Austin Coffey - A son of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey?

In his will published Feb. 14, 1715/16 in Deed & Will Book 14, p.669, Edward Coffey named six children; Two or three sons and three or four daughters.  Those named were: John, Edward, Martha, Ann, Anstes, and Elizabeth.

All of the children are pretty much accounted for except Anstes. Was she the oft mentioned Annister or, was she an unaccounted for daughter?  We believe that daughter Ann Coffey might be Annister and that she produced an out-of-wedlock son with James Samuel. Born between 1735 and 36, she named the child James Coffey. More on him at a later date. We know from Chenault researchers that Annister later married Stephen Chenault.

Some interpreters think of Anstes as a male child whose name was Austin.

Dr. Marvin Coffey, descendant and long time Edward Researcher and published of James Bluford Coffey, his ancestors and descendants in America*,  believed that Austin might be the real name instead of Austes because descendants of Edward’s son John and wife Jane Graves Coffey descendants used the name Austin [extensively through many consecutive generations of male descendants*]. That would not have been unusual for a brother to name one of his children, or a influence a son to name a child after his beloved younger brother. He may have been killed in some Indian attack on the colony or otherwise distinguished himself.

Whomever he was, he is never more mentioned in any published history of the Edward Coffey clan.

He (Marvin) wrote that he had no idea where Edward and Ann might have obtained the name Austin but reminded us that there was a Daniel Austin family, contemporary with Edward, residing in Essex Co.  Marvin didn’t consider accurate the idea that the child was a female or named Austes.  But, if he was a male, what happened to him. Was he one of Edward’s children that married a Chenault female?

Marvin also worked to show that the Coffey, Duling and Chenault families were close, he cited the fact that when John sold his Essex county land in 1745, witnesses were Wm Duling and Wm Chenault. In 1747, when he sold more land, Wm Duling and Stephen Chenault Jr were witnesses and presumed that Austin might have been there as well. Could be Austin moved out of the area or perhaps died young. In either case, he left no records.

Searching the early census records of Burke Co., NC reveals that many of the Coffey family members relocated there after John’s death in 1775.  Depending on age of course, Austin, or any name similar to that does not appear.

In wrapping up that section of his book, Marvin wrote that it was possible that Austin existed without creating any public records and managed to have several children.  If that should be true, he speculated that some of the children of Edward, Jr. might actually be Austin’s.

*For reference:

Austin Coffey, born c1800 in NC, was in Wilkes Co. 1840-1860 census.  Great-Grandson of John
Austin Coffey, born c1818 in Burke Co., was in 1850-1860 census in Caldwell Co. also great-grandson of John
Austin Coffey, born c1840 in TN – 2d great-grandson of John
Austin Coffey, born 1871 in MO – 3d great-grandson of John
Austin Coffey, born 1912 in MO – 4th great-grandson of John
Austin Coffey, born 1936 in KY – 6th great-grandson of John

There are seven more Austins in this family.

To confuse things bit, there was an Austis Bedford Coffey, born 1893 in MO who was a 3d great-grandson of John. The ‘s’ could have been a editorial error!. Difficult to determine last letter in his signature on WW1 draft registration. And, on his 1918 marriage record his name was interpreted to be Autis and was spelled Autis on the marriage license. In 1920 Camden Co., AR census, he was Ottis. By 1930 it was back to being Autis. And finally, his grave marker is engraved Autis. He is buried at Maple Hill Cemetery in Kansas City, Wyandotte Co., KS, memorial no.20519495.

I conclude therefore his name was Autis.  Probably a family spelling for Ottis? I am pretty sure that many of us have seen Otis spelled variously.  I went to school with an Odest.

Based on the writings of Dr. Coffey, I believe the child was male and his name was Austin.

What do you think?

• * James Bluford Coffey, his ancestors and descendants in America; v. 01 Author: Coffey, Marvin D. (Marvin Dale), 1930-deceased; Call No. 929.273 C654cm Provenance: Owning Institution Family History Library, FamilySearch International, http"//familysearch.org/: NOTE: This book is not on-line. Talk to your local LDS Library about a library loan.

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"Nute" Gragg

This genealogy may be way off base, but appears to be somewhat accurate.  Readers with better knowledge of "Nute" are invited to submit corrections.

Updated Oct. 20, 2011

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Newton "Nute" Gragg, sometimes referred to as Isaac Newton Gragg, was born May. 13, 1879 in Caldwell Co., NC to William "Billie" and Phoebe Shell Gragg.  He died May 26, 1956 in Bob White, Boone Co., WV and was buried at White Cemetery in Julian, Boone Co., WV.*

It is believed that Newton married and fathered a child, perhaps two, with Ada Coffey, a daughter of Eldelano "Lano" and Mary E. Austin Coffey.  One child is thought to have been Lloyd Gragg, perhaps sometimes referred to as Lloyd Coffey.  He was born c1909 in Caldwell Co., and died there in 1979**. Ada's death certificate does give her name as Ada Gragg and the widow of the late Newton Gragg.

In 1930, Ada, age 44, was enumerated as a Coffey in the Walter Adams household in Catawba Co. Walter's wife was Sarah Jane Coffey, a daughter of Rabon Scott and Margaret E. Hollander Coffey and Ada's cousin. With "Ader" in this census were two Coffey men, Foy [sic] [Floyd], age 25 and Loyd [sic], age 23.  If Nute was the father of Lloyd then this entry may suggest that he fathered both boys.  Floyd was born Dec. 16, 1907 in Caldwell Co.**

Lloyd married Epsey or Epsie Magdelene Coffey on Aug. 16, 1936 in Wilson Creek Twp., Avery Co.***  Epsie was the daughter of Thomas Newton "Black Tom" and Ella Mae Loudermelt Coffey, born Jun. 21, 1916 in Caldwell Co., died Feb. 25, 1989 in Lenoir and was buried at White Springs Cemetery in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co.  Lloyd died in 1979 and was likely to have been laid to rest at White Springs as well.  Lloyd and Epsie were divorced in July, 1964 in Caldwell Co.¹

Update 10/20/2011:  Lloyd Coffey of Taylorsville, NC sent me a photo of Lloyd's grave marker.  He is buried in the Globe Community Cemetery at Globe Baptist Church, Caldwell Co.³

"Nute," as he seemed to be popularly known, appeared as a boarder in the Nannie Young boarding house, Wilsons Creek Twp., Avery Co. in 1910. He married Della V. Hall, a daughter of Franklin Ellis & Alia Louella Greer Hall on Oct. 12, 1915 in Mortimer, Wilson Creek Twp.² Della was born Jun. 10, 1890 in Granite Falls, Caldwell Co., and died Sep. 3, 1959 in Bim, Boone Co., WV. She is believed to have been buried at the White Cemetery as well. I am aware of one child, Bonnie, was born c1918.

In 1918, Nute was in Bryson City, Swain Co., NC where he was registered for the WW1 draft. His registration card describes him as short and stout with blue eyes and bald. In 1920 he and Della were in Forneys Creek, Swain Co. and in 1930 they were in Boone Co., WV.  Nute's death certificate reports cause of death as a "cerebral hemorrhage" and Della's as a "cerebro vascular accident."  I guess both are the same cause and more commonly known as strokes.

