Columbus Iverson Philyaw

Columbus, born Aug, 16, 1867 in Caldwell Co., NC, was a son of Gideon and Martha M. Teague Philyaw.

According to North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979, Columbus married Hanna J. Vance on Aug. 2, 1888 in Johns River Twp., Caldwell Co., NC.  That record names her parents as Wesley and Elizabeth Vance.

Hannah was born in Jul., 1873 in NC and died May 5, 1915 in Collettsville, Johns River Twp., Caldwell Co.  She died on May 4, 1915 in Globe Twp. and, her death certificate names her parents as John Hicks, a native of Tow River Twp. in Avery Co., and Betty Vance, a native of Mitchell Co., NC.

The part about her parents is a bit confusing to me.  Those who know which is accurate are invited to contact me.

There were at least 11 children born to this couple, a few of whom married into the Coffey family:

Edward W, born Apr., 1891, married Etta Baker on Nov. 28, 1920 at Mortimer, Wilson Creek Twp., Caldwell Co.  They were in the 1930 census at Mortimer and there were no children in the household.  Death records have not been found.

Martha Elizabeth, born Jan., 1893, married John S. Crisp on Aug. 4, 1912 in Johns River Twp., Caldwell Co. John was born Jul. 4, 1888 in NC and died in John River Twp. on Nov. 7, 1936.  I have not found another marriage record or a death record for Martha.  They had at least six children:  Loucile [sic]; Joseph; Morris; Forest Columbus; Jewel; and John Vernon.  John is buried at the Crisp Family Cemetery at Collettsville.  Martha is probably there as well but I have found no record of her death.

Margaret A. "Maggie," born May 1895 in Caldwell Co., died there in Feb., 1977.  She married William Pope on Dec. 18, 1914 in Globe Twp.  Their children were at least five:  May E.; Fred W.; Arlie T.; Hannah; and Wayne G.  Margaret is buried at Rocky Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Collettsville.  William is probably buried there as well but I have found no record of his death.

Gideon Fred, born Sep. 20, 1897 in Caldwell Co., died in Morganton, Burke Co. on Nov. 24, 1970.  He married Ida Jane Coffey, a daughter of Finley Carroll and Connie Rebecca Tolbert.  Ida was born in Caldwell Co. on Aug. 6, 1902 and died Nov. 16, 1972 in Valdese, Burke Co.  Their children were at least six:  Leona Mae; Connie; Louise; Lucille; Noma [sic]; and Ransom (?).  Gideon and Ida are buried at the Tolbert Family Cemetery in Mortimer.

Daniel Wesley, born Dec. 21, 1899, died in Lenoir on Jan. 22, 1981.  He married Emma Rich on Nov. 21, 1920 in Wilson Creek Twp., she the daughter of John Robert and Sarah Cordelia Taylor Rich, and born c1905.  Her death record has not been found.  His burial place is not known to me.  Their children were at least four:  Lois, Edith, Coleen and Margaret.

Oscar R., born c1903.  No other information.

Rooney N. was the name of the child who occupied this place in the birth order in 1910.  She was age 5.  In  1920 her name appears to be Veller, and in 1930 her name was Velma.  Velma is said to have married Arvil Harden Coffey but, I have not found a marriage record.  She died on Apr. 20, 1993 in Caldwell Co., and was buried at White Springs Cemetery in Blowing Rock.  Arvil, born Jul. 12, 1914 to George Wiley and Ida Belle Norman Coffey, died Aug. 25, 1987 and is also at White Springs.  I have not located them in the 1930 census and have no children for them.

Dewey George, born Feb. 10, 1907, probably in Caldwell Co., married Lucy Mae Coffey, sister to Ida Jane who married Dewey's brother Gideon.  They were married on Jun. 19,1828 in Lenoir and had at least three children:  Claude Wilson; Ma Gene and Sherl [sic] Allen.  Dewey died Apr., 1980 and Lucy on Mar. 23, 1985 in Lincolnton, Lincoln Co., NC.  Dewey is buried at the Tolbert Family Cemetery in Upton, Caldwell Co.  Lucy is probably there as well.

