Lafayette Jackson Coffey

This death certificate is a tad bit difficult to read. It is for Lafayette Jackson Coffey who died in Angelina Co., TX on Jun. 10, 1950. According to the document, he was born Sep. 13, 1866 in Hope, [Hempstead Co.] AR to Lilburn Jackson and Lucindi [sic] Sutton Coffey. The informant was George J. Coffey, likely a son.

I have previously written about my GGG-grandfather, Lilburn Coffee. He brought his family from TN to Hempstead Co., AR and settled in the Hope area in about 1850. His first wife, Sarah Hannah Taylor died in March, 1860 and, in 1861 he married Lucinda Sutton. Lilburn died c1877 and I have been unable to find Lucinda in the 1880 census. She was alive however, because in 1883 she asked the county that her father William Sutton be designated a pauper and paid the sum of $10 per month.

I suspect that this Lilburn Jackson, father of Lafayette, is a previously unknown son of my ancestor Lilburn. If he is, he would likely be with his mother in the 1880 census, but neither of them can be found. Neither Lilburn Jackson nor his son Lafayette Jackson has been found in any census through the 1930 enumeration.

A death record has been found for George Jackson Coffey who died in Angelina Co., TX on Jun. 3, 1991. He is likely the George J. Coffey who was the informant on Lafayette's death certificate, and he has also not been found in any census record.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you have any information on any of these Coffey families.

Godparents who helped steer a nation's aviation history

"The Coffeys lavished me with unconditional love and gifts galore - nothing was out of reach for "the godchild." And, because he was so generous and unassuming, my parents were astonished when they discovered that Cornelius Coffey was a world-class aviator."

"Born in Arkansas in 1903, Coffey was fascinated with cars and mechanics as a kid. He had a brilliant, analytical mind that grasped every intricate detail of how car engines and parts work."

Thus begins a short tribute by Rhonda Sherrod of Huntsville, AL to her godfather Cornelius Coffey. The tribute appeared in the March 16, 2008 issue of The Huntsville Times, Huntsville, AL.

Click on the title link to read the complete article.

Mary E. Coffee Ames

Mary E. Coffee was the sister of my great-grandfather, James M. Coffee and the wife of Finis E. Ames. She was born c1848 in Tennessee and died Apr. 21, 1916 in Hope, Hempstead Co., AR. She and Finis were married on Sep. 5, 1869 in Hempstead Co. in a ceremony officiated by H. D. McKennon, MG.

Finis is believed to be the son of Sylvester C. and Delila Brown Ames. He was born Apr. 27, 1844 in Mississippi and died Jan. 19, 1916 in Hope. His siblings are thought to have been: Brother O., born 1845, Mary E., born c1847; Sylvester, born 1851; George Washington, born 1856, and Jonathan Ashmore, born 1857.

Mary and Finis were found in the 1870 Hempstead Co., Ozan Twp. census. In 1880 they were in Bowie Co., TX, and were neighbors of the William Watson family. The 1900 census found them back in Hempstead Co. Finis reported that his parents were born in Michigan. Finis was also on the Hempstead Co. voter rolls for the years 1892-1893, and 1897-1898. The family apparently moved several times between Texas and Arkansas.

Of the few remaining burial sites that can be identified in the old Hanegan-Robinson cemetery near Old Washington, Hempstead Co., is that of Finis and Mary.

The newspaper, Star of Hope, the forerunner of the present day Hope Star, wrote on Jan. 19, 1916, page 4:

"AMES, F. E., one of the oldest and best known citizens of this section, died this morning at his home about 1 mile north of Hope."

The same newspaper wrote on Apr. 29, 1916, page 4:

"AMES, Mrs. F. E., at an advanced age, died at the home of her son, E. E. Ames, near this city last Friday. Her death was preceded by that of her husband only recently."

Children of Finis and Mary were:

William W. (Willie), born May., 1872. He married Emma, last name unknown, c1894. They had at least three children: Fred C., born Nov., 1896; Clara J., born Dec., 1897; and Hazel, born Jan., 1900.

Albert Alexander, born Jan. 29, 1874 in Hempstead Co., and married Marie, last name unknown, who was born in Louisiana c1887.

Everett Edward, born Jul. 5, 1876 in Hempstead Co., and died there on Sep. 29, 1930. He married Ollie Herrin c1906. She was born in Texas on Feb. 13, 1887 and died Sep. 5, 1980 in Hempstead Co.

Their children were:

- Pauline, born c1907, died Jul., 1912;

- Hernand0 (Uncle Bub), born Dec. 20, 1908, died May, 1982; Jewel Edward, born Nov. 22, 1914, died Nov., 1967; and William, who died c1943. Hernando married Cathleen G., last name unknown, c1929. She was born in Arkansas on Aug. 24, 1907 and died Nov. 20, 1999 in Sour Lake, Hardin Co., TX. There was at least one child, Jimmie D., born Sep., 1929.

- Jewel Edward, born Nov. 22, 1914, died Nov., 1967; and

- William, who died c1943

Everett Edward Ames registered for the draft in Hempstead Co. on Sep. 12, 1918. He was described as having of medium height and build with blue eyes and light colored hair. He was 41 yrs. old; born July 4, 1876. He was a self-employed farmer at RFD #4, in Hope where he resided with his wife Margaret Olive Ames.

Harry, born Nov., 1879

John, born Jun., 1885

I would really like to hear from any descendants of Sylvester and Delila Brown Ames. I can be reached at the above e-mail address.

The Watson & Courtney Families, Part II

William & Mary Eliz. Bowman Watson Family- House dog at far right!

The second child of William and Mary Elizabeth Bowman Coffee Watson was Mary Elizabeth, born Aug. 28, 1883 in Paris, Lamar Co., TX. She married George Washington Davis who was born May 17, 1875 in Arkansas, on Jan. 13, 1904 in Natural Dam, Crawford Co., AR.

George died in Sep., 1945 in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., AR. Mary died Feb. 20, 1942 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., CA. He is likely to have been the son of James Davis whose family appears in the 1880 census for Jasper, Crawford Co.

George Washington Davis registered for the draft in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., AR on Sep. 12, 1918. He was described as being tall and slender with black hair and blue eyes. He was age 43 yrs., born May 17, 1875, and was a laborer at the Fort Smith Furniture Co. in Fort Smith. He named Mary Davis of Fort Smith as his nearest relative. The registration card was signed with his mark.

The children of George and Mary were:

- James Ather, born Nov. 17, 1904, died in 1923

- Harrison Claborn, born Aug. 6, 1906, died Jun. 28, 1985 in Harbor City, Los Angeles Co., CA. He first married Blanch C. Chaffin, and second Maxine Viola Ashmore. Maxine was the daughter of Charles Elmer and Effie Daisy Patton Ashmore and was born Apr. 9, 1911 in Iowa. She died on Jul. 7, 1965 in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co. Their children were James Edward, born 1930, and Joanne Fay, born 1932.

- Lue Irene, born Mar. 7, 1910 in Natural Dam, and died Apr. 16, 1997 in Calimesa, Riverside Co., CA. Lue married four times. Her first marriage was to Eldon Lowell Ashmore (perhaps some relation to Effie who married Harrison). He was born c1908 in Page Co., IA and died Jul. 1, 1969 in Wilmington, Los Angeles Co. There were no children.

Lue Irene Davis

Lue's second marrige was to Charles Rainwater. There were no children. Her third was to Elmer F. Basinger on Nov. 8, 1924. He was born Sep. 11, 1905 in Arkansas and died on Nov. 7, 1965 in San Bernardino Co.

Two children resulted from this union: Beverly Jean and Richard Elmer.

Dwight Warren Cunningham was her fourth and last husband. Dwight was born Jul. 5, 1921 in Arkansas and died Feb. 11, 1996 in Earp, San Bernardino Co. They were married on Apr. 14, 1961 in Winterhaven, Imperial Co., CA. There were no children. Dwight was a WW2 veteran who served in the US Navy and was at Normandy on D-Day in support of the invasion of Allied Forces.