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*"West Virginia Deaths, 1853-1970." Index, FamilySearch, 2009. Digital copies of originals housed in County Courthouses throughout West Virginia. www/familysearch.org. name: Nute Gragg death date: 26 May 1956 death place: Bob White, Boone, West Virginia gender: Male age: estimated birth year: 13 May 1879 birth place: Globe, N. C. marital status: spouse's name: father's name: Billy Gragg father's birthplace: mother's name: Phoebe Shell mother's birthplace: occupation: Logging street address: residence: cemetery: White Cemetery burial place: burial date: 28 May 1956 film number: 571246 digital folder number: 4228482 image number: 58 source: County Records reference number: v 4


**Caldwell County, North Carolina Register of Deed's Index Search, Wayne L. Rash, Register of Deeds online [http://rod.co.caldwell.nc.us/Resolution/search_menu.asp], accessed variously, Lloyd Coffey, Death Register, Book 66, Page 100, parents Ada Coffey Gragg and Newtin Gragg.  Floyd Phillip Gragg Date of Birth: 16 Dec 1907 Gender: Male Race: White Birth County: Caldwell Parent1 Name: Newton Gragg Parent2 Name: Adar Coffey Roll Number: B_C017_68001 Volume: 4 Page: 114


***North Carolina County Marriages, 1759-1979, digital images, FamilySearch.Org (www.familysearch.org).  Groom's Name: Lloyd Gragg  Groom's Birth Date: 1909  Groom's Birthplace:  Groom's Age: 27  Bride's Name: Epsey Coffey  Bride's Birth Date: 1916  Bride's Birthplace:  Bride's Age: 20  Marriage Date: 16 Aug 1936  Marriage Place: Wilson Creek Twp., Avery, North Carolina Groom's Father's Name:  Nute Gragg  Groom's Mother's Name:   Ader Gragg Bride's Father's Name: Tom Coffey Bride's Mother's Name: Eller Coffey Groom's Race: White Groom's Marital Status: Groom's Previous Wife's Name: Bride's Race: White Bride's Marital Status: Bride's Previous Husband's Name: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M75218-2 System Origin: North Carolina-EASy Source Film Number: 1689135 Reference Number: No. 94


¹North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics. North Carolina Divorce Index, 1958-2004. Raleigh, NC, USA: North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics, 2004.  Primary Name: Epsie Gragg Spouse's Name: Lloyd Gragg Divorce Date:13 Jul 1964 Divorce County:Caldwell


²North Carolina County Marriages, 1759-1979 , digital images, FamilySearch.Org (www.familysearch.org).  groom's name: Newton Gragg groom's birth date: 1880 groom's birthplace: groom's age: 35 bride's name: Della Hall bride's birth date: 1895 bride's birthplace: bride's age: 20 marriage date: 12 Oct 1915 marriage place: Mortimer, Wilson Creek, Nc groom's father's name: groom's mother's name: Phoeba Gragg bride's father's name: Ellis Hall bride's mother's name: Hall groom's race: White groom's marital status: groom's previous wife's name: bride's race: White bride's marital status: bride's previous husband's name: indexing project (batch) number: M74476-1 system origin: North Carolina-EASy source film number: 590350 reference number: Cn 165


³"Lloyd Gragg's grave marker is located in the Globe Community Cemetery at Globe Baptist Church in Caldwell County, North Carolina. This information should help with your blog about 'Nute' Gragg. Lloyd caddied during the summer months at Blowing Rock Country Club in Watauga County, North Carolina during the middle 1960's. I also caddied there during those summers and spent many hours talking with and getting to know Lloyd on those occasions that we caddied together. At that time he used the name Lloyd Gragg. I was also aware at that time that Lloyd was married to my father's double first cousin Epsey Coffey Gragg." [Lloyd Coffey, Taylorsville, NC, 10/20/2011]

Samuel Monroe Austin

Samuel Monroe was a son of Samuel and Sarah Bolch (Bolick?) Austin and, was born Mar., 1824 in Watauga Co.  He was first married to Mariah Reed on Sep. 30,1854 in Caldwell Co. with whom he fathered six children:

Samuel M. & Mary Rich Austin

Sarah, born Dec. 25, 1849 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., died Apr. 15, 1947 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co. Sarah married Anthony Granville Keller c1881. He was born Feb. 11, 1854 in NC and died in Watauga Co. on Mar. 4, 1927. He was a son of James Wilborn and Margaret Eveline Turner Keller. Their children were George Jefferson; Elsie N; Sallie Marie; James W., Pantha E.; John L.; Granville A.; and Mary J. Sarah and Anthony are buried at Winkler Cemetery in Boone.

Mary, born Jun. 14, 1857 in Watauga Co., died Sep. 19, 1934 in Gragg, Avery Co., NC. She married Eldelano "Lano" Coffey, a son of Jacob Zachariah "Zack" and Margaret "Peggy" Coffey Coffey. Lano was born in 1857 and died May 27, 1927 in Wilson Creek Twp., Avery Co. More about Jacob and Peggy here, and here.*

Louisa, born Jan. 17, 1858 died at Kings Mountain in Lincoln Co., KY on Sep. 26, 1929. She married James Monroe Holsclaw, born Mar. 15, 1858 in Watauga Co., died Jun. 14, 1927 in Lincoln Co. They are both buried at Gooch Cemetery in Kings Mountain.

Melinda, born Mar. 2, 1858 in Watauga Co., died there on Jan. 24, 1895. She married Jonas Keller, brother to Anthony who married Sarah, Melinda's sister. Jonas was born in Aug., 1847 in Caldwell Co., died in Watauga Co. in 1930. He and Melinda were married on Oct. 31,1879 in Boone. Both are buried at Winkler. Their children were: Margaret Louise; Roe Wilborn; Charlie; Samuel and Arthur.

Adaline, born Dec., 1859 in Watauga Co. No further information. She apparently died quite young.

Celia M., born Sep. 21, 1864 in Watauga Co., died May 29, 1939 at Shulls Mill. Celia married Sim Penley. She is also buried at Winkler. No information on her spouse.

Samuel Monroe married his second wife, Mary Elizabeth Rich (var.) c1866. Mary was born Jul. 30, 1843 in Cherokee Co. to John and Rebecca Tomson [sic] Rich and died Oct. 13, 1922 in Blowing Rock. Mary is also buried at Winkler. Before he died on Mar. 28, 1912, Samuel fathered another eight (at least) children with Mary.

Their children were:

Martha M., born Apr. 28, 1869 in Watauga Co., died Jun. 26, 1948 in Lower Creek Twp. She married W. J. Putnam. Martha is buried at Belleview Cemetery in Lenoir. No further information.

William Levi, born Aug. 31, 1870 in Watauga, died Aug. 12, 1946 in Blowing Rock. His wife was Della Greene. William is buried at Winkler.

Julia Ann was born Sep. 24, 1871, died Apr. 18, 1964 at Belmont in South Point Twp., Gaston Co., NC. Her spouse was a Mr. McMillian. Julia is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Belmont.

Samuel Monroe, Jr., born Feb. 14, 1873 in Watauga Co., died Apr. 23, 1959 in Boone. He married Minnie Belle Payne, daughter of John Milton and Eliza Jane Downs Payne, c1907. She was born Feb. 28, 1880 and died in Boone on Sep. 2, 1969. They too are buried at Winkler. Children were: Lewis Milton; Ella Mae; Daisy Virginia; one unnamed male child and Ned Payne.