Arley A., born c1909.  No other information.  I wonder if his name was Early or Orlie?

Torrance Iverson, born 1911, died Dec. 24, 1966 at Black Mountain in Buncombe Co.  He married Cora Lee Shoe, daughter of Mansfield Hoover and Hattie Mae Belle Shoe.  She was born Oct. 25, 1920 in NC and tied in Newton, Catawba Co. on Oct. 15, 2011.  Both are buried at Rocky Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Collettsville.  I have no children for them.

The last child known to me to be born to Columbus and Hannah was Irene, c1914.  She married Ira Roosevelt Bristol, a son of James Greenberry "Jim" and Elsie Jane Bell(e), on Oct. 30, 1934 in Caldwell Co.  Ira was born May 11, 1911 in NC and died in Valdese on Feb. 22, 1969.  He is buried at the Bristol Family Cemetery at Collettsville.  Irene died on Nov. 4, 2002 in Blowing Rock and is probably also buried at the family cemetery.

In just a few days the 1940 census will available and I will hopefully, be able to expand my research on all of the NC Coffey and allied families.

Rufus Lynn and Marsha Deloras Clippard Coffey

Rufus was born Mar. 25, 1879 in Caldwell Co., NC to John and Mary (Polly) Underwood Coffey.  He was the eighth child and only son born to the union.  His wife was Marsha Deloras (Marcie) Clippard, born Aug. 9, 1879 in Lincoln Co., NC.  I have not found a marriage date for them but, estimate 1888-1889.

Rufus died Jun. 29, 1957 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC with death attributed to chronic myocarditis.  Marsha died Oct. 24, 1960 in Lenoir with death attributed to arteriosclerotic heart disease.  Both are buried at the Belleview Cemetery in Lenoir.

There were nine children born to Rufus and Marcie:

Mable, born c1900

Daisy Elizabeth, born 1903, married C. E. Jackson.  They had at least one child, a son, Wilford (Wick), born Dec. 21, 1925, died Apr. 12, 2008.  He is also buried at Belleview.

Ree S. D., born Dec. 7, 1905 in Caldwell Co., died Jul. 26, 1974 in Lenoir with death attributed to a myocardial infarction.  She married Albert P. Beck.  Ree is buried at Belleview.

Hazel H., born c1908

Stella Ruth, born Jun. 8, 1910, died of asthma on Mar. 5, 1953.  She married a Mr. Williams.  She is also buried at Belleview.

Anna Estelle, born 1912 in Lincoln Co., died 1987 in Caldwell Co.  She married Walter Watson Crisp, a son of Millard Avery and Edna Elizabeth Suddreth, in 1937.  Walter was born Apr. 4, 1908 and died Jan. 9, 1993 in Lenoir.

Carson Reeves, born Mar. 28, 1914 in Lincoln Co., died 1999 in Caldwell Co.  He married Charlotte Camilla Peeler, a daughter of the Rev. John C. Peeler and Sally Holshouser.  Charlotte was born Feb. 10, 1917 in Lenoir, and died Oct. 14, 2004 in Newton, Catawba Co.

Mildred, born Jul. 8, 1917 in Lincoln Co., died by suicide (poisoning) on May. 17, 1939 at age 21.  She was married to Fred Hinst at the time of her death.  She was buried at Belleview.

Jennings Otis, born Aug. 26, 1919 in Lincoln Co. and died Aug. 7, 2001 in Caldwell Co.  In 1947 he was married to Ollie Mozelle Roberts, a daughter of William Rufus Roberts and Ida V. Matlba.  Ollie was born Apr. 14, 1921 and died Mar. 13, 1974 from acute myocardial infarction in Lenoir.  Both are buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Park, Kings Creek, Caldwell Co.

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

Joseph Harrison and Carrie Elizabeth Coffey Wellborn

Joseph Harrison Wellborn was born c1873 in North Carolina and died there before 1920. He married Carrie Elizabeth Coffey in Caldwell County, NC in 1896 [Marriage Book 11, Page 245]. Carrie was the daughter of Thomas, a son of William Coffey and Margaret Robbins. Carrie's mother was Rachel M. Coffey, the daughter of McCaleb Coffey and Elizabeth Collett.

