William Preston "Press" Buchanan

William Preston "Press" Buchanan was born in Tennessee - probably Giles Co. -  in about 1844 to Charles Clayton and Mary Abernathy Tarpley Buchanan.  "Press" was the third child and second son of their eight children consisting of five sons and three daughters, most of which were born in Mississippi.

Charles Clayton Buchanan was a son of Robert and Elizabeth Ezell Buchanan. A brother to Charles was Kensington who had a son named Chesley.  Chesley was the father of William Kensington Buchanan who married Kate Hawkins  in 1895, and raised a family in Nevada Co., AR.

Press served in the Civil War with Co. H, 33d Arkansas Infantry,  In 1868 he married Miss Helen Buchanan of Clark Co., AR.  Helen's surname could be completely coincidental, or perhaps she was some cousin kin to Press.  I have not discovered the link.  She was 16 years old on their wedding day; he was 24.

I find no record of Press acquiring land in Nevada or Hempstead counties in SW Arkansas.  Two of his brothers, Tilmon D. and Charles Clayton, Jr. both patented small plats, Press is said to have acquired large amounts of timbered acreage.  Along the way he established large lumber companies throughout SW Arkansas and NW Louisiana.  

The largest of his companies was the Bodcaw Lumber Company.  Originally incorporated in Miller Co., AR in 1889, the largest of their mill was in Stamps, Lafayette Co., AR.  A tram at that mill eventually became the Louisiana and Arkansas Railroad that brought lumber down to the Mississippi in the Vidalia, La.,/Natches, MS area.

All of these interests were under the leadership of William.

Press and Helen had five children:

Mary L., born c1872, married J. A. Billingsley in 1894, Nevada Co., AR.
William Thad, born 1874 in Prescott
Joseph Pledger, born 1876, married Lillie Elba Morrow in Nevada Co. on Dec. 20, 1908
Esther, born c1879 and Hattie M., born c1891.  No further information.

William Thad was born Aug., 29, 1874 in Prescott, Missouri Twp., Nevada Co., and died there on Feb. 8, 1938.  He married Ocia Bell Coffee in Nevada Co. on Dec. 20, 1906.  Ocia was born Sep. 25, 1882 in Hempstead Co. and died in Houston, Harris Co., TX on Nov. 5, 1959.*

From the Prescott Daily News, Nevada Co., AR, February 11, 1938.

"Prescott lost one of its real pioneers when Thad Buchanan died here last Tuesday.  Mr. Buchanan was the son of W. P. (Press) Buchanan who came to Prescott in the fall of 1873 to work on the Cairo & Fulton Railroad. This railroad was built through here in July, 1873.

"Thad Buchanan was the first child born in Prescott, and his father's house is the oldest residence of the city.  It is located on West Third Street, between Hazel and Walnut next to the home of Mrs. George Kizer and is now occupied by John Smith."

Ocia was a daughter of John Fielding¹ ² and Frances "Fannie" Thompson Coffee.  John was the eldest son of  Lilburn Jackson and Sarah Hannah Taylor Coffee and, was also brother to my great-grandfather, James M. Coffee.

Children born to William and Ocia were:

Floyd Fields, born Sep. 29, 1908, died Jan. 30, 1966 in Houston, Harris Co., TX.  Floyd married Florence Biggs in Nevada Co. on Oct. 19, 1929.  She was a daughter of Henry and Carrie Biggs, born Dec. 21, 1907 in AR, died in Prescott on May 2, 1974. Floyd was buried at San Jacinto Memorial Park in Houston.  Florence was returned home to Prescott and buried there at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Ota Albert, born Mar. 29, 1910 in Nevada Co., died in Nacogdoches Co., TX on Dec. 12, 2001.  He married Claudia Irene Woodward on Aug. 5, 1933 in Nevada Co.  Claudia was born on Mar. 23, 1914 in AR and died in Nacoghoches on Nov 26, 2005.  Both are buried there at Sunset Memorial Park.

Clyde Curtis, born Nov. 11, 1914 in AR, died Jan. 8, 1991 in Nevada Co.  He married Margaret L. "Petty" Barnard, a daughter of William and Anne Barnard, on July 20, 1940. She was born Jun. 7, 1918 in Prescott and died there on Aug. 27, 2003.  Both are buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Prescott.

John Preston, born c1914, died before 1930 in Prescott.  He was buried at the Old Smyrna Cemetery in Prescott.

Edmond Lewis, born 1922 in Nevada Co., married Imogene Clark on Jun. 30, 1932 in Nevada Co.  Nothing else known.

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*My wife and I were married that same year, one day after her death.

¹I was fortunate in that I was able to interview Myrl Eunice Crank Coffee, the widow of Ernest Vernon Coffee, a grandson of John Fielding.  I met her in her home in 1989.  She told me that John's middle name was Fielding.  However, Ocia named her first son Floyd Fields Buchanan, which gives me reason to believe Murl - using the vernacular of today - "misremembered."

²John's birth year is questionable.  In 1850 he was 4 years old, meaning he was born between 1845 and 1846.  In 1860 he was 18 years old, meaning he was work between 1842 and 1843.  In 1880 he was 43 years old, meaning he was born between 1846 and 1847.  In 1900 he gave Dec., 1842 as his birth date.

