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