Alton Powell Coffey

Alton Powell Coffey, and his twin Arthur Livingston Coffey were born on July 3, 1904 in Nashville, Brown Co., IN to William Lewis and Rosa Belle Clarke Coffey.  William Lewis was a son of Richard L. and Julia Mattie Mason Coffey in the Edward Coffey/Ann Powell line.

Alton's other siblings were Lela Marie, born 1895, for whom I have no information; James William Wendell Coffey, 1902, died 1973 at Tucson, Pima Co., AZ and, Marguerite, 1910, again no info.  Arthur died in 1972 and is buried at Greenlawn in Nashville, Brown Co., IN.

Alton graduated from high school in about 1922 and began study at the John Herron Art School in Indianapolis.  For four years he studied under William Forsyth and Clifton Wheeler and, became an accomplished artist. Although he had studied figure and still life painting, he produced memorable landscape paintings.

I believe many of his paintings are being sold today at auction.  Some details are available at the Ask/Art website where I found these samples.  Some other of his paintings can be found by searching for "Alton Powell Coffey" on Google.

Note:  I believe that in order to get anything other than what you see on the Ask/Art website, you have to become a patron through paid membership.  I believe that membership can be on a monthly or yearly basis.

Alton married Pauline Wilkinson, born May 11, 1919 in Brown Co. on Sep. 11, 1937.  They appeared in the Apr. 24, 1940 census in Wayne Township, Marion Co., IN when he was 35 and Pauline was about 18.  Although married for nearly three years, they did not have any children.  Alton was employed as an inspector of motors in an aviation motor plant.  In 1942, the couple appeared in the Indianapolis city directory, residing at 4924 W. 24th.

He died in Jul., 1978 at the age of 74 in Brown Co. and is thought to have also been buried at Greenlawn Cemetery in Nashville, Brown Co.  with his mother and father.  I have not found any clues yet to the death date or place of burial for Pauline.  She was not yet 60 when Alton died and may have remarried.

Updates and corrections welcomed.

  Jack

William Coffey, Victoria Cross & Distinguished Conduct Medal

William Coffey, born in Knocklong, County Limerick, Ireland, died July 13, 1875 of dysentery at Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.  Wikipedia, in the entry for William, tells us that Sheffield is "historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire."

William was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the face of the enemy.  It is the "highest and most prestigious award that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces."

When he was 25 years old he was assigned as a private in the 34th Regiment, serving in the Crimean War.  He was awarded the medal for action on March 29, 1855 at Sebastopol when he threw a live shell over a trench parapet, saving many lives.

While serving in India he rose to the rank of Sergeant.  He is rumored to have died at his own hand in 1875 but his death certificate reports that he died of dysentery at Stonegravels, Chesterfield.

William is buried at Spital Cemetery at Chesterfield in Derbyshire, England.

---

Sources:

Find A Grave; Wikipedia

Sgt. Robert John Coffey

The Vermont Civil War organization honors their Canadian-born hero, Robert John Coffey on their website.

According to information at that site, Coffey was born in St. Johns, New Brunswick, Canada on Dec. 15, 1842 and, moved to Montpelier, VT in 1853.

The Medal of Honor was awarded to Coffey for "single-handedly" capturing "two officers and five privates of the 8th Louisiana Regiment" during the battle at Banks Ford, VA.  The award came in 1892, almost 30 years after the end of the war.

On Nov. 13, 1867 Coffey married Demis Hattie
Burnham in Montpelier.  From this union, at least one child was born:  George Burnham Coffey was born  on Sep. 7, 1872 at Waitsfield, VT.  Unfortunately, the child died on May 28, 1874 of "cerebral meningitis."

In the 1870 census, Robert reported his occupation as "day laborer," born in Vermont.  I do not find the couple in 1880.  In the 1900 census he was found as superintendent of the Vermont State Soldier's Home at Bennington.  Robert confirmed his birth as Dec., 1842 in New Brunswick; his parents were born in Ireland.  Demis gave her birth date as Sep., 1848 in VT and reported that she was the mother of 1, none living!  Her occupation was "Matron" of the Home.  Included in the household was a daughter, Nellie, age 20, born Sep., 1879 in VT.