Alfred Alphonso and Julia Ann Dawkins Cofffey

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By his own hand, Alfred wrote that he and Julia were married in 1857. He would have been about 26 years old at the time, having been born in Wilkes Co., NC in 1831.  and, according to his autobiography, had lived a very adventurous life up to then.

Julia was the daughter of John and Mary Wheeler Dawkins, born in GA in Feb., 1838 and was about 20 years old when she married Alfred.  The Dawkins lived "in Habersham County [GA], 4 miles south of Tallulah Falls on Panther Creek."

The Coffey family appeared in the 1860 census at Rabun Co., GA with one child, a son, Newton Walter Coffey, born in July, 1858.  He and Julia had another child, Mary Angie, born in Sep., 1860.  By 1861 Alfred was off on another adventure, this time as a soldier in the 52d Georgia Infantry[1].  He survived the war and from about 1862 through 1882 they added another eight children to their family.

The family moved around a bit during those years.  In 1870 they were in Rock Spring, Walker Co., TN.  In 1880 and 1900 they were in Hamilton Co., TN.  Julia died in Mar., 1906 and by 1910 Alfred was an aged gentleman who sought shelter with his son Starlin [sic] in Marion Co., TN.  Alfred died in Dec., 1915 and was buried near Julia at Forest Hills Cemetery in Chattanooga.

All of their children were born in GA, and probably Rabun Co. specifically.

Their son Newton died in Rabun Co. in 1860 but, his burial site is unknown.

Mary Angie or, Angie as she was known, married Judson Buchanan of Monroe Co., IN in 1883 in Hamilton Co., TN.  He was a Coffey descendant as well.  His father was John Hamilton Buchanan and his mother was Miriam Coffey, the daughter of Rev. Reuben A. and Martha "Polly" Dowell Coffey.

Alfred A., probably Jr., was born c1862 but nothing else is know.

Starlin Pinkston was the fourth child, born in Apr., 1864.  He married Emma Raulston, 1879-1945, daughter of Robert and Anne Beene Raulston in Hamilton Co., c1898.  Children, all born in Marion Co., TN, were Earl Leonard, Vesta V., Stella, Ethel Mae (died at age 2), Willie May (died at age 11) and Charles.  Starlin died in Marion Co. in 1941.  Emma died in 1945 and both are buried at the Bean-Raulston graveyard in South Pittsburg, Marion Co.

Jackson Lafayette Coffey

Ellie Horton

Jackson Lafayette, born in 1865, married Ella Mahle "Ellie" Horton, daughter of W. A. and Annie Gibson Horton, c1886 in probably TN.  They raised at least 10 children:  Clara, Charles Clifton, George Clinton, Lillie Mae, Nellie G., William Dewey, Julia Ann, Robert Lee, James Cornelius and DeWitt Clifton [sic].  Jackson and his family were in Marion Co., TN in 1900 and by 1910 they were farming in Navarro Co., TX.  They remained in that county until 1920 when they were in Henderson Co., TX but back in Navarro by 1930.  Jackson died there in 1946; Ellie lived until 1956.  They are both buried at the Hamilton-Beeman cemetery in Retreat, Navarro Co.  It appears that most of their children lived and died in Navarro Co. and are buried there.  Son George Clinton "Clint"  Charles Clifton "Cliff" died in Chattanooga and was buried there in 1974.

Elizabeth Adeline "Addie" was born in 1867 and died in Chattanooga in  Jan., 1941.  She married William Henry Waldron in TN in 1887.  He was a native of Virginia, born there in 1858. He died just a few days before Addie, in Jan., 1941.  Both are buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Chattanooga.  I know of two children:  Mae Virginia, born c1890 in AL, married Conrad Fred Stier of GA in 1908, Jefferson Co., AL; and a son, Carroll, born Oct., 1892.

Sylvester A., born 1870, married Minerva "Minnie" Richards c1892 in GA.  Minerva was born in GA in 1874.  They had at least 10 children:  Charles, Mary J. (Eunice?), William Armstrong; Aldred A., Ross, Cathleen, Donald, James and an infant that was born in Feb., 1917 and died in June of that year.  Sylvester died in 1930 and is buried at Chattanooga Memorial Park.  I have not found Minnie's death record.

Talullah Virginia "Lula," born 1874, married William Norval Taggart on Hamilton Co., in 1899.  William was a native of Missouri, born there in about 1874.  They had at least two children, Julia, born c1895 and Norvell, a son, born c1897.  William died in 1958, Lula in 1958.  Both are buried at Greenwood in Chattanooga.

David Lee, born 1876, married Martha Hyatt, date unknown but probably close to 1900.  She was a native of NC, born there in 1883.  They had at least one child, Robert Lee, born 1903, died 1977.  All are buried at Greenwood.

Last but not least is Effie Thelma, born 1882.  She married George Thomas Ogburn c1902 in TN.  They had at least two children, a daughter Merita, born c1904 and a son, Junior, born c1907.  Nothing more is known.

More detailed information is available on the CD and DVD.

Corrections and additions welcomed!