Dwight Warren Cunningham

The fourth child of George and Mary Watson Davis was Luther Ambers (Bill) Davis. he was born Oct. 12, 1912 and died Dec. 2, 1982 in Apple Valley, San Bernardino Co.

Next was Lathie Cleo, born Feb. 12, 1915, and last was George Elwood, born Feb. 9, 1919 in Fort Smith, AR. He died Dec. 24, 1997 in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co.

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

The Watson & Courtney Families, Part I

William Watson was a son of Jerry John and Susanah Lyles Watson. He was born c1848 in Perryville, Perry Co., AR. He is thought to have first married Martha L. Stevenson but nothing is known of this union.

He became part of my Coffee family when in 1879 he married Mary Elizabeth Bowman Coffee, the widow of James M. Coffee, my GG-Grandfather. Mary was the daughter of Joseph T. and Naphania Hardin Bowman.

Joseph, and his father Jesse are well known in the history of the Texas Revolution. Jesse died at the Alamo on Mar. 6, 1836. Joseph was born in Illinois and came to Texas with his parents in 1835. He married Naphania on Jan. 26, 1843 in Hempstead Co., AR.

Mary was the third of the 10 children known to have been born to Joseph and Naphania. She was born Mar. 5, 1846 in DeKalb, Bowie Co., TX. As the wife of James M. Coffee, Mary gave birth to my grandfather, Albert Lilburn Coffee in 1873. Her first child was Sarah Ellen Coffee, born Sep. 19, 1869.

She and William were married and remained in Texas until 1883 when Mary died. She is believed to have died shortly after the birth of her second child. She and William had two daughters, Lillie Wes, born Feb. 10, 1880, and Mary Elizabeth, born Aug. 28, 1883.

William is said to have served on the Confederate side during the Civil War, and either lost an arm or had one that was severely injured.

The family was in Bowie Co., TX in 1880, and both Sarah Ellen and Albert Lilburn were enumerated as step-children of William. Next door to the Watson family was the Finis Ames family. Finis was the husband of Mary E. Coffee, sister to James M.

At the death of Mary Bowman Coffey Watson, William desired to return to NW Arkansas. The Coffee children were turned over to the Ames family and William departed with his two daughters for Crawford Co., AR. His mother was still living in the Lee Creek area of Crawford Co., and this is where he is believed to have temporarily settled. He later moved into the Sequoyah Co., OK area and died in Adair Co. c1918.

His daughter Lillie married William Joseph Courtney on Dec. 23, 1896 in Crawford Co., AR. William's various records throughout nearly his entire life spelled his name Coatney. He was the son of James George and Mary Jane (Polly) Yancey, and was born Dec. 14, 1872 in Lee Creek. He died in Crawford Co. on Apr. 10, 1946.

Lillie and William had twelve children, several of which are thought to still be living:

- Willie Mae, born Dec. 10, 1898, died 1899

- Mary Lela, born Jun. 8, 1899, died Apr. 20, 1999. Mary married Jackson S. Summerlin, a son of Leander A. and Sarah Jane Lewis Summerlin. They were the parents of nine children.

- William Herbert, born Sep. 13, 1901 in Sallisaw, Sequoyah Co., OK, died May 24, 1993 in Muskogee, Muskogee Co., OK. He married a lady by the name of Ellen, and I have no additional information.

- James Virgil, born Dec. 11, 1903, married Jan. 20, 1924 to Essie (Pete) LaBass on Jan. 20, 1924 in Vian, Sequoyah Co. Essie died on Aug. 27, 2001 in Baton Rouge, LA. They were the parents of five children.

- Frankie Mae, born Feb. 15, 1905, died Jul 20, 1934

- George Lester, born Apr. 24, 1908, died Aug. 19, 1979. George married Wilma Carol and they were parents of 10 children.

- Ethel Evelyn, born Jul. 17, 1910, married Albert Clifton Young on May 13, 1928 in Sallisaw. They were parents of six children.

- Meredith Raymond, born May 27, 1912 in Greenleaf, Seequoyah Co., and died Aug. 14, 1999 in Seminole, Seminole Co., OK. he married a lady name Florence who was born Oct. 10, 1914 and died Jan., 1986 in Seminole.

- Garland Clifford, born Jul. 21, 1914, died Jn. 25, 1917

- Cecil Leonard, born Jun. 10, 1917 in Greenlead and died Mar. 26, 1990 in Box, Sequoyah Co. He married Verna Tynes.

- Samuel Harden, born Mar. 3, 1921 in Box. Married a lady named Katherine (Katy). I have no other information.

- Verlin Lorraine, born Sep. 17, 1923, died Dec. 4, 2000 in Glendora, Los Angeles Co., GA. She married Elmer C. Murray, born Jun. 27, 1897, died May, 1974 in San Diego, San Diego Co., CA.

Check out Angela's Attic* for more photographs of this and collateral families.

*Not found in Aug., 2018

Shelton Coffey (1826-1907) (Update 2)

Shelton Coffey was a son of the very prolific Rev. Reuben A. Coffey and his wife, Martha (Polly) Dowell. He was their ninth child and sixth son, born Feb. 1, 1826 in Wilkes Co., NC* and died Mar. 24, 1907 in Arkansas.

Shelton married Dicy Sanders on Oct. 23, 1845 in Monroe Co., IN. She was born Dec. 25, 1824 in that state, and died in Arkansas on Apr 6, 1900.

I have found three children for them:

- Melvin W., born May 20, 1849, died Mar. 22, 1865 in Indiana.

- Carrey Elsworth, born Feb. 11, 1867, died Mar. 4, 1907. Married 1) Cassie Lomes and had a son, Ross Elsworth, born Feb. 6, 1902. Married 2) Adelphia E. Turley and had one daughter, Mary Dicy Coffey, born Sep. 5, 1902.

- Rosa E., born Feb. 21, 1863 in Indiana, and married Thaddeus Rollison. Rosa died Jul. 9, 1920. Thaddeus was born Nov. 10, 1858 and died Aug. 29, 1953. They were parents of at least 11 children.

Shelton and Dicy appeared in the 1850 and 1870 census for Owen Co., IN. I have not yet found them in the 1860 or 1880 census. In 1900 he was enumerated as a widower in Arkansas Co., AR. Carrey, enumerated as a single man, was living with him.

During the Civil War Shelton was a member of the Indiana Volunteers, 43d Infantry.

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

Photo courtesy Janet Amtower





*Near Patterson in what is now Caldwell Co., NC

Henry Spencer and Phoebe Coffey Dix

Phoebe was born Dec. 8, 1874 in Chapin, Howell Co., MO, the daughter of Arnette and Kissiah Gray Coffey. She died Jul. 10, 1957 in McCrory, Woodruff Co., AR. She married Henry Spencer Dix Jan. 7, 1896 in West Plains, Howell Co., MO. Henry was the son of Charles A. and Martha Segar Dix. He was born May 6, 1873 in Paulding Twp., Paulding Co., OH, and died Dec. 31, 1944 in Memphis, Shelby Co., TN.

At least nine children were born to the union of Phoebe and Henry:

- Alfred Sidney, born Nov. 11, 1896, died Nov. 20, 1981. He married Lula Euphena Goss on Sep. 19, 1919 in West Plains. They had at least six children: Harold, Lester, Doris, Lewis, Robert and Charles. The family can be found in the 1920 and 1930 Jackson Co., AR Federal census record.

- Caroline, born Dec. 6, 1899 in Chapin, Howell Co., and died Oct. 8, 1989 in [probably] Arkansas. She married James David Jacobs on Dec. 12, 1920 in Beedeville, Jackson Co., AR. Both are buried in the Eight Mile Cemetery in Jackson Co., AR

- May Oma, born Dec. 10, 1901 in Chapin, died Aug. 9, 1991 in Poplar Bluff, Butler Co., MO. She married John Ephriam Marr on Sep, 4, 1921 in McFadden, Jackson Co., AR. They had at least three children: Juanita, born c1922; Earl, born c1924; and Lula Mae, born c1926. All of the children were born in Arkansas. The family appears in the 1930 Poplar Bluff, Butler Co., MO Federal census record. Both May and John are buried in the City Cemetery, Corning, Clay Co., AR.

