veterans has died. The Smith-Crates Funeral Home in North Baltimore, Ohio says J. Russell Coffey died yesterday at the age of 109. He had been living in a nursing home. There's no word on the cause of death.The Veterans Affairs Department says Coffey was the last World War I vet in Ohio. Coffey enlisted in the Army in October 1918 while a student at Ohio State University. It was a month before the Allied powers and Germany signed a cease-fire agreement and Coffey did not see action overseas. He did play semipro baseball and earned a doctorate in education from New York University.  Coffey taught high school and college and raised a family. According to the funeral home, he drove his car until he was 104 and lived on his own until three years ago.

Click on the title link and look for a video link in the upper left corner.
I do not know how long Channel 11 will keep the information on their website.

Mary Catherine Coffey

Mary Catherine was a daughter of Lewis and Sophie Loretta Buster Coffey. She was born in Jun. 1878 at Eadsville in Wayne Co., KY. She married Oscar Elman McWaters c1900 in (probably) Wayne Co. Oscar was a Canadian, born in Ontario in Sep., 1874. Only one child was born to the union. Sophie McWaters was born in Wayne Co., c1901.

The Jun. 1900 census for Wayne Co. shows Oscar and Catherine in the household with her father, Lewis. By 1910 the McWaters had moved to Danville in Boyle Co., KY where Oscar was employed as a jeweler. Daughter Sophie was nine years old.

Oscar registered for the WW1 draft on Jun. 5, 1917 after the family had moved to Chattanooga in Hamilton Co., TN. Oscar was described as being of medium height with slender build, blue eyes and brown hair. He resided with his family at 548 Oak St. in Chattanooga and was employed as a watchmaker for the Myers Leach Jewelry Co. on Market St. in that city.

In 1920 Oscar and Katherine shared their home with her brother, Charles and his wife. Charles was an attorney in that city.

The family left Chattanooga before the 1930 census. Oscar died in Tampa, Hillsborough Co., FL in 1929. In 1930 Catherine was a widow and worked as a secretary for the American Red Cross. She can be found in the census for that year residing alone in an apartment building in the Hyde Park section of Hillsborough Co., FL.

I have not found a death record for her, nor a marriage record for Sophia.

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

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to All!

I will be leaving soon to spend the Christmas Season with my children and grand-children.

Thank you all for writing, commenting and providing the family information and photographs that appear here from time-to-time.

Best Wishes to All for a safe and Happy Holiday.







If I have accurately counted, this is blog no. 600!
Graphic courtesy Christmas Graphics Plus

Norma Pauline Coffey

I have previously written about Pauline and her parents, Olin J. and Estie Coffey Coffey.

Norma was born Jun. 3, 1924 in Watauga Co., NC and died Nov. 9, 2003 in Denton, Davidson Co., NC. She married Rev. Howard Thomas Hodges on Oct. 22, 1924.

When her mother died Norma's father placed her for adoption and she was taken into the William Washington Collins family. Lee Ella Coffey Collins was first cousin to Olin.

This photo is of Norma in her golden years:

Her obituary:

Norma C. Hodges

DENTON | Norma Coffey Hodges, 79, of Denton, died Sunday, Nov. 9, 2003, at her home. A memorial service will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Zion Baptist Church in Morganton, where she was a member.

Mrs. Hodges was born June 3, 1924, in Watauga County to Olin J. and Estie Coffey Coffey. She was a homemaker. She was married to the Rev. Howard Thomas Hodges, her husband of 56 years, who died April 20, 2001. She was also preceded in death by her foster family, Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Collins, Sally Collins and Spencer and Staple Collins.

Surviving are two daughters, Rebecca Parsons and her husband, Lloyd, of Denton and Susan Bullard of Fort Mill, S.C., and six grandchildren, Jessica, Caitlin and Rob Bullard of Fort Mill, S.C., Matthew and Jen Parsons of Richlands and Amanda Perez of High Point.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cedar Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1048, Linwood, N.C. 27299.

Briggs Funeral Home in Denton is assisting the Hodges family.

Comments and/or corrections can be sent to me at the above e-mail address.

John D. and Rosa Coffey Welch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More on this family later.