Jack

[1] "Georgia Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865"

John H. & Miriam Coffey Sanders

John and Miriam were the parents of Newell Sanders, written about in an earlier blog.  At the time, I did not have a whole lot of information on the descendants of John and Miriam.  Newell appears to be the only son or child that survived from that union.  Hopefully, what I add here will be of some use to readers who have an interest in this family.

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Newell Sanders' mother, Miriam Coffey, was a daughter of the Rev. Reuben A. and Martha "Polly" Dowell Coffey.*  She was born to them on Dec. 26, 1822 in Watauga Co., NC and died in Chattanooga, Hamilton Co., TN on Nov. 12, 1885.  The marriage between her and John Sanders, Jr. occurred on Sep. 30, 1849 in Owen Co., IN.  John H. Sanders, Jr. was born on Jan. 20, 1824 in IN and died there on Oct. 2, 1851.  The only census that the couple appeared in was the 1850 of Owen Co.  That records shows a child named John M., age 6, born in IN.  I believe this child to be John's by an earlier marriage and not with Miriam.

Miriam married for a second time on Dec. 31, 1857 in Clay Twp., Owen Co.  This husband was John Hamilton Buchanan, born Mar. 9, 1831 in KY, died Jul. 12, 1890 in Hamilton Co., TN.  The 1860 census of Owen Co. shows children Adelaide, age 10, William D., age 8, Newell Sanders, age 9 and Judson Buchanan, age 1.  Newell of course was Miriam's first child; Judson was her second. It is unclear what became of the child John M. Sanders that appeared in the 1850 census.  In 1870, a daughter named Marietta, age 5, appears in the household with John and Miriam but nothing else has been found.  I suspect that she died young.

This family remained in Owen Co. at least through the 1870 census but, by 1880 they had relocated to Chattanooga in Hamilton Co., TN.  Newell had graduated from Indiana University in 1873 and married Corinne Dodds, also a Indiana U graduate (Bachelor of Science) in about 1873.  In 1877 the couple moved from Indiana to Chattanooga where he began to successfully manufacture plows. The Buchanan family followed and Judson eventually went into the plow making business with his half-brother.

Judson married Mary Angie Coffey, a second cousin and daughter of Alfred Alphonso and Julia Ann Dawkins Coffey.  Alfred was a son of Elijah and Polly Hull Coffey.  Elijah and Reuben were brothers, sons of Thomas and Sally Fields Coffey.  Judson died on Jan. 27, 1842 in Chattanooga.  Angie died there on Nov. 9,1932 and both are buried there at Forest Hills Cemetery. Their children were:  Raymond, 1886-1887; Corliss, 1889-1947; Evelyn, 1892-1927; Robert, 1893-?; and James, 1900-1922.  With the exception of Robert, for whom I have found no death/burial info and, Evelyn who is buried with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery, all of the others are buried at Forest Hills.

Judson's daughter Evelyn married Homer David Cogdell of Bullock Co., AL c1918, or earlier.  David apparently had some connection with the plow company because he is known to have traveled, and at least once to Europe.  After Evelyn died, he moved with Caroline, their only child, to Sioux Falls, SD where in 1930 he reported his employment as a salesman of farm utensils.  He was then 42 years old and unmarried.  Caroline was 10 years old.  On Mar. 14 of the following year he married Mary Helen Elliott of Sioux Falls.  There is a passenger record which shows this couple returning from Le Harve in France to the Port of New York on Feb. 17, 1938.  With them was one child, Helen Janet, born May 8, 1936, "abroad to American parents."  Homer died on Oct. 8,1956 in Alexandria, VA was was buried at Arlington.  He had served as a Captain in the US Army during WW1.  I have no information on the death or burial location of Mary Helen.

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Newell and Corinne, a daughter of Clelland Finley and Mary Elizabeth Orchard Dodds, lived on Lookout Mountain in Hamilton Co., TN.  They were the parents of six children.  It appears that only three of them lived to adulthood.

They were:

Wendell, born Jan. 15, 1875 in Indiana, died Apr. 30,1892 in Hamilton Co., TN.  He is buried at Forest Hills.

Norinne, born Dec. 17, 1876 in Indiana, died Jul. 3, 1939 at Lookout Mountain, married John Harvey Anderson.  He was born Feb. 9, 1874 (place not known to me) and died on Jan. 7, 1966 in Hamilton Co.  Both are buried at Forest Hills.  They are known to have at least one child, John, Jr., born prematurely and died on Apr. 15, 1915.  He is also at Forest Hills.

Mildred, born May 1879.  No further information.

Sherman, born Aug. 18, 1882 in TN, died in Chattanooga onOct. 2, 1927.  Sherman was married but I do not know his wife's name.  He died at age 45 from acute appendicitis and was buried at Forest Hills.

Dorothy, who was called Dot, was born Oct. 24, 1886 and died on Jan. 4, 1894 in Chattanooga.  She is buried at Forest Hills as well.

The last child I know of was Pansy, born in June, 1890 in TN, died Jun. 4, 1944 at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville.  She married Ben Matthews Allison c1910 and gave birth to at least two children, both sons. Joe Hill was born in 1913 and died in 1979.  Ben Matthews, Jr. was born Aug. 24, 1914 and died Sep. 17, 2004.  Joe's wife was Mary Cummings.  I do not know where Mary Cummings Allison is buried.  The rest of this family rest at Forest Hills.

