Achilles Coffey, 1806-1883

In previous blogs I have pondered whether the man some call Archelaus or Archelus Coffey was really named Achilles.

Achilles Coffey

In his book, A brief history of the Regular Baptists, principally of Southern Illinois (1877), the author is described as Elder A Coffey.  However, the title page names the author as Achilles Coffey and includes a drawing taken from a previously published photo of the man I thought was named Archelaus.  The portrait is signed "Yours Truly Achilles Coffey."

Achilles was born in Wayne Co., KY on Jul 30, 1806 to James M. and Frances Lane Coffey.  The dedication to the history book by Richard Fulkerson briefly describes the family's many moves and how Achilles had to struggle to obtain a modest education.

Achilles married Jennie Dean in Hamilton Co., IL and, in 1825 joined up with Hampton's Co., 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade to fight in the Black Hawk Indian War.  He became commanding officer of the 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade of the Illinois Mounter Volunteers.  He was furloughed in Aug., 1832 after losing his horse, saddle, bridle and blanket and mustered out later that year.  It took nearly 20 years but, he eventually received 40 acres of land for his service and, in 1855 he received another 120 acres.

Jennie died in 1876 in Saline Co., IL and was buried at Bethel Creek Church in Galatia, Saline Co., IL. Achilles survived until 1883 and was also buried at Bethel Creek.  Many of their 13 children are also buried there.

  Jack

George Archelaus Coffey, 1874 IL - 1949 OK

George Archelaus Coffey was a son of John A. McClernan and Mary R. Glascock Coffey.  John was born in Saline Co., IL in 1846 to Achilles and Jane Dean Coffey and died in Apr., 1893 at Washita Co., OK.  He and Mary were married on Aug. 15, 1869 in Saline Co.* These families descend from Edward and Ann Powell Coffey through their son John who married Jane Graves and, their son, Rev. James Coffey who married Elizabeth Cleveland.

George was born in Saline Co. on Jan. 13, 1874 and died Apr. 28, 1949 in OK.  He married Julia Gordon Lockhart on Aug. 11, 1895 in Erath Co., TX.  Julia was born Mar. 3, 1877 at Bluff Dale in Erath Co., and died on Oklahoma City on Nov. 