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

Ulysses Martin Coffey

Today's on-line edition of the Aiken Standard, Aiken, SC, features a local story concerning the wedding of:

Sara Beth Jordan of Aiken and Danny Shelton Quattlebaum II of Irmo were married Dec. 15, 2007, in Aiken's First Baptist Church. The bride was given in marriage by her father. The Rev. Fred Andrea officiated.

The bride is a daughter of Mary and Sam Jordan of Aiken. She is a granddaughter of Jessie Coffey and the late Ulysses Martin Coffey and Ora Mae and Walt Jordan.

I would like to know who Ulysses Martin Coffey descended from.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address.

Protect & Preserve

An article in today's on-line edition of the Citizen Tribune, Morristown, Hamblen Co., TN, describes the effort of the Tennesse Civil War Preservation Association's "Two Flags over Tennessee: Reclaiming Our Civil War Heritage" project. The article describes several of the events that recently took place.

Prominent in the area is Ken Coffee, Grainger County historian.

Click on the title link to read more about the Association.

The Candy Kitchen

The Candy Kitchen had been owed by a Mr. Anthony Cory. He was, I believe, the second of the three husbands of Olive Manila Dula. Olive was the daughter of Arthur Hill and Mary Jane Coffey Dula.

Cory was born in the Syrian Arabic Republic and immigrated to the United States about 1901. The original spelling of his name may have been Khouri.

He appeared in the 1920 and 1930 Winston-Salem, NC census as Anthony Cory. In 1930 he was a 49-year old divorced man living in the household with his widowed mother, Rosa Jakayre [sic], He listed his occupation as owner of the Candy Kitchen.

Sometime later Mr. Cory sold the store to Zenobian Michael Koontz.

In this photo of the interior, the lady in the white top is Cleta (or Cleda) Dula who married J. T. Nicholson. The lady in black is Ruth Virginia Dula Koontz. Next to her is her husband, Mr. Zenobian Michael Koontz. Ruth and Mr. Koontz were owners of the store. Both ladies were children of Arthur Hill and Mary Jane Coffey Dula, and sisters to Olive Manila.

Ruth was born Aug. 5, 1904 and Cleda was born on Sep. 17, 1917. Ruth and Zenobian married on Nov. 12, 1927 in Forsyth Co. He was born Jul. 12, 1902 in Davidson Co., NC and, died in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co. in May, 1981. I have found only one child for them: Ramona Jane, born May 3, 1929 in Watauga Co.

I have not found any children that were born to Cleda and Mr. Nicholson.

Mary Jane Coffey Dula was the daughter of Thomas Avery and Louisa E. Gragg Coffey. She was born in Aug., 1874 in Caldwell Co., NC and died on May 26, 1955. Arthur Hill Dula was born Jan., 1867 and died on Sep. 7, 1948. They were married on Oct. 11, 1892 in Watauga Co. Arthur Hill Dula was brother to Mary Laura Dula who married John Wesley Coffey, brother to Mary Jane.


This photo is Mr. Cory at the store front before selling to Koontz. The store was located on the east side of Winston-Salem in Forsyth Co., NC. I have heard that the building is still standing.

Corrections and/or additions can be sent to me using the e-mail address above.

Thomas Hall Coffey

Thomas Hall Coffey was the son of John Caroll and Nancy Evalyn Hartley Coffey and, the older brother of Joel Partee Coffey who was the father of Virgie Evaline, subject of a previous blog.

Thomas, born Jul. 25, 1879, married Cora Ellen Tolbert, the sister of Joel's wife, Lillie Mamie Pearl Tolbert on Jan. 15, 1899 in Caldwell Co. Cora was born Jan. 1, 1875 and died Jan. 28, 1952. Thomas died in Caldwell Co. in 1961.

When he registered for the draft on Sep. 12, 1918 he was described as being of medium height and build with blue eyes and black hair. He gave his age as 39 years, born Jul. 25, 1879 and, was was a self-employed farmer in Globe Twp. He named Cora Coffey of Globe as his nearest relative and, signed the registration card with his mark.

Their children were:

Nancy R., born Aug., 1899 - no further information

Martha Eveline, born Nov. 1, 1900 - no further information

Robert Finley, born c1902, married Crettie May Rich.