"Sanders, Newell, a Senator from Tennessee; born on a farm near Bloomington, Owen County, Ind., July 12, 1850; attended the rural schools; graduated from Indiana University at Bloomington in 1873; owned and operated a book store in Bloomington, Ind., 1873-1877; moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1877 and became a manufacturer of agricultural implements; member of the school board 1881-1882; alderman 1882-1886; president of the Chattanooga Plow Co. 1882-1901; member of the board of directors of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway; appointed as a Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Robert L. Taylor and served from Apr. 11, 1912, to January 24, 1913, when a successor was elected; was not a candidate for election; chairman, Committee on National Banks (Sixty-second Congress); continued his former manufacturing pursuits; died at his home on Lookout Mountain, Tenn., January 26, 1939; interment in Forest Hills Cemetery, Chattanooga, Tenn."**

Click on the "earlier blog" link at the top of this page to read more about Newell and Corinne.

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*More blogs about Reuben and Polly can be found by using the search block in the sidebar.
**Mitchell Chapple, Editor, National Magazine: An Illustrated American Monthly, vol. 36, April, 1912 - Sept., 1912 (Boston, MA: Chapple Publishing Co., Ltd., ~Oct., 1912), Page 413. [There are many sources of information on Newell.  Search for him in Google Books.

Harrison & Jincy Emily Clark Aldridge

I touched on Harrison and Jincy in an earlier blog.  He was a son of James and Elizabeth Calloway Aldridge and, that family history makes interesting reading.  See the earlier blog for all of the details.

Harrison and Jincy had a number of children, including one named Harrison, Jr., who married Mary Etta Buchanan c1886, probably in Watauga Co., NC.  He and Mary Etta had at least one child, a son named Samuel Anthony Aldridge, born Feb. 22, 1893 in Watauga Co., died in Lenoir, Lower Creek Twp., on Mar. 16, 1966.  He is buried at the Harrison Aldridge Cemetery in Foscoe, Watauga Co.

Sometime in 1915 he married Ramona Destamona Coffey in Caldwell Co.  In the marriage record, she is referred to as "Mona Coffey."  Mona was the daughter of Joseph Reubin and Martha Elizabeth Gragg Coffey and, was born Mar. 3, 1888, probably in Watauga Co.   She died on Jul. 12, 1967 in Lenoir and was buried there at the Hibriten Baptist Church cemetery.

Samuel and Mona had at least eight children, all born in Watauga Co.:

Howard Glenn, born Sep. 13, 1916, died Jun. 6, 1995 in Catawba Co. According to his obituary, his wife was named Genevieve.

Howard Glenn Aldridge, 78, of Maiden, died Tuesday June 6, 1916, in Watauga County to the late Samuel Aldridge and Destomonia Coffey.

Mr. Aldridge was a supervisor in the furniture industry and a U.S. marine veteran of World War II.

Survivors include his wife Genevieve Aldridge of the home; a daughter, Ramona A. Thompson of Lenoir; four brothers, Murphy, Guy and Byard Aldridge, all of Lenoir and Claude Aldridge of Hickory; three sisters, Edith A. Lowman and Clara A. Parham, both of Maiden and Dade A. Hewitt of Newton; a stepson, Carl Nelson Canipe of Maiden; two step-daughters, Helen Drum of Lincolnton and Ruby Bingham of Concord; four grand-children; and four great-grandchildren.

The funeral is 2 p.m. Friday at Burke Mortuary Chapel with the Revs. Garland Elliott and Richard Hick officiating.  Burial will be in Maiden City Cemetery.

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

Murphy Lail, born Mar. 5, 1918, died in Lenoir on Jan. 24, 1997.  He was never married.  He is also buried at Hibriten.

Edith Flo, born Jan. 24, 1920, died Dec. 11, 1995 at Newton in Catawba Co.  Edith married Ray Alvin Lowman, born Feb. 2, 1919 in Burke Co., died May 6, 1982 in Catawba Co.

Edith Aldridge Lowman, 75, of Maiden, died Monday, Dec. 11, 1995, at her home after an extended illness.

She was born Jan. 24, 1920 in Watauga County, to the late Samuel and Destimona Coffey Aldridge.  She was also preceded in death by her husband, Ray Alvin Lowman; an infant daughter, Maxine Ray; and one brother, Howard Glenn Aldridge.

Survivors include one son, William (Bill) Taft Lowman of Maiden; one daughter, Dayle Lowman Rhoney of Vail; two sisters, Clara Parham of Maiden and Dade Hewitt of Newton; three brothers, Guy Aldridge and Murphy Aldridge of Lenoir and Claude Aldridge of Hickory; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The family received friends Wednesday night at the Burke Mortuaries in Maiden.  The funeral was held Thursday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.,m. at the First Baptist Church in Maiden with the Rev. Richard Hicks officiating.  Burial followed in the Maiden City Cemetery.

Audry Clair Obituary Photo

Audry Clair "Clara," born Sep. 8, 1921, died Nov. 24, 2011 at Stokesdale in Guilford Co.  Her husband was William Albert "Bill" Parham, born Jan. 31, 1918 in Cowpens, Spartenburg Co., SC, died Nov. 22, 2008 in Stokesdale.   Both are buried at Maiden city cemetery in Catawba Co.

