Dr. James Robert Coffee, 1927-1949

Coffee-Sawyers Marriage Photo

James was a son of Joe Francis and Alleen Kuykendall Coffee.  He was born in Roberts Co., TX on 15 Sep 1927 and married 11 Apr 1949 to Mary Ellen "Muff" Sawyers.  Muff was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Lazelle Sawyers of Centerville, IA.

Within a few weeks after the marriage, Dr. Coffee died. In one newspaper article on the death described the cause as "Death from a 'rare intestinal infection'" at the University of Chicago Clinic hospital where he was serving his internship at the Billings Hospital in pediatrics. [Sunday News-Globe, Amarillo, TX, Aug. 14, 1949]

Dr. Coffee was buried at Llano Cemetery in Amarillo, Randall Co., TX on 16 Feb. 1949.  See his memorial, number 19702688, at FindAGrave.com.

For additional information about the blood bank named in his honor, please see "The Gift of Life" website.

Note: This Coffee family is descended from James and Betsy Coffey Coffey.  James is said to be a descendant of Joel and Martha Stepp/Stapp Coffey while Betsy is descended from Nathan and Mary Saunders Coffey.  I suspect later generations acquired the double-E spelling from time spent in AL before moving on west.  The Amarillo Coffee families are considered Panhandle Pioneers.  More information is available.  

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.

Hugh R. Blunt

Hugh R. Blunt was born Sep. 11, 1822 in Louisiana to Nelson and Elizabeth Blunt.

There are two inconvenient facts lacking in this family's research.  First, Hugh is not a proven son of Nelson, and second, Nelson is a not a proven son of James Blunt and Pembroke Powers.  It is only their proximity in time and place that makes me believe they are closely related.

James' son Hugh R. Blunt, born c1776 in North Carolina, married Euphemie "Pheme" Powers on Aug. 21, 1806¹ in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA. Hugh Blunt died Feb., 1827 in Iberville Parish.  By 1830 his widow is found on the tax rolls of St. Helena Parish.²

A Nelson Blount [sic] disappeared from St. Helena Parish in c1812³ and a family with Nelson as head appeared in the Natchitoches Parish, LA census of 1820, "age to 45." Given the birth year of Hugh R., Nelson's age would have him born in the late 1770s, close enough for me to suspect them of being brothers.  By 1830, Nelson lived in Claiborne Parish, LA which had been cut from Natchitoches Parish in 1828.  He likely died before 1840 because he does not appear in that or any later census record.

The names Hugh and Nelson often appear in a number of my North Louisiana Blunt families.

Back to Hugh R.

James R. Bishop and his wife Peninah Walker had eight children, all daughters.  Hugh R. married two of them.  His first wife was fourth born, Mary Ann Bishop.  They married on Feb. 11, 1850 in Claiborne Parish.4

That union resulted in the birth of two children, the first being James Bert "Jim" Blunt on Mar. 11, 1851 in Columbia Co., AR.  The second born was Frances "Fanny: on Apr. 22, 1852 in Bossier Parish, LA.  Mary Ann is known to have died around that period and it seems reasonable to believe that she died giving birth to Fanny.

Living with Hugh and Mary Ann then was Beneta [sic], James and Peninah's youngest daughter, born Jan. 5, 1839.  Beneta continued to care for Hugh's children over the years until on Jan. 25, 1857 she married Hugh in Lafayette Co., AR.5

Together they had three children:

Martha Ann, born 1858, died 1927, married James C. "Tiny" Johnson in 1881.

Amanda M. "Manda", born 1859 in Rusk, Cherokee Co., TX, died 1936 in Minden, Webster Parish, LA.  She married James Monroe Braley on Aug. 19, 1881.

Hughriah Nelson "Hugh" Blunt, born 1863 in Bossier Parish, LA, died 1939 in Bossier. Married Labicey Etta "Et" Leonard on Jan. 8, 1883 in Louisiana.6

Amanda and Hugh

James Monroe Braley was the son of the German emigrant Johan Frederick Braley.  Braley appears to be an Anglicized spelling; I believe the original surname was Brahle.  He arrived in Sag Harbor, Suffolk, NY on board the vessel Markus in May, 1832, having embarked at Amsterdam.7

Johan Frederick, or Meckie as he was known to his family, wandered around somewhere in the US until 1850.  That is when he first appears in Claiborne Parish, LA, married to the widow, Elizabeth Edwards who had two daughters of her own, Sarah, born ca 1833 and Elizabeth, born c1835, both in Louisiana.

Meckie and Elizabeth had five children of their own, all boys!

James Monroe Braley

Amanda Blount Braley &
Ora Elizabeth Braley Coffee

James Monroe was the second born.  He arrived on Aug. 19, 1849 in Claiborne Parish and married Amanda on Aug. 19, 1881.  They settled down in Webster Parish, formed from parts of Bienville, Bossier and Claiborne Parishes in 1871. All of these Parishes were once part of Natchitoches Parish.

On Jan. 7, 1893 James homesteaded 159.97 acres in Twp. 23N, Range 10W in Webster Parish.  They remained in that area for the remainder of their lives.  Six of their seven children survived to adulthood including a daughter that would eventually become my maternal grandmother,

Ora Elizabeth Braley was born second on Jan. 14, 1884, one year to the day after the first child, also a daughter, was born and which died in Aug., 1884.

J. M. Braley Homestead

Ora, content to remain single, did not marry until she was 25 years old.  She was very likely of considerable help to her mother Mandy who had five younger children.

Ora was the third wife of my grandfather, Albert Lilburn "A. L." Coffee.  He was 11 years older than Ora when they married and had lost his first two wives to death.

Della was his first wife and she gave birth to two children; Ora May West Coffee in 1894 and Carl Glenn Coffee in 1896, both in De Ann, Hempstead Co., AR.  Della died in 1898 and A. L. married Ida Lee Timberlake in 1899 at De Ann.  They had two children as well:  John Timberlake "Jack", Coffee - for whom I was named, my real name being Jack rather than John - born Mar. 5, 1900 and Ruby EcElvy Coffey, born 1902, both in Hempstead Co.

