Jesse Perry Coffey

A recent e-mail question concerning a child of Jesse Perry Coffey rekindled my interest in this family, resulting in a re-check of existing data as well as any that I might have missed in the past.

Jesse was a son of Jesse Coffey and wife Tabitha Elizabeth "Betsy" Riffe. 

Betsy was the daughter of Gen. Christopher Riffe and his wife, Mary Agnes Spears.  Gen. Riffe has been recorded as being the first white male to settle in Casey County, KY.  He built a cabin in 1793 near the present town of Middleburg.[1][2]

Jesse and Tabitha were parents to at least 10 children, all born in Casey Co.  Jesse Perry was the ninth, born Mar. 17, 1823 and died in Collin Co., TX on Apr. 5, 1906.

McKinney, Tex., April 5.-Jesse Coffey, one of the most widely known citizens of Collin County, died suddenly at his home near Anna this morning.  He came to Texas in 1852 and settled on the farm where he has lived continuously since, and where he died.  He has been Justice of Precinct No. 3 nearly all the time for about forty years.  He was 85 years of age. [3]

A marriage record for Jesse and Tabitha has not been found.  They were probably married in KY c1843 because their first child, Matthew, was born there in Apr., 1844.  Jesse died on Apr. 5, 1906 in Collin Co., TX and was buried in Highland Cemetery at Melissa. Tabitha died on 26 Aug. 1909 in Collin Co. and was also buried at Melissa. A death certificate for them has not been found.

Their children were:

 - Matthew Slaughter Coffey, born Apr., 1844, died 1929 in Grayson Co., TX. He married Virginia Texana "Jennie" Butridge, daughter of Riley E. and Susan Watson Butridge on Nov. 7, 1871 in Van Alstyne, Grayson Co. Jennie was born in Sherman, Grayson Co. on Jul. 31, 1854 and died there on Sep. 27, 1949.  Both are buried at Van Alstyne cemetery.

Mrs. Virginia Texas Coffey, 95, Oldest Sherman Resident, Dies

Sherman, Texas, Sept. 28. - Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Van Alstyne First Christian Church for Mrs. Virginia Texas Butridge Coffey, 95.

She was the oldest resident of Sherman at the time of her death Tuesdau at the home of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Dick Coffey.

Mrs. Coffey was born July 31, 184 in a house which is now the site of the Texas Hotel. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Butridge.

She was married to M. S. Coffey at Van Alstyne on Nov. 7, 1871.  He died in 1921.  She then moved to Van Alstyne to live with her son, and after his death in 1945, she and her daughter-in-law returned to Sherman to live.

Mrs. Coffey was a member of the Christian Church, and the United Daughters of The Confederacy.  She had been active up until about six months ago.  Mrs. Coffey was one of the principals in the Sherman Centennial parade a year ago.  Two years ago she was awarded an orchid for being the oldest person in attendance at a Breakfast in Hollywood program at the municipal building.

She is survived by a son, E. G. Coffey of Van Alstyne; three daughters, Mrs. C. F. Jones of Dallas, Mrs. W. H. Miller of Pilot Point and Mrs. J. C. Coffey of Hedley; ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. [4]

Their children were: Gabriella, born 1872, died 1959 in Wichita Falls, TX; married Dr. John Cicero Coffey, a very distant cousin and son of William S. and Sarah Lucas Coffey.  Birdie M., born 1875, died 1863 in Houston, Harris Co., TX; thought to have married C. F. Jones.  Pearl B., born 1877, no other information.  Earl Greer, born 1877 in Van Alstyne, died 1968 in McKinney, Collin Co. He married Bird Strickland, born in MS in 1884, died 1962 in McKinney. Richard P., born 1880 in Grayson Co., died there in 1945.

 - George Alfred, born Nov. 6, 1846, died Jan. 2, 1918 in Melissa, Collin Co. His death certificate names Jesse as his father and Tabitha Moore as his mother. No other information found.

 -  Mary E., born Nov., 1848, died Oct. 9, 1929 at Anna in Collin Co.; buried at Highland Cemetery. Her death certificate names Jesse and Tabitha Slaughter Coffey as her parents.

McKinney, Texas, Oct. 12. - Miss Mary E. Coffey, age 80, died at her home in Anna after two weeks' illness.  She is survived by two sisters and three brothers - Mrs. F. L. Coffey of Beaumont, Miss C. M. Coffey of Anna, Mat Coffey of Farmington, J. Perry Coffey of McKinney and Will Coffey of Sulphur Springs.

Funeral services were conducted at Anna on Wednesday by the Rev. A. L. Clinkenbeard of Dallas.[5]

  - James Perry, born Jan. 18, 1851, died Jan. 16, 1931 in McKinney.  He married Sarah Margaret Griffin in Collin Co. on Dec. 7, 1875.  Sarah "Sally" was born to James and Margaret King Griffin on Sep. 1, 1854 in GA and died Jan. 30, 1943 in Collin Co.  Both are buried at Highland Cemetery. His death certificate names Jesse Coffey as his father and Martha Riffe as his mother.

Their children were Malcolm T., born 1876, died 1878.  Ella C., born c1880, married R. L. Johnsey. No further information (NFI). Jessie, born c 1882, married 1901 to J. R. Williams, NFI. Blanche, born Dec., 1886, died Mar., 1977, married A. W. Jernigan in 1906. NFI. George A., died 1889 in Westminster, Collin Co., died Aug. 22, 1967 in Dallas, TX. Married Bernice Emily Matthews in Collin Co., 1907. Bernice died Jul. 3, 1955 and both are buried at Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Mausoleum in Dallas.

 - Anna Belle, born Feb. 10, 1855, married first cousin, Finley Luckey Coffey, son of Osborn Nightingale and Jane L. Bell Coffey.  Jesse Perry and Osborn were brothers. They were parents of 10 children: Gertella, 1876-1950; Louis Dennison, 1878-1942; Robert Lee, 1880-1918; Jesse Sanders, 1883-1975; Houston Ernest, 1884-1926; Slaughter Belle, 1887-1962; Myrtle May, 1889-1976; Finley Luckey, Jr., 1892-1948; Henry Stanley, 1894-1926; and John Fielden, 1896-1975. More info on children is available.

 - William G., c1859. NFI

 - Galen, Sep. 2, 1862, died Dec. 4, 1889; NFI

 - Cynthia McKinney, born Oct. 8, 1865, died 23 Feb., 1966.

Additional information is available for the other nine children of Jesse and Tabitha Riffe Coffey.

Additions and corrections to the above family information is welcome.

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[1] W. M. Watkins, editor, The Men, Women, Events, Institutions & Lore of Casey County, Kentucky (Louisville, KY : 236 pgs: Standard Print Co., 1939), Page 35.
[2] Fred Jameson Riffe, Editor and Compiler, Reiff to Riffe Family in America: Ancestors and Descendants of Mennonite Reiff Brothers Hans, John, Jacob, and Abraham, 2 Volumes (Madison, WI: F. J. Riffe, 2002), Vol. 2.
[3] "The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Dallas Co., TX", http://bit.ly/1zWUqDA, Fri., Apr. 6, 1906, Page 9.
[4] "The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Dallas Co., TX", http://bit.ly/1bde578, Thu., Sep. 29, 1949, Section I, Page 9.
[5] "The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Dallas Co., TX", http://bit.ly/1EmiHis, Sun., Oct. 13, 1929, Page 6.

Salathiel (Sail or Sale) Coffey (1812KY - 1892TX)

Back on Feb. 6, 2006 I wrote a short blog on Salathiel. It was mostly information - a copy, really - about him from the Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas, Illustrated. Since that time, I have compiled much more information for his family than I have time to include here. Needless to say, Ill share the info with anyone who needs it.

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Salathiel was born Apr. 20, 1812 in Logan Co., KY and died on May 29, 1892 in Collin Co., TX.  He was buried at Forest Grove cemetery in Collin Co. His first wife was Nancy Dunbar of Russell Co., KY, born c1809, died May 29, 1892 in Collin Co.  I am not sure where Nancy is buried, but most likely she is also in Forest Grove.

[My understanding is the Forest Grove and Fitzhugh cemeteries are considered one cemetery now?  Anyone know for sure?]

With wife Nancy, Sail/Sale Coffey fathered at least seven children:

First - Lettitia, born Oct. 15, 1838 in Wayne Co., KY.  She married Thomas Jefferson Reagan who was born c1838 in Missouri.  Both Lettitia and Thomas died before August., 1869. To them were born three children:  Lettitia Ellen, born c1858, George Washington, born c1859 and Mary Catherine, dob unknown.  Lettitia and Mary were mentioned in a petition brought before the August 1869 term of a court in Collin Co., TX wherein "Sayles Coffey" sought to and become guardian of "Lentittia and Mary Catherine Regan", both "orphans and minors under the age of 14 years and living in Collin County..."  The two girls were found living with Martin Watson, relationship yet unknown, in McKinney, Collin Co., in the 1870 census.

Second - Mary Ann "Polly Ann", born Jun. 22, 1840, died Jan. 7, 1918 in McKinney.  Polly married Elder John Meyers McKinney, born Apr. 14, 1832 in MO, died Jan 1, 1918 in McKinney.  Both are buried in Forest Grove/Fitzhugh.  Their children were 1)J. D., born Oct. 5, 1859, died Aug. 8, 1925 in McKinney.  He is buried at Pecan Grove cemetery in McKinney; 2)Giles Lee, born Aug. 25, 1866, died Jun. 1, 1959 in McKinney.  Giles married Mary Mathews, born Jun., 1866 in Wood Co., TX.  Their children were Ettie, born 184; Cecil, born 1893 and Eustace, born 1898.  3)John S., born 1868, died 1954; and 4) Wiley Benton, born 1870, died 1954.  Wiley married Lula A. Klepper c1900 in McKinney and fathered Collin, born 1902, died 1918 and Juanita, born c1904.

Third - William Stanley, born 1842 in Russell Co., KY, died 1922 in McKinney.  He married Sarah Elisabeth Lucas on Feb. 27, 1866 in McKinney.  She was born Aug. 27, 1847 in TX and died Mar. 7, 1892.  They too are buried at Forest Grove/Fitzhugh.  William and Sarah had at least 10 children:

1 - Dr. John Cicero, born Jan. 6, 1867 in McKinney, died Apr. 7, 1954 in Wichita Co., TX.  Dr. John married Gabriella "Ella" Coffey, a daughter of Matthew Slaughter and Virginia Texana Butridge Coffey.  These two Coffey families were not related.  John descended from Edward while Matthew Slaughter descended from Peter.*  John and Ella had only one child, Ruth, born Aug. 5, 1897, married Roy Raymond Hunter of TX c1929.  They had a child, Virginia, born c1930 in Knox Co., TX.  Sarah Lucas Coffey is buried at Fitzhugh.  William's burial place has not been located but, he too is likely at Fitzhugh.

2 - Robert Henry, born Oct., 1868 in Collin Co. and died Apr. 13, 1950.  He married Minnie Mabel Biddy on Dec. 18, 1892 in McKinney.  She was born Sep., 1874 in TN and died Feb. 20, 1968 in Collin Co.  Robert is at Fitzhugh where Minnie is also likely to have been buried.  Their children were:  1) Clarence Milton, born Nov. 5, 1893, died Feb. 26, 1949 in Wylie, Collin Co.  He married Ola Ellen Leake on Aug. 3, 1913 in Collin Co.  She was born there on Nov. 24, 1893.  Clarence is buried at Forest Grove; Ora's death date and burial place is not yet known.  They are known to have had at least two children: Marcella Ann, born 1915 and Alma Christine, born 1919, both in Collin Co. 2) Tressie Alma, born Oct., 1896, died May 27, 1995 in Collin Co.  She married Virgil Robert Osborn Oct. 9, 1912.  His birth date is not yet known; he died May 29, 1997 in Collin Co.  They had at least two children:  Willis, born c1914 and Vernon, born c1916. 3) Hallie Elizabeth, born May, 1899, died Jun. 3, 1993 in Collin Co.  She married Roy Lee Biggs on Jan. 18, 1920 in Collin Co.  Their children were Elizabeth and Billie Jean.  4) Edgar Biddy, born Aug. 1901, died Jul. 31, 1967 in Collin Co.  His wife was Lucille.

3 - Mary Frances "Molly," born Dec. 16, 1869, died Jan. 2, 1892.  She married Samuel Lloyd Renfrow on Apr. 13, 1887 in Collin Co.  He was born there c1876 and died in McKinney on Apr. 3, 1907.  Their children were: Ethert Alford, born 1887; William Lloyd, born 1890; Alberta; and Edgar, born 1891.

4 - Denie Elzada, born Nov. 17, 1871 in Lucas, Collin Co., died Jun. 14, 1948 in Wylie.  She married first to General Jackson "Jack" Moss.  His birth and death dates are not yet known.  Their children were Sarah Leona, born Jun. 27, 1889, died Nov. 11, 1959 in Wylie, and Orlia Jackson, born Nov. 27, 1891 in Lucas, died Mar. 20, 1975 in Lubbock.  Denie's second husband was William Dillon Goode with whom she had at least two more daughters, Clarice Lora, born 1908 and Virginia Belle, born 1910.

5 - Missouri B., born Aug. 14, 1873, died Mar. 7, 1875.

6 - Laura Ellen, born Mar. 7, 1875, died Feb. 12, 1966 in Paducah, Cottle Co., TX.  Laura married William Johnson Ledbetter c1896.  He was born Jul. 3, 1866 in TN, died Feb. 17, 1932 in Paducah.  Their children were: Horace, Aaron, Roy Robert; Nila Erona; Ruth Ellen; and Mary Elizabeth.

7 - Salathiel "Sales", born Dec. 13, 1876 in Collin Co., died Dec. 17, 2944 in Amarillo, Potter Co., TX.  Sales married Eva Phylena Conner, a daughter of Julius and Mary Hinman Conner on Dec. 19, 1900.  She was born Mar. 15, 1880 in Hopkins Co., TX and died Dec. 21, 1945 in Amarillo.  Their children were: Leona, born 1905; Laura Ella, born 1908; Frances Lorene, born 1915 and Willis, born 1917.  Laura married Arlie Collie Swint c1926 and had children: J. Ronald, born 1928 and Irma Glyn, born 1931.

8 - Alwilda Davis, born Jul. 31, 1878 in Collin Co., died in McKinney on Jan. 11, 1968.  She married Silas Earl Walker on Dec. 5, 1899.  He was born Sep. 6, 1875 to J. F. and Martha Williams Walker and died Apr. 3, 1926 in McKinney.  Their children were Jessie Lois, born 1901; Silas Earl, Jr., born 1905; and Vernon Coffey, born 1908.

9 - Charles Milton, born Aug. 18, 1880, died Oct. 6, 1918 in McKinney.

10 - Homer Lucas, born Aug. 14, 1882, died Feb. 11, 1958 in McKinney.  He married Lela Mae Holder, daughter of W. A. and Elizabeth Johnson Holder in Nov., 1902.  She was born Feb. 1884 in TX and died Feb. 15, 1939 in McKinney.  They had at least one child, Sarah Elizabeth, born Jul. 16, 1906.  Homer and Lela are buried at Johnson Cemetery in Collin Co.

More later!



*We know through DNA testing that Edward and Peter were some kin to one another but so far back in their ancestry that the kinship was extremely diluted.




No. 992

Jesse & Elizabeth Riffe Coffey (Follow-up)

Jesse and Elizabeth are known to have had at least 10 children.  Of those, about half of them went west from Kentucky to settle north of Dallas in Collin Co., TX.  Some of them raised their families in Anna, Melissa, and Van Alstyne while some moved just up the road to Sherman in Grayson Co.

Those who ended up in TX:

Osborn Nightingale Coffey, born Feb. 4, 1807 in Casey Co., KY, death date and place unknown.  He married Jane Bell on Sep. 4, 1829 in Lincoln Co., KY.  At least one of their sons, Finley Luckey Coffey, born July 7, 1849, went west and settled in Beaumont, Jefferson Co., TX where he died on Apr. 13, 1926.  Osborn and Jane are not known to have gone to TX but, may have!

Mary Coffey, born Apr. 25, 1808 in Wayne Co., KY, died in Casey Co. on May 29, 1842.  She married Jeremiah Vardaman on Mar. 12, 1829 in Casey Co.  After Mary died, Jeremiah and five of his seven children went to Texas.

Mary Elizabeth, the eldest, born Aug. 1, 1832, died May 1, 1877 in Texas, exact place unknown right now.  Lucy, born Nov. 13, 1834 in Lincoln Co., died Feb. 22, 1901 in Grayson Co., TX.  Third Was Ephriam Pennington born Jan. 9, 1837 in KY, died Mar. 6, 1901 in Collin Co., TX.  Patsy Jane, born Jan. 29, 1838 in Lincoln Co. was next.  She married Richard Nightingale Portman on Jan. 4, 1858 in KY.  He died in Collin Co. in 1886; she on Oct. 18, 1926.  He is buried in the Highland Cemetery at Anna while she is buried at Throckmorton cemetery in Melissa.

Following Patsy Jane was Jesse Morgan Vardaman, born Feb. 3, 1839 in Lincoln Co., died May 17, 1903, I think in Collin Co.  He married Hannah, born c1834 in KY and their first child Mary was born there in 1853.  I know of three others, George, Patsy and Betsy - the last two likely twins, born c1859 - were born in TX.

I believe the last child born to Jeremiah and Mary Coffey Vardaman was Jeremiah, Jr., born Jan. 1840, died May, 1863 in TN during the Civil War.  I've seen another genealogy that credits Jeremiah, Sr. with fathering John in 1846, KY, but that was after Mary died and I have not found him married to anyone after he death.

Minerva Coffey was Jesse and Elizabeth's sixth child.  She was born Nov. 15, 1814 in Casey Co., and died in Collin Co. on Feb. 7, 1891.  Her spouse was James H. Slaughter, born Apr. 8, 1812 in Wayne Co., KY and died in Collin Co. on Apr. 17, 1895.  They apparently did not leave KY until 1851 or 52 because their second to last child was born in KY on Feb. 1, 1851 and the last on Ma.r 19, 1853 in Collin Co.  They had at least nine children and, six are known to have survived to marry and raise their own family.

Jesse Perry was the ninth child and he was born Mar. 17, 1823 in Casey Co., died in Collin Co. on Apr. 5, 1906.  He married Tabitha Slaughter - undoubtedly some relation to James, husband of Minerva - and they had at least eight children, the last four born in TX.  Tabitha was born Feb. 14, 1822 in KY and died Aug. 26, 1909 in Collin Co.

Their eldest son was Matthew Slaughter Coffey, born c1844 in KY, died c1929 in Grayson Co., TX.  He was married in Grayson Co. to Virginia Texana Butridge, a daughter of Riley E. and Susan Watson Butridge.  Virginia was born on Jul. 31, 1854 in Sherman and died there on Sep. 27, 1949.  They raised at least five children:  Gabriella, Birdie, twins Pearl and Earl and Richard "Dick."

Matthew's brother, James Perry, Jr., was born Jan. 18, 1851 in KY and died Jan. 16, 1931 in McKinney.  James married Sally Margaret Griffin, born Sep. 1, 1864, where not known, died Jan. 30, 1943 in Collin Co.  I know they had at least one child, Malcolm T. who lived less than two years, born Oct. 4, 1876, died Oct. 1, 1878 in Collin Co.

Anna Belle Coffey, married Finley Luckey Coffey.  You can read about this family here.

Child six was William G., born c1859; seven was Galen, born Sep. 2, 1862, died Dec. 4, 1889 in Collin Co; and last was Cynthia McKinney, born Oct. 8, 1865, died unmarried on Feb. 23, 1966 in McKinney.

Most of these families are buried in the cemeteries at Anna and Melissa in Collin Co.

Click on the title link to read and earlier blog about Jesse and Elizabeth.

Corrections and/or additions welcomed!





No. 989