Stokesdale, N.C. - William "Bill" Albert Parham, 90, of Stokesdale, formerly of Maiden, passed away Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, at Countryside Manor in Stokesdale.

Born Jan. 31, 1918, in Cowpens, S.C., he was the son of the late Boyd Smith Parham and Eva Easter Swafford Parham. 

Mr. Parham was a member of First Baptist Church in Maiden. He retired after 51 years from Carolina Mills. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Jerry Parham; two sisters, Thelma Setzer and Ophelia Schronce; and three brothers, J.T., Horace and Woodrow Parham. 

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Clara Aldridge Parham of Countryside Village in Stokesdale; a daughter, Claudene Wikle and husband, Richard, of Reidsville; grandchildren, Jeff Parham and wife, Sherry, and Jude Storms and husband, Daniel, all of Buffalo, N.Y., Shannon Sudderth and husband, Chip, of Durham and Kerri Wikle of Reidsville; and great-grandchildren, Austin Parham, Sierra Parham, Natalie Storms and Will Sudderth IV. 

The funeral service will be held Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008, at 7 p.m. at Burke Mortuary Chapel in Maiden, with Mr. Larry Teague officiating. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m., prior to the service, at Burke Mortuary Chapel in Maiden. 

Burial will be Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008, at 10 a.m. in Maiden City Cemetery in Maiden.

STOKESDALE — Clara Aldridge Parham, age 90, of Stokesdale, NC, formerly of Maiden, NC passed away Thursday, November 24, 2011 at Countryside Manor in Stokesdale, NC.
Born September 8, 1921 in Fosco, NC, she was the daughter of the late Sam Aldridge and the late Destamona Coffey Aldridge. Mrs. Parham was a member of First Baptist Church in Maiden. She was retired from Carolina Mills.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Bill Parham and their son, Jerry Parham; sisters, Edith Lowman and Dade Hewitt; brothers: Glenn, Guy, Murphy, Claude and Byard Aldridge.

She is survived by daughter, Claudene Wikle and husband, Richard of Reidsville, NC; grandchildren, Jeff Parham and wife, Sherry of North Tonawanda, NY, Jude Storms and husband, Daniel of Cheektowaga, NY, Shannon Sudderth and husband, Chip of Durham, NC and Kerri Wikle of Reidsville, NC; great grandchildren, Austin Parham, Sierra Parham, Natalie Storms, Cooper Storms and Will Sudderth, IV.

The family gives thanks to the staff of Countryside Manor & Village and to special friend and caregiver, Ginny.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. at Burke Mortuary Chapel in Maiden with the Rev. Barry Pearce and Mr. Larry Teague officiating.  Burial will follow in Maiden City Cemetery, Maiden, NC. 

The family will receive friends, prior to the service, from 1:30 - 2:15 p.m., at Burke Mortuary Chapel in Maiden. 

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: First Baptist Church, PO Box 338, Maiden, NC 28650. 

Visit www.burkemortuary.com to register your condolences.  Burke Mortuary in Maiden is serving the Parham Family.

Darrell Obituary Photo

Darrell Claude, born Jan. 28, 1923 and died Aug. 8, 2011 in Hickory.  He first married Doreen Davey, but they divorced sometime c1952.  In about 1970 he married Hazel Lee Wood, a daughter of Jessie Lee and Lessie Porter Wood and the widow of Lloyd Worth Jones.  Hazel was born Jan. 8, 1030 in Wilkes Co., and died in Hickory on Oct. 28, 2010.  Both are buried at Starmount Baptist Church cemetery in Newton, Catawba Co.

HICKORY - Hazel Lee Wood Jones Aldridge, 80, of Hickory, went home to be with her Lord, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010, at Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of Catawba Valley in Newton. Born Jan. 8, 1930, in Wilkes County, she was the daughter of the late Jessie Lee and Lessie Porter Wood. Mrs. Aldridge was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Newton and had served as the church recording secretary. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Lloyd Worth Jones; a grandson, Lloyd Thomas Jones; two brothers, Allie and Vern Wood; and two sisters, Bernice Starnes and Pauline Raby. She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Darrell Claude Aldridge of the home; son, Dr. Lloyd Jones and wife, Eugena, of Claremont; three grandchildren, Joshua Jones and wife, Rachel, Lori Garcia and Leah Robinson; eight great-grandchildren, Ashlee Bolick, Haley Johnson, Joshua Crawford, Peyton Jones, Cierra Jones, Darrell Moss, Danny Moss and Brandon Jones; one great-great-grandchild, Christopher Clontz; special friend, Ila Roberts; special care giver, Barbara Young.

The funeral service will be held on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010, at 2 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church in Newton with Dr. Lloyd Jones, Dr. J.D. Grasty and Dr. Buddy Sizemore officiating. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service. Pallbearers will be Joshua Crawford, Darrell Moss, Danny Moss, Tommie Cole, Jimmie Raby, Roger Raby, Syd Taylor and JD Sharpe. Burial will follow in Starmount Baptist Church Cemetery in Newton. 

The family will receive friends on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church in Newton. The family extends special gratitude to Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of Newton for the loving care given to Mrs. Aldridge. Memorials may be made to Grace Baptist Church, 1805 Little Road, Newton, N.C. 28658; or to Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, N.C. 28658. 

