Lawrence Lasenby Coffey (1841-1912)

Lawrence was the ninth child and third son of Archelaus and Jane Dean Coffey.  His middle name is a puzzle - at least to me.  He was born in Gallatin Co., IL on Aug. 20, 1841 so I looked in that state for someone of prominence with that surname.  The only one that shows up in IL was Jeremiah Lasenby in the 1840 Johnson Co., IL census.  Jeremiah was a slave holder and probably was not the model Archelaus wished to honor when he named his son.  So, the mystery remains as one that I'll look at out of curiosity sometime in the future.

 In his family book describing the ancestors and descendants of James Bluford Coffey, Dr. Marvin Coffey wrote that Lawrence married Susan Melvina Barker in Hamilton Co., IL on Nov. 20, 1862.  In 1870 they appeared in the Montgomery Co., KS census with only initials for first names.  This fact has created a lot of confusion over the true names of his children born in those early years of his marriage.

1870 Montgomery Co., Fawn Creek Dist., Montgomery city PO, Page 3, dwelling/family 28, Coffey, L., age 29, male, white, farmer, $400, born IL; S., age 24, female, white, keeping house, born IL; J., age 6, female, white, born IL; A., age 4, male, white, born IL; J. S., age 3, female, white, born KS; A., age 1, male, white, born KS.

We don't fare much better in 1880:

1880 Saline Co., Long Branch Dist., ED109, Page 41, dwelling/family 383, Coffee, Lesenly [sic], white male, age 39, married, farming, born IL, parents born IL; Melvina, white female, age 35, wife, married, keeping house, born IL, parents born IL; Riley, white male, age 16, son, single, born IL; Harmon, white male, age 14, son, born IL; Ethen, white female [sic], age 12, son [sic], born IL; Edith, white female, age 7, dau., born IL; Alley, white female, age 4, dau., born IL; Maude, white female, age 6 mos., born IL; Barker, Emit, white male, age 17, single, hired hand, born IL, parents born IL

 Emit Barker was a hired hand in the census but likely related to Melvina.

If we chart out the children from the available census records, ages of the entire family progress as expected but, there are some missing or mis-identified:

• Lawrence: 29 in 1870, 39 in 1880 and 58 in 1900
• Susan:      24              35                   54
• J.               6              16 (Riley)        Gone
• A.               4              14 (Harmon)   Gone
• J.S.            3              12 (Ethen)      Gone
• A.               1               Gone
• Edith                          7                     Gone
• Alley                          4                      Gone
• Maude                         6/12              Gone
• Eva E.                                               14

In addition to these eight, there was Orilla Jane, born Sep., 1863 and is the 6-year old female in 1870.  She married William Ezell in 1884 so should have been but was not included in the 1880 census  Shelby Carr was born in 1882 and may have died young.  He would have been old enough in 1900 to have married but I have not found him in a census record for any year.  And, we are missing Ollie or Clemma Grace, born in 1871 who should have but did not show up as a 9-or-10-year old in 1880.

L-R Four Generations

A descendant of Clemma, who recently contacted me, reports that Clemma married Grigg or Gregg Madison Morris c1906.  Their children were Albert Amon (there's Amon again), born Jan. 27, 1908, died Jun. 17, 1995; E. S., a son and J. D., a daughter. The oval photo is thought to be one of Grigg/Gregg on the left, baby Albert and Clemma.  The elder gentleman in the rear may be Grigg/Gregg's father; otherwise he is unknown.


Updated 9-14-2010: L-R in the photo is Amon Hume Coffey (1865-1953), Lawrence Lasenby Coffey (1841-1912), Baby Albert Amon Morris (1908-1995) and Grace Coffey Morris, daughter of Amon Hume. Note that Amon Hume has not been positively identified as the man on the left in this photo, but all indications are that he is. It appears then that Lawrence did not have a daughter named Clemma Grace - perhaps why there isn't one with the family in 1880 - but that he did have a grand-daughter by that name.