- Lula, born Aug. 28, 1904 in Chapin, married John Bullington Sep. 29,1923 in Jackson Co., AR.

- Ollie, born Apr, 14, 1906 in Chapin, died Oct. 14, 1987 [location unknown]. She married Alfred Jacobs who was born Dec. 30, 1902, and died Aug. 13, 1966. Both are buried in the Eight Mile Cemetery, Jackson Co., AR.

- Ira, born Feb. 7, 1910 in Chapin, married Nora Williamson, born c1912

- Dorthea, born Jul. 26, 1912, married Eual Duffel Jun 8, 1929 in Jackson Co., AR

- Henry Charles, born Sep, 2, 1916 in Chapin, died Jun. 20, 1992

- Lawrence Irwin, born Apr, 13, 1919, married Lucille

Please contact me with updates and corrections.


Sources: US Federal Census; Descendants of William E. Coffee, prepared by Shirley Dawson, 11215 County Road 8470 West Plains, MO 65775 , July 19, 2005

Robert Marvin Coffee

Robert Marvin Coffee was a son of John Fielding and Fannie Thompson Coffee. He was born Sep. 30, 1879 in Arkansas, and died Apr. 14, 1944. He is buried in the Jewella Cemetery in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, LA. He can be found in the Hempstead Co., AR census records from 1880 to 1920, and in Bossier Parish, LA in 1930.

Robert was married four times:

- Martha Della Livingston on Jul. 1, 1900 in Hempstead Co. She was born about 1880. Della apparently died shortly after the marriage. There were no known children.

- Dec. 23, 1903 to Alice M. Jones. Alice, a daughter of Ab. [Abraham?] and Josephine Jones, was born Dec. 1879 in Arkansas and died Aug. 11, 1907 in Hope, Hempstead Co. There were two children born to this marriage: Johnnie [female], born c1905 in Hope, and Robert Donald, born Nov. 6, 1906 in Hope. Robert married Ruby Fuller on Jun. 1, 1945. He died Sep. 20, 1974 in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, LA.

- Third marriage was to Lucy Bell Conway, a daughter of Ninian S. and Rebecca Frances Jones Conway. He and Lucy married Dec. 24, 1907 in Hempstead Co. and were parents of two children: James Harold, born c1913, and Delores Dale.

- Fourth marriage was to Ruby G. [last name unknown], in about 1924. There are no known children from this marriage.

On Sep. 12, 1918 Robert registered for the draft in Hempstead Co. He listed his age as 38 yrs., born Sep. 30, 1879. He was a farmer who lived with Lucy Coffee at Rt. 5, Hope. His card describes him as being tall with a medium build, gray eyes and light colored hair.

Please contact me if you have any information on the descendants of Robert and any of his wives. His father and my GG-grandfather were brothers.

Sarah Ellen Coffee (1869-1952)

Sarah Ellen Coffee was sister to my grandfather, Albert Lilburn Coffee. They were children of James M. and Mary Elizabeth Bowman Coffee.

Sarah was born Sep. 19, 1869 in Texas (probably Bowie Co.; was there in 1880 census) and died Nov. 15, 1952 in South San Gabriel, Los Angeles Co., CA. She was 83 years old and buried in the Rose HIll Cemetery in San Gabriel, Los Angeles Co.

There were two men in Sarah's life. Her first husband was P. B. Hill who she married on Mar. 21, 1886 in Hempstead Co., AR. My research has found only one child from this marriage. He was James Walter Hill born Jan. 3, 1888 in Arkansas and died in Jan. 1972 in Los Angeles. James married Lillian May Brazzil c1908 in Arkansas and vanished into history until I found his death record. Descendants of Sarah's second marriage have told me that there were three children born to James and Lillian: Hazel who married a Mr. Billmeyer, or a Mr. Bill Meyer; Marydale who married Dave Charrell; and David who married but spouse's name is unknown.

A death record for P. B. Hill has not been found. However, he must have died shortly after James was born, because Sarah married her second husband, the oft married Johnathan K. Polk Sutton on Apr. 13, 1890 in Hempstead Co., AR. Mr. Sutton had been married three times prior to his marriage to Sarah: 1) Mary Elizabeth Sisco in 1868; 2) Susan Bearden in 1874; 3) Duclsey Guillams in 1888. Sarah had just turned 20 while Johnathan was 43 at the time of their marriage.

The Sutton marriage produced three children, all daughters: Mamie, born Dec. 1890; Lillian Ann, born Jun. 6, 1894; and Violet M., born Sep. 21, 1899.

Second marriage sources mentioned above have told me that Mamie married Raymond Stewart and had at least one child, a daughter named Pauline who married a Mr. Moreland.

Lillian married Harry Richard Basher, an English emigrant from Gunwallace, Cornwall, on Nov. 15, 1920. They had only one child, a daughter Dorothy Ellen Basher. Lillian also raised a son, Guy Geoffery Basher, child of Harry by his first wife who had died c1920 in Bakersfield, Kern Co., CA. Guy passed away on Dec. 11, 1988. When Harry registered for the WW1 draft on Jun. 5, 1917, he claimed English citizenship, and was employed by Kern Four Oil Co. as a driller.

Violet married Walter Allen Ballew in 1919. Walter was born on Apr. 26, 1894 in St. Louis Co., MO, and died Sep. 10, 1975 in Ellijay, Gilmer Co., GA. Violet died Jul. 30, 1979 in Ellijay. Both are buried in the Pleasant Gap Seventh-day Adventist Cemetery in Ellijay.

Violet and Walter had only one child, a son named Daniel Alvin Ballew. Unfortunately, I have not found any additional information on Daniel except that he may have lived in Hot Springs, AR.

By 1920 Sarah was a widow and residing in Little Rock, Pulaski Co., AR. She continue to live in that city through 1930, but moved to the west coast before 1940, and died there in 1952.

I am very anxious to locate descendants of Sarah. Please contact me if you have any clues.

Claiborn Mayes Coffee

According to a website maintained by the Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, Claiborn Mayes Coffee was a Presbyterian Minister. He was also a son of Richard Smith and Sarah D. Fielder Coffee, and a descendant of Peter Coffee.

Claiborn Mayes Coffee was born c1821 in Alabama, and died Apr. 11, 1892 in Arkansas. He was married to Cornelia E. Green on Dec. 17, 1840 in Lauderdale Co., AL.

According to his obituary, he and Cornelia had at least nine children.

In the 1850 Lauderdale Co. census for Div. 2, east of the Military Road, Claybourn , a shoemaker, was found with Caroline, age 25; Joshua, age 5; and Richard, age 2. All were born in Alabama. If this is Claiborn Mays Coffee, the information is contradictory to that found in the Gene Brewington book on Peter Coffee.

C. M. Coffee, age 41, a minister born in AL, and Cornelia, age 38, born VA, were found in the 1860 Lauderdale Co., AL census. The family included Miriam C., age 8; Minervous , and C.B., a male, aged 6 years.

The family is still in Lauderdale Co. in 1870. C. M. Coffee was aged 50, Cornelia, age 48; M.C.R., a male, age 14; H.C., a female, age 18, and John E., age 9. Claiborn gave his occupation as farmer.

In 1880 Claiborn was 59 years old, and listed his occupation as tanner. The census record is a little difficult to read, and the entry could possibly be R. Coffee. His wife was Caralian , age 58; daughter Miram , age 27 and single; John E., son, age 19 and single. This may or may not be the John and Caroline of interest.

Click on the title link to read Claiborn's obituary.

Contact me here with additional information or corrections.

Old State House Museum

The Arkansas Old State House Museum is physically located at 300 W. Markham in Little Rock, but has a great presence on the world wide web.

The following are the opening paragraphs of the Museum's website:

Set in the oldest surviving state capitol west of the Mississippi River, the Old State House Museum has been designated a National Historic Landmark, though it is probably best known throughout the country as the scene of President Bill Clinton's 1992 and 1996 election-night celebrations.