Emma, born c1876, died Feb. 2, 1967 in Blowing Rock, married Benjamin Greene, a son of Amos and Sena Estes Greene. Ben was born Aug. 1, 1844 in Watauga Co. and died in Lenoir on May 7, 1921. Ben is buried at the Reform Church Cemetery in Blowing Rock; Emma is at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.

Cordelia, born c1878, also married a Greene, first name unknown. Cordelia died Dec. 27, 1969 in Obion Co., TN. No other information.

Carrie Naomi, born Sep. 26, 1881 in Boone, died Feb. 17, 1939 in Lenoir. Her spouse was William Lee Robbins, born May 14, 1877 to Rufus and Eliza Story Robbins. William died Oct. 7, 1955. I know of one child, Mary W., born Nov., 1899 in Boone. William is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery; Carrie is at Winkler.

The last of Samuel and Mary's children was George Washington, born Oct. 30, 1884 in Watauga Co., died Mar. 18, 1972 in Mocksville, Davie Co., NC. His wife was Lillie Victoria Moody, born Jan. 23, 1887 in NC, died at Shulls Mill on Feb. 27, 1940.

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Photo via Margaret Coffey Farley

Finley T. and Mary Delight Clark Loudermelt - Corrections

Corrections/additions highlighted.

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The Loudermelt surname is spelled any number of ways, depending, it seems, on the specific family.  One of my e-mail friends, Lloyd Coffey of Alexander Co., NC, wrote in response to my question about this, that families in his area of NC spell their surnames "Loudermelt", "Loudermilt", and "Lowdermilk".  His research into this family has uncovered such spellings as "Lautermilch," the original German spelling, as well as all of the above spellings except with the letter A instead of O.

Mary D. Clark Loudermelt

When Finley married Mary Delight Clark in Mitchell Co. on Dec. 25, 1883, his surname was spelled Lawdermilk on the marriage record.  In the 1920 census it was Loudermilk; Loudermelt in 1910 and Loudermilt in 1920.  I haven't found his death certificate, or any death record for that matter that would tell me how it was spelled on that document.  When Mary died in Taylorsville, Alexander Co. on Jan. 31, 1954, her name was spelled Loudermelt on the death certificate.  She was buried at Rocky Face Cemetery in Alexander Co.

Naming only their children known to have married Coffeys

Their first child was John Minford*, born Oct. 27, 1884, died Oct. 20, 1927.   John married Celia L. Coffey* on Oct. 7, 1910 in the Globe.  Celia was the daughter of Eldelano "Lano" and Mary E. Austin Coffey.  Celia was born in Caldwell Co., NC in Mar., 1891 and died Dec. 23, 1973.  Their children were Lottie, Eva Mae, Annie and Myrtle.  If the birth and death dates for John and Celia are close, then Celia lived for another 46 years after John died and, may have remarried.

Finley and Mary's fifth child was a daughter, Ella Mae, born Oct., 1891, died Feb. 11, 1975 in Lenoir, Caldwel Co.  She married Thomas Newton "Black Tom" Coffey on Dec. 5, 1909 in Mortimer, Caldwel Co.  Tom was the son of Jesse (Cleveland?) "Red Eye" Coffey and Lucinda Louise "Lou" Coffey Coffey.  Tom and Ella may had at least 13 children who produced a long line of descendants for the couple.  Please contact me for more info on their children.

Eliza Loudermelt Coffey

Jesse C. Coffey

Eliza was the sixth child born to Finly and Mary.  She was born Dec, 23, 1892 and died May. 18, 1987 at Hiddenite in Alexander Co.  Eliza married Jesse Cleveland, another son of "Red Eye" and Lou Coffey.  Jesse Cleveland was born Dec., 1888 in Caldwell Co., and died Sep. 28, 1923 in Norton, Wise Co., VA.  Jesse was shot and died of septicemia, and accounts of the shooting vary.  It appears to have been accidental.  Their children were six who also provided Jesse and Eliza with a long list of descendants.  Same offer as above for more info.  He is buried at Glenco Cemetery at Big Stone Gap, Wise Co., VA.  Eliza is buried at Rocky Face.

Romilous Linney followed Eliza in Nov., 1895 and married Alberta "Bertie" Coffey, a daughter of Samuel Monroe and Josephine "Josie" Dellinger Coffey.  Readers who need more info on Samuel and Josie should use the upper right "search this blog" window to find previous blogs about this family.  Romilous' death date and place of burial is not known to me.  Bertie is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Lenoir.  I have only one child for the, a son by the name of Ronald "Ronnie" Loudermelt, born May 17, 1921 in Avery Co., died Apr. 28, 2010 in Lenoir. He is also buried at Woodlawn.

Ronald "Ronnie" was a son of Albert Abner Loudermilk by Bertie.   He and Bertie were not married.  Romilous "Rom" died of meningitis at age 19 and is buried at Lowdermilk Cemetery on Anthony Creek Road in Avery Co., near Carey's Flat.

When Romilous died in 1915, Bertie was just 10 years old and they were probably not romantically connected.  Bertie later married Clyde Johnson**.  This married produced at least one child, Essie Johnson.  I haven't found out what happened to Clyde but, sometime later she was with Albert Loudermelt**, a brother to Romilous.  Marriage - if there was one - to Albert apparently did not last too long because Albert married Julia Jennings** while Bertie was still living.  Finally, on May 25, 1926 Bertie*** married Andrew Jackson "Andy" Jennings and gave him at least eight children between 1925 and 1946.  Andy Jennings**** was brother to Julia who married Albert Loudermelt. Albert Abner (Ab) Loudermelt was shot and killed on Aug. 14, 1929 by Paris Coffey.

The last child that I am aware of being born to Finley and Mary was Mary Octavia on Oct. 9,1903 in Avery Co., died Mar. 31, 1977 in Boone, Watauga Co.  She married Fredrick Abner Coffey on May 12, 1922 in Carter Co., TN.  Fredrick was born Jan. 18, 1902 in Caldwell Co. to George Washington, Jr. and Tempey S. Calloway Coffey.  He died Apr. 6, 1930 in Banner Elk, then in Avery Co.  Frederick is buried at Boone Fork cemetery while Mary rests at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.  They had five children:  George, Mary Hazel, Roy Lee, Everette and Ola.

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*Birth and Death dates unsourced.
**No marriage record found so far.

***Some of Bertie's marriages may be out of sequence or perhaps not marriages at all.  The only date that I have confirmed for Bertie is the one to Andy.
****He was also brother to Lavinia Jennings who married Raymond Dellinger, son of Reubed D. Keever and Rebecca S. Coffey Dellinger.  The Jennings were children of Van and Daisy Shelton Jennings.

William M. Coffey and Martha Jane Sharpe

Continuing a bit with the family of Annie Lou Coffey who married Horry Thomas Austin:

Annie's father was William M. Coffey, born Dec. 1, 1855 in Buffalo Creek, a part of Wilkes Co., NC that later became Caldwell Co.  He was a son of William, Jr. and wife Margaret Robbins Coffey.  Annie's mother was Martha Jane Sharp, a daughter of James and Mary Ann Luellan Sharp and found in the upper division of Wilkes Co., NC in 1860.

The children of William and Martha Jane Sharp Coffey were:

Millard Cicero, born Feb. 1879, Caldwell Co., died Feb. 4, 1962 in Gastonia, Gaston Co., NC.  He is buried at Gaston Memorial Park in Gastonia.  Millard married Fannie Davis c1898 and together they had at least four children:  Purnell; Michael Luther; Clinard Yates; and Millard Reeves.

