Robert W. Coffey (1845-1929)

A reader recently wrote to ask for any information about Mary Ann Bennett who married Robert W. Coffey of Adair Co., KY.

Robert was a son of Zidner and Morgana "Ann" Keltner Coffey and was born c1845 in Adair Co., KY.  Researchers believe that he was married at least three times between 1868 and 1890.  

Robert first married Mary Ann Bennett in Adair Co. on Aug. 13, 1868.  In 1870 the couple lived in East Fork, Metcalfe Co., KY and in 1880 they were in Gradyville, Adair Co.  They apparently had no children that survived much beyond birth because there were none to appear in the household at either census.

We believe Mary Ann died sometime after 1880 because Robert was subsequently married on Feb. 12, 1890 to Sally Catherine Compton in Adair Co. 

They remained married for nearly 30 years and were the parents of at least two children:  

Maggie Pearl, born Dec. 31, 1890 in Adair Co. and died there on May 1, 1937.  Maggie married Curt Stephens of Metcalfe Co. on Apr. 12, 1924 in Jeffersonville, Clarke Co., IN.  She was 33 years old and very likely had been previously married.  There are no known children.

William Zidner, born 1892 in Columbia, Adair Co., died in Ohio on Dec. 18, 1961.  He married three times.  His first was to Maggie Helm, born 1892 in Columbia, Adair Co., died 1972 in Butler Co., OH.  They are known to have had one child, Eunice Katherine, born 1925, died in Hamilton Co., OH in 1983.

William's second wife was Louise Estel DeBolt on May 27, 1919.  She was a native of Wetzel Co., WV and no children are known.  Third marriage was to Lydia A. Williams in c1922 OH.  She was born there in 1895 and died there in 1991.  Again, no known children.

It is thought that Robert was married again, and after Mary Ann in the period between 1880 and 1890.  This thought arises from the fact that in 1900 Robert reported that he had been married three times.  In the household that year was Lillian M. Coffey, age 16, born Mar., 1884 and enumerated as Robert's daughter.  Maggie and William were also included in this census.

My reader believes that Lillian married Charles M. Bragg in 1906.  Others, like me, believe Charles' bride was Lillie Mae, the daughter of Cyrus C. and Parthenia "Emma" Wheat Coffey.  In the marriage record to Charles, she was named Lillie May.

Please contact me if you have any information that might be helpful in determining whose daughter married Charles M. Bragg.

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*There is a marriage record dated Jul. 1, 1882 for an "R. W. or Robert W. Coffey" in Taylor Co., KY, situated some 30 miles distant from Adair Co.  On the license abstract, the groom's birth year is way off leading me to believe this is not the R. W. we are looking for.  The bride of record was Martha Taylor, age 19.

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