Visit www.burkemortuary.com to register your condolences online. Burke Mortuary in Newton is serving the Jones/ Aldridge family.

Obituary, Hickory Daily Record, Aug. 10, 2011

Darrell Claude Aldridge, 88, of Hickory passed away Monday, Aug. 8, 2011 at Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of Catawba Valley in Newton. Born July 28, 1923 in Caldwell County, he was the son of the late Samuel A. and Destimona Coffey Adlridge. Mr. Aldridge was a U.S. Army/ U.S. Air Force Veteran having served in WWII and a member of Grace Baptist Church in Newton where he served as a Trustee, Sunday school teacher, usher and grounds keeper. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Wood Jones Aldridge, two sisters, three brothers, and a grandson, Lloyd Thomas Jones. He is survived by his daughter, Loraine Aldridge of Lenoir; two sons, Graham Aldridge of Lenoir and the Rev. Dr. Lloyd Jones and his wife, Eugena of Claremont; two granddaughters, Lori Garcia and Leah Robinson, both of Hickory; grandson, Joshua Jones and his wife, Rachel of Newton; ten great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; and sister, Clara Parham of Greensboro.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, Aug. 11, at 2 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church in Newton with Dr. Lloyd Jones and Dr. J.D. Grasty officiating. Pallbearers will be Sid Taylor, J. D. Sharpe, Tommy Cole, Sr., Joshua Lee Crawford, Danny Moss and Joshua Jones. Burial will follow in Starmount Baptist Church in Newton with military graveside honors by America Legion Post 16 of Newton.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, Aug. 10, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to: Grace Baptist Church, 1805 Little Road, Newton, NC 28658 or to Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, NC 28658.

Visit www.burke mortuary.com to register your condolences online. Burke Mortuary in Newton is serving the Aldridge family.

Gerald Guy, born Jan. 9, 1926, died Jun. 5, 2005, married Joyce Lorraine Thompson.  She was born Aug. 10, 1931 and died Jun. 28, 1996 in Lenoir.  An obituary for Joyce has not yet been found.

Obituary, The News-Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC, Thur., Jun. 9, 2005

Gerald Guy Aldridge, 79, of Kincaid Street, SW, Lenoir, died Sunday, June 5, 2005, at Britthaven Nursing Center in Morganton.

He was born Jan. 9, 1926, in Watauga County to the late Samuel A.. and Lora Destimona Coffey Aldridge. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Thompson Aldridge; two brothers, Howard Glenn Aldridge and Murphy L. Aldridge; and two sisters, Edith F. Lowman and Eula Dane Hewitt.
Mr. Aldridge was retired from Kincaid Furniture Industries and was of the Baptist faith. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Gerald Allen and Gwen Aldridge of Burnsville; two daughters and a son-in-law, Mirana A. and Larry Holmes of Hudson, and Ms. Renee A. Reid of Lenoir; two brothers, Daryl Claude Aldridge of Hickory, and Lyle Byard Aldridge of Lenoir; a sister, Mrs. Clara Parham of Stokesdale; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 11, 2005, at 2 p.m. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, NC 28645 or to the Alzheimer's Association, Western Carolina Chapter, Mountain Region Office, 31 College Place, Suite D320, Asheville, NC 28801-2644.  [This probably a cremation]

Lyle Byard Aldridge, born Feb. 20, 1928, died in Lenoir on Dec. 5, 2010 and was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Lenoir. His first wife was Juanita Mittie Oaks, but no other information is known.  According to the obituary, his wife, who had preceded him in death was Sylvia Reid Aldridge.

Lyle's Obituary Photo

Lyle Byard Aldridge, age 82, of Clarks Chapel Rd., Lenoir, died Sunday, December 5, 2010 at Gateway Nursing Center.  He was born February 20, 1928 in Watauga County to the late Sam and Lora Destimona Coffey Aldridge.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia Reid Aldridge;  one step-son, Thomas Bates;  three brothers and two sisters.

Mr. Aldridge retired from Harper Furniture and was a World War II Army Veteran.

Survivors include one daughter, Lynn Gillaspie and husband Cary of Las Vegas, Nevada, one step-son, David Bates and wife Carla of Lenoir;  two step-daughters, Brenda Freeman and Roberta Conner and husband Paul,  of Lenoir;  one brother, Claude Aldridge of Hickory,  one sister, Clara Parham of Stokesdale, North Carolina;  ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at 3:00 P.M. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel conducted by Rev. Tony Harris.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.  Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens of Lenoir.

Serving as Pallbearers will be Paul Conner, David Bates, Carson Bates, J. C. Nelson, Robert Everhart III, and John Sanders.

On-line condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com.

Greer-McElveen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Ula Dade, born Aug. 14, 1931, died May 25, 1997 in Catawba Co.  Her spouse was Billy Jackson Hewitt, a son of Earnest Edward and May Edith Beard Hewitt.  Billy was born Jan. 20, 1929 in Catawba Co. and was married to Ula on Dec. 23, 1949 in York Co., SC.  I have not yet found an obituary or burial location for either.