Children from the first union lived to adult hood and have a considerable number of descendants.  Jack did not marry until 1927 when he married Katie Louise Johnson, a native of Newton Co., MS, on Aug. 4, 1927 in Natchez, Adams Co., MS.  Katie lived in Natches with her family.  Jack was employed repairing levees along the Mississippi.  In 1928 Jack died of pneumonia without having produced any children.  Ironically, Katie later married a Mr. Blount and moved to Wood Co., TX where she died in 1966.  I have not yet learned who Mr. Blount was.

Ruby never married and died in Minden, Webster Parish in 1985.

By marrying A. L., Ora took on the task of raising his motherless children while giving birth to six of her own.  Her first born was my father, Frank Hurley Coffee (Frank to me, Hurley to his nieces and nephews).

Frank was born in De Ann in 1910 and died in Jefferson, Marion Co., TX in 1976.  I never knew him as anything more than the man that had sired me.  I had met him on several occasions, the last time right after I took my discharge from the US Army in 1968.  He never impressed me in any way other than an alcoholic and an "old five and dimer."  My mother was his second wife.  By the time he had passed away in 1976, he had been married at least six times.  Fortunately, he sired only two of us; the second by his fourth wife.

I have photographs of  him that I refuse to publish.

Sources:

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¹Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records, 1804-1819, Vol. 3, Page 114.  Although non-Catholic, Spanish rule demanded all residents of the territory to record births, marriages and deaths with the Catholic church

²Ernest Russ Williams, Jr., Genealogical and Historical Abstracts of Legal Records of St. Helena Parish, LA, 1804-1870 (1995), p171. The document shows she was farming 160 acres along the Amite River in the parish of St. Helena, and owned 3 slaves. Total state and parish tax for the year was $4.80. Phamy's property was described as being "east of the Seuttfield Tract." Next door to her was James Blount [sic] who was farming 640 acres, owned no slaves, and paid $1.25 tax in 1830.

³Conveyance Book B, St. Helena Parish, LA, April 9, 1812; James Norton deputy Sheriff, sold property of Nelson Blount [sic], "lying on Spring Creek, above where William Wells now lives", to A.L. Osborne for $100; to satisfy a judgment against Blount in favor of William Boykin. Wit.: Matthew Steward.

4Dodd, Jordan R, et. al. Early American Marriages: Louisiana to 1850. Bountiful, UT: Precision Indexing Publishers, 19xx.  Spouse 1: Bishop, Mary Ann Spouse 2: Blunt, Hugh Marriage Date: 11 Feb 1850 Marriage Location: Louisiana Claiborne Parish

5"Arkansas County Marriages, 1837-1944,", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FQLC-6WT : accessed 24 Oct 2013), Hugh Blunt and Benetia Bishop, 25 Jan 1857.

6 Etta Leonard Blunt Family Bible (Thomas Nelson & Sons, 381-385 Fourth Avenue, New York, NY). Etta's Bible has been an invaluable source for dates and places.

7"United States Index to Passenger Arrivals, Atlantic and Gulf Ports, 1820-1874" , index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-22118-3356-49?cc=1921756 : accessed 13 Aug 2014), Boyl-Bran > image 4740 of 6297; citing NARA microfilm publication M334.

Rev. War Col. Benjamin Cleveland

Benjamin Cleveland

Hero of the Battle of King's Mountain

Compiled from a number of public domain sources by Doug Land

Benjamin Cleveland was born on May 26^th, 1738 in Bull Run, Prince William County, Virginia. He was the son of John Cleveland, a house-joiner, and Martha Coffee. His education was limited and he strongly disliked the constant effort of farm work. He was a hunter for several years, living irresponsibly. In 1761 he married Mary Graves and made a reluctant attempt at farming. The couple had two children, but Cleveland also had another child by a woman in Virginia.

About 1769, at the age of thirty-one, Cleveland moved to the Upper Yadkin in North Carolina with his father-in-law and family. They settled near Mulberry Fields, in Wilkes County. There he began to earn a good reputation among the locals. He still did not show any strong interest in farming, so while his father-in-law’s slaves cleared land for the new plantation he continued to hunt. He later moved to Surry County on the north side of the Yadkin River. In the early 1770’s he learned about promising land in Kentucky from his neighbor Daniel Boone and in the summer of 1772 Cleveland organized a party to search for it, but they were robbed by a band of Cherokee around Cumberland Gap and returned home due to the lack of supplies. After his return Cleveland regained his strength, gathered a party of gunmen, and daringly returned to the Cherokee area, moving from village to village to recover his possessions. This event permanently established his reputation as a strong Indian fighter.

In 1774 Cleveland sat as a justice in the Surry County court and was appointed that same year to be a juror at the superior court in Salisbury. In 1775 news of the Battle of Lexington cause the Surry court to quickly change to a safety committee. He was offered the position of ensign in the Revolutionary Army by the provincial congress, but he turned down the offer to become a captain of the Surry militia in 1776. He fought against Loyalist forces in the Wake Forest region and in the autumn 1776 he led a company in Rutherford’s campaign against the Cherokees in North and South Carolina. During the course of this campaign militia forces completely destroyed thirty-six Cherokee towns. In 1777 he served at Carter’s Fort and the Long Island of Holston, in East Tennessee while a treaty was negotiated. He was made Justice of the Peace of Wilkes County in 1778 and became a colonel in the Wilkes County militia. Cleveland also held other civil positions in the years of the Revolution. He was the commissioner of the Loyalist’s confiscated estates, supervised elections, county ranger, and in 1778-1779 he was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons, representing Wilkes County. In 1780 be became a member of the N.C. Senate for a term. He voted against tax raises and supported a bill to capture and sell slaves that had been illegally freed. Cleveland himself was a slave owner.

In June 1780 he helped to drive Loyalists from Ramsour’s Mills and then fought at the battle of King’s Mountain. This battle was against Major Patrick Ferguson, who was the left wing of the British army’s attack on the South. The Revolutionaries won decisively, killing Ferguson, and the battle became the turning point of the war in the South. In 1781 Cleveland was briefly captured by Loyalists but was soon rescued by his friends and brother Bob. Throughout the war Cleveland was merciless to the Loyalists that fought against him. He hanged those that he did not like, had others whipped, and allowed some to give an oath of allegiance with the promise of good future conduct. In 1779 he was indicted at the superior court of Salisbury for murdering two Loyalists, but was pardoned by the governor at the request of the General Assembly. Cleveland was not always nice to his own people either. The people around Salem complained about the militia under Cleveland who had a habit of taking things without paying for them.