Robert died in Vermont on July 9, 1901 and was buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier.  His July 10, 1901 obituary in the New York Times reported that "Col. Robert J. Coffey" of Bennington "...died at his home there yesterday of apoplexy."

Demis and Nellie appeared in the Bennington Co. census for 1910.  Nellie was named as Demis' "adopted daughter," who was also an accountant in a real estate office.  I have not found Nellie in any census record after 1910.

Demis died in 1911 and is also buried at Green Mount.  Nellie died, apparently unmarried, in 1958 and was buried in the plot with her parents.

Pvt. James F. Ayers

Awarded for actions during the Indian Campaigns

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private James F. Ayers, United States Army, for rapid pursuit, gallantry, energy, and enterprise in an engagement with Indians on 23 April 1875, while serving with Company H, 6th U.S. Cavalry, in action at Sappa Creek, Kansas.

General Orders: Date of Issue: November 16, 1876

Action Date: April 23, 1875

Service: Army

Rank: Private

Company: Company H

Division: 6th U.S. Cavalry


James F. Ayers is thought to have been born c1849 in OH.  He married Matilda R. Shiller on Apr. 28, 1883 at Junction City in Geary Co., KS.*

In what has become a controversial battle, Sappa Creek has been described by some authors** as a "massacre."

Led by Lt. Austin Henely, who had immigrated from Ireland to the US and later graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point, his Co. H of the 6th Cavalry and a detachment of troops from Co. K of the 19th US Infantry, attacked on Apr. 23, 1875 a band of Cheyennes on Sappa Creek in Kansas.  Reports indicate that between 19 and 27 Cheyenne were killed while only two soldiers were killed.  Eight Medals of Honor were awarded to members of the military for their actions on that date.

The following citation was provided by the Museum of the Kansas National Guard found at http://www.kansasguardmuseum.org/mohrks.html

PVT JAMES F. AYERS


Organization: Company H, 6th U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Sappa Creek, Kans., 23 April 1875. Entered service at: ------. Birth: Collinstown, Va. Date of issue: 16 November 1876. Citation: Rapid pursuit, gallantry, energy, and enterprise in an engagement with Indians.

---

Ayers and Matilda had at least three children during their marriage; he died on Jan. 18, 1895, probably in Junction City, and was buried at Fort Riley Post Cemetery, Fort Riley, KS.  One of the children was a daughter, Maude, born Jan. 25, 1885 in OK.

Maude's mother married a second time on Nov. 5, 1896 at Junction City to William G. Leithoff, a native of Rhode Island, born there in 1866.  They also had several children.

Maude was married on May 14, 1903 to Jonathon Horton Coffey (Estes***) and they had three children:  Lawrence A., born Feb. 19, 1904 in KS, died Dec. 10, 1975 in Wyandotte Co., KS, and was buried at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery in Topeka, Shawnee Co., KS; Hellen, born c1907, said to have married a Mr. Bodagllalacqua+; and, Walter John, born Feb. 5, 1912, died Jun. 19, 1964 in Kansas City, MO.  He is buried at Leavenworth National Cemetery at Leavenworth, KS.

Jonathon and Maude lived at least 15 years in Geary Co. and was in Shawnee Co. before 1930.++  He died on Oct. 31, 1961 in Norton, Norton Co., KS.  Maude died Oct. 10, 1969 in Topeka.  Both are buried at Penwell-Gabel.

Additions and corrections welcomed!

 Jack

---

Footnotes:

* "Kansas Marriages, 1840-1935", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FW2B-VBW : accessed 19 May 2014), James F. Ayres and Matilda R. Schiller, 28 Apr 1883; citing Junction City, Geary, Kansas, reference p 62; FHL microfilm 1685972.

** John H. Monnett, Author, Massacre at Cheyenne Hole: Lieutenant Austin Heneley and the Sappa Creek Controversy (Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado, 1999), Book Review.

*** See blog posts http://tinyurl.com/n8gara4 and http://tinyurl.com/lfag63r

+ This surname not yet found by me in any Kansas record.