Richard Andrew, born May 16, 1880 in Caldwell Co., died Jan. 8, 1954 in Lincolnton Twp., Lincoln Co., NC.  He married Edna Laura McFadden c1907.  She was born Jul 13, 1887 in Rutherford Co., NC and died Aug. 30, 1967 in Hickory, Catawba Co.  Her parents were John W. and Regina Dellinger McFadden.  Richard and Edna are buried at River View Cemetery in Lincolnton.  Their children were William Glen; Dennis Dixon; Mary Lou; Alice; and Claude Wilson.

James Thomas, born Sep. 18, 1881 in Caldwell Co., died Apr. 10, 1962 in Lincolnton.  He married Celia Hix c1912.  She was born c1890 in NC and died before 1930.  He is buried at River View.  Children were Pervey; Vance, Juanita and one unnamed child.

Jesse Lawrence, born Jun. 19, 1883 in Lincoln Co., died Dec. 6, 1942 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co.  He married c1905 Estelle Virginia "Stella" Austin, a daughter of George Thomas and Sarah Isabell Simmons Austin.  Stella was born Mar. 31, 1883 in Patterson Twp., and died Sep. 24, 1959 in Lenoir.  Both are buried at the Yadkin Baptist Church cemetery in Lenoir.  Children were:  Floyd Jasper; Annie Lee; Carson A.; Carl; Esther Ruth; Geneva and Vurley L.

Bessie followied Annie Lou.  She was born in Feb., 1892 and married James Marvin Laney c1907.  Their children were Laurence; Lavonia; W. Blair; and Floyd Dure.

Bertha M., born Jul. 29, 1893 in Lincolnton, died there on Mar. 1, 1974.  She married Edward Brown.  I know of only one child, Helen, born c1918.  Bertha is buried at Southside Baptist Church cemetery in Lincolnton.

Gertrude G., born Apr., 1896 and Ruth E., born Nov., 1898.  I have not yet found any marriage or family information for these two daughters.

Please drop me a note if you can add to or correct any of this information.

Harry Thomas & Annie Lou Coffey Austin

Annie Lou Coffey was a daughter of William M. & Martha Jane Sharpe Coffey.  According to death records in Caldwell Co., Annie was born on Jan. 22, 1887.  However,  her death certificate reports that she was born Aug. 3, 1885.  She died on Mar. 6, 1972 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC and was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Park at Kings Creek.

She was married to Harry Thomas Austin c1915.  Harry was born Aug. 3, 1885 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Dec. 4, 1971.  He too is buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Park.  Harry was the son of Joseph Milton and Margaret Matilda Green Austin.  Joseph descended from Thomas Jefferson and Margaret Jane Bean Austin, a large family from Caldwell Co.

Their children, all born in NC,  were: Millard Gwyn, born Nov., 1914; Reva Gay, born Nov., 1916; Claude Everett, born Mar., 1921; Elsie M., born c1922; and Guy Coffey, born c1925.

This photo of Harry and Annie Lou with their children is courtesy of Brian Smoot, a grandson of Reva.

Please contact me to add to or correct any of this information.

Update 09/25/2009:  Family members inform me that Harry's name was spelled Horry.

Tracey Jack & Nellie Juanita Estes Coffey

Tracey Jack Coffey was a son of Columbus (Lum) Alexander and Mary Alice Woodruff Coffey. He was born Jul. 7, 1923 in Newland, Avery Co., NC and died on Aug. 30, 1994 in Caldwell Co. He was buried on Sep. 4, 1994 in the Blue Ridge Memorial Park at Kings Creek in Caldwell Co.

He married Nellie Juanita Estes, a daughter of Theodore and Laura Bean Estes in 1962. Given the age of both at the time of marriage (he as 39, she was 34) it is likely that both were previously married. I have not found any record of children born to this union.

Laura was born Jun. 1, 1928 in Caldwell Co. and died on Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Her obituary:

News Topic Lenoir N C May 10, 2009

Nellie Coffey

Nellie Juanita Coffey, 80, of Lower Creek Drive, Lenoir, died Saturday, May 9, 2009 at Gateway Nursing Center. She was born June 1, 1928 in Caldwell County to the late Theodore Estes and Laura Bean. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Coffey, four brothers, and four sisters.

She attended Crossroads Community Church and was a prayer warrior who was very active in church and her community.

Survivors include a brother, Stephen Bean of Charlotte; a loyal and faithful niece, Ms. Camilla "Sissy" Coffey, and special friend, Mike Triplett, both of Lenoir.

Funeral services will be Monday, May 11, 2009 at 2 p.m, at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel conducted by Pastor Rick Bowman. Interment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Sunday from 7-8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Serving as pallbearers will be Odell Watson, Jesse Suddreth, Joe Hoyle, Ross Winkler, James Wilfong and Donnie Kiefer. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Willis, Carroll Clontz and H.C. Ledbetter.

Memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care at 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, NC 28645 or Crossroads Community Church at 1509 SW Norwood Street, Lenoir, NC 28645.

Online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com. Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Theodore Estes was born in North Carolina in 1857 and died in Lower Creek, Caldwell Co. on Jul. 30, 1937. Death was caused by uremia. He was buried on Jul. 31 in Confidence Church Cemetery at Lenoir in Caldwell Co.

I have been unable to find any birth or death information for Laura.

Columbus Alexander Coffey was a son of Eldelano (Lano) and Mary E. Austin Coffey. Mary Alice Woodruff was a daughter of James and Minerva (LNU) Woodruff.

John Wesley and Elizabeth Austin Coffey

John Wesley Coffey was born in Russell Co., KY on Jan. 28, 1845, a son, and the first of at least eleven children born to Andrew (Andy) and Sara A. Bernard Coffey.  John's wife, Elizabeth P. Austin was born c1843 and died c1882 in Kentucky.  I have not yet found her parents.

She and John were  probably married c1860-1861, given that their first known child was born c1863.

It appears that Elizabeth died sometime around 1882, about the time their last child, Perkey [or, Parkey], a daughter, was born.

At her death John  apparently  remarried almost immediately.   His second wife was Mollie [some researchers report her maiden name to be Mims or Mimms].  

In the Jun. 6, 1900 census Mollie was a widow in Creelsboro, Russell Co., and gave her age as 40, born Sep., 1859.  She would have been age 22 to 23 years old when she and John married.  She reported that she had given birth to five children, but only two remained alive.  The youngest at home was born in Aug., 1899.  Based on that, I believe we might be able to say that John died sometime in Oct-Nov 1898 time frame.  One genealogy that I have seen reports that he died on Oct. 29, 1898.

John and Elizabeth's children were:


Louisa E., born c1863; James M., born c1868; Laban, born c1870; Robert B., born c1873; Sarah, born c1875; Mary, born c1877; Carlos, born c1879; Alexander Cosby, born Jan. 23, 1881 and Parkey [?], a female, born Oct. 27, 1882.

The first seven children were enumerated with the family through 1880.  The remaining two are found in the 1900 census.  I have not searched for them in later census records.

The two children that survived birth to Mollie were Lulu, born Jul., 1887 and John S., born Aug., 1899.

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

James Monroe and Flora Coffey Baldwin

James Monroe Baldwin

Death Certificate for J. M. Baldwin

James Monroe Baldwin was brother to William Roby. He was born May 13, 1885 in Watauga Co., and died Dec. 19, 1949 in Irenton, Lincoln Co., NC. He married Flora Coffey (date not known, but probably c1910); a daughter of Eldelano (Lano) and Mary E. Austin Coffey. Flora was born in Apr., 1894 in Caldwell Co. A death date for her has not been found. James is buried in the Iron Station Cemetery in Lincoln Co.