At the end of the Revolution Cleveland was forced to give up his land and in 1785 Cleveland moved to the western border of South Carolina and became an associate judge in Pendleton County. He became quite overweight with the loss of his active lifestyle, and reached the weight of 450 pounds. He was forced to travel by cart as he was no longer able to ride a horse and wore only a shift in warm weather. Cleveland died in his chair in October 1806 at his plantation on Tugaloo River, in current Oconee County, S.C. A monument was erected to him on July 29^th, 1887 at Fort Madison, South Carolina and in 1841 North Carolina named a county after him.

"Of all the fierce frontiersman whose activity spread consternation among the partisans of King George in the Southern campaigns of the American Revolution, not one stood higher than Colonel Benjamin Cleveland." (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 69).

Colonel Cleveland was born on May 16, 1738, in Prince William County, Virginia. His family home was on Bull Run, the same creek that later became famous during the Civil War. The family moved sixty miles west to Orange County when Cleveland was still young. (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 69).

Cleveland showed a bold and forceful personality even when he was a boy. It is said that "at the early age of twelve he seized his father's gun and put to flight a party of drunken rowdies who were raising a disturbance at his home while John Cleveland, the father, was absent." The young Benjamin was not fond of farming, thinking it too tame, and instead became a good hunter. "To him the life of a hunter was a source of profit as well as pleasure, for the hides, furs, and pelts won by his rifle brought him no inconsiderable income." (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. pp. 69-70).

Tradition says that Cleveland fought in the French and Indian War, where he learned how to be a soldier. (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 70).

Sometime before he left Virginia, Cleveland married Mary Graves, the daughter of a wealthy gentleman. They had two sons and a daughter. Around 1769, Cleveland moved his family to North Carolina. They first settled on the shore of Roaring Creek, a tributary of the Yadkin River. (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. pp. 70, 73).

In 1772, Cleveland left for Kentucky with four other men. He had heard tales of the abundant hunting from Daniel Boone himself. On the way, the party was robbed of all of their provisions, including their guns, by a party of Cherokee Indians, who demanded that the white men go back to where they had come from. The group did. Later, Cleveland returned to Cherokee territory in order to get his horse back. He was able to do so with the help of a few friendly Cherokee. (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 70).

When the Revolutionary War began, Cleveland was commissioned as an ensign in the Second North Carolina Regiment. In January, 1776, he was promoted to lieutenant. In November of the same year, he became a captain. Eventually, he resigned from the Continental Line and joined the militia. He saw action at Moore's Creek and skirmished with the Cherokees until a peace treaty was worked out in July 1778. (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. pp. 70-71).

In 1777, Wilkes County was formed, "chiefly through the instrumentality of Captain Cleveland, and he was made colonel of the militia forces of the new county in August 1778. In 1778 Colonel Cleveland represented Wilkes in the North Carolina House of Commons, and was State Senator therefrom in 1779." (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 71).

Cleveland was kept busy throughout the rest of the war. "To tell in full of the desperate encounters in which Cleveland engaged would fill a volume. He was constantly engaged against the enemy, in 1777 serving in enemy campaigns, going on the expedition to Georgia in 1778, and returning in 1779, and afterwards marching against the Tories at Ramseur's Mill, though he did not reach that place in time for the battle" (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 71).

"'Old Round About,' as Cleveland was familiarly known (taking that sobriquet from his plantation of the same name), probably had a hand in hanging more Tories than any other man in America. Though this may be an unenviable distinction, he had to deal with about as unscrupulous a set of ruffians as ever infested any land--men who murdered peaceable inhabitants, burnt dwellings, stole horses, and committed about every other act in the catalogue of crime."(1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol V. p. 71).

The historian Dr. Lyman C. Draper wrote of Colonel Cleveland: "Cleveland was literally 'all things to all people.' By his severities he awed and intimidated not a few --restraining them from lapsing into Tory abominations; by his kindness, forbearance, and even tenderness winning over many to the glorious cause he loved so well." (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 72).

Cleveland distinguished himself most in the Battle of King's Mountain on October 7, 1780. "The battle of King's Mountain was fortunately a great and overwhelming victory for the Americans; and among all the desperate fighters there engaged not one showed more personal courage than Colonel Cleveland. " (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 72).

"After the victory at King's Mountain more than thirty Tories were condemned to death, and nine were executed--the others being reprieved. The executions here alluded to were...punishments for past crimes--house-burnings, outrages against women, desertions and betrayals, assassinations of non-combatants. These measures were also in retaliation for past British cruelties--a few days before this eleven Americans having been hanged at Ninety-Six in South Carolina and many more having been accorded similar treatment at other times. Cleveland was a member of the court (or court martial) --the nature to the tribunal being of a perplexing character --which tried and condemned these Tories. The Battle of King's Mountain restored comparative order to western North Carolina, yet there was more fighting to be done, and Col. Cleveland as usual bore more than his share, serving under General Griffith Rutherford. (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. pp. 72-73).

After the war, Cleveland lost his plantation, "The Round About" to "a litigant who had a better title therefor." Cleveland moved on to South Carolina, where he became an Indian fighter and then a judge after the fighting ceased. Apparently, the more sedentary lifestyle of a judge did not agree with Cleveland, for "Before he died Cleveland attained the enormous weight of four hundred and fifty pounds." (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 73).

Colonel Cleveland died in Oconee County, South Carolina, in October of 1806. "By chapter 9 of the Laws of 1840-41 a county was formed out of Lincoln and Rutherford and named for Colonel Cleveland. In this act the name was misspelled Cleaveland, but by another legislative enactment --passed many years later --the error was remedied." (1906. Ashe, Samuel. Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. V. p. 73).

Bibliography

Ashe, Samuel, ed. Biographical History of North Carolina, Vol. 5. Greensboro, NC: Charles L. Van Noppen, 1905.

Carnes, Mark C., and Garranty, John A., editors. American National Biography, Volume 15. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.

Fiske, John, and Wilson, James Grant, editors. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume 4. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1888-1889. Reprint. Detroit: Gale Research, 1968

Powell, William S., ed. Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, Volume. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1979.

James Bert "Jim" Blunt, Jr.

This photo is from my personal family collection.[1]  He is James Bert "Jim" Blunt, Jr., son of Jim, Sr. and his wife Alpha Anne Delafield.  Jim, Jr. was born Oct. 18, 1882 in Sarepta, Webster Parish, LA and died on Aug. 24,1933 in Rush Springs, Grady Co., OK.