Their children were:

Beulah Evelyn, born Aug. 22, 1923
Thomas Henry, born 1925, died 1999
Lena Faye, born May 26, 1932
Beadie Oden, born Fe.b 27, 1934
Robert Claude, born 1936.

Wesley Partee, born Nov. 19, 1903, died Feb. 13, 1983 in Caldwell Co. He married Alice Mae (Allie) Philyaw, daughter of Pinkney David and Mary Lillie Phillips Philyaw, in 1923 in Caldwell Co.

Their children were:

William Thomas, born Jan. 22, 1925, married Ruby Lee Dellinger, born Jun. 4, 1933 in Caldwell Co. She was the daughter of Rev. Oscar and Annie Mae Crisp Dellinger. In addition to William, Ruby was also married to Lewis A. Craig (1969) and, to Albert Wesley, another son of Wesley and Alice.

The second child of Wesley and Alice was stillborn and unnamed, born and died in 1926. Third was Albert Wesley, born Aug. 7, 1927, died May 21, 1950; Ira Edwin, born Dec. 15, 1929, died Jun. 12, 1993; Cora Lee; Claude; and Carrie.

Hattie Belle, born Sep., 13 1907, married Robert B. Crump in 1928.

Their children were:

Rosa Lea, born Oct. 23, 1929
James Howard (Doug), born Mar. 24, 1932, died Apr. 18, 1992.

Mary C., born c1909 - no further information

Lester Claude, born Oct. 19, 1911, died Sep., 1983. He married Alice Elizabeth Philyaw, a daughter of Lawrence and Martha Ann Bean Philyaw.

Their children were:

Rachel, who married James Lo Philyaw in 1955
Jewel Katherine, born Dec., 1938, married Lawrence Abernathy in 1983
Mary Alice, born c1940
unnamed child, born c1940
Mary Ellen, born Nov. 30, 1943, married in 1961 to James Orel Philyaw
Clarence J., born 1945, married in 1964 to Peggy Ann Setzer
Etta Mae, born Nov. 7, 1948, married Raymond Steve Hamby
Cloyd Dale, born Mar. 20, 1952, married in 1971 to 1)Karen Elizabeth Suddreth, 2) Rosa Lee Garrett, and 3) Phyllis Angela Mitchell
Linda Fay, born Feb. 4, 1958, married Barry Eugene Triplett.

Sallie Minerva, born Dec. 26, 1913, died May 31, 1999. She married Charlie Franklin Bradshaw. They were the parents of at least three children:

Frank Garland
Gordon Ransom
Agnes Loree

Corrections and/or additions can be sent to me at the above e-mail address.

Virgie Evaline Coffey

Virgie was born Jun. 14, 1915 in Caldwell Co., NC to Joel Partee and Lillie Mamie Pearl Tolbert. Joel was the son of John Caroll and Nancy Evalyn Hartley Coffey and, Lillie was the daughter of Edward Alexander Tolbert and Martha Mahalia Smith.

Virgie first married Collis Monroe Sumlin, who was born Jul. 2, 1899 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Apr. 27, 1960. I have not found a marriage date for them. However, the first of their six children was born in March, 1932 making it likely they married c1930.

All of their children seem to have been born in Caldwell Co. Two sons, Monroe and Roy, are mentioned in her obituary and whose birth place and dates have not been found.

This is what I have found on their children:

Ira Dallas, born Mar. 4, 1932, married Ethel Elizabeth Foster, born Aug. 8, 1930, daughter of Charles and Flossie Hudson Foster. Ira and Ethel had at least two children: Paul and Betty.

Tracy Glenn, born Aug. 16, 1934, died Aug. 3, 2007 in Hudson, Caldwell Co. He married Ruby Alice Davis and they were the parents of at least one child, Glenn Dennis.

Monroe married Marline Oliver and, they were the parents of at least one child, Charles David.

Vergie Mary Lee, born 1939, married Charlie Dewey Arnett. They had at least two children, Lorrena Lee and Marty Lane.

Mildred Elizabeth, born 1941, married Henry William Pitts, born Nov. 2, 1937. They were the parents of at least five children: Treva Jean, Debra Anne, Rebecca Lea, Janice Kay, and Betty Sue. I have not yet found a death record for Henry or a marriage record for Mildred's later marriage to the Mr. Wright mentioned in Virgie's obituary.