This magnificent Greek Revival structure overlooking the Arkansas River houses a multimedia museum of Arkansas state history, with a special emphasis on women's history, political history, and educational programming for school children. The Little Rock museum also boasts nationally-recognized collections of Civil War battle flags, the inaugural gowns of governors' wives, Arkansas art pottery featuring pieces from Camark and Niloak, African-American quilts, and artifacts from Arkansas's musical heritage. Popular exhibits include "On the Stump: Arkansas Political History from 1819-1919"; Try Us: Arkansas & the US-Mexican War; and "Period Rooms", created to show a typical setting from decades ago.

Click on the title link to begin your exploration of the Museum.

Robert Wayne (Bobby) Coffee

[Robert Wayne (Bobby) Coffee was the son of Albert (Bub) and Ivy Foshee Coffee of Hope, Hempstead Co., AR. He was born May 15, 1954 in Texarkana, Miller Co., AR. He married Darlene Marie Godwin on May 26, 1979 in Hope, AR. They had three children: Marie Lynn, Robert Wayne, Jr., and Sonya. I have never found a final court action report on this case, and do not know if the senior Coffee was found guilty, or released.]

Hope Star Online, July 17, 2003

Coffee to know fate next week

By FRANK ROTH, Hope Star Writer

Circuit Judge Duncan Culpepper that he will render his final decision in the case of a Fulton man accused of murdering his son next Wednesday.

Robert Coffee, Sr., is accussed of murdering his son, Robert Wayne Coffee, Jr., of Nashville, by causing him to fall out of a moving vehicle on a highway near Saratoga in the early morning hours of Feb. 9, 2002.

Eighth Judicial District-North Circuit Judge Duncan Culpepper presided over a probation revocation hearing yesterday in the Hempstead County Courthouse involving Robert Coffee, Sr.

The elder Coffee pleaded guilty to an arson charge on March 28, 2000, and was sentenced to five years of probation. He was arrested on Feb. 15, 2002, on a charge of first degree murder and made his first appearance before Eighth Judicial District-North Judge Jim Gunter.

The murder charge was formalized on April, 1, 2002, with a felony information filed by Eighth Judicial District-North Prosecuting Attorney Randy Wright.

At the time of the elder Coffee's first appearance, Gunter denied bond, but bond was later set at $25,000, and public defender Danny Rodgers was appointed to represent Coffee.

According to Wright the reason for pursuing a probation revocation proceeding before a judge rather than a jury trial is that the level of proof for a probation revocation is different.

"All we have to show is that he violated the law by a preponderance of the evidence, and we certainly believe that he violated the law," Wright said. "In a jury trial you have to prove that he violated the law beyond a reasonable doubt."

Wright said that the elder Coffee could be sentenced to serve not less than five nor more than 20 years if found guilty of his son's death under the terms of his probation.

Judge Culpepper began yesterday's proceedings by agreeing with the attorneys that the normal rules of evidence did not apply during the probation revocation hearing.

Wright began by calling Edith McBride who was the 911 dispatcher on duty the night Robert Wayne Coffee, Jr., died. McBride testified that she received a call from Matt Cook at 12:30 a.m. Cook said his mother had seen a body on the side on the highway. McBride said she dispatched Sheriff's Deputy John Pettit, EMS and first responders from Saratoga.

McBride received a second call at 12:35 a.m. from Robert Coffee, Sr., saying that his son had jumped out of the truck.

Wright's next witness was Sheriff's Investigator Frank McJunkins. He testified that he received a call at 12:55 a.m. regarding a body on the side of Highway 355, on the right hand side traveling south.

McJunkins identified a series of photos he took at the scene and later at the funeral home. The photos were entered as exhibits by the prosecutor.
McJunkins told the court that he and Sheriff Jerry Crane went to the elder Coffee's home in Fulton about 3:00 a.m. to question him about what he knew about his son.

"Coffee told us his son jumped out of the truck, and he went on home and went to bed without checking on Bobby (his son)," McJunkins said. "I asked him, 'Did you stop?' 'No.' 'Did you look in the mirror?' 'No.' He said he just went home.

Wright asked, "When you told him his son was dead how did he react?"
McJunkins replied, "He didn't show any concern. He asked, 'Did he get hurt?' I said, 'yes sir, as a matter of fact he's dead. It killed him.' He said, 'Oh hell.' Later he looked at the Sheriff and said, ' Is that true?'"

McJunkins testified that he thought Coffee's statements and his actions didn't match up.

Wright asked, "Would you call this one of those hard to believe stories?"
"Extremely hard to believe," McJunkins replied.

Under cross-examination Defense Attorney Danny Rodgers asked McJunkins, "You determined that Robert Wayne Coffee, Jr., had been in a wreck on Feb. 4, 2002."

"Yes sir," McJunkins replied.

"And didn't Robert Coffee, Sr., tell you he and his son had been arguing about this accident, and that his son told him he tried to kill himself in that accident?" Rodgers asked.

"Yes sir," McJunkins replied.

"Did you look at the State Police report of that accident of Feb. 4th?" Rodgers asked.

"No sir," McJunkins replied.

"Were there fingerprints taken from the passenger door during the investigation?" Rodgers asked.

McJunkins replied, "No sir. Both of them had been in and out of the vehicle several times, so both sets of prints would have been there."

Next Wright called Medical Examiner Dr. Charles Paul Kokes of the State Crime Lab. Kokes testified about his external and internal examination of the body of Robert Wayne Coffee, Jr.

Dr. Kokes said that the body showed abrasion on the face, a 3/4 inch laceration on the back of the scalp associated with a skull fracture, and no injuries to the legs and ankles.

Wright asked, "If someone stepped out of a moving vehicle at 50 miles per hour would you expect injuries to the lower legs?"

Kokes replied, "Yes I would. Usually you would expect to see a fractured ankle or leg. There were no injuries to the lower extremities. There were signs of bruising and road rash abrasion on the back."

Wright asked, "Would this be indicative of a person falling out od a vehicle and landing on his back?"

"Yes it is." Kokes replied. "This indicates Mr. Coffee fell out or rolled out striking first his back and then his head on the road."

When Wright asked Dr. Kokes about the cause of death, Kokes replied, "The cause of death was a blunt force injury to the head and brain. The manner of death was homicide."

On cross-examination Rodgers asked, "The reason you classified this as a homicide is that the father didn't stop to render aid, is that right?"
"Yes it is," Kokes replied.

Wright called Sonya Coffee, daughter of Robert Coffee, Sr., and sister of Robert Wayne Coffee, Jr.

She testified that on the night on her brother's death, her father picked her up when she got off work at the Pitt Grill in Hope and took her home to Nashville. When they got to Nashville her father went to her mother's home to pick Wayne up.

Sonya Coffee said, "Wayne whispered to me that he really didn't want to go with my father."

She testified that her father and brother fought all the time.
Wright asked, "Are you scared of your father?"
Sonya replied, "Yes I am."
Wright asked, "Was Wayne scared of your father?"
Sonya replied, "Yes."
After cross-examination by Rodgers, Judge Culpepper asked Sonya, "Did you ever hear your father say he would kill Wayne?"
She replied, "My brother told me he heard my father telling someone that if Wayne didn't straighten up he'd kill him."
Defense Attorney Rodgers put Robert Coffee, Sr., on the stand in his own defense. Coffee gave a rambling story of family problems including he and his son being on medication for mental problems at various times.
On cross-examination Wright asked, "Mr. Coffee, you don't have a violent history, do you?"
"Yes sir, I've had marriage problems," Coffee replied.
Wright, "You got violent with someone you lived with?"
Coffee, "Yes sir."
Wright, Burning a barn when you got mad?"
Coffee, "Yes sir. I wasn't on my medication then."
Judge Duncan Culpepper ruled on one finding yesterday. He found that there was not sufficient evidence for murder in the first degree.

Culpepper told the attorneys, "I will render my final decision on July 23rd at 9:00 a.m. I want to know whether I should consider lesser included offenses, do the facts fit leaving the scene, and whether or not leaving the scene is sufficient for revocation.

Hope Star Online
July 23, 2003

Judge fails to revoke Coffee's probation

By FRANK ROTH, Hope Star Writer

Circuit Judge Duncan Culpepper handed down his final ruling in the Robert Coffee, Sr. probation revocation hearing this morning, saying that the evidence presented did not support revocation of Coffee's probation.