++ They appeared in the 1910 and 1920 Geary Co., census, the 1930 Shawnee Co., census and in 1940 were recorded in Pawnee Co., KS

William "Willie" Calvin Coffey

1910 Whitman Co., WA Census

Willie was born on Apr. 13, 1906 in Revere, Whitman Co., WA to Len W. Coffey.  Len was born c1878 in NC.  His wife's name is unknown but, she too was born in NC.  They appeared in the May, 1910 census for Union Pct., Whitman Co., WA and although enumerated, the mother's given name was not provided.

Willie returned to North Carolina before 1935.  It was on Oct. 8 of 1934 that he married Macy A. Martin, a daughter of Nelson Harper and Martha Virginia "Mattie" Bradshaw Martin.

Macy had a brother, Roby Sherrill Martin. born Apr. 10, 1890 in Yadkin Valley, NC, died Jul. 27, 1962 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  Roby was married to Sarah Ivalee Crisp in Patterson, Caldwell Co., NC in Jan., 1913.  In Dec., 1913 their first child, William Lee "Billie" Martin was born.  Billie Married Blanch Gertrude Wellborn, a daughter of Joseph Harrison and Carrie Elizabeth Coffey Wellborn.  Carrie was a daughter of Thomas (son of William, Jr. & Margaret Robbins Coffey) and Rachel M. Coffey Coffey (a daughter of McCaleb and Elizabeth "Betsy" Collett Coffey).

Willie died on Dec. 3, 1988 in Caldwell Co., and Macy died there in Sep. 10, 1990.  Unfortunately, I do not yet know where they were buried.  They were parents of at least two sons:  William Harper, born c1936 and Thomas Lemuel, born 1939.  They appeared in the 1940 census in Mulberry Twp., Caldwell Co. with Macy's widower father.

Question:  Who were parents of Len W. Coffey?

 Jack

---

Mystery solved, thanks to Bradley Ingels.  

William Calvin "Willie" Coffey was the son of William Lemuel and Faunnie Lambreth [sic] Coffey.  William Lemuel was a son of John Calvin and Nancy Caroline Tuttle Coffey.  The 1920 census for Caldwell Co. shows Willie living in the household with his uncle, William L. Lamburth [sic].  Willie's mother, Faunnie Lambreth Coffey died in June, 1910 and was buried at the Gragg Cemetery in Collettsville, Caldwell Co.  His father remarried in 1913 to Mamie A. Neff in Crook Co., OR and in 1920 they were living in Deschutes Co., OR while Willie was in NC.

William Lemuel died in Sunnyside, Yakima Co., WA on Jul. 14, 1957.  I have not yet found his burial site or, info on second wife.

Hardy Mills (perhaps) and what Coffey Woman?

Those of you who have followed this blog from the beginning know that I am not a direct descendant of any male descendant of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.  Instead, DNA shows me to be a ggg-grandson of a man named Lilburn Jackson Coffee who was a descendant of William and Sarah Ellis Mills.  My 37-marker DNA test shows a perfect match to others who also descend from this Mills family. Additionally, the DNA test result for a descendant of a brother to my gg-grandfather matches mine.

While searching for whichever of William and Sarah's descendants might be my ancestor, I have more or less concluded their son Hardy is the most likely candidate.  He was born in Halifax Co., NC c1763 and died Mar. 6, 1841 in Greencastle, Putnam Co., IN.

Hardy was found on the Wilkes Co. 1787 tax rolls in Captain Ferguson's District and, again in 1830 Hawkins Co., TN.  Other names found on the 1787 list, and pertinent to this genealogy were:  John Coffee (owned stud horse), Thomas Coffee, Reuben Coffee (two, one with note "Estate of James Coffee, dec'd.), Elender Coffee, Benjamin Coffee (owned stud horse), Jane Coffee.

Except for Ellender, these Coffey names match children of John Coffey and Jane Graves.  John Coffey died in 1775 so Jane Coffee could be his widow.  The James Coffee, dec'd would also be a son of John and Jane, who died in Wilkes Co. in 1786.