Their children were:

Hellen, born May, 1912
Florence, born May 13, 1914
Lottie, born Jun. 6, 1916
James, born 1930
Unnamed male, born and died Oct. 20, 1931. His death certificate gives his burial site as "at house."

"Lano" Coffey was born in NC in 1857 and died May 27, 1927 at Wilsons Creek in Avery Co., NC. According to The Collettsville Historical Society, he is buried at the Sam Coffey Cemetery in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. The burial site on his death certificate is unreadable. Mary, a daughter of Samuel Monroe and Mariah Reed Austin, was born Jun. 14, 1857 in Watauga Co., and died Sep. 19, 1934 at Wilsons Creek. Her death certificate gives the burial site as New Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery at Carys Flat, Avery Co.

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

William J. and Mary Lou Coffey Austin

Mary Lou was the fifth child and second daughter of Thomas and Rachel M. Coffey Coffey. She was born in Feb., 1882 in North Carolina, and probably in Caldwell Co. Her father was the son of William and Margaret Robbins Coffey while her mother was the daughter of McCaleb and Elizabeth Collett Coffey. William was a nephew of McCaleb as well as a first cousins, once removed.*

Siblings to Mary Lou were:

- Louis McWill, born Apr. 27, 1874, died Apr., 1960; married Annie Pernell. There were no children born to this union.

His obituary:

Unknown, undated newspaper

Caldwell Native Buried Today

Funeral Services for Dr. L. M. Coffey, 86, retired Lincolnton dentist and a native of Caldwell county, were conducted at Warlick Funderal Home chapel at Lincolnton this afternoon. He had been a dentist in Lincolnton for more than 50 years.

A member of an early Caldwell county family, he was the son of Thomas and Rachel Coffey. His father operated the toll gate on the Lenoir - Blowing Rock road for many years.

He passed away on Sunday night. His widow, Mrs. Annie Coffey survives.

Nephews serving as pallbearers were Clarence P. Coffey, Collett Coffey, Bill Martin, James Mills, and Louis and Carl Wellborn.

In addition to the pallbearers local nephews and nieces are Mrs. Bill Martin, Mrs. T. Hamp Robbins, Mrs. Hugh Edmisten, Mrs. James Mills, Earl J. Austin and Ed Austin.

- James Larkin

- Carrie Elizabeth, born c1878, married Joseph Harrison Wellborn. He was born c1873 and died before 1920. They were married in Caldwell Co. in 1896. Eight children were born to this union. Jennie Beatrice, born 1900, died 1978; Carl Coffey, born Aug. 6, 1902, died May 15, 1986; Alma M., born c1904; Annie L., born c1906; Robert Louis, born Dec. 11, 1908, died Dec. 29, 1990; Carrie, born Sep. 13, 1910, died Feb. 28, 1985; Joseph Dale, born May 14, 1913; and Blanche Gertrude, born Nov. 19, 1914, died Mar. 8, 2004.

- Columbus Clarence, born Mar. 29, 1879, married Mitty Jane Davis, born c1875. Their children were Minnie, born c1905; Velma, born c1906; Haskel, born c1907; Donald, born c1909; Howard, born c1911; Maggie, born c1913; and Bessie Templeton, born Mar. 19, 1915.

Mary Lou died sometime before 1920, and most likely closer to 1913 when her last child was born.

Sometime later William remarried to Rosie LNU.

According to this WW1 draft registration, William Jefferson Austin was born Apr. 4, 1874. He was the son of Julius J. and Celia I. Harris Austin. Julius was born in Caldwell Co. in 1850 and died there on Mar. 3, 1947. Celia was born in 1852 and died Aug. 16, 1946 in Caldwell Co. They were Married Jun. 24, 1871 in that county.

William died in Morganton, NC in about 1960. I have his obituary but not a date for the publication therefore I do not know the exact date of death.

Two versions of his obituary:

Austin Rites are Conducted

Funeral services for William Jefferson Austin, 86, retired farmer of 215 Spruce Street, who passed away Wednesday morning in a Morganton hospital were conducted at 11 o'clock this morning at Greer Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. H. R. Crocker, pastor of First Advent Christian Church, was in charge, and burial was in the Austin family plot at Harper's Chapel Cemetery at Patterson.

Pallbearers were Ben Eller, Lex Hartley, Sam Hartley, Collett Coffey, Louis Welborn and Clarence Coffey.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Roxie Barlow Austin, four sons, a daughter, a brother, three sisters ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

News Item, unknown publication, unknown date

W. J. Austin Taken By Death

William Jefferson Austin, 86, well-known retired farmer who has made his residence at 215 Spruce Street for a number of months, passed away in a Morganton hospital at four o'clock this morning. He had been seriously ill for the last four months and had been in failing health for the last several years.

Funeral services will be conducted at Greer Funeral Home Chapel at 11 o'clock Thursday morning with Rev. H. R. Crocker, pastor of First Advent Christian Church, in charge. Interment will be in the Austin Family plot at Harper's Chapel cemetery at Patterson.

A member of an early Caldwell county family, Austin had spent most of his life farming in the Patterson section of the county. He was born at Patterson on April 4, 1874, the son of Julius Jefferson Austin and Celia Harris Austin. He was a member of the First Advent Christian church.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Roxie Barlow Austin, and the following children by a former marriage to Mary Coffey: Thomas Lester Austin of Hickory, Herbert William Austin of Morganton, Earl Jefferson and Ned Austin, born ot Lenoir, and Mrs. Lawrence McMillan of Lenoir.

Also surviving are a brother, George Austin of Lenoir, and three sisters, Mrs. Nell Hartley, Mrs. Rose Bean and Mrs. Jennie McGhinnis, also of Lenoir. There are ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The children of Mary Lou and William Jefferson were:

Thomas Lester, born May 24, 1906, died Apr. 30, 2000. Thomas married Katherine Arminta Earney. They had at least one child, a son Thomas Earney Austin, botn c1932.

Earl Jefferson, born Jun. 12, 1908, died Aug. 24, 1944. Married Mildred Doris Earney - probably a sister to Katherine. They had at least two children: William David, born c1929 and Earl, Jr., born c1934.

William Herbert, born May 10, 1911, died Jan. 2, 1997

Ned, born Apr. 15, 1913, died Aug. 25, 2002

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





*http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2008/02/
what-is-second.html

[Readers may have to cut and past this url]

Dell Carlton and Mary Jane Bodenhamer Coffey

Dell was the third of 12 children and third son of William Luther and Mary Salome Moretz Coffey. He was born Jul. 1, 1875 in Watauga Co., and died there on Jun. 4, 1963. Mary Jane was born Apr. 18, 1876 in Yadkin Co., NC and died in Watauga Co. on Nov. 7, 1964. She and Dell were married in Big Hill, Watauga Co. on Nov. 6, 1895. Both are buried at the Old Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church Cemetery in Watauga Co.

The union of Dell and Mary produced 13 children between Oct., 1896 and Oct., 1920. Five of those children were lost before age 10. Seven of them lived an average life span of 82 years. Three of those seven lived more than 90 years with one living to age 98. One child is still living.

The obituary of their ninth child and fifth son Paul Alfred, appeared today in The Watauga Democrat, Boone, NC.