Roy married Lona Dare Oliver and had at least five children: Melinda Denise, Anthony, Joseph Dwayne, Amanda Ione and Hugh Rex.

Virgie died Feb. 28, 1998 in Caldwell Co., and was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Lenoir.

Her obituary:

Vergie Sumlin Carpenter, 82, of Gateway Nursing Center, Lenoir, Died Saturday, Feb. 28, 1998, at the center.

She was born June 4, 1915, in Caldwell County to the late Partee Coffey and Pearl Tolbert Coffey. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Collis Monroe Sumlin; her second husband, Spurgeon Carpenter; and one son, Monroe Sumlin.

Mrs. Carpenter was a homemaker.

Survivors include three sons, Ira Sumlin and Tracy Sumlin, both of Lenoir, and Roy Sumlin of Spruce Pine; two daughters, Virgie Arnett of Banner Elk and Mildred Wright of Granite Falls; five stepdaughters, Blanche Huffman, Grace Lowman, Ruby Sigmon, ruth Hollar and Rita Franklin, all of Valdese; 24 grandchildren; 11 step grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 14 step great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

The funeral is 2 p.m. today at Joyceton Baptist Church with the Revs. Ed. Ford, Bill Dyson and Herman Tester officiating. The body will be placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the funeral. Burial will be in Mt. View Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be: Allen Sumlin, Dennis Sumlin, Kelly Arnett, Paul Sumlin, Joe Sumlin and Buddy Detter. Honorary pallbearers will be Tony Arnett and Brian Smith.

Virgie's second marriage was to Spurgeon Carpenter. I do not believe there were any children born to this union.

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

Thomas & Elizabeth Coffey Fields

Susan Caroline Connelly

Thomas Fields, Esq., born c1747 in Virginia, was a son of Richard Fields and Elizabeth Murrel. He married Elizabeth Coffey, a daughter of John and Jane Graves Coffey probably in the late 1760's and probably in Virginia or North Carolina.

I have not researched The Fields family, relying more on existing published works, and especially that published by Dr. Marvin Coffey (dec'd) in his work on James Bluford Coffey in 1984.

Marvin wrote that he had found "no records indicating when or where she [Elizabeth Coffey] was born." She is known to have married Thomas Fields, brother of Sally who married Thomas Coffey. Thomas Fields' 1807 will lists Betty, his wife, and children: James Crumpton, William, Reuben, Betsy Penley, Winifred Humphrey, Polly Humphrey,and Sally Penley.

I have seen other work that lists children of Thomas and Elizabeth as: William who married Susan Morgan; Jane who married Hezekiah Compton; Reuben who married first a Lee and second, Leanah [sic]Pendley; Elizabeth who married Jonathan Pendley; Winfred who married John Hemphrey; Mary who married William Humphrey; and Sarah who married James Pen[d]ley.

Recent e-mail from Paul Hermann in Australia informed me that William Fields and Susan Morgan had a son named Morgan Fields, born c1797. According to Paul's research, Morgan married Catherine Humphreys on Jan. 5, 1819 in Wilkes Co., NC. Their daughter, Frances Elvira Austin Fields, born c1836 in Georgia, married James Connelly on Jan. 2, 1860 in New Orleans, La.

James was born c1826 in London, England. After their marriage he and Frances moved to Australia where they lived out their lives. Their daughter, Susan Caroline Connelly married John Berry in Smithfield in South Australia, near Adelaide.

The photo of Caroline is courtesy of Paul.

Please contact me with additions and/or corrections. I can also provide contact information for Paul should anyone wish to contact him about his research.

Reuben Finley and Flora Ellen Hollifield Coffey

I have previously written about Reuben and Flora Ellen and their descendants. I have just received photographs of them and some of their descendants.

This photo was accompanied by one of their sons, Wiley Earl and another of Wiley Earl, Jr. All of the photographs are courtesy of Steve Coffey Schmidt, a son of Wiley Earl, Jr. who was subsequently adopted by his mother's second husband.