The hearing was held last Wednesday, July 16, in the Hempstead County Courthouse. At that time Judge Culpepper ruled that the evidence presented was not sufficient to support a charge of murder in the first degree.

Judge Culpepper told Prosecutor Randy Wright and Defense Attorney Danny Rodgers last week that he wanted to know three things before he handed down his final decision. First he wanted to know whether he should consider any lesser included offenses. Second, do the facts fit leaving the scene of an accident, and third, is leaving the scene sufficient for revocation of the probation?

Robert Coffee, Sr., of Fulton, had been accused of murdering his son, Robert Wayne Coffee, Jr., of Nashville, by causing him to fall out of a moving vehicle on Highway 355 near Saratoga in the early morning hours of Feb. 9, 2002.

Robert Coffee, Sr. had pleaded guilty to arson on March 28, 2000, and was sentenced to five years probation. He was arrested for first degree murder in connection with the death of his son on Feb. 15, 2002, and Prosecuting Attorney Randy Wright filed the charge of murder in the first degree against Coffee on April, 1, 2002.

Wright chose to pursue a probation revocation hearing in front of a judge before going to a jury trial on the murder charge because the probation revocation carries a different level of proof.

"All we have to show is that he violated the law by a preponderance of the evidence, and we certainly believe he violated the law," Wright said. "In a jury trial you have to prove that he violated the law beyond a reasonable doubt."

This morning Judge Culpepper ruled that murder in the first degree was not proven. He ruled also that no lesser included offenses were proven; and that since leaving the scene of an accident was not alleged by the state, to find Mr. Coffee in violation of leaving the scene would violate his due process.

Coffee was allowed to leave with his probation remaining in effect, and a date was set for his murder trial in Sept.

During last week's hearing, Sheriff's Investigator Frank McJunkins testified about the evidence found at the scene on Highway 355 where the body of Robert Wayne Coffee, Jr. was found, and about his interview of Robert Coffee, Sr. several hours later.

According to McJunkins, the elder Coffee said that he was driving down the highway at 50 miles per hour when his son jumped out of the truck. After his son jumped, Robert Coffee, Sr. drove on home and went to bed without stopping.

Dr. Charles Kokes, the State Medical Examiner who performed the autopsy on Robert Wayne Coffee, Jr., testified that he ruled the cause of death as a blunt force injury to the head and brain, and the manner of death as a homicide.

Defense Attorney Danny Rodgers asked Dr. Kokes, "The reason you classified this as a homicide is that the father didn't stop to render aid, is that right?"
Dr. Kokes replied, "Yes it is."

Sonya Coffee, sister of Robert Wayne Coffee, Jr., testified that her brother didn't want to go with his father that night, that her father and brother fought all the time and that she and her brother were both scared of their father.

Before Sonya Coffee was released as a witness, Judge Culpepper asked her, "Did you ever hear your father say he would kill Wayne?"

Sonya Coffee replied, "My brother told me he heard my father telling someone if Wayne didn't straighten up he'd kill him."

Defense Attorney Rodgers put Robert Coffee, Sr. on the witness stand in his own defense. He gave a rambling account of family problems including both his son and him having mental problems and being place on medication at various times.

On cross-examination Wright asked, "Mr. Coffee, you don't have a violent history, do you?"

Coffee replied, "yes sir. I've had marriage problems."
Wright, "You got violent with someone you lived with?"
Coffee, "Yes sir."
Wright, "Burning a barn when you got mad?"
Coffee, "Yes sir. I wasn't on my medication then."

Judge Culpepper ordered Coffee to appear in court on Sept. 9, 2003, for pre-trial motions and set a trial date of Sept. 22, 2003 for the charge of murder in the first degree.

Robert Wayne (Bobby) COFFEE and Darlene Marie GODWIN were married on May 26, 1979 in Hope, Hempstead Co., AR.2 They were divorced. Darlene Marie GODWIN (daughter of Arlin GODWIN and Marie __________) was born about 1959. Robert Wayne (Bobby) COFFEE and Darlene Marie GODWIN had the following children:

i. Maria Lynn COFFEE was born on April 7, 1980. She died on April 7, 1980. She was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Hope, Hempstead Co., AR.
ii. Robert Wayne COFFEE Jr. was born on April 26, 1981 in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, LA. He died on February 9, 2002 in Saratoga, Howard Co., AR.3

Hope, Arkansas "Star"

February 11, 2002

Body discovered near Saratoga

By SUSAN MARGRAVE, Hope Star Writer

The body of a man found near Saratoga early Saturday morning has been sent to the state Crime Lab to determine the cause of death.

Shortly after midnight on Saturday, Hempstead County Deputy John Pettit responded to a 911 call and discovered a white male lying beside Arkansas Highway 355 South, approximately three miles south of Saratoga.

Emergency medical personnel from Pafford Ambulance Service, Hempstead County Sheriff Jerry Crane and Investigator Frankie McJunkins were dispatched to the scene.

A card on the man's body identified him as Robert Wayne Coffee, 20, of 401 South Jones Street at Nashville. Hempstead County Coroner Gary Aaron pronounced Coffee dead at the scene.

Officials sent the body to the state Crime Lab at Little Rock to determine the cause of death.

"This is all the information we have at this time," Chief Deputy James Ross said. "An investigation into the matter is continuing."


From on-line edition of Hope (Arkansas) "Star"

May 28, 2002

Coffee murder trial date set

By KEN McLEMORE, Hope Star Writer

An October trial date has been set for the first degree murder charge lodged here against the father of a Nashville man who apparently died in connection with a fall from a moving vehicle in February.

Robert Wayne Coffee, Sr., of Nashville, has been charged with first degree murder in connection with the Feb. 15 death of his son, Robert Wayne Coffee, Jr., 20. Eighth Judicial District-North Circuit Judge Jim Gunter set an Oct. 21 trial date for the elder Coffee during court hearings Wednesday.

Gunter set a pre-trial court date for Coffee on Oct. 7. The judge postponed prosecution of a probation revocation petition filed Feb. 20 by Eighth Judicial District-North Prosecutor Randy Wright in connection with a circuit court conviction of Coffee on a charge of arson.

Robert Coffee, Sr., entered a pleading of guilty Aug. 16, 2000, to a single charge of arson from a March 28, 2000, arrest and was assessed five years probated incarceration, a $1,000 fine, $13,523 restitution, court costs and 50 hours of community service, according to Hempstead County Circuit Court records.

Robert Coffee, Sr., waived formal arraignment and entered a pleading of not guilty to the murder charge in the Wednesday hearing, according to court records. He remains under $25,000 bond.

The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory ruled the death of Robert Wayne Coffee, Jr., a homicide after his body was discovered lying alongside Arkansas Highway 355 South about three miles south of Saratoga.


Hope, Arkansas "Star"

Feb. 13, 2002

Robert Coffee

NASHVILLE -- Robert Wayne Coffee, 20, died Saturday, February 9, in Saratoga.

Mr. Coffee was born April 26, 1981, in Shreveport, La. He was a general laborer.

Survivors include his parents, Robert W. "Bobby" Coffee, of Fulton, and Darlene Willis, of Nashville; one sister, Sonya Coffee, of Nashville; and his maternal grandparents, Arlin and Marie Godwin, of Prescott. Graveside services will be Thursday, February 14, at 2 p.m., in Rose Hill Cemetery, Hope, with Mr. Lynn Vanderveer and Mr. Jimmy Joe Aiken officiating. Arrangements are with Brazzel/Oakcrest Funeral Home, Hope.

Visitation will be February 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home.
He was buried on February 14, 2002 in Rose Hill Cemetery, Hope, Hempstead Co., AR.

iii. Sonya COFFEE was born on March 18, 1984 in Arkansas.


Sources

1. Velma Foshee, Foshee Research by Mrs. Velma Foshee (dec'd) (Her work has been reproduced on the internet).
2. County/Parish Marriage Book. 21, p207 Robert Wayne Coffee, age 25 of Hempstead Co., to Darlene Marie Godwin, age 20, 26 May 1979.
3. From newspapers and/or on-line sources, Obituary.