In Captain Isbell's District I found Joel Coffee, and Colbey [sic] Rucker.  Hardy appeared in the 1784-1787 (enumerated in 1785) NC State Census as a white male, age 21-60, with a white female in the household.  Families adjacent to him were John Coffey, Thomas Coffee [sic], Reubin Coffey, Elizabeth Coffey, Stephen Carpenter and, Benjamin Coffey.  Stephen Carpenter was father of Hardy's wife, Frances Carpenter.

With an age spread as required at the time by the NC census, it is impossible to accurately determine the age of any person enumerated.  Elizabeth Coffey appears in the census as head of household and likely a widow.  I believe she would have been Elizabeth Cleveland, the widow of Rev. James Coffey.  There were no males 21-60 in the household but, there were two males under 21, 1 female and 3 blacks. I don't know how old Elizabeth was, but if she was James' widow, she would been in her 50's.

James and Elizabeth had only two daughters that I know of: Elizabeth, born c1751 and Martha, born c1758.  I believe Elizabeth would have been deceased in Wayne Co., KY before my GGG Coffey was born.  Martha died in Wayne Co. in 1826 but was married and believed to be in KY before the Rev. War began.

My GGG named his first daughter Mary Elizabeth, perhaps after his own mother.  His second daughter was Margaret, apparently named for his wife's mother, Margaret Lloyd Taylor.  He named his first two sons John Fielding; John perhaps for his father-in-law, whose middle name we do not know.  His second son was, James M. for perhaps Pres. James Madison (1751-1836) or, James Mills.  James M. Coffee was my paternal g-grandfather.  Lilburn then had a son whom he named for himself and later a daughter named Ellen.

John, another son of William and Sarah, John Mills, birth unknown but probably between 1770 and 1780, married Alice "Allie" Coffey in Wilkes Co., NC on Mar. 19, 1804.  Allie was a daughter of Ambrose and Mildred "Millie" Moore Coffey, born c1788 in Burke Co.  Ambrose was a grandson of John and Jane Graves Coffey.

These bits and pieces of circumstantial evidence gives me a bit of confidence that I am somewhat justified in considering Hardy, an older brother to John, as my ancestor.

The first problem that I have is the probability that Hardy left NC before 1820.  A Hardy Mills, and the only Mills,  was in Pulaski Co., GA in 1820 and in Hawkins Co., TN in 1830.  He was in Indiana from at least 1837 to death in 1841.  Of course, he could have learned in 1819 that he had impregnated a young woman - he would have been in his late 50's by 1820 - and decided to head to a safer place.  He had married Frances Carpenter in Wilkes Co. in 1785.  I do not know when she died, but the 1820 GA census does not list a woman of the right age to have been Frances.  There was such a female in the 1830 household in Hawkins Co. which might mean a second wife.  There were no Coffey families in Pulaski Co., GA in 1820.  There was a Thomas Coffee [sic] in Wilkes Co., GA that year.

Another problem, and perhaps the one most difficult to overcome at the moment is the possibility that one of Hardy's sons could have been my ancestor.  He had at least four, three of which would have been old enough to sire children by 1820.

One son, James, was born c1782 in Wilkes Co.; Henry and William followed James in 1798 and 1799-1800 respectively.  James married in before 1804 at Tazewell in Claiborne Co., TN.  Henry married in 1820 at Rockingham Co., NC and. William married in Jefferson Co., TN in 1819.  Based purely on birth years, of his other sone, there were likely more children born to Hardy between 1782 and 1798.  Another son, Hardy, Jr. was born c1808 and would have been only about 12-14 years old when my ancestor was born.

Clearly, more census work is needed to determine what Coffey and Mills families were living in TN counties other than Hawkins in c1820 and 1830.  That will help determine if any were living within spittin' distance of any Mills related to William and Sarah Ellis Mills.  Coffey families on the tax rolls and living adjacent to Hardy in 1787 need to be studied more and time lines developed.  I see no other way to eliminate the various Coffey females until I find the one who perhaps had a liaison with Hardy.

 Jack

Jacob Morris & Mary Jane Lotts Coffey

---

Jacob Morris Coffey

Mary Jane Lotts Coffey

Jacob* was a son of Alfred James and Martha Ann Bradley Coffey.  He and Mary Jane Lotts were married on Mar. 25, 1902 in Lexington, VA.  Mary Jane was born Aug. 26, 1882 in VA to David and Mary Jane Lucas Lotts.