He married Miss Isabelle Allison in Rush Springs on Mar. 12, 1911.  She was born Nov. 14, 1892 in Chockie, Atoka Co. OK to Charles Edward and Irene E. Glossup Allison.  She died in Jacksonville, Cherokee Co., TX on May 12, 1967.  Both are buried at Rush Springs Cemetery.

Jim, Jr. was to me both a first cousin, twice removed and, a second cousin, twice removed.  On the Blunt side, he descended from Hugh R. Blunt (1822-1877) and his wife Mary Ann Bishop.  Hugh was also married to Mary Ann's younger sister, Bonita Bishop from whom I descend.  And, we both descend from James R. and Peninah Walker Bishop of Lawrence Co., MS.

My descent from Hugh and Beneta is through their daughter, Amanda (1859-1936).  She married James Monroe Braley and their daughter, Ora (1884-1984) married A. L. Coffee and were my paternal grandparents.

I like this photo for a several reasons.  First, it is large, in focus and without defect (spots, folds, etc.).  Another reason is his clothing.  He is wearing a conventional necktie, white shirt and suit.  His hat sits back on his head, giving full exposure to his face.  It was probably taken in the mid-to-late 1920's.

He is wearing leather wrist cuffs and gloves.  The flashlight, along with his watch and fob must have been prized possessions. I have seen portrait-like period photos in which the men were displaying pistols or rifles but, I have never seen one with the subject holding a flashlight.  The mustache was de rigueur.

Jim, Jr and Isabelle had four children:

Myrtle (1912-1999) who married Verdie Hiram Morris and had children James Vernor and Joyce.

Hazel Relura (1913-1994) who married Clarence David Roberts and had children James Bert and Clarence David.

Clifford Edward "Cliff," (1916-1997) who married Mary Louise Fausett.  No known children.

DeAlva (1928-living) who married Robert Eugene Eitelman (1926-1986).  Four chidlren, three still living.  Their first, James Robert was born Oct. 19, 1947 and died the next day.

Jack

[1] I received the photo through a cousin who received it from Jim Jr's daughter, DeAlva.

Just a Few of My Family's WW2 Vets

Memorial day is tomorrow and  I want to honor just a few of my family's WW2 veterans.  This is by no means all of them, but they are representative of the patriotism that existed in all branches of my kin, as it did in nearly all families across America in those days.  This is my small way of saying "Thank you for your service and sacrifice."*  

A couple of the photos do not reproduce well because they are copies of very small photos which appeared in a yearbook-style book published by The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars shortly after the war was over.

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Richard Lilburn Samuel

Richard Lilburn Samuel, first cousin.  He was born in De Ann, Hempstead Co., AR on Oct. 28, 1918 to Sidney Bedford and Ora West Coffee Samuel; died Aug. 8, 1968 in Cotton Valley, Webster Parish, LA.  He entered the Army in 1941, trained in Camp Croft, S.C., Panama and Camp Pariso, C.Z.   He served in Pacific Theater - New Guinea. Awarded Good Conduct Medal and the American Theater Service Medal. Discharged in 1945.  Notice that he is wearing only the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB).

Lilburn Monroe Braley

Lilburn Monroe Braley, first cousin once removed, was born in Sarepta, Webster Parish, LA on Nov. 3, 1925.  Known as "Dude" to his family, he died on Nov. 2, 2007 in Shongaloo, Webster Parish.  He joined the US Marine Corps in 1945 and served in the Pacific on Guam and later in China.

Harry D. Coffee

Harry Devohn Coffee, uncle, born Nov. 6, 1912 in DeAnn, died Feb. 8, 1989 in Baton Rouge, LA.  Harry enlisted in the US Coast Guard in 1942 and served in the European Theater earning air medals and numerous citations as a radioman.  He was discharged in 1945.

Charles Calvin Samuel

Charles was a brother to Richard.  He joined the US Army in 1941 and was discharged in 1942 after serving at Fort Knox in KY.  Charles died on Jul. 2, 1957 in New Orleans, LA.

Frank Hurley Coffee

Frank Hurley Coffee, father and brother to Harry, was born Mar. 8, 1910 in DeAnn and died Sep. 4, 1976 in Jefferson, Marion Co., TX.  He joined the USAAF in 1942 and trained at Lamesa Army Flying School and at Dalhart, TX.  He served in the US and was discharged in 1944.






Clifford Edward Blunt, second cousin once removed, born Jul. 23, 1916 in Grady Co., OK, died Apr. 26, 1997 in Gregg Co., TX.  She served in the USAAF, discharged as a Master Sgt.  His enlistment record is inaccurate in that his birthdate is given as 1845 and place of enlistment as Georgia.  (No photo available)

James Elton Braley

James Elton Braley, first cousin once removed, born Sarepta on Dec. 9, 1909, died Sep. 24, 1974 in Monroe, Ouachita Parish, LA.  He enlisted in the USAAF on Oct. 13, 1942 and served in the US.  He was discharged in 1945.







*See also:

http://coffeycousins.blogspot.com/2010/05/capt-loy-grady-coffey-usaaf-wwii.html and
http://coffeycousins.blogspot.com/2010/05/red-ryder.html

No. 995

Capt. Loy Grady Coffey, USAAF WWII

Capt. Loy Grady Coffee

I too had an uncle that perished serving his country during WWII.  My father Frank H. (USAAF) and another of his brothers, Harry D. (USCG) also served but returned safely.

This uncle was the youngest of four sons born to my grandfather, Albert Lilburn Coffey and his wife, Ora Elizabeth Braley.  Loy was born on Jul. 27, 1917 in De Ann, Hempstead Co., AR and died on Dec. 30, 1944 over Ellis Co., KS.

He was a bombardier instructor aboard a B-29 bomber out of the 2d Air Force, 17th Wing stationed at Walker Army Air Force Base in Hays, KS.  On the morning of Dec. 30, the B-29, piloted by 1st Lt. Rufus C. Anderson took off on a training run.  In addition to Capt. Coffey, others on board were 2d Lt. Glenn V. Welander, F/O Thomas H. Joyce; 2nd Lt. Stanley M. Franklin; Sgt. Dale M. Thompson; Pfc. William R. Fierini; Cpl. Robert F. Rich; Cpl. Richard R. Berg; Pfc. Nicholas G. Brando; Pfc. Kenneth L. Bryant; Cpl. Harry Bochichio and 2nd Lt. Verne E. Roycraft.  All but Berg, Brando and Roycraft were killed.  One of the survivors may have ultimately died from injuries.  A news article reported that one of the men was not expected to survive, but did not name him.