Mr. Paul Alfred Coffey, 98, of 1900 Hillsmere Lane, Staunton, Va., formerly of Boone, N.C., died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, at Loyalton of Staunton.

He was born Dec. 30, 1909 in Watauga County, a son of the late Dell C. and Mary Bodenhamer Coffey.

Mr. Coffey was a member of Old Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church, and was a farmer. Survivors include one sister, Anna Belle Norris of Salisbury; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six brothers and five sisters.

Graveside services and burial was conducted Sunday afternoon, Jan. 13, 2008, at 3 o’clock at the Old Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church Cemetery.

The family received friends Sunday from 1-2:30 p.m. at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, 6411 Middlebrook Road, Middlebrook, VA 24459; or to the Old Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund, in care of George Winebarger, 1767 Burkett Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.
Henry Funeral Home, Inc., in Staunton, Va., and Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Coffey family.

Their other children were:

Robert Leroy, born Oct. 28, 1896, died May 13, 1974. He was married on Jul. 14, 1920 to Bertie Blanche Walls, born Sep. 13, 1904, died Feb. 22, 1979. They had at least six children: Wade Leroy, Hattie Mae, William Franklin, Frances Viola, Agnes Ruth, and Vera Lee.

Ora Estella, born Aug. 1, 1898, died Nov. 27, 1985. She was married to James Stewart Barnes on Feb. 13, 1924. He was born Sep. 25, 1894 and died Mar. 20, 1965. They had at least four children: James Andrew, Mary Elizabeth, one unnamed daughter and, Rebecca Ann.

Mrs. Estella Coffey Barnes, 87, of Route 2, Boone, died Wednesday morning, Nov.27, at her home. Mrs. Barnes was born Aug. 1, 1898 in Watauga County to Dell Calvin and Mary Jane Bodenhamer. She was the wife of the late Stewart James Barnes. Mrs. Barnes was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church and had attended the Perkinsville Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school for a number of years. She was employed for many years as the first secretary of the Appalachian Normal School, which later became Appalachian State University. She was a long time hand-weaving crafts person and was a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild.

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Richards, Mrs. Betty Elliott, and Mrs. Rebecca Miller, all of Boone; one son, James A. Barnes of Winston-Salem; one sister, Mrs. Anna Belle Norris of Kannapolis; three brothers, Ira Coffey of Buckingham, Va., Paul Coffey of Middlebrook, Va., Glenn Coffey of Boone; and 13 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

Services were conducted today at 2 p.m. at the Perkinsville Baptist Church, officiated by the Rev. Jim Russell, the Rev. Bob Young, and the Rev. Bob Barlow. Burial followed at Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens. Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Directors in Boone were in charge of the arrangements.

William Edgar, born Feb. 5, 1900, died Oct. 3, 1906

Mamie, born Nov. 15, 1901, died Dec. 22, 1901

Emma Edith, born Nov. 11, 1902, died Dec. 19, 1902

Addie Lee, born Jan. 10, 1904, died Feb. 14, 1964. She married Lynman Paul Norris on Mar. 16, 1928. He was born c1900 and died Mar. 3, 1936. They had at least three children: Kay Phyllis, Wanda Delrey and Stanley Paul.

David Glenn, born Feb. 27, 1906, died Apr. 17, 1996. He was married on Aug. 14, 1933 to Reba Wynn [?] Jones. She was born Aug. 17, 1917 and died Apr. 8, 2002. They had at least four children: Billy Glenn, Janet Maxine, James Howard and Mary Lorene.

His obituary appeared in The Watauga Democrat, Boone, N.C., April 19, 1996

Mr. David Glenn Coffey, 90, of 110 Burkett Road, Route 2, Boone, died Wednesday night, April 17, in Morganton.

He was born Feb. 27, 1906, in Watauga County, a son of the late Dell and Mary Bodenhamer Coffey. He retired from the security department of Appalachian State University after 18 years of service and was a member of Old Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Reba Jone [sic] Coffey; three sons, Billy Coffey and his wife, Sandy, of Powell, Tenn., James Howard Coffey and his wife, Janice, and Joe L. Coffey and his wife, Joyce, all of Clemmons; two daughters, Mrs. Maxine McGuire and her husband, Tom, of Kansas City, Missouri and Mrs. Lorene Williams and her husband, Ted, of Kingsport, Tenn.; two brothers, Ira Coffey of Buckingham, Va., and Paul Coffey of Middlebrook, Va.; one sister, Mrs. Anna Belle Norris of Kannapolis. Ten grandchildren, 11 greatpgrandchildren, two step-grandchildren, four step-great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by nine brothers and sisters, and a granddaughter, Miss Janet Lee Coffey.

Services will be Saturday at 2:00 o'clock at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state from 12:30 until 2 p.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Harwood Smith. Burial will follow in the Old Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Ira Calton, born Jul. 15, 1908, died Jan. 30, 2000 in Buckingham Co., VA. He married Mary Ruth Bradshaw of Bluff City, Sullivan Co., TN. No further information.

Paul Alfred, born Dec. 30, 1909, died Jan. 10, 2008 (See obituary above; he apparently never married)

Walter Murray, born Jul. 22, 1912,died Mar. 3, 1985. He married Mary Cleo Proffitt on Dec. 22, 1938. She was born Feb. 16, 1916 and died Sep. 14, 1989. Their children were Nancy Louise, Kent William, one unnamed daughter, and Jane Elizabeth.

Anna Belle, born Jan. 28, 1915, married Dale Cloyd Norris on Jul. 23, 1939. He died Dec. 2, 2007 in Salisbury, Rowan Co., NC. Their children were Gary, Mickey Alan, and Daniel lee.

Ray Albert, born Sep. 20, 1918, died Oct. 29, 1928

Viola Mary, born Oct. 31, 1920, died Mar. 20, 1921

All of the children were born in Watauga Co. It appears that all of the known deceased, with the exception of Ora Estella and Ira Calton are buried with their parents at Old Mt. Pleasant. Ora is buried at Mt. Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens in Boone. I am not sure where Ira is buried; perhaps in Buckingham Co., VA.

The Norris spouses were children of Millard Harrison and Ida Delrea [Del Rea?] Davis Norris. Their daughter, Marion Edna Norris married William Leon Coffey, another son of William Luther and Mary Moretz Coffey.

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

Coffey Sisters & Ketron Brothers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Children born to Delia and Freeman were:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Booker and Hannah Ann Dalton Shockley

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

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

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

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

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

Millie, born c1841

Mira, born c1843

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

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

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

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

---

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

Martha E., born c1857

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

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

Martin, born c1866

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

I have 11 children for them:

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

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

Martha Louise, born c1851

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hannah Elizabeth, born c1868

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

Third born was Ephraim who married Lucretia Hipsher

Fourth born was Thomas who married Perlina Wolfe

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

Their children were:

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

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

Wyatt, born c1855

Mahala, born c1858

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

Rutha, born c1865

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

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

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

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

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


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

Thomas & Elizabeth Coffey Fields

Susan Caroline Connelly

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

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

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

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

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

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

The photo of Caroline is courtesy of Paul.

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

Jesse Filmore Coffey

Jesse Filmore Coffey was born Oct. 22, 1858 in North Carolina to Austin and Mary A. Blalock Coffey. He married at least three times.

His first wife was Mattie Storie, born Mar. 26, 1852, died Apr. 25, 1892. I have not found their marriage date, but it should have been sometime prior to Aug. 4, 1882 for that is the date of birth of their first child, Edna.