She died on May 6, 1929 in Rockbridge Co.; he died on May 23, 1922, also in Rockbridge Co.  Both are buried at Timber Ridge ARP Church Cemetery in Rockbridge Co.

Jacob's parents are also buried at Timber Ridge.  Mary Jane's father, who died on May 4, 1908 is said to be buried at Dutch Hollow Cemetery near Greenville, in Augusta Co.  Her mother's death date and burial location is not known to me.

---

*See earlier blog for this family at http://tinyurl.com/n62caev

Vice Adm. Howard Harrison Good and Quincy Margaret Coffey

Adm. Howard Harrison Good (c1950)

Margaret, as she was called, was a daughter of James Alexander and Selina B. Fitzgerald Coffey.  She was born at Massies Mill in Nelson Co., VA in Sept., 1898.  She undoubtedly was married prior to her union on Jun. 29, 1945 at age 46 in the District of Columbia, Washington to Adm. Howard Harrison Good.  The marriage record reports her name as Margaret Coffey Eddiegorde.  That is probably a misinterpretation of her husband's surname but, I cannot be sure.  In any event, I have not found a marriage record for her prior to the one in 1945.  A short bio that I found also reports that Adm. Good had been previously married to a Miss Maria T., from whom he was divorced in 1939.  The 1940 census has Capt. Howard H. Good (divorced) and son, Edward L., age 20, residing in a DC apartment complex.

Up until the Japanese attack on our forces at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Good had remained pretty much in the DC area.  I found him returning to Seattle aboard the SS President Jackson on Apr. 1 1938 from a trip to Hong Kong.  He reported then that he was part of the "Navy Department in Washington, D.C."

Howard Harrison Good was born in Warren, Huntington Co., IN on Aug. 12, 1888.  He attended Warren High School and the Naval Academy.  He was in command of the heavy cruiser New Orleans* at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea, in May, 1942 as Captain of the New Orleans. After that battle he rescued many of the crew of the Lexington.

He was in the great Battle of Midway in June, 1942, and then assumed command of Cruiser Division Five, having been promoted to rear admiral in May, 1942. His cruiser division participated in many South Pacific operations, including the Battle of Santa Cruz. Thereafter he served for two years as head of the Base Maintenance Division, in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Subsequently he commanded United States naval forces in the Philippines, and was commandant of the Thirteenth Naval District, Seattle, from 1948 to 1950. He retired as a vice admiral in 1950.

He and Margaret were married for 18 years before his death in Aug. 12, 1963. Margaret died on May 13, 1971 at Roanoke Rapids in Halifax Co., NC and buried alongside her husband at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.  They are said to have had one son, Edward L. Good.   However, the child was born c1919, while Howard and Marie were still married.  The only information that I have for Marie is her birth, c1893 in Wisconsin.

  Jack

*http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/032/04032.htm

William Coffey and the Whitecaps!

The St. Louis Republic, November 03, 1901

William Coffey Is Again In Jail

This Time a Young Woman Prefers a Charge of Assault, Which He Denies

Before Courts Ten Years

First Gained Notoriety for His Prosecution of Whitecaps*, Who Beat Himself and Wife Unmercifully

William Coffey
from St. Louis Republic article

Evansville, Ind., Nov. 2, -- William Coffey of whitecap fame is again in jail at Jasper, having been arrested a few days ago at a small station on the Southern road near Huntingburg, on a charge of attempted assault, preferred by Miss Ella Smith of Ireland.

It is said that to try all the cases in which Coffey has been plaintiff or defendant would take a continuous session of court for a solid year.

Coffey first came into prominence when he as whipped by whitecaps in December, 1890.  He was living with his wife, Mary, in a little log hut near Ellsworth, sixteen miles east of here, near the Crawford County line.

Just what the whitecaps had against him will never be known, as no one would own up to being one of the crowd.

About midnight on December 4, 1890, while he was at home asleep with his wife and 4-years-old girl, a noise of running men was heard, and his door was broken in by a cross-tie.  A dozen masked men rushed into the room and, without allowing him to dress, dragged him out into the cold night.  He was taken about 200 feet from the house and tied to a tree, after being blindfolded.  His shirt was stripped off his back, and the leader, whom Coffey always maintained was John H. Brown, a prominent and well-to-do farmer of the neighborhood, gave the order for “No. 1” to proceed.