Loy Grady Coffee 1917-1944

Loy Grady COFFEE

[Loy Grady Coffee was my father's younger brother, and the last son of Albert Lilburn and Ora Elizabeth Braley Coffee. He married Martha Easely of Harlingen, TX in Mar., 1943, but had no descendants.]


First Generation

1. Loy Grady COFFEE was born on July 27, 1917 in De Ann, Hempstead Co., AR. He enlisted in the military on December 9, 1941 He served in the military between 1941 and 1944 in United States Army Air Corps.1,2 He died on December 30, 1944 in Hays, Ellis Co., KS. He was buried in January 1945 in City Cemetery, Minden, Webster Parish, LA. News clipping from undated source, but probably from the Signal Tribune:

Headline:

Grady Coffee Is Attending Large Bombing School

Minden Boy Is In Second Class of U. S. Army's "Hell From Heaven Men"

Midland Army Flying School, Texas - Among the "Hell from Heaven Men" making up the second class at this world's greatest bombardier training school is Aviation Cadet Loy G. Coffee, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert L. Coffee of Minden, Louisiana. At the completion of his course Cadet Coffee will become a commissioned officer in the United States army.

Formerly a student at Louisiana State university, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Cadet Coffee had previously received R. O. T. C. and national guard training, and while in civilian life he was actively interested in golf.

Training

At this huge new training school for America's bombardiers, young men learn the secrets and operation of our country's most devastating weapon of offense, the famed U. S. bombsight. The bombardier cadets divide their time between groundschool classrooms, spacious training hangars, and the swift-flying AT'LL's, specially designed bombadier training planes.

When they have the theory down pat, when they understand the why-and-wherefore of bombs and bombsights, the cadets crawl into the glass-enclosed nose compartments of their planes, spend day and night sending 100-pound practice bombs streaking toward targets that surround this bombardier college in an eighty mile circle.

Their course completed, these "Hell from Heaven Men" are good; are in fact, the best. That's why they've been dubbed "the most dangerous men in the world."

From the Webster Review (The Signal Tribune), Minden, Webster Parish, LA, January 2, 1945, page 1:

Headline:

Captain L. Grady Coffee Killed in Plane Crash

Body Will Be Returned With Military Escort For Funeral Service In Minden

Captain Loy Grady Coffee, 27, army air forces, was one of the ten servicemen killed when a plane exploded in mid-air and crashed at Walker Field, Hays, Kansas, Saturday, December 30. Only three of the crew were reported to have bailed out, and one is not expected to live.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Coffee, Captain Coffee was born and reared in Minden. He was a graduate of Minden high school where he was a football star, and attended L. S. U.. He volunteered for service on December 8, 1941, just six months before receiving his law degree. His initial training was received at Maxwell Field, Alabama, and he was commissioned a second lieutenant after completing training at the bombadier school, Midland, Texas. After graduation he remained at the school to serve as an instruction. From there he went to San Angelo and on to Harlingen. He was commissioned a first lieutenant at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, which was his last station before reporting to Walker Field as bombardier instructor. Soon after his arrival there, he was assigned other duties and promoted to the rank of captain.

He married the former Miss Martha Easley of Harlingen, Texas, in March, 1943. She has been with him since their marriage and will arrive in Minden sometime today accompanying the remains, which are being shipped with military escort.

Funeral arrangements have not been completed, but services are expected to be held at the First Baptist church, of which the deceased was a member, sometime following the arrival of Harry D. Coffee.

Besides his wife and parents, he is survived by four brothers, Frank H. Coffee, Minden; Dr. James Coffee, Baton Rouge; Harry D. Coffee, U. S. Coast Guard, now serving overseas; and Carl Coffee, Hope, Arkansas; and three sisters, Mrs. S. B. Samuel and Mrs. Gus Howell, both of Minden; and Miss Ruby Coffee, Shreveport.

The following is a summary of the accident report prepared by an Investigating Committee shortly after the accident:

Capt. Coffee was an Instructor Bombardier on a B-29 Flying Fortress. The B-29 took off at 9:15am and climbed to an altitude of 25,000 ft. At about 10:20am the No. 3 engine backfired and caught fire. An extinguisher was activated and the fire seemed to go out, but shortly flared up again, this time burning fiercely. Another extinguisher was activated but was not effective. The investigation determined that the fire had caused fuel lines to rupture and fuel was flowing uncontrolled into the engine.

The engine exploded causing the plane to lose its left wing and part of the fuselage. Part of the tail section was destroyed as the planed cartwheeled to earth. Crew members lost their oxygen equipment in the spin and were incapacitated to such as extent while bouncing around the inside of the plane that jumping was a "physical impossibility."

The pilot, 1st Lt Rufus C. Anderson, had previously alerted the crew to jump. Capt. Coffee, the navigator and the radio operator proceeded toward the door leading into the forward bombay. Capt. Coffee was being assisted into the leg straps of his parachute by the radio operator. The report of a survivor indicated that Capt. Coffee was later seen lying unconscious on the bombbay doors, and that he had probably been knocked unconscious. He had a deep gash on the top rear of his head. He later fell free of the plane, and his body was found intact and unburned.

Loy Grady COFFEE and Martha EASELY were married in March 1943 in Harlingen, Cameron Co., TX. Martha EASELY was born in Harlingen, Cameron Co., TX.

Sources

1. The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, The Men and Women in World War II from Webster Parish (After WW2). Capt. Grady L. Coffee, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Coffee, Minden, husband of Martha Easley, graduate of LSU. Entered Army AC, 1941, trained in Midland AAF, Boise, Idaho and Walker Field, Kan. Served in Amer. Theater. Killed in B-29 Crash in Walker Field Kansas.
2. National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database online]. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005. Original data: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946 [Archival Database]; World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. Name: Loy G Coffee Birth Year: 1917 Race: White, citizen Enlistment Date: 9 Dec 1941 Branch: Air Corps Branch Code: Air Corps Grade: Aviation Cadet Grade Code: Aviation Cadet Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of Source: Enlisted Man, Regular Army, within 3 months of Discharge or former WAAC Auxiliary Education: 4 years of college Civil Occupation: Actor (Motion picture actor. ) or Director, Motion Picture (Motion picture director.) or Entertainer Marital Status: Single, without dependents Height: 72 Weight: 151.

Mace Coffey (1922-1987)

Mace Coffey was the Sheriff of Latimer Co., OK when he died Apr. 1, 1987 in Oklahoma City at the age of 64. He was the son of W. A. Coffey, born c1886 in Arkansas, and May LNU, born c1887 in Oklahoma.

The 1930 census for Latimer Co. lists the family as:

Coffee , W. A., age 44, married at age 17, born AR, father born TX, Mother born AR
Coffee, May, wife, age 45, married at age 18, born OK, parents born US
Nola, dau., age 20, single, born OK
William, son, age 18, single, born OK
Mace, son, age 8, born OK
Paul, son, age 8, born OK

The obituary for Mace appeared in the McAlester News-Capital and Democrat on Sunday, Apr. 12, 1987 (not verbatim):

Former Latimer Co. Sheriff, died April 1 in Oklahoma City at age 64. He was a member of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Oklahoma City; Mason and member of Red Oak Lodge and Army veteran. Survivors included wife, Dell, and daughters, Cosette Davidson of Oregon and Judy Johnson of Midwest City; three step-children: Merle Moses of Oklahoma City; Judy Finton of Missouri and Nova Brockett Brackett of Oklahoma City; a brother Paul Coffey of Oklahoma City and two sisters, Stella Moffett of California and Nola Melton of Oklahoma City.

Stella was apparently born subsequent to the 1930 census.

The Social Security Death Index entry for Mace shows that he was born Aug. 18, 1922.

If anyone has any information about Mace's parents please contact me.

US Genweb Archives

The US GenWeb project actually began in 1996 by Jeff Murphy in Kentucky and Bill Couch in Arkansas. I joined with Bill in providing information for Hempstead Co., AR. Almost immediately a controversy developed. Without going into details, Bill and Jeff's ideas were apparently "pirated." To stay out of the controversy and the battles that were raging, I removed myself from their project and began my own.