Update Apr. 22, 2012:  E-mail from a granddaughter of Ula informs me that Ula Dade is buried at Catawba Memorial Park in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC.  He grandfather, Billy Jackson Hewitt is still living and resides in Newton, NC.

Cleaveland and Mattie Lenora Swagerty Coffee

Cleaveland C. Coffee

Cleaveland [sic] was a son of Mansel and Georgiana Reynolds Coffee.  He was born Oct. 26 1867 in Texas and died in Reserve, Caltron Co., NM on Aug. 4, 1929.  In this photo he looks a lot like his brother Woodson.

Mattie Lenora Swagerty

He married Mattie Lenora Swagerty on Dec. 31, 1890. She was the daughter of W. T. and Lucy King Swagerty and was born Dec. 15, 1871 in Hunt Co., TX, died Jul. 21, 1959 in Amarillo.


Mattie and Cleaveland were parents of nine children:

First was Clyde M., born Oct. 5, 1892 in Hall Co., TX, died Jul. 8, 1930 in Roberts Co., TX and is buried there in the Miami cemetery.

Norman Coffee

Norman, born Feb. 28, 1894 in Memphis, Hall Co., death date not known.  When he registered for the draft in WW1, Norman was unmarried and farming in Miami.  He was a graduate of the military school, Amarillo Academy.

Floyd Thomas, born Dec. 12, 1895, died Dec. 26, 1971 in Pampa, Gray Co., TX.  Floyd married Cora Lee Orr on Feb. 2, 1921.  She was born Aug. 9, 1895 and died Mar. 24, 1982, also in Gray.  Both are buried at the Miami cemetery.

A daughter, Effie Lelia was born to Cleaveland and Mattie, but nothing else is known.

Bessie Lucy Coffee

Hattie G., born Jun., 1899 married J. B. McCarley.

Bessie Lucy, born c1903, died Jul. 11, 1977 in Randall Co., TX.  She married a Mr. Beair.

Ada, born c1905, married Ellis Buchanan, born Feb. 28, 2006 at Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., IA, married 1932 at Liberal, Seward Co., KS.  He died Mar. 2, 2008 in Amarillo

The last two children were William J. "Bill" and Mattie Lenonra, born Mar. 27, 1907 in Texas, died Jul. 4, 1937 in Amarillo.  She is buried at the Miami Cemetery in Roberts Co., TX.  William was born c1909 in TX.  Nothing else is known of either child.

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Photos are courtesy of Kathy Coffee Simmons and used with permission.




No. 999

Aldridge & Coffey

In his 1915 A History of Watauga County, North Carolina, John Preston Arthur wrote about James Aldridge who appeared in Shulls Mill, Watauga Co. c1819 and shortly married [or took up with] Betsy Calloway, an attractive daughter of one Benjamin Calloway.  The chapter in which this story appears is entitled "Some Thrice-Told Tales," so use your best judgment in deciding the accuracy of the facts cited.

Arthur wrote that James was already married and had left a wife and five children in Virginia while he hunted in North Carolina.  James persuaded Betsy to marry him and a son, Harrison Aldridge was born Dec. 15, 1821.  Six more children followed:  Jane c1824; Tempe c1825; Ellen c1828; Emeline c1835; Benjamin c1837; and Waightstill c1842.

Sometime - and probably after the birth of Waightstill - the "real wife" of James appeared in the area of Foscoe at the home of Edward Moody seeking directions to the Aldridge home.  Before day break the next morning, James was at the Moody place to buy a bushel of wheat.  He is said to have told Moody that "the cat was out of the bag at last."

Sometime between 1834 and 1836 A "fur peddler of the name of Price" had spotted Aldridge in Watauga Co.  On his return to "Big Sandy" [Kentucky, where the "real wife" had apparently relocated from Virginia] he told what he had discovered, precipitating her travel "on a fine horse" to Watauga in search of James Aldridge.

To me, this story seems a "stretch."  Given the perils of the time, a wife abandoned for some 15 years would probably have remarried within a few years, believing that her first husband had been killed.

The tale of the "real wife" is attributed by Arthur to Levi Coffey who was probably Levi Lafayette Coffey, a son of Elisha and Anna Harmon Moody Coffey.  Levi was born in Burke Co., NC c1833 and in Watauga by 1859 when he married Temperance "Tempie" Calloway, born c1844 to James and Nicey Gragg Calloway.

Anna Harmon Moody was the daughter of Edward and Frances Carter Moody. Both Edward and Frances were natives of Virginia and may have known James Aldridge prior to coming to Watauga Co.

In a footnote to this chapter, Arthur wrote:  "In his genealogical tour through Ashe in 1828, Dr. Elisha Mitchell speaks of a hunter living on the head of the Watauga River with the children of his real wife, who was then residing on the Big Sandy in Kentucky, and his own children by another woman with whom he was then living as his wife.  If this refers to James Aldridge, then Betsy Calloway had two children by him after his first wife appeared in the scene, for both Ben and Waightstill were born after 1828."*

I have not found an Aldridge in the 1840 or 1860 Watauga county census.  The 1850 census for that county enumerates Elizabeth Caloway [sic] with five children in her household:  Ellen, Emeline, Benjamin and Waightstill and William.  Within three doors of her residence was that of Harrison Aldridge.  William was not listed by Arthur as one of James' and Betsy's children.

