Clara Coffey Gilbert

Clara remained unmarried and caring for her father, Ebenezer Rice "Eben" Coffey until his death in Austin, Delta Co., CO in 1935.

 Eben was a son of James Asbury and Louisa Adelade Ferris Long Carnahan Coffey. Louisa was only 20 when she married James Asbury leading me to believe that she was married but once, and that her parents did give her that unusually long name. She, born in Wayne Co., KY, and James, born in Gallatin Co., IL were married on Dec. 27, 1849 in Saline Co., IL.

 Eben married Iola Kreigh in about 1887, where I do not know. He was born in Harrisburg, Saline Co., IL c1851, she in Iowa in Feb., 1862. With the exception of one brother, their daughter Clara and all of her siblings were born in OK.

 Clara was almost 40 years old when her father died. She must have been on the courting end of a relationship with Harry Gilbert, an Englishman born there in about 1883 because they were married and had their first child, a daughter named Iola in 1935 or 1936. Their second child, a son named Harry was born c1937, both in Colorado. They had been married just a couple of years when Harry died in 1937.

After waiting all those years to marry then losing her husband after about two years, must have been devastating for her. Clara remained a widow for the next 59-60 years. In 1940 she appeared in the Delta, Delta Co., CO census with her children. A neighbor was her brother Oscar Kreigh Coffey and family. Clara died at age 100 in 1996 in Delta Co. and was buried at Cory Cemetery in that town. Husband Harry is buried there with her.

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Eben and Iola's other children were:

 James Luther, born Jun. 16, 1889.  I lost him after 1900 in Benton Twp., Beaver Co., OK.  But, I believe he is the James L. Coffey in the 1910 Pueblo Co. census as a patient in the "Woodcraft Hospital and School for the feeble minded."  I believe also that he was the James Luther Coffey who was registered for the WW1 draft in CA on Dec. 31, 1918 (late registration).  He was then apparently a patient in some CA institution.  He was part of those "Indians, Prisoners, Insane, in Hospitals" who were registered late.  He signed the card in his [apparently] own hand as James Luther Coffey.

After James came Sarah Louise, born in Aug., 1891.  She lived with her parents until she was 18 and then disappeared from the census.  Brother Eben Ruble, born Nov., 1894, remained with his parents until 1920 and then disappeared.

Oscar Kreigh, born Aug. 28, 1898 in KS, bird May 30, 1982 in Delta Co.  Oscar married Mary E. Neff on Mar. 23, 1921 in CO.  She was born in MO in 1902 and died in Delta Co. in 1972.  The two children that I know of are Robert L., and Roy.  Robert L. died in Colorado in 1981 and is buried at Cory Cemetery.

The last child was Mary A., born May, 1900.  She was with her parents until 1920 and then disappeared.

Updates and/or corrections welcomed.

Jack

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.