Beaten by Whitecaps.

“No. 1” stepped forward, picked up a strong hickory with, and gave Coffey five vigorous blows on the back.  Coffey claimed that “No. 1: was Thomas Higfill.  “No. 1,: at the command of the leader, was followed by “No. 2.” “No. 3,” “No. 4” and “No. 5,” who each gave him five hard lashes as “No. 1” had done.  Not a word was spoken by anyone except the leader.  No names were spoken, each member being designated by number.  About twenty-five were present, all disguised and masked.  Coffey did not pretend to know all the crowd, but insisted that “No. 2: was Henry Sutton and “No 3” William Highfill.  Among others he

claimed to recognize were James Ellis, Levi Ellis, Levi Jacobs and John and Wesley Kellams.  All these were prominent and well-respected men.

At the January term of court Judge Oscar M. Welborn gave pointed instructions to the Grand Jury and directed them to return bills against all the whitecappers if any evidence could be secured against them.  Both Coffey and his wife appeared before the Grand Jury and identified each of the suspected men and several others, but the Grand Jury refused to return any bills.

Again Beaten.

During the following spring and summer there were numerous whitecap outrages along the Dubois and Crawford County line, about twenty people being whipped. Excitement was at fever heat.  Coffey publicly announced that he would give the gang $10 if they would come back and try to whip him again.  In August, 1891, both he and his wife were taken out of bed, stripped, tired to trees and given a fearful beating.  The whitecaps told Coffey that they wanted the $10 that he had promised, and that if he did not keep his mouth shut this was only half what he would get next time.  They then mounted their horses and left a top speed, going toward Birdseye.

Coffey and his wife made their way to his mother’s house, a quarter of a mile distant, where Coffey fell fainting in her door from loss of blood.  His life was despaired of for more than three weeks.  He finally recovered and he and his wife appeared before the September Grand Jury and testified that the same men whipped him who had whipped him the year before.  Though Judge Welborn gave charge after charge and time and again sent them back to their rooms, the jurors refused to return any whitecap indictments.  John H. Brown, whom Coffey identified as leader, was foreman of the Grand Jury.  They did, however, return two or three bills against Coffey for provoke [sic] and assault and battery.

Alleged Whitecaps Tried.

During all this time the newspapers all over the country were urging the prosecution of the whitecappers and were wanting to know why it was not done.  As soon as court was over Coffey was sent for by Deputy Prosecutor Richard M. Milburn and affidavits were made against all the parties whom Coffey claimed to recognize.

All were arrested and demanded a change from Judge Welborn.  This was granted and Thomas Duncan of Princeton was appointed special Judge to try the cases.  The first case to be tried was that of John H. Brown.  The trial lasted a week.  More than fifty witnesses testified that Coffey’s reputation for truth was bad.

After being out twenty-four hours the jury brought in a verdict of guilty, fixing Brown’s punishment at two years in the penitentiary.  Brown escaped and has never been seen in the county since.  He is said to be in Texas.

The next cases to be tried were those of Thomas Highfil [sic] and his son, William.  Each occupied a week.  Thomas was found not guilty and William was given two years in State Prison.  He served his time and is now living in the eastern part of this county.  Henry Sutton pleaded illness and his case was continued.

It is now seen that the back of the defense was broken and that unless something desperate was done that all of the defendants would go to the Penitentiary, as there were three cases against each defendant, two for whipping Coffey and one for whipping his wife.

Charged with Perjury.

A change of venue was granted and the cases sent to Pike County.  At this state of the game, it is said one of the accused men offered Coffey $7,000 is he would make an affidavit that he had nothing to do with the whipping and was not present.  Coffey agreed to this.  The money was to be placed in a hollow oak tree and as soon as he had signed the affidavits he was to go and get the money.  However, when he signed the papers and went to look for the money he found nothing bu some strips of brown paper.

Shortly afterwards, Sutton’s case was called and these affidavits introduced in evidence.  Sutton was acquitted and the prosecution in disgust quashed the remaining cases.