Whatever the pains felt by those pioneers in the US Genweb project, their efforts have now become premier research sites on the web. I think most, if not all states have a presence under the Genweb flag. Volunteers have "adopted" counties and formed teams of other volunteers who have extracted and prepared for our use wills, deeds, census records, obituaries, cemetery lists, biographies and literally thousands of other documents that now rest in the dust free archives of Genweb. And, they can be freely accessed!

I have been using Rootsweb and Genweb archives for a number of years. Without the work of those volunteers in Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky - as well as other states - I would not have been able to "collect" as much information as I have about the various Coffey families, and those families they are allied with. The extraction work by Wayne Coffey has been of particular help to me.

Volunteers also prepare and send out daily updates via e-mail of files that have been added to the archives.

Most researchers should know about Genweb and Rootsweb. If you don't, click on the title link to begin your search.

Lilburn Warren Coffee - An adventurer

Lilburn Warren Coffee was the youngest son of Lilburn C. and Sarah Hannah Taylor Coffee.

Lib, as he was known to his family, left his father's home in southwest Arkansas sometime before the census in October of 1870. He was born in Sep.1850, and was therefore around 18 or 19 years old when he left Hempstead Co.

He rambled around Texas for several years before landing in Hayes Co. In 1870 he worked for Ezekiel Nance as a farm laborer. In October 1876 he married Margaret Goode, a 21-year old Texas beauty, born May 7, 1855. The couple stayed in Hayes Co. until around 1880 when they moved to Big Spring in Howard Co., Texas. Their first child, a daughter Lula Edna, was born in Hayes County on Nov. 19, 1878. Nine more children, four boys and five girls followed, were all born in Howard Co. between 1880 and 1898. During his lifetime he ranched more than 150,000 acres, and raised cattle, horses and pack mules for the army.

The first child born in Big Spring was a boy, born Jul. 22, 1880, and died Aug. 24, 1880. The others were:

Walter Douglas, born Jul. 25, 1882, died Oct. 29, 1947
Jerry, born Mar. 17, 1884, died Jun. 4, 1959
Rubye, born March 11, 1886, died March 24, 1972
Margaret, born Mar. 20, 1888, died Apr. 25, 1983
Lilburn, Jr., born Oct. 18, 1892, died Nov. 3, 1948
Nellie, born Jun. 12, 1894, died Mar. 20, 1909
Lolis, born Jun. 7, 1896, died Jul. 29, 1985
Lillian Lee, born Jun. 19, 1898, died Dec. 15, 1985

My research has uncovered only one living male descendant of Lilburn Warren Coffee, and he is the grandson of Jerry whose marriage to Martha Elizabeth Olive in 1914 produced Jerry, Jr. Jerry, Jr. married first to Helen Lorayne Donnis which produced a son, Jerry Earl Coffee, born in 1947. Jerry Sr.'s only other son, Leslie James Coffee was killed in 1944 while flying for the US Army Air Force.

Walter Douglas married Sarah Ruth Moore in 1926. That union produced at least two sons, Robert Lee, born 1926, died 1930, and Walter Douglas, Jr., born 1927, died 1985. Although he was married at least once, I have been unable to confirm any children that he might have fathered.

There are no photographs of Lilburn Warren Coffee known to exist.

James M. Coffee - A question mark!

James M. Coffee was my great-grandfather. He was born in TN in 1846 or 1847 and moved to Hempstead Co., AR with his parents by 1849. He grew up in that county, and left very few records; not even a marriage record.

James was the second of six children born to Lilburn C. and Sarah Hannah Taylor Coffee. He was married in about 1867 to Mary Elizabeth Bowman. Mary was the daughter of Joseph T. Bowman, one of the signers of the original Texas Declaration of Independence. Joseph was the son of another famous Texan, Jesse B. Bowman, an Alamo defenders who died there on Mar. 6, 1836 when the fortress fell to Santa Anna's forces. Both father and son were members of the Texas Army of the Republic.

A few surviving letters from Mary to her family revealed little about the marriage. In one she asked her brothers about the cost of goods in their part of the country (Texas?), and complained about the cost of a setting of eggs and gingham in her area. She also complained about the reconstruction forces that occupied the so far unidentified area of the south (Arkansas?) in which she and James lived.

She and James were the parents of two children: Sarah Ellen, born Sep. 19, 1869 - died Nov. 15, 1952, and my grandfather, Albert Lilburn, born Jan. 22, 1873, died Mar. 26, 1960.

I know from census records that the family was in Wood Co., TX in 1870. However, sometime after that James disappeared, and there are no indications of the cause. He may have died, or simply abandoned or divorced his family.

I did find a James M. Coffee in the 1880 Kaufman Co., TX census who was of the correct age, and was born in TN. With him was a new wife and two daughters. Sometime later this James M. signed an agreement with a Mr. Bishop of Kaufmann Co. to share crops in return for a place to live. However, this family soon disappeared from the county, never again to be found.

In about 1879 Mary Elizabeth Bowman Coffee married William Watson, with whom she had two additional children, both daughters: Lillie Wes, born Feb. 10, 1880, died Jul. 11, 1959, and Mary Elizabeth, born Aug. 28, 1883, died Feb. 20, 1942.

The May 1880 census for Bowie Co., TX shows the Watsons residing there with the two Coffee children, and Lillie, age 3 months. Living nearby is the Finis E. Ames family, the wife being Mary E. Coffee, sister to James M. Coffee. Bowie Co. courthouses have been burned a few times, and there are few old surviving records which might tell me more about these families.

The story that I have pieced together from descendants of Lillie, who married a Courtney and left descendants in Sequoyah Co., OK, reveals that Mary Elizabeth Bowman Coffee Watson died at or shortly after the birth of her second child in 1883. It was at this time that Mr. Watson returned the Coffee children to their aunt Mary Coffee Ames, and left TX for northwest AR, taking his two natural children with him.

It is said by some of my older cousins who knew our grandfather that he often told them he and his sister Ellen were raised by "a mean aunt." At some point the Ames family returned to Hempstead Co., AR with the Coffee children in tow. The Ames remained there and are buried in a now abandoned cemetery not far from present day downtown Hope.

Sarah Ellen Coffee married twice. Her first marriage was to P. B. Hill on Mar. 21, 1886 in Hempstead Co. Together they had one son, James Walter Hill, born Jan. 3, 1888, died Jan., 1972. Mr. Hill died shortly thereafter, and Sarah Ellen married Johnathan K. Polk Sutton, born Sep. 1846 in TN, died Dec. 5, 1910 in AR. This union produced three children, all daughters: Mamie, born Dec., 1890; Lillian Ann, born Jun. 6, 1894, died Dec. 18, 1964, and Violet M., born Sep. 21, 1899, died Jul. 30, 1979.

Many of this family ventured west to California and some of their descendants reside there today.

Albert Lilburn Coffee married three times. His first marriage was to Della Lenore King, born 1876 to George T. and Mary Elizabeth Woods King, died 1898 in Hempstead Co., AR. This marriage produced two children: Ora West, born Apr. 30, 1894, died May 25, 1969, and Carl Glenn, born Jan. 11, 1896, died Aug. 28, 1950.

His second wife was on Mar. 6, 1899 to Ida Lee Timberlake, born c1873 to Hugh B. and Alice B. McClumery Timberlake. Ida died in about 1902, but gave birth to two children during her short marriage. Her first child was John Timberlake, born Mar. 5, 1900, died Mar. 7, 1928, and Ruby McElvy, born Aug. 8, 1902, died Jan. 5, 1985.

Ora Elizabeth Braley was the third wife of Albert Lilburn Coffee. She was born Jan. 14, 1884 and died Mar. 7, 1984, at the age of 100 years. She was my grandmother, and the only one of his three wives to be born in LA; the other two were natives of Hempstead Co., AR.

Wm. Lafayette Stewart and Lucia Edna Coffee

William Lafayette Stewart was born Aug. 28, 1876 in San Augustine Co., TX to Isaac Richard and Sarah Payne Nations Stewart. He was married to Lucia Edna Coffee, daughter of John Fielding and Fannie Thompson Coffee, on Oct. 22, 1896 in Hope, Hempstead Co., AR.