According to reports, the bomber climbed to about 25,000 feet and was proceeding on course when at about 10:20 a.m. the number 3 engine [ironic the same engine number as on the B-24 in previous blog] backfired and erupted in flames.  Extinguishers were activated but within a short time the engine caught fire again and burned more fiercely. The extinguishers were again activated but were ineffective.

A subsequent investigation revealed that the fuel line had ruptured and a steady flow of gas to the engine was fueling the fire.  The engine eventually exploded causing the plane to lose the left wing.  It began an uncontrollable spin and cartwheeled to the earth.  The crew lost their oxygen equipment and in the chaos men were bouncing around in the plane, unable to physically jump out.

Lt. Anderson had earlier alerted the crew to prepare for a jump.  Capt. Coffee, the navigator and the radio operator began to move towards the bomb bay with the radio operator attempting to help Coffee strap on his parachute.  The next time a survivor saw Coffee he was lying on the bomb bay door and had a deep gash on the top rear of his head.

Headstone for Capt. Loy Grady Coffey

Some of the men fell to earth while still inside the plane and their bodies were burned.  Capt. Coffee was fortunate in that he somehow fell free of the plane and his body was not burned.  He was returned to his then hometown of Minden, in Webster Parish, LA where he was buried with military honors in the Minden City Cemetery.

Capt. Coffey enlisted when he was six months shy of receiving a law degree from Louisiana State University.  He was also an ROTC cadet and had received some prior National Guard training.  Upon enlistment he was sent to Midland [Texas] Army Flying School where he began the second class of bombardier training.  Graduates were known as "Hell from Heaven Men" and "the most dangerous men in the world."  Following graduation he was commissioned an officer in the US Army.

He married Miss Martha Easley of Harlingen, TX in March, 1943 and she had been with him since their marriage.   I have often searched for Martha with no success.  Undoubtedly, she remarried and had children and, it would be nice to know more about her life after the death of Capt. Coffee.

The grainy photo was retrieved from a newspaper article of the day announcing his death and is the best that I have of him.  He was a handsome man; probably the best looking of all his brothers.

Within the last year, a contact and local historian in Hays discovered the bomb bay door in a barn owned by a local farmer.  He removed a small piece and sent it to me as a keepsake.  I will be forever grateful.




No. 991

Mystery Coffey Family Photographs - Update 11/26/09

These are some of the photos in my collection for which I have no information.  If you recognize them please drop me a note.

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C.W. Coffee is Columbus Washington Coffee, born Jan. 20 1856 in Forsyth Co., GA, died 1936.  His wife was Mary Ellen Blackburn who died in 1945.  C. W. was a son of Starling or Sterling Coffey and his wife Nancy Tyler Cannon.  Starling is thought to be a son of Elijah and Polly Hull Coffey.  Nancy, born c1831 in GA is said to be the daughter of Hiram and Hannah Tyler Cannon.

Brenda Adams, a descendant of Starling/Sterling wrote to me way back in Jan. 2005 that this family has always and continues to spell their surname Coffee.

The ancestry of C.W. before Elijah is a bit cloudy.  I have Elijah as a son of Thomas and Sarah "Sally" Fields Coffey.  Brenda thinks he might be a son of Jesse Cleveland.  I don't believe either one of us is absolutely certain.

---

The family posing in front of the house has not yet been identified.  They are not believed to be part of C.W.'s family.

---

All of these photos are labeled C. W. Coffey with no additional information, except for the last one which indicates it is a 50th anniversary photo.

Coffey & Coffee at Timber Ridge

I wrote earlier about Henry "Big Hill" Coffey and some of his family who are buried at the Timber Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery near Bedford, Bedford Co., VA.  In addition to his family, there are other Coffeys and a few Coffees buried there:

 Bessie J. Coffey, born May 23, 1884, died May 24, 1976

 J. Corbin Coffey, born Oct. 15, 1897, died May 15, 1942

 J. Corbin was a son of Henry Coffey and his wife Mary.  They appeared in the 1920 census at Goodes in Bedford Co.  Henry was born c1885 and Mary c1872 [Yes, she was older].  In addition to Corbin they had children:  Hillery, male, age 9, Laura, are 6, Ida, age 5, Henry, age 4, Adolphus, age 3.  Corbin was seven months old.

Lillie B. Coffey, born Jun. 1, 1856, died Feb. 12, 1956

Rhoda Ann Coffey, born Apr. 13, 1927, died Nov. 18, 2004.  The SSDI reports that she came from or had some folks around Salem in Salem Co., VA

The Coffees are:

H. C., born Apr. 5, 1845, died Jun. 25, 1922

Ida H., born 1874, died 1934

Laura B., born 1872, died 1916

Mary B., born 1840, died 1915

This family could almost be Henry and his wife Mary, J. Corbin's parents!  This Mary is older than H. C. and, both families had daughters named Laura and Ida, and J. Corbin is in the same cemetery.  Differences seem obvious but, I cannot discount errors by whoever inventoried this cemetery!

Can you help identify these families?  Drop me a line at the e-mail address in the upper right.

Everette M. (Jack) Coffee

Who was Everette M. (Jack) Coffee?

I know who his parents were and, I know who his wife was.  But, who was he really?

He was born on Jan. 15, 1918 in Texas to Louis Edwin and Lula Belle Nichols Coffee.  What few records are available show that in 1920 he lived in Eastland Co., TX and from 1946 until his death on Jan. 19, 2004 he was a resident of California.

He married Shirley I. Snell in California in 1948 and after 31 years, they were divorced in 1979.

"Jack" apparently remarried sometime after he and Shirley divorced.  His very terse obituary names a survivor as Virginia, his wife.

His obituary:

"Everette "Jack" Coffee, 86, of Anaheim, an appliance salesman, died Jan. 19, 2004, of natural causes. Services have been held. Arrangements by Pierce Brothers Anaheim Mortuary Daly-Spencer-Baggott-Schacht.