Coffey was indicted for perjury, but escaped.  He wandered around and was arrested at Vincennes for stealing a turkey and sent to the penitentiary for a year.  Upon the expiration of his sentence he was arrested on an old charge of perjury at Petersburg.  The jury, after hearing the evidence for a week, were out for three days and failed to agree.  After this the case was continued a time or two and, after Coffey had been in jail for nearly a year, he was released by the Judge on his own bond.  The officers hoped he would leave and never come back for trial, but on the first day of the next court he was on hand.  After an attempt to get the witnesses, the case was nolled. [sic]

Trouble With His Wife.

Coffee [sic] had three cases for damages against each of the parties charged with taking part in whitecapping him, but never recovered anything.  He and his wife separated, and he was arrested on the charge of sending a letter containing obscene matter through the mails to her.  He was taken to Evansville and lodged in jail, and after an examination by Commissioner Wartmen was bound over to the United States District Court at Indianapolis and sent to the Marion County jail to await trial.  After laying in jail for about three months he was found not guilty.  Returning to Dubois County, he had his wife arrested on the change of kidnapping and sued her for divorce.  She beat him in both cases.  A second application for divorce was more successful, but he was prohibited from marrying again for two years.  Notwithstanding this order he married again inside of ten days.  He was arrested for contempt of court, but beat the case on a technicality.

Since then he has figured in two or three cases of some sort at every term of court.  He is about 35 years old, is a hard worker and can do as much manual labor in a day as any man in the county.  A few nights ago Miss Ella Smith of Ireland claims he broke into her room where she was sleeping with some younger brothers and sisters and attempted to assault her.  An outcry from the children, however, frightened him and he fled.  Her father and mother were both away and this was about midnight.  She swore out a warrant against him.  He is now in jail awaiting trial on this charge and denies that he is guilty.

*Whitecaps were also known as Night Riders

Please write if you know who William's parents were!

  Jack

Coffey Cousins' 2014 Reunion Is Over!

Another Coffey Cousins' reunion is over!

If I have counted correctly, it was number 30; the first was held in Boone, NC in 1984.

This one was hosted in Brownsburg, IN by Donna Wolfe Hoy who was ably assisted by her husband, Jon.  A grandson, Alexander Clark also lent a hand in assuring that everything went smooth.

Nelda and I left south Louisiana on Wednesday morning, the 23d of April and headed east on I-10.  We eventually turned north on I-55 through MS, across a corner of TN through Memphis, into AR, MO and IL before finally reaching IN Thursday afternoon.

If you don't already know, the US interstate system is rapidly deteriorating and those infamous "orange barrels" were everywhere.  I'm certain those areas under repair needed it, but so did every other mile that we travelled.  I found I-55 through AR, MO and IL to be in very deplorable condition.

When we finally arrived at the Comfort Suites in Brownsburg we were met first by Donna and Jon then later by Tom Coffey, down from MN.  Arriving even earlier from Washington State was Chuck and Linda Maki and Linda's cousin, Cindy Marriott.  They descend from Reuben and Polly Dowell Coffey and had success finding ancestral cemeteries in the area.

Others attending were Nancy Scott and Kathy Whitson, hosts of last years gathering in Eureka, IL; Jean and Wayne Mower of DE; Larry and Mary Coffey of NJ; Danny and Glenda Coffey of KY.  Again, if I have correctly counted, there were 20 of us who gathered to remember previous reunions as well as Coffey ancestors.

Photo From the IHS Facebook Page

After a discussion and several proposals, we have decided to return to Tennessee for the 2015 reunion.  It appears that Mooresville in Grainger Co. will be our target with hopes of pulling a lot of Coffeys and Daltons out of the mountains to attend.  Kathy Whitson, whose Coffey ancestry is in Grainger Co., has volunteered to head up planning and arrangements.  Because she is a professor at Eureka College in Eureka, IL, she will be unable to get away until after May graduation.  So, look for the reunion to take place sometime about mid-May.

Watch for the June issue of the Coffey Cousins' newsletter for more details on the Indiana gathering and our visit to the Indiana Historical Society.