William was an ordained Baptist minister, and took his ministry from Hope to Nolan Co., TX in 1920, and Erath Co., in 1930. He died in the Texas state hospital at Wichita Falls in Aug., 1962 of bronchial pneumonia and heart disease. He is buried in the Oak Dale Cemetery at Stephenville in Erath Co.

William's obituary shows that he was "...survived by two children, Mrs. Francis Maddox of Gordon and Willie Stewart of Stephenville. Other survivors include two brothers, George Stewart of Hannibal and Richard Stewart of Floydada; and four sisters, Mrs. John Sikes, Stephenville; Mrs. Ida Fuller and Mrs. Mary E. Rodgers, both of Houston, and Mrs. Vida Knox of Glen Dale, California. All were present for the last rites except Mrs. Knox who was unable to get here."

Lucia was born Oct. 22, 1877 in Hope and died Aug. 4, 1957 in Erath Co., and is also buried in the Oak Dale Cemetery.

Together they had three children:

• Sarah Frances, born Jan. 29, 1898, and died Mar. 28, 1986 in Erath Co. She married Emmett C. Maddox in about 1920, and they were the parents of four children: Allen Carl, born c1922; Clyde, born c1923; George W., born c1927, and Robert Francis, born c1929.
  
• Edna Ellen, born Nov. 23, 1899, died Jul. 26, 1901, buried West End Cemetery, Stephenville.
• William Ellery (Willie), born Jul. 29, 1901, died Nov. 18, 1976. His obituary appeared in The Stephenville Empire Tribune on Nov. 21, 1976, and indicates that he was survived by one sister, Frances Maddox of Gordon, and two aunts, Mrs. Iris Stewart and Mrs. Bonnie Sikes of Stephenville. Willie apparently never married. He was buried in the East Memorial Cemetery at Stephenville.

Family tales indicate that William Lafayette's father, Isaac was a very mean and cruel man. An article which appeared in The Arkansas Gazette on Sunday, Dec. 19, 1920 adds credibility to those tales.

In that article, it was reported that Isaac, age 65, shot and killed his son-in-law, Eli M. Caudle, age 46, on Dec. 18 of that year. Up until a few weeks before the killing, Eli and Isaac were in the grocery business together in Stamps, Lafayette Co., AR. Eli had filed charges against Isaac alleging slander. Isaac was overheard saying that Eli would not live long enough to testify against him.

On the day of the murder, Isaac waited on the sidewalk near his home for Eli to pass by on his way home for dinner. Without warning, Isaac shot Eli with a ".38 caliber Winchester rifle." The first shot sent Eli to his knees, then in "rapid succession, Stewart fired three more times, each shot taking effect. One shot struck Caudle above the heart. Caudle was unarmed."

Following the shooting, and before he could be captured and arrested, Isaac returned to his home where he "drank a quantity of carbolic acid, and died within a few minutes."

Eli's wife was Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) Stewart, sister to Wm. Lafayette. I have been unable to find her, or her children after 1920 when they appeared in the Lafayette Co., AR census. William's obituary indicates that she remarried and was living in Houston, TX at the time of her brother's death.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone descended from, or researching any of these families.

Louis Edwin Coffee (1875-1947)

Louis Edwin Coffee was born Aug. 17, 1875 in Hempstead Co., AR. He was the first child of John Fielding and Fannie Thompson Coffee. Louis died July 14, 1947 at the Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino Co., CA, and was buried on July 18, 1947 at the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles Co., CA.

Following other relatives who moved there, Louis relocated from Arkansas to Erath Co., TX in 1900. He resided in that county near his sister, Lucia Edna (Mrs Wm. Lafayette Stewart) and her family for awhile before moving on to Harris Co., TX in 1910 where he worked on the railroad.

He did not marry until he was nearly 40 years old. Although a marriage record has not been found, he and Lula Belle Nichols were likely married in Thurber, Erath Co. about 1914. Their first child, Orval Preston Coffee was born there on Aug. 7, 1915.

In 1920 they were in Eastland Co., TX where Louis worked for an oil company. It is not yet clear if they moved to Eastland before or after their second child, Everette M. (Jack) Coffee was born in 1918.

The family has been difficult to keep up with. They apparently moved from Texas to California before 1930. The census for that year found them in Los Angeles Co., but not married to each other. Louis was employed by the county engineering department in the street maintenance division. He reported in the census that he was a "construction laborer in concrete."

In the census that year, Louis also reported himself as a "widower." He and Lula had divorced by then, and probably before 1924 when she is thought to have given birth to a daughter by her second husband, Floyd Henry Cook.

Lula may have given birth to a daughter, Betty Floydada (Toots) Cook. The 1930 LA Co. census shows her with Mr. Cook, age 38,a 6-yr old daughter, and the two Coffee children. In the census, Mr. Cook indicated that he married first at age 23, so it is likely that Betty was his child by a previous wife. It may also be a good bet that he did not marry at age 15. Lula later divorced Mr. Cook and subsequently married a Mr. Pennington. However, I have not found any substantive information.

Orval died in Crescent City, Del Norte Co., CA on Jan. 24, 1989. His obituary, which appeared in The Curry Coastal Pilot, published in Brookings Co., OR, a town about 25 miles north of Crescent City, reported that his body was cremated. He was survived by his brother, Everett of Anaheim, CA, and two nieces, Donna Yarkovsky of Ocala, FL, and Christine Tyler of Olathe, CO.

Everette died Jan. 19, 2004 at age 86 in Anaheim. His small obituary indicated that he left a wife, Virginia, daughters Deborah Kerns, and Marsha Bugg, and a son Kyle Follars.

Louis is buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery, Pleasant View section, lot 136. Other names in the plot with him are Cook and Pennington.

Louis was my first cousin, twice removed. Anyone related to, or knowing more about him is invited to contact me.

SARA Announcement

SARA, the Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives is housed at Washington, Hempstead Co., AR. The staff released the following announcement today:


Today, October 1, 2005, SARA joined the Arkansas History Commission which is the state archives of Arkansas. It is based in Little Rock and is right next door to the state capitol building. It houses the official state records and history of Arkansas. It also has rare historical documents. It has endless records. Dr. Wendy Richter is director of the History Commission.

The many hundreds of rolls of microfilm which we have here at SARA were gifts from the History Commission.

SARA will remain in Washington, Arkansas in the same building.

On October 29, we will have SARA's 3rd Annual Genealogy Fair in the 1914 Schoolhouse here at Old Washington Historic State Park. You can go to our website www.southwestarchives.com for more details. There will be no charge for the fair this year. The staff of the History Commission will conduct the workshops. We are inviting all genealogical and historical societies to have a vendor's table. Contact us if you want one.

Beginning in 1978, SARA operated as a non-profit organization under the direction of a board of directors. Our support group was Friends of SARA which has been renamed SARA Foundation, Inc. Starting today, the SARA Board of Directors became the SARA Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors.

The SARA Foundation, Inc. invites you to join the foundation with your support. The only entity the Sara Foundation will fund is SARA itself.

One of the fundraisers the SARA Foundation will continue to work on is Christmas and Candlelight in Old Washington. SARA and Old Washington Historic State Park and the Historic Washington Foundation produce this beautiful event the first Saturday in December each year. The SARA Foundation receives the proceeds from all ticket sales up through the Friday before the Saturday of the event. If you are interested in tickets, contact us for more information. The event is from 1pm-7pm. At 5 pm, Boy Scouts light over 5000 luminaries. Local singers and musicians perform in the three historical churches and the 1940 WPA Gym. The historical houses are decorated in period style with the hosts and hostesses in period costumes. Williams Tavern Restaurant is open 11-3 and 4-8. The blacksmith shop is open and carriage rides are available. This year there is a costume ball in the WPA Gym beginning at 8 pm. SARA hosts a refreshment table in the WPA Gym from 1-7.

Come see us if you are ever over this way. Don't forget to send us your family histories and other documents to add to our collections.

Gail will be here to answer your emails. Let us hear from you.

From the SARA staff, Faith Riley and Gail Martin