Albert Amon Morris Family

Albert, according to my contact, married Katie Lee Elam and had sons Douglas, Robert and Morris.  They were married in OK on Dec. 4, 1927 and appeared for the first time as a family in the 1930 South Cimarron Twp. of Logan Co., OK. He was buried at the Duncan Municipal Cemetery in Stephens Co., OK. Katie was born Nov. 17, 1909 in Coleman Co., TX and died in Ardmore, Carter Co., OK on Apr. 18, 2000.  She is buried next to Albert in Duncan.

Albert & Katie Headstone

 As always, corrections and/or additions are welcomed!

Salathiel & Nancy Dunbar Coffey - Continued

The fourth child of Salathiel and Nancy was Harriet, born Jul. 28, 1845 in KY, died Jan. 19, 1891 in Collin Co., TX.  She married Robert Benton Whisenant on Sep. 3, 1865 in Collin Co.  He was born Jan. 18, 1843 in Newton Co., MO and died Jan. 9, 1937 in Allen, Collin Co.  Robert is buried at the Allen Cemetery while Harriet was buried in Plano at the Bowman Family Cemetery.

There were at least 10 children born to this union:  Mary Ann; John Milton; Virginia E.; Maude Franklin, died young; Edgar L., died young; Sarah Frances, died young; Forest B., Henry; Walter S.; and Antha.  John married Ola Stancell and died in Collin Co. in 1935.  Forest married Sarah A. Bryan and died in 1917.

Next born was Milton Wolford "Mint" Coffey who married Amanda Virginia "Jennie Lewis.  You can read about his family here and here.

Following Mint was Zachariah Taylor, born Oct. 20, 1848 in Russell Co., KY, died Jun. 21, 1922 in McKinney, Collin Co., TX.  He married Mary Elizabeth Snider c1873.  She was born Mar 12, 1855, and died Apr. 9, 1898 in Collin Co.

They had at least 12 children:

1 - James Allen, died young

2 - Unnamed infant, died young

3 - Atha Ann, died in her ver early 20s.

4 - Lucy Jane, born 1878 in Collin Co., died in Fort Worth on Aug 1, 1962.  Lucy married Luther T. Hunter, born Jun. 24, 1878, died Aug. 8, 1970 in Montague Co., TX.  Both are buried at Forest Grove.

5 - Zithia Ellen, born Jan. 22, 1880, died Mar. 9, 1969 in McKinney.  She married William Ambers Dungan, born Aug. 16, 1880 in Copiah Co., MS and died in McKinney on Jan. 21, 1967.  They too are buried at Forest Grove.  Children were:  Eustace, Arvel, William, Mary Lou and Joe D.

6 - Mellie Missouri, born 1883, died c1924.

7 - Salathiel Snider, born 1885, died 1889 in Collin Co. and was buried at Forest Grove.

8 - Josephine Alice "Josie", born 1887, died 1975 in Garland, Dallas Co., TX.  Josie married Claude Cecil Martin, born Jan. 28, 1877 in DeKalb Co., TN, died Apr. 22, 1923 in Childress Co., TX.

9 - Edith Eudora, born 1890, married George M. Martin, born c1885 in TN and possible brother to Claude.

10 - Myrtle Harriet, born 1893 in Collin Co., died 1971 in McKinney as was buried at Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney.  She married a Mr. Orr. 

11 - Jesse Wolford, born 1896 in Collin Co., died 194 in McKinney.  He married Mildred Elizabeth Joplin on Feb. 26, 1927 in Collin Co., the daughter of Robert Alfred and Katie L. McEntire Joplin.  Mildred was born in 1903 and died Oct. 9, 1989 in McKinney.  Both are buried at Pecan Grove.

12 - America Leta, born 1897.  No other information.

The last child of Salathiel and Nancy was Nancy Jane, born 1851 in Russell Co., KY, died Mar. 16, 1946 in Vashti, Clay Co., TX.  Nancy married  Joseph F. "Joe" Liggett on Feb. 1, 1870.  He was born Dec. 15, 1846 and died Oct. 25, 1921 in Clay Co.  Both are buried at the Vashti cemetery.

There were at least nine children born to them:

1 - America - no information

2 - Sales - no information

3 - Theodocia Ellen, born 1870 in Allen, died Dec. 13, 1954 in Dallas and was buried in the Allen cemetery in Collin Co.  Her husband was a Mr. Richards.

4 - Mary Florence was born in 1878 and died in 1972 at Henrietta in Clay Co., TX and was buried at Vashti.  Her husband was a Mr. Bragg.

5 - Robert Leslie, born 1882, died 1969 in Bowie, Montague Co.

6 - Birdie Ettaroe, born 1884, died 1969 in Irvin, Dallas Co.  She is also buried at Vashti.  Her husband was a Mr. Barker.

7 - Charles S., born 1887.  No other information.

8 - Valaria Jessie, born 1889, died 1927.  No other information.

9 - Elmer Scales, born 1891 in Bowie Co., died 1972 in Wichita Falls, Wichita Co., TX and was buried at Vashti.  His wife was Ruby Lee, born 1900, died 1985 in Collin Co.  They were married Mar. 16, 1919.

This family information as presented here is not complete.  I have more definitive dates and places.  Send e-mail for more information.

Corrections and/or additions are welcomed.



 No. 993

William Zidner & Louise DeBolt Coffey

William was a son of Robert W. and Sally C. Compton Coffey. He was born April 8. 1892 in Columbia, Adair Co., KY and died on Dec. 18, 1961 in Gallia Co., OH. It appears - if I interpret correctly - from the marriage record (below) that Louise was born April 2, 1884 in Wetzel Co., WV. Her parents were John and Ida Boughner DeBolt.  They were married on May 27, 1919 in Akron, OH.

Robert W. Coffey was a son of Zidner and Marganna Keltner Coffey; Zidner, a son of Ananias and Jane Hindman Coffey of Green and Adair Counties in Kentucky.

William stated on the marriage record that he was employed by the Goodyear company in in Akron. Louise gave her occupation as a "domestic." From the marriage record we find that William had been previously married and divorced. My records show that he was first married to Maggie Helm, probably c1914, which produced a child, Eunice Katherine Coffey, born Feb. 14, 1915 in Ozark, Adair Co., KY., and died May 27, 1983 in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH.

Louise was also apparently previously married because the record reads that she was "once restored." I take that to mean that her maiden name had been restored after a divorce.

This information and copies of the marriage record were generously donated by Melissa Barker

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Update Mar 8, 2012


Additional investigation of William and his families became bit muddled recently when I discovered that Louise had been married not once before William, but apparently twice before.

The 1920 census shows us that in the household with William and Louise were two LeMaster children; Harry and Cody.  In the above marriage record, Louise told that she was previously married to a Mr. Graves, they had divorced and she had her DeBolt maiden name restored.

While checking on who the LeMaster children were, I discovered that Louise had been married earlier to Fenton C. Lemaster and in 1910 the family lived in the Spencer district of Roane Co., WV.  Children in the household were Harry F., age 10, Bessie S., age 8, Ethrelda (?), age 4 and, Cody L., age 4 mos.

At some point between 1920 and 1922 Louise and William apparently "split the blanket."  In 1930 she appeared in the Akrom, Summit Co., OH census as a widow.  In the household with her was son Cody, age 20.  Sharing the household was her other son, Harry, with wife Erica and daughters Eleanor and Catherine.

In the meantime, and c1922, William appears to have taken a third wife, Lydia A. Williams.  They had at least one child, Mary F., born c1925 in OH.

William died on Dec. 18, 1961 in OH and was buried at Saint Nicholas Cemetery in Eureka, Gallia Co., OH.  Lydia was born on Sep. 22, 1895 in OH and lived until Aug. 2, 1991.  She too is buried at Saint Nicholas.

Archelus and Jane Dean Coffey

It isn't clear to me if Archelus' name was really Achilles.  I sometimes think that they are used interchangeably, but that's only my perception.  He was another son of James M. and Frances Lane Coffey, and a brother to James, subject of the previous blog.  Dr. Marvin Coffey wrote that his name was recorded as Nicholas Coffey on his application for a marriage license.

Archelus was born Jul. 30, 1806 in Wayne Co., KY and died in Saline Co., IL on Mar. 10, 1883.  Marvin wrote that he received a commission as a second lieutenant on Dec. 19, 1825, and volunteered for the Black Hawk Indian War on May 12, 1832. After receiving a promotion to Captain, he became commanding officer of "Captain Coffey's company, 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, Illinois Mounted Volunteers of the Black Hawk War." He was furloughed in August 1832 after losing his horse, saddle, bridle and blanket during a forced march. He was mustered out on Sept. 25, 1832.  In 1851 he received 40 acres of land for his service, and another 120 acres in 1855.

Jane "Jennie" Dean was the daughter of Jacob and Susannah Hatty Dean, but I have no birth or death dates or places for her.  They were married Apr. 23, 1824 in Hamilton Co.  Jacob was born Jun. 23, 1775 in Virginia while Susannah was born c1766, also in Virginia.  Jacob died on Aug. 5, 1851 in Hamilton Co.

There were at least 13 children born to Archelus and Jane, but only a few lived to adulthood:

Permelia, born c1825, probably in Gallatin Co., IL.  Her death date is not known.  She married Charles Samuel Sloan c1844.  He was born in 1814 and died in 1863.  There were nine children born to this union:  James, Mary, David, Samuel T., Melvina, Louisa Jane; William Monroe, Hannah and Sibelia Permelia.  Permelia married second to Abel Hunt on Dec. 13, 1866 and gave birth to at least one additional child, Paulina Hunt, born Jun. 14, 1868, died Dec. 20, 1957.  Paulina married Amon Hume Coffey on Sep. 8, 1886 in Harrisburg, Saline Co., IL.  Amon was her cousin, and a son of Lawrence Lasenby and Susan Melvina Barker Coffey.  Lawrence was a younger brother to Permelia.

Paulina, born Sep. 10, 1826 in Gallatin Co., died Jul. 26, 1843 in Saline Co., IL.

James Asbury, born Nov. 18, 1827 in Gallatin Co., died Jan., 1870 in Dodge City, Ford Co., KS.  He married Louisa Adelade Ferris Long Carnahan on Dec. 27, 1849 in Saline Co.  She was born c1833 in Wayne Co., KY.  Their children were:  John Jerry, Phoebe, Mary, Ebben Rice, Lulu, Irena R., Amy, and Elizabeth.

Sales M., born May 19, 1831, died Feb. 1, 1890.

Malvina, born Dec. 31, 1833 in Gallatin Co., and died Jul. 18, 1854, probably in Gallatin Co.

Louyica J., born Gallatin Co. on Aug. 5, 1836, died there on Jun. 28, 1838.

Laura, born Gallatin Co. on May 20, 1838, died Aug. 3, 1841.

Amanda E., born Gallatin Co., on Aug. 20, 1839, and died there Oct. 29, 1839.

Lawrence Lasenby, born Aug. 20, 1841 in Gallatin Co., and died Jun. 9, 1912 in Eureka Springs, Carroll Co., AR.  He married Susan Melvina Barker, born c1843 in IL.  They were married Nov. 20, 1862 in Hamilton Co., IL.  Their children were:  Orilla Jane, Amon Hume, Irene Ellen, Ethan Otho, Ollie Grace, Eddie Emmitt, Allie Elizabeth, Maude May, John Wilson, Shelby Carr, and Ethel Eva.

C. A., (gender?) born Dec. 3, 1841, died Dec. 5, 1841.

G. E. C., (gender?) born Feb. 7, 1843, died Feb. 8, 1843.

John McClernan, born 1847, married Mary Glaslock (or Glascock?) on Aug. 15, 1869 in Saline Co., IL.

Phoebe Ann, born Nov. 16, 1852, died Dec. 18, 1852.

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