Isaac J. Coffey

Isaac was a son of Elias Henry "Eli" and Hannah Bullen Coffey.  He was born in Kentucky, probably Rockcastle or Madison Co., in April, 1854.  He first married Mary Florence Hayes on Feb. 5, 1878 in Rockcastle Co. and by her fathered one child Julia Florence Coffey born in Rockcastle Co. in Feb., 1880.

Julia married Jesse B. Waller on Feb. 10, 1897 in Rockcastle Co.  He was born c1868 in TN.  With Jesse, Julia gave birth to at least two children:  Bessie in Dec., 1897 and Laura in Feb., 1900, both in Rockcastle Co.

Mary Hayes Coffey apparently died at the birth, or shortly thereafter, of Julia for Isaac married a second time on Nov. 18, 1880, in Rockcastle Co., to Lamina A. Morris, born Jul. 1861 in KY.  I have seen her named as Minnia and Minnie.  A death date for her or Isaac has not been found.  However, Isaac was alive in 1920 when he appeared as a widower and head of household in the Lexington, Fayette Co. census.  Another occupant of the household was enumerated as Minnie but named as his mother.*  In 1930, Minnie Coffey, age 68, was enumerated as a widow and the mother-in-law of Will Shelton, husband of her daughter Florida [sometimes Cora or Flora].

Isaac and Lamina had at least six children:

Thomas J., born Oct., 1880, married Mrs. Elizabeth Fathergill in KY, c1908.  Elizabeth's first husband has not been found but, she brought three Fathergill children to her marriage with Thomas:  Flossy, born c1898, Lucas, born c1900 and Mildren, born c1906, all in KY.  They all appeared in the 1910 census at Valley View, Madison Co., KY but not in subsequent years.  I have found [potentially] Mildred in 1920 as a ward of Cordelia Kendall in the Court House Pct., Franklin Co., KY.  Flossie Fathergill was a roomer in the household of John P. Ashworth in 1920, Fayette Co.  Lucas was not found in 1920, but there exists a gravesite for a Lucas Fatheregill in the Camp Nelson National Cemetery at Nicholasville in Jessamine Co., KY.  This Lucas was born in 1898 and died in 1977.  The corresponding birth years for all three of these Fathergills closely correspond to those that Elizabeth brought to her marriage with Thomas.  I have found no children born to Thomas and Elizabeth.

Isaac's next child was Florida, born Feb., 1882.  She first married William May and gave birth to a son, Cecil E. May, born Mar. 24, 1905 in St. Clair Twp., Butler Co., OH.  In 1910 he lived with Isaac and Lamina in Madison Co., KY.  In 1920 he lived with Isaac, who claimed to be a widower, in Fayette Co. and, in 1930 lived in Fayette Co. with his mother.  By this time, Florida had remarried, this time to Will Shelton, born c1880 in KY.  The family appeared in the 1930 census for Lexington, Fayette Co.  I know of no children born to Will and Florida.

Following Florida was Cleo, born Sep., 1885.  She married Charles R. Spurlock, born in OH in 1885.  They were married on Sep. 6, 1904 in Madison Co., KY where they stayed until at least 1913.  Their first four children were born there:  Lonie, b1906; Katherine, c1908; Arnold, c1910 andVoline, c1913.  A fifth child, Marie, was born c1919 in OH.

Hattie was the fourth child, born c1887 in KY.  No further information.

Lillie, born Sep., 1891, married a Mr. Sauers and had at least two children:  Ralph, born c1911 and Lucille, born c1914, both in KY.  Lillie was a widow by 1930 and was residing with her two children in her father's residence in Lexington.

The last child that I have for Isaac and Lamina is Lucinda, born Mar., 1894 in Rockcastle Co., died there in Sept., 1894.

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*Isaac was age 63; Minnie was 59 and was probably his wife.

Sources: Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979 and 1839-1960 and 1851-1900; Federal Census records, 1880-1930; and Ohio Births and Christenings, 1821-1962

N. B. The 1920 census for this family includes a 59-yr old Minnie Coffey whose entry appears to be "daughter" but could be "mother," indicating perhaps the "mother of the household."  If not Lamina, then who is this person?  Also included is "daughter" Flora, age 36.  Is she  Florida or Cleo?

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