This is a photo of Wiley Earl and his wife Edna Mae Story. Wiley was born on Jul. 11, 1902 in Globe Twp., Caldwell Co., NC and died Mar. 9, 1972 in Watauga Co., NC. Edna Mae was born Jul. 14, 1904 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., and died Aug. 21, 1980 in Shelby, Cleveland Co., NC. She was the daughter of Joshua Clingman and Martha Anne Day Story. Wiley and Edna are buried at the Catawba Memorial Park in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC. Edna was a school teacher and also worked for the US Postal Service.



This photograph is of Wiley Earl Coffey, Jr. and wife Lee Ann Wagner on their wedding day. Wiley began his naval career as an enlisted man and rose to the rank of Lt. Commander with 30 years of service. After retirement from the Navy, Wiley, Jr. joined the Merchant Marine and served for another 20 years, rising to the rank of Captain. Quite a remarkable career!

Wiley died on Aug. 14, 2004 at Virginia Beach, VA. and is buried in that city.

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

Other NC Cemeteries With Coffey Burials

I am searching for accurate GPS coordinates and/or driving directions to the following:

Sam Coffey Cemetery near Lenoir in Caldwell County: Is this cemetery also known as Leonard Coffey Cemetery? There is a Leno [sic] Coffey buried there, born 1857, died 1927.

Coffey Family Cemetery, Roseborough, Avery Co., NC: Buried here, among others, is Buena Vista Coffey, daughter of Raban Scott and Margaret E. Hollander Coffey. She was born Aug. 27, 1891, died Apr. 6, 1987 and was the wife of John Sherman Coffey. Who else is buried here?

Coffey Family Cemetery, Andrews, Cherokee Co., NC: James Louis Coffey, born Aug. 8, 1943, died May 21, 2002, son of Leason Herman and Lucille Mae Rector Coffey, is buried here. Who else is buried here?

I can be reached at the above e-mail address.

Coffey Cemeteries in Watauga Co., NC

As might be imagined, it is quite difficult for someone in Louisiana to determine official vs local names of the various Coffey cemeteries in Watauga Co.

Burial information is available on various websites listing individuals buried in "Coffey Family Cemetery" but, I am unsure if they are all in the same cemetery.

Please contact me if you can provide "official" names and locations and/or, accurate GPS coordinates for any of the Watauga Co. cemeteries where the following are buried:

Thomas Carlton and Martha Ellen Cook Coffey Family:

Thomas Carlton Coffey, born Jan. 1, 1853, died Dec. 17, 1915
Martha Ellen Cook Coffey, born Jul. 3, 1858, died Mar. 25, 1939
Emma L. Coffey, born Jan. 21, 1880, died Jul. 10, 1885
Franklin M. Coffey, born Jan. 6, 1890, died 10 Feb. 1890
James Burton Coffey, born Feb. 11, 1878, died Nov. 2, 1900
Thomas Carlton Coffey, Jr., born May 1, 1895, died May 1, 1895

Children of Marion Oliver and Lydia Ruth Edmisten Coffey:

John Robert Coffey, born Aug. 12, 1922, died Oct. 11, 1923
Marion Audra Coffey, born Oct. 6, 1924, died Jan. 8, 1925
Sadie Ruth Coffey, born Mar. 4, 1926, died Feb. 15, 1927
William Ray Coffey, born May 27, 1920, died Nov. 10, 1996

Millard Winfield Day Family:

Nancy Isabelle Coffey, wife of Millard Winfield Day, born Oct. 3, 1876, died Dec. 12, 1834
Anna Selma Day, daughter of Millard, born Jan. 17, 1906, died Jun. 8, 1908

George Hamilton Hayes Family:

Rosa Ethel (Rosie) Coffey, wife of George Hamilton Hayes, born Jan. 15, 1883, died Jan. 2, 1940
Joseph Ransom Hayes, son of George and Rosa, born Sep. 10, 1912, died Feb. 13, 2005

Smith W. Coffey Family:

Smith W. Coffey, born May 1832, died Jan. 11, 1916 in Carter Co., TN, buried in Coffey Cemetery at Shull Mills, NC. Son of Squire and Ella (Alley?) Webb Coffey.
Elizabeth Redmond [sic], wife of Smith, born Jun. 25, 1836, died May 20, 1912

Henry Boone Coffey Family:

Virginia Frances (Jennie) Brown, born Sep. 25, 1878, died Jul. 1, 1962, buried at Shulls Mill.

I can be reached at the above e-mail address.