Carrie was born Aug. 14, 1877 in Caldwell Co., and died in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co. on Mar. 22, 1951.  She is buried at Harper's Chapel Cemetery in Patterson.  An accurate birth and death date for Joseph has not been found.

Children of Joseph and Carrie were:

Jennie Beatrice, born May 11, 1900, died Dec. 30, 1978. Jennie married Thomas Hamilton (Hamp) Robbins in Caldwell Co., NC in 1920. Thomas was born Oct. 17, 1888 [death certificate], a son of Thomas Clingman and Sarah Curtis Robbins. He died Mar. 5, 1965 in Lower Creek, Caldwell Co. [Death Certificate]. Their children were Mary Gwendolyn, born Sep. 7, 1920 [NC Birth Index Book 7, Page 621], died Dec. 14, 1977; Thomas Hamilton, born Sep. 11, 1922; George Welborn, born Aug. 17, 1924, died Nov. 21, 2004; and Robert Joseph, born Dec. 5, 1926.

Carl Coffey, born Aug. 6, 1902 in Wilkes Co., died May 15, 1986 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. He was married in 1921 to Lula Belle Hamby, born Oct. 18, 1898 in NC, died Dec. 8, 1933 in Lenoir. Their children were Clyde Colene, born Oct. 6, 1921; Mildred Marie, born 1923; Joseph Henry, born 1924, died 1997; Earl Russell, born Apr. 3, 1928, died Jun. 22, 1994; and an unnamed child, born and died in 1932.

Alma L., born c1906

Robert Louis, born Dec. 11, 1908, died Dec. 29, 1990

Carrie, born Sep. 13, 1910, died Feb. 28, 1985. She married Hugh Hardin Edmisten, born Aug. 19, 1905 in Watauga Co., NC, died Aug. 16, 1963 in Lenoir. He was a son of Newton Edmiston and Alice Holshouser.

Joseph Dale, born May 14, 1913

Blanche Gertrude, born Nov. 19, 1914, died Mar. 8, 2004. Blanche married first William Lee Martin, born Dec. 23, 1913, died Aug. 4, 1966 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC. He was a son of Roby Sherrill and Ivalee Crisp Martin. Blanche was married second to H. C. (Bud) Andrews for whom I have no information. Blanche is buried in Wilson Memorial Park in Caldwell Co.

Obituary, The News Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC

Blanch Andrews

Blanch Gerturde Wellborn Martin Andrews, 89, of Blowing Rock Blvd., Lenoir, died Monday, March 8, 2004, at Lenoir Healthcare Center.

She was born Nov. 19, 1914 in Caldwell County to the late Joseph and Carrie E. Coffey Wellborn. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, William Lee Martin; her second husband, (Bud) H.C. Andrews; three brothers and three sisters.

Mrs. Andrews was a homemaker was a member of Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church.

Survivors include three sons, Williams S. Martin, Jack O. Martin and Charles A. Martin all of Lenoir; a daughter, Mrs. Ivolee Martin McCall of Valdese; 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel conducted by the Rev. Joe Parker and the Rev. Lynn Hawkins. Interment will follow in J.H. Wilson Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Jason Martin, Charles Martin, Jr., Jamie McCall, Travis Coffey, Tom Haus and Joel Coffey. Honorary pallbearers will be: Donovan Moose, Lee Moose and Will Haus.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, NC 28645; or to Mt. Olivet united Methodist Church, 2032 Mulberry Creek Road, Lenoir NC 28645; or to Wellborn Historical Society, 2400 Mourgea Avenue, High Meadow Apt. 4E, Valdese, NC 28690.

Please send additions or corrections to me at the above e-mail address.

Minnie Jeanette Curtis Coffey 1935-2005

Minnie Jeanette Curtis Coffey was born June 23, 1935 in Caldwell County, North Carolina to James Ark Curtis and Ola Maggie Crisp, and died Sept. 6, 2005 in Caldwell County. She was preceded in death by her husband Junior Partee Coffey.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone researching this Coffey line.

Click on the title link to view her complete obituary.