Edna married J. E. Hodges on Oct. 2, 1903 in Watauga Co., NC. She died Mar. 3, 1942 in Boone, Watauga Co., and is buried there at Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery. I have no additional information.

Edna's obituary:

Mrs. Edna Hodges Dies on Tuesday

Brief Illness is Fatal to Well-known School Teacher; Rites at Boone Fork Church

Mrs. Edna Coffey Hodges, aged 67, died at Watauga Hospital Tuesday after a brief illness. Cancer was given as the cause of her death.

Funeral services are to be conducted from the Boone's Fork Baptist church and burial will be in that section when the weather permits.

Mrs. Hodges was a daughter of the late Filmore and Mrs. Coffey and was raised in the vicinity of Foscoe. She had taught in the public schools of Watauga and adjacent counties for a number of years, and was well known and held in the highest regard by her many acquaintances.

Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Louise Aldridge, and the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Eva Coffey, Jessee Coffey, Mrs. H. H. Berry, Sanford Coffey, Shulls Mills; Mrs. George Williams, Johnson City, Tenn, Mrs. Blaine Aldridge, Tacoma, Wash.

Other children were:

Rose Lee, born Feb. 9, 1886, died Jan. 16, 1946. She married Arthur Blaine Aldridge on May 19, 1906 in Watauga Co. He was the son of James A. and Sarah Gragg Aldridge. Arthur is thought to have died in Wisconsin in 1947. Their children were Jerome Marvin, born Nov. 11, 1909 and Beulah J., born Sep. 3, 1912.

Jesse Lawrence, born in Watauga Co. on Feb. 29, 1888, died there on Nov. 16, 1956. He is buried in the Calloway Cemetery in Watauga Co.

Jesse's obituary:

Jesse L. Coffey, 68, passed away Friday evening at 8:30 o'clock at the home of a sister, Mrs. H. H. Berry, 112 Ervin avenue.

A native of Watauga County, he was born on February 29, 1888, a son of the late J. Philmore Coffey and Mrs. Mattie Story Coffey. His wife is the former Miss Florence Clark. He was a member of the Boone Fork Advent Christian Church in Watauga County.

Surviving are a son, Warren Coffey of Manerva, O.; four grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Berry, Mrs. George Williams of Johnson City, Tenn., and Miss Eva Mac Coffey of Shulls Mills; and a brother, Stanford Coffey of Shulls Mills.

Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the Christian Church at Shulls Mills, with the Rev. Horace Harris officiating. Interment will be in the Callaway cemetery.

Mr. Coffey served in the United States Army from 1911 through 1921, being stationed in China, the Philippine Islands and Siberia. He was a retired employee of the Timpken Roller Bearing Company of Canton, Ohio.

The body was removed to the home of a sister, Miss Eva Mac Coffey, at Shulls Mills this afternoon from Lenoir Funeral Home.

Clarence Olen, born Aug. 28, 1889. He married Beulah Berry on Jul. 3, 1922 in Watauga Co. No other information.

Sarah Ethel, born Mar. 1, 1892. Married Harden Berry. No other information.

Jesse' second wife was Jane Harrell. They were married Nov. 26, 1892 in Watauga Co. No other information.

His third wife was Harriett Melissa Calloway, born May 9, 1862 in NC, died in that state on Oct. 22, 1949. They were married Dec. 5, 1893 in Watauga Co.

Harriet Melissa Calloway

At least four children were born to this marriage:

Mollie Bell, born Nov. 24, 1895, died Mar. 9, 1974. Mollie married George Quincy Williams on Sep. 12, 1917 in Watauga Co. He was born c1894 and died Feb. 3, 1967 in Washington Co., TN. Their children were: Frank Tipton, born Jul. 27, 1918, died Jan. 31, 1987; Jack Quincy, born Mar. 8, 1921, died Mar. 3, 2001.

Some sources list Harriet Marie, born Jul. 21, 1945 and Melissa Jane, born Mar. 20, 1956 as children of George and Mollie. That is problematic however, as there were 24 years between birth of Jack and Harriet and, 11 years between Harriet and Melissa.

[I have learned today (12-31-07) that Harriet and Melissa are grandchildren of George and Millie; children of their son Frank. I do not yet know who their mother was and, am working on that. ]

Eva Mae, born May 11, 1899, died Jan. 9, 1975. No other information.

Stanford Councill, born Oct. 24, 1901, died Dec. 29, 1988. Stanford married his second cousin, Minnie Lee Ella Coffey, a daughter of William Pinkney and Nancy Caroline Gragg Coffey. Minnie has been previously married to Herbert Spencer "Hub" Wagner. Hub had been sentenced to prison for the murder of Earl Moody and Letcher Byrd in Christmas Day, 1926. Hub had also been previously married to Ruie Ellen Coffey, a daughter of Charles Frederick* and Saphronia Phipps Coffey. It is believed that Hub relocated to West Virginia after serving his prison term. I do not know of any children born to Stanford and Minnie.

The last child born to Jesse and Harriet is thought to be Minnie Lee, born Jun. 9, 1904, died Jun. 9, 1992. No other information.

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



*Update Nov. 8, 2007: I have been rather rudely informed that Charles' middle name was not Frederick.

Doctor Hill Wright

Doctor was a son of Thomas A. and Margaret Ann Coffey Wright. He was born April 1, 1889 in North Carolina and died Oct. 4, 1949 in Watauga Co., NC. He married twice, first to Virgie Nona Gragg, a daughter of Leonard L. and Alva Sims Gragg. She was born Oct. 18, 1897 in North Carolina and died Nov. 13, 1945 in Watauga Co. They were married May 13, 1913 in Watauga Co.

They had at least four children:

Meda Virginia*, born May 22, 1914

William Paul, born Jun. 19, 1918

Agnes Adele, born Aug. 15, 1921, died Jan. 15, 1988. Addie married James Bynum Coffey, a son of James Hardy and Lillian Mae Gray Coffey on Jul. 5, 1939 in North Carolina. James was born Apr. 28, 1912 in Watauga Co., and died there on Apr. 26, 1986. There were at least two children born to this union: Patricia Joe Ann, born Mar. 21, 1941, died c1996, and James Robert, born Sep. 27, 1942, died Nov. 11, 1999.

Thomas Hill, born Dec. 20, 1930

Doctor's second wife was Sally Phillips, but I have no information on her except that she also married Austin Blaine Coffey on Nov. 13, 1951 in Watauga Co. Doctor and Austin were first cousins.

Hill Wright registered for the draft in Watauga Co., NC on Jun., 5 1917, and was described as being tall and slender with gray eyes and black hair. He gave his age as 28 yrs. old, born Apr. 1, 1889. He farmed and lived with his wife and one child in Shulls Mill at the time of registration. He also claimed support of his mother.

He and Virgie appear in the 1920 and 1930 census in Watauga Co. They divorced sometime after the 1930 census was enumerated and Hill Married Sally Phillips.

By 1942 Hill and Sally were living in Talbot Co., MD. Hill was employed by and gave his address as George Jopp's Restaurant on Philadelphia Road. He described himself as being 52 yrs. old and, 5' 9.5" tall with blue eyes, gray hair and ruddy complexion. He weighed 160 lbs.

He and Sally returned to Watauga Co sometime after 1942 where he died on Oct. 4, 1949 and was buried there in the Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery. Virgie apparently never remarried and died Nov. 13, 1945 in Watauga Co. Virgie is buried at White Springs Cemetery in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co.

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 *Meda's birth record lists her name as Meda Virginia, born May 22, 1914. I have been told however that her middle name was Geneva and perhaps her birthyear was 1913.

Austin Blaine Coffey

Austin Blaine Coffey was a son of David Nathaniel and Caroline Levinia Coffey Coffey. He was born in Watauga Co., NC on Jan. 14, 1887 and died there on Aug. 28, 1970. He is buried alongside his first wife, Emma Mahalia (Hailey) Harris Coffey, at Boone Fork Baptist Church cemetery in Watauga Co.

Blaine represented Watauga Co. in the NC House of Representatives for several years, beginning in about 1917. He was still seated in The House in 1923 when his mother died.

Austin Blaine Coffey

Austin married Emma Mahalia (Hailey) Harris in Caldwell Co. on mar. 1, 1914. Hailey was the only child of Anderson Perkins and Frances Catherine Ennis Harris. Hailey had given birth to a son, Ralph A. Harris on Nov. 22, 1911. Ralph enlisted in the US Army in 1929 and subsequently killed in an automobile accident while stationed in Pensacola, Escambia Co., FL.

Hailey Harris

His obituary appeared in the Watuage Democrat on May 19, 1932:

Funeral Services Held for Ralph A. Harris

The body of Ralph A. Harris, 20, a private in the U.S. Army who was killed in an automobile accident near Pensacola, Fla., on May 7th, arrived at Lenoir on May 11th, in charge of Private Floyd Burkett, who was a friend and comrade of the deceased. Funeral services were held at Blue Ridge Advent Church on Thursday, May 12th by the Rev. S. E. Gragg, in the presence of the largest congregation ever assembled for a burial in this section.

Young Harris was a well liked by all who knew him. He completed his high school education at Crossnore, N.C., enlisted in the US Army in 1929, served three years, reenlisted and was serving his second term when the accident occurred. His death has caused widespread sorrow.

Pallbearers were Spencer Collins, Archie Simms, Spencer Henderson, Staple Collins, Mayrel Gragg, Frank Jones, Cecil Critcher, Jesse Coffey, Randel Pyatte, Melvin Calloway, J. C. Church, Ernest Simms and Seldon Wright.

Flower girls were led by little Ernestine Collins and Norma Collins, were as follows: Ruby Richards, Irene Jenkins, Sally Collins, Ruby Dula, Hailey Harris, Ruby Henderson, Rosetta Hollifield, Bessie Wooten, Jessie Hollifield, Ruby Byers, Ophelia Teague, Verdola Coffey, Fay Rupurd, Edith Calloway.

Burial took place at Boone's Fork graveyard.

Hailey died less than a year following the death of her son Ralph.

Ralph A. Harris

Hailey and Austin's children were:

Murray Harris Coffey, born May 9, 1915, died Apr. 5, 2003. He married Ruby Evelyn Dula on Nov. 19, 1938 in Watauga Co. Ruby was born Jan. 10, 1910 in Caldwell Co., and died Apr. 13, 1999 in Mecklenburg Co., NC. She was the daughter of Arthur Hill and Mary Jane Coffey Dula.

Murray's obituary appeared in the Watauga Democrat on Apr. 7, 2003.

Rev. Murray Coffey

Rev. Murray H. Coffey, 87, of 157 Murray Coffey Road, Blowing Rock, died Saturday morning, April 5, 2003, at Blowing Rock Hospital.

He was born May 9, 1915, in Hudson, Caldwell County, to the late Austin Blaine and Hailey Harris Coffey.

Rev. Coffey was a retired stone mason and a minister. He was a member of Blue Ridge Advent Christian Church where he formerly served as pastor.

Both Rev. Coffey and his father, Blaine Coffey, served in the North Carolina Legislature as representatives from Watauga County.

Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Imogene Poteat of Davidson; and one son, Terry Coffey of Blowing Rock; one granddaughter, Kimberly Coffey of Asheville; three grandsons, Paul Poteat Jr. of Coppers Cove, Texas, Mike Poteat and family of Charlotte, and Lynn Solesbee and wife, Melissa, of Mauldin, S.C.; one great-granddaughter, Anna Solesbee and one great-grandson, Ben Solesbee, both of Mauldin.

He is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Dula Coffey; a son, Vern Coffey; a sister, Mrs. Gwyn Dula; and a brother, Hardin Coffey.

Services were conducted Monday morning at the Blue Ridge Advent Christian Church in Blowing Rock, officiated by the Rev. Gordon Noble.

Entombment followed in the Coffey Family Mausoleum in Boone Fork Community Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Boone Advent Christian Church, in care of Joyce Sherrill, 375 Shady Bark Lane, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Hampton Funeral Service was in charge of the arrangements.

Catherine G. Coffey

Katherine Gwendolyn Coffey, born Aug. 1, 1919 in Watauga Co., died Aug. 19, 1997 in North Carolina. She married Clyde Lester Dula on Jul. 4, 1939. Clyde was brother to Ruby who married Murray.

Hardin Blaine Coffey

Hardin Blaine Coffey, born Apr. 23, 1923 in Watauga Co., died Oct. 7, 2000 in North Carolina. He married Beulah Mae Coffey, born Mar. 24, 1924 to Joseph Merritt and Susan Augustus Childs Coffey. Joseph Merritt and Austin Blaine were distant cousins.

Hardin's obituary:

Mr. Hardin Blaine Coffey, 77, of Ransom Street, Blowing Rock, died Saturday morning, Oct. 7, 2000, at his home.

He was born April 23, 1923 in Blowing Rock. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Blowing Rock.

Mr. Coffey was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army and a 56 year charter member of the Blowing Rock American Legion Post 256. He retired with 30 years service at Tweetsie Railroad as a steam locomotive engineer. A snow making pioneer, he installed the first snow making equipment at Blowing Rock Ski Lodge and Hound Ears Club.

Survivors include his wife, Beulah C. Coffey; one daughter, Judith Wesson of Boone; one son, Joe Coffey and wife, Cathy, of Snowmass Village, Colo.; three grandchildren, Michael Jason Wesson of Boone and Samuel Ryan Coffey and Joanna Haley Coffey, both of Snowmass Village, Colo.; a brother, Rev. Murray Coffey of Blowing Rock; and three nieces, Gail Pitts of Blowing Rock, Cathy Wilson of Boone and Linda McCullach of Millers Creek; and one nephew, Terry Coffey of Blowing Rock.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Austin Blaine and Hailey Harris Coffey; one sister, Gwyn Dula and a nephew, Vern Coffey.

Services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by the Rev. Dean Coffey.

The family will receive friends Monday afternoon from 1-1:45 p.m., prior to the services, at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.

Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Road, Boone, N.C. 28607.

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Austin Blaine Coffey's second wife is said to have been Sally Phillips of West Virginia. Sally had been married previously to Doctor [given name] Hill Wright, a son of Thomas A. and Margaret Ann Coffey Wright.

Update 2/11/2012:  There is another marriage record in Watauga Co. for Blaine Coffey, age 47, to Anna Lee Phillips on 20 Mar. 1934.  A Nov. 13, 1951 marriage record has also been found for Austin Blaine Coffey to Sally Phillips Wright.  The marriage register put together by Appalachian State University at Boone and published in 1995, notes that this "marriage lasted 4 days."