Wife, Virginia; daughters, Deborah Kerns, Marsha Bugg; son, Kyle Follars; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren."
 
Surely this man accomplished something during his lifetime to warrant more than these few lines in a newspaper announcing his death!
 
 
 

Lost Cousins!

Actually, they were not lost.  They knew where they were.

For years I have been searching for descendants of my G-pa Coffee's sister, Sarah Ellen Coffee Hill Sutton.  Many of them wandered out of Arkansas and west into California during the depression.  Somewhere along the way their paper trail vanished!

Imagine my surprise and happiness when a few days ago a new cousin on the west coast contacted me, writing that one of Sarah's Sutton daughters was her grandmother.  The new cousin had found my personal genealogy website.

Information that my new cousin offered has opened up a whole new search path (new names, locations, etc.) for me.  As a result, I've been able to find more census records for some of the family.  I now know her mother's maiden name, where she came from, and other details.

She also sent about a dozen photographs gleaned over the years from other family sources.  All of them were of her parents, grandparents and Sarah Ellen.  What a treasure!

Sarah had one son from her Hill marriage.  I have very little information about those cousins, but continue to search for them.

---

On another subject:  If any regular readers are wondering about my extended absences from the blog, I can only tell you that I'm working on projects other than Edward Coffey.  There have been very few discoveries over the past few years, so I found myself searching for obituaries, attempting to tie those folks into those already in my Ed Coffey project files.

There have been a few corrections submitted now and again, but nothing that I considered really significant.  And frankly, participation by readers has been next to nothing!  I offered an opportunity for readers to co-edit the blog, but received only one promise to help. 

I will continue now and again to post info here as it becomes available, but those posts will likely be few and far between.

Also, I will continue to update the Edward Coffey Project CD with changes and new found info as it becomes available.

The offer to co-edit is still on the table.

 

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.

Sarah Frances Stewart Maddox

Sarah was my second cousin and the daughter of William Lafayette and Lucia Edna Coffee.  An earlier blog about William and Lucia can be read here.

She was born on Jan. 29, 1898 in Hope, Hempstead Co., AR and died on Mar. 28, 1986 in Erath Co., TX.   Sarah married Emmit Carl Maddox c1920 in Texas.  He was born Aug. 8, 1897 in Karnes Co., TX to Phillip Berry and Lucy C. Reece Maddox.  He died on Feb. 1, 1962* in Big Spring, Howard Co., TX.  He and Sarah were divorced sometime after 1938 following the birth and death of twins.

Emmit was working as a heavy equipment operator in Big Spring at the time of his death, and was buried there in the City Cemetery. 

Their known children were:

Carl Allen, born c1922, died Aug. 11, 1986 in Harris Co., TX

Clyde, born c1923

George W., born c1927

Robert Francis, born Jul. 28, 1929

Charles Phillip, born Oct. 12, 1935, died Sep. 3, 1949.  This child was born in Sonora, Sutton Co., TX and died in Strawn, Palo Pinto Co.  His death resulted from injuries received in an automobile accident.  He was buried at the cemetery in Gordon, Palo Pinto Co.*

Tiny Ann and Emmit Carl, Jr. were twins, born prematurely.  Tiny was born on Nov. 24, 1938 and died Dec. 1, 1938.  Her twin was born on Nov. 25 and died after a few hours.  Both of these children are buried at Bakersfield in Pecos Co., TX.*

Based on his occupation at time of death, I suspect that Emmit and Sarah moved around Texas quite a bit, following work.

Sarah had at least two siblings: 

Edna Ellen Stewart who was born Nov. 23, 1899 in Hope, and died Jul. 26, 1901 in Stephenville, Erath Co.  I do not believe that Edna ever married.  She is buried under her maiden name at West End Cemetery in Stephenville.

William Ellery (Willie) Stewart, born Jul. 29, 1901 in Stephenville, and died there on Nov. 18, 1976.  William was a veteran of both WW1 and WW2.  He is buried at East memorial Cemetery in Stephenville. 

Please contact me if you have more information on this Stewart family.


*Death certificates in my files

New Coffee Web Site

I have just received an e-mail from my friend Kathy Coffee Simmons informing me that she has fired up a new web page on genealogy.com.

Here's how the page begins:

"This genealogy is mostly the work of others, including my grandfather, Woodson Coffee, and his son, Woods Coffee, Jr.

He began searching for his roots in the 1920's, and 1930's, and kept it all in writing. Bless him, and all the other "cousins" who have so generously shared their findings over the years."

In addition to a family tree showing the descendants of Nathan Coffee, born 1760 in Wilkes Co., NC, Kathy has also included an autobiography of Woodson Coffee, and a report on the descendants of Logan Coffee.

I'm certain she will be expanding the site as time permits.

Give it a look here.

New book: Cleveland Monroe Coffee

Today I received an announcement from Juanita Cranfield reporting the completion and availability of her new book Cleveland Monroe Coffee, The Family Diamond. The hardbacked book will sell for $40 plus $10 shipping and handling. Those interested in learning more about the book may contact Juanita via e-mail, or by writing to her at 614 Shoemaker St., Athens, TN 37303.

Updated info:

This Cleveland is the son of Jesse and Elizabeth Thompson Coffey. Jesse is the son of Cleveland and Martha Brown Coffey.

My notes for this family:

I am not aware of any proof of the children of Edward and Grace. It is speculated that Cleveland, husband of Elizabeth Coffey, and who appears in Orange and Albemarle county records from 1762 to 1774, and perhaps also in 1791, is one of their sons. He may also be the Cleveland Coffey who had a land entry in 1778 on Zack's Fork of Lower Creek in Burke Co., NC

Benjamin is also another possible son. He was born in VA in 1763 and is on the Burke Co., NC census from 1790 to 1850 (Caldwell in 1850). His wife was Leah, born about 1760 in VA. The Leah Coffey who married Francis Hickman on Apr. 19, 1798 in Jefferson Co., TN may be their daughter.

The problem with this Benjamin being a son of Edward and Grace is that Grace would have been 47 when he was born, in that era somewhat late in life for a woman to have a child.

The other possible children of Edward are James, who is on the 1785 census for Botetourt Co., VA and William, found in a few records of Montgomery Co., VA from 1781 to 1785. The likelyhood also exists that these are children of Peter and Susannah Coffey of Prince Edward Co., VA. No proof of either being factual has been found.

The William Coffey of Buckingham Co. tax lists from 1783 to 1797 is probably Peter's son.

Other possible children of Edward is Jesse, in Wilkes Co., NC from 1779-1786, and Isaac or Isaia Zarrah, also in Wilkes Co. from 1782 to 1796. The Jesse in Wilkes Co. up to 1786 could well be the one in the Pendleton Co., SC census of 1790 and 1800. He was the father of six boys: Cleveland, Edward, Joel, Elijah, Elisha and John. The use of the names Cleveland and Edward adds to the possibility that Jesse was a son of Edward. In the 1800 census he was over 45 meaning that he would have been born in 1755 or before. He is not on the 1820 census of Pendleton Co., but a Nancy (over 45) is. This could have been his wife since Jesse died prior to 1810.

Myra Lee Coffee

Myra Lee Coffee, born Nov. 6, 1921, died Oct. 26, 1986, was the daughter of Albert Lilburn and Ora Elizabeth Braley Coffee. She was their only daughter and was a sister to my father, Frank Hurley Coffee.

[I have other photos of her, but thought this one to be rather worthy of use here]

Myra married August Edward (Gus) Howell in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, LA on Oct. 19, 1938. To the union was born three children: Myra Sue, Camille (Jun 1948-Sep 1948), and August (Eddie), Jr. She and Gus, Sr. divorced and Myra was briefly married to a Mr. Rea just prior to her death.

Gus, Sr. was the son of Joe John and Caroline Zoller Howell. The Howell family is first found in Alabama in 1829. John Milam Howell was born there that year and later moved into Mississippi. He married Oney Percilla Flynt in Tishomingo Co., MS on Nov. 12, 1851. She was born Nov. 29, 1831 in Madison Co., AL and died Apr. 21, 1894 in Belmont, Gonzales Co., TX. Oney was the daughter of John Halberet and Martha Roberts Flynt.

Undoubtedly, John and Oney had more than two children [they had a daughter named Margaret for whom I've found no information]. The one son that I have found was Edward Holbert Howell, born Jul., 1853 in Holly Springs, Marshall Co., MS, died Sep. 9, 1942 in Gonzales Go., TX.

I am unsure if John and Oney moved to TX with their children, but it appears that sometime before 1875 Edward moved to that part of Texas. It was here on Feb. 2, 1875 that he married Emily Feroba [sic] Justice, a daughter of Tilman D. and Mildred Ann Williams Justice. She was born in TX c1885 and died in Gonzales Co. on Oct. 26, 1927.

Emily and Edward had at least 10 children, the fourth being Joe John on May 7, 1882, died Jun. 24, 1946. Joe John married Caroline Zoller, born c1886 in Belmont, Gonzales Co., TX, and died there on Jan. 18, 1959. Caroline was the daughter of Gustav and Evaline Zoller. Gustav was born in Mexico in Apr., 1865. Evaline was a native Texan, born there in Jul., 1865.

Joe John and Caroline had at least four children: Gus, Sr., Joe M., Mildred E., and Hazel E. Gus was born in Seguin, Guadalupe Co., TX and died on Feb. 26, 1996 in Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, LA.

Most of the Edward and Emily Justice Howell children seem to have remained in Gonzales and/or Guadalupe counties all of their lives. Many are buried the Belmont cemetery in Gonzales Co.

I have additional facts on many of these, and would like to exchange information with anyone researching this Howell family.

What is a Clearinghouse?

Some folks have recently suggested to me that they were unsure what the Coffey Cousins' Clearinghouse is. The definition that I gave is that we are a central agency for collecting and giving out information. But, we are not an agency; simply a group of people who identify themselves that way, taking that name from the newsletter of the same name.

We (a small core of individuals) attempt to work with those who are having difficulty identifying their ancestors. When someone writes to one of us for help, and information is available that might fit their family, it is given to them, along with any sources that are available. The information given is without guarantee. It is sort of hoped that the person receiving the info will check the sources, prove the facts and later, if they feel like sharing, tell us what they found. It is when we are not updated that erroneous information gets perpetuated.

It is, I like to believe, a mutual effort with no profits realized by anyone on our end. The cost associated with research that I do on fee-based genealogy sites come from my pocket. Whatever information I give is done so freely and without any obligation on the part of anyone to do anything more than send "thanks," and then only if they think about it.

The newsletter that Bonnie Culley edits and publishes operates the same way. People send in information, she publishes it and pushes it out in a multi-page newsletter every quarter. The only charge is the subscription rate of $10/year. For years, the rate was $8/year, but ever increasing postal rates forced her to up the cost. She makes no profit, and pays for the printing and postage out of that $10. She has a "department of corrections" in the newsletter where - what else - corrections from readers are published. I sort of try do do that here by updating earlier blogs.

I believe that the newsletter is in the 26th year. I think I've been attempting to operate the website for close to 18 years!? I don't really recall when I first put it on line at Rootsweb, but beginning in 1991 it was on a server at interesurf.net, then an ISP in my local area. Last year I decided to purchase a domain name and subscribe to a hosting service so that I could do more. I also pay for the hosting service.

We always try to list a source for the information that we share. Sometimes however, the person submitting the info does not have a source, except for "family tradition." In that case we will make an effort to get the person asking and the person submitting in contact with each other. Many times however, that's not possible because e-mail addresses change rapidly. That's why I ask for a USPS address from anyone who contributes or receives information.

I am not aware of any "license" requirements for anyone to research any family name, so I will continue to do what I can to help anyone with any surname closely connected to a Coffey/e family, wherever in the US they might have lived. Perhaps by helping others, someone will someday help me determine which Coffey/e woman co-habitated with what Mills man to produce a child named Lilburn, born c1822 in TN, and who chose to spell his name Coffee. In the meantime I'll have to be satisfied being in the fifth generation of what could possibly be the newest Coffee family in the US.

Finally, should anyone know of and object to any immediate family being included in the Edward Coffey Project please feel free to ask for them to be removed. I will, within reason, completely remove them. At the moment, I think "within reason" means anyone born after the 1930 census. We'll have to discuss a way to handle information if it was submitted by someone else in your family who does not object. In the meantime, if you have information you would like to share, or want to ask for help, please contact me at the above e-mail address.

Mary E. Coffee Ames

Mary E. Coffee was the sister of my great-grandfather, James M. Coffee and the wife of Finis E. Ames. She was born c1848 in Tennessee and died Apr. 21, 1916 in Hope, Hempstead Co., AR. She and Finis were married on Sep. 5, 1869 in Hempstead Co. in a ceremony officiated by H. D. McKennon, MG.

Finis is believed to be the son of Sylvester C. and Delila Brown Ames. He was born Apr. 27, 1844 in Mississippi and died Jan. 19, 1916 in Hope. His siblings are thought to have been: Brother O., born 1845, Mary E., born c1847; Sylvester, born 1851; George Washington, born 1856, and Jonathan Ashmore, born 1857.

Mary and Finis were found in the 1870 Hempstead Co., Ozan Twp. census. In 1880 they were in Bowie Co., TX, and were neighbors of the William Watson family. The 1900 census found them back in Hempstead Co. Finis reported that his parents were born in Michigan. Finis was also on the Hempstead Co. voter rolls for the years 1892-1893, and 1897-1898. The family apparently moved several times between Texas and Arkansas.

Of the few remaining burial sites that can be identified in the old Hanegan-Robinson cemetery near Old Washington, Hempstead Co., is that of Finis and Mary.

The newspaper, Star of Hope, the forerunner of the present day Hope Star, wrote on Jan. 19, 1916, page 4:

"AMES, F. E., one of the oldest and best known citizens of this section, died this morning at his home about 1 mile north of Hope."

The same newspaper wrote on Apr. 29, 1916, page 4:

"AMES, Mrs. F. E., at an advanced age, died at the home of her son, E. E. Ames, near this city last Friday. Her death was preceded by that of her husband only recently."

Children of Finis and Mary were:

William W. (Willie), born May., 1872. He married Emma, last name unknown, c1894. They had at least three children: Fred C., born Nov., 1896; Clara J., born Dec., 1897; and Hazel, born Jan., 1900.

Albert Alexander, born Jan. 29, 1874 in Hempstead Co., and married Marie, last name unknown, who was born in Louisiana c1887.

Everett Edward, born Jul. 5, 1876 in Hempstead Co., and died there on Sep. 29, 1930. He married Ollie Herrin c1906. She was born in Texas on Feb. 13, 1887 and died Sep. 5, 1980 in Hempstead Co.

Their children were:

- Pauline, born c1907, died Jul., 1912;

- Hernand0 (Uncle Bub), born Dec. 20, 1908, died May, 1982; Jewel Edward, born Nov. 22, 1914, died Nov., 1967; and William, who died c1943. Hernando married Cathleen G., last name unknown, c1929. She was born in Arkansas on Aug. 24, 1907 and died Nov. 20, 1999 in Sour Lake, Hardin Co., TX. There was at least one child, Jimmie D., born Sep., 1929.

- Jewel Edward, born Nov. 22, 1914, died Nov., 1967; and

- William, who died c1943

Everett Edward Ames registered for the draft in Hempstead Co. on Sep. 12, 1918. He was described as having of medium height and build with blue eyes and light colored hair. He was 41 yrs. old; born July 4, 1876. He was a self-employed farmer at RFD #4, in Hope where he resided with his wife Margaret Olive Ames.

Harry, born Nov., 1879

John, born Jun., 1885

I would really like to hear from any descendants of Sylvester and Delila Brown Ames. I can be reached at the above e-mail address.

The Watson & Courtney Families, Part II

William & Mary Eliz. Bowman Watson Family- House dog at far right!

The second child of William and Mary Elizabeth Bowman Coffee Watson was Mary Elizabeth, born Aug. 28, 1883 in Paris, Lamar Co., TX. She married George Washington Davis who was born May 17, 1875 in Arkansas, on Jan. 13, 1904 in Natural Dam, Crawford Co., AR.

George died in Sep., 1945 in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., AR. Mary died Feb. 20, 1942 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., CA. He is likely to have been the son of James Davis whose family appears in the 1880 census for Jasper, Crawford Co.

George Washington Davis registered for the draft in Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., AR on Sep. 12, 1918. He was described as being tall and slender with black hair and blue eyes. He was age 43 yrs., born May 17, 1875, and was a laborer at the Fort Smith Furniture Co. in Fort Smith. He named Mary Davis of Fort Smith as his nearest relative. The registration card was signed with his mark.

The children of George and Mary were:

- James Ather, born Nov. 17, 1904, died in 1923

- Harrison Claborn, born Aug. 6, 1906, died Jun. 28, 1985 in Harbor City, Los Angeles Co., CA. He first married Blanch C. Chaffin, and second Maxine Viola Ashmore. Maxine was the daughter of Charles Elmer and Effie Daisy Patton Ashmore and was born Apr. 9, 1911 in Iowa. She died on Jul. 7, 1965 in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co. Their children were James Edward, born 1930, and Joanne Fay, born 1932.

- Lue Irene, born Mar. 7, 1910 in Natural Dam, and died Apr. 16, 1997 in Calimesa, Riverside Co., CA. Lue married four times. Her first marriage was to Eldon Lowell Ashmore (perhaps some relation to Effie who married Harrison). He was born c1908 in Page Co., IA and died Jul. 1, 1969 in Wilmington, Los Angeles Co. There were no children.

Lue Irene Davis

Lue's second marrige was to Charles Rainwater. There were no children. Her third was to Elmer F. Basinger on Nov. 8, 1924. He was born Sep. 11, 1905 in Arkansas and died on Nov. 7, 1965 in San Bernardino Co.

Two children resulted from this union: Beverly Jean and Richard Elmer.

Dwight Warren Cunningham was her fourth and last husband. Dwight was born Jul. 5, 1921 in Arkansas and died Feb. 11, 1996 in Earp, San Bernardino Co. They were married on Apr. 14, 1961 in Winterhaven, Imperial Co., CA. There were no children. Dwight was a WW2 veteran who served in the US Navy and was at Normandy on D-Day in support of the invasion of Allied Forces.

Dwight Warren Cunningham

The fourth child of George and Mary Watson Davis was Luther Ambers (Bill) Davis. he was born Oct. 12, 1912 and died Dec. 2, 1982 in Apple Valley, San Bernardino Co.

Next was Lathie Cleo, born Feb. 12, 1915, and last was George Elwood, born Feb. 9, 1919 in Fort Smith, AR. He died Dec. 24, 1997 in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information.