Harrison married Jincy Clark c1845,  She was born c1827 in NC.  Harrison died on Jan. 11, 1905** in Watauga Co.  Together they raised at least nine children, one being Harrison, Jr., born Jul., 1864.  He married Mary Etta Buchanan c1886 and their son, Samuel Anthony Aldridge (1893-1966) married Lora Destomonia Coffey (1888-1967), a daughter of Joseph Reubin and Martha Elizabeth Gragg Coffey.

James Aldridge (1853-1939), another son of Harrison and Jincy, married Sarah Gragg, daughter of Johnson and Nancy Cuthbertson Gragg.  Their son, Arthur Blaine Aldridge (1884-1947) married Rosa Lee Coffey (1886-1946), a daughter of Jesse Filmore and Martha Storie Coffey.

Samuel Columbus Aldridge (1862-1941), a third son of Harrison and Jincy, married Margaret Buchanan c1884.  Their son, Horatio Acuff Aldridge (1891-1971) married Byrd Elizabeth "Birdie" Coffey on Feb. 19, 1913 in Watauga Co.

So, how does Levi Coffey relate to the Coffey women who married into the Aldridge clan?

To all three he was a double second cousin, twice removed; a fourth cousin once removed and a fifth cousin once removed.  They all descend from Edward and Ann Powell Coffey through their son John and his son Reuben who married Sarah Scott.


*According to ages given in 1850, Benjamin was born c1837 and Waightstill in c1842.  Mitchell wrote:
"In the neighborhood is a hunter who has two women living with him; to one of them he owes and to the other he graciously discharged the duties of a husband; one has 3 children, and the other one and another at hand. 'Tis a region for these irregularities. The Leather Stocking of these regions, and whom we would have had as a pilot, but that he is in the woods, has a wife living on Sandy River in Kentucky, and the children of that wife, and another woman living with him here on the Watauga."  Earlier in his writings on this topic, he wrote that he was heading for the cabin of "Leather Stocking Aldridge."  Leather Stocking seems to be a common term used in the day to describe hunters and woodsmen.


**Arthur wrote that "Harrison, in memory of a faithful dog which saved his life from wild hogs, had that dear friend buried on a ridge above the home of his son, James A. Aldridge, and requested that the be buried there also.  His tombstone, surrounded by a substantial stone wall, records the fact that he joined the Baptist Church October 22, 1870, and died January 11, 1905."

William Thad & Ocia Bell Coffee Buchanan

William Preston (Pres) Buchanan constructed and operated the Louisiana & Arkansas Railway in 1898.  William had been a timberman and owned the Bodcaw Lumber Company whose primary office was at Stamps, AR.  He was also a large land owner in southwest Arkansas and northwest Louisiana.

William, a son of Charles Clayton and Mary Abernathy Tarpley Buchanan, was born in Tennessee in 1844.  It's not clear when he came into the lower part of Arkansas or, when he married Helen, whose maiden name may also have be en Buchanan*, but it was likely sometime in the late 1860s, early 1870s.

Their known children were:

Mary L., born c1871 in Arkansas.  She married J. A. Billingsley on Oct. 7, 1894 in Nevada Co., AR.

William Thad, born Aug. 29, 1874 in Arkansas, married Ocia Bell Coffee on Dec. 20, 1906** in Nevada Co.  Ocia was born Sep. 25, 1882 in Hempstead Co., and died Dec. 6, 1959 in Nevada Co.  She and Thad are buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Prescott, Nevada Co.

His obituary from the Prescott Daily News, Nevada Co., AR, February 11, 1938:

Prescott lost one of its real pioneers when Thad Buchanan died here last Tuesday.  Mr. Buchanan was the son of W. P. (Press) Buchanan who came to Prescott in the fall of 1873 to work on the Cairo & Fulton Railroad. This railroad was built through here in July, 1873.

Thad Buchanan was the first child born in Prescott, and his father's house is the oldest residence of the city.  It is located on West Third Stret, between Hazel and Walnut next to the home of Mrs. George Kizer and is now occupied by John Smith.

 Their known children were:

Floyd Fields, born 1908, married Florence (LNU)

Ota Albert, born Mar. 29, 1910, married Claudy Woodard

Clyde Curtis, born Nov. 11, 1914, died Jan. 8, 1991 in Nevada Co.  He married Margaret L. (Peggy) Barnard, born Jan. 7, 1918 in Prescott, died Aug. 27, 2003 in Prescott.

John Preston, born c1915, died before 1930

Edmond Louis, born c1923

 Joe Pledger, born Dec. 24, 1876, died Oct. 8, 1961.  He married Lillie (LNU), born Oct. 3, 1888 in Arkansas, died Oct. 14, 1972 in Prescott.

Esther, born c1879.

Please contact me if you can share any information about these families.



*BUCHANAN, WILLIAM PRESTON--born 11-2-1833 in TN; married Miss Helen Buchanan; had 9 children; died 10-27-1928; buried at Old Smyrna Cem; marker has death date of 10-24-1928 (Obituary Index, Nevada News; 12-20-1928)

 **William Thad may have been previously married.  There is a marriage record for a W. T. Buchanan to Kate Hawkins in Nevada Co., dated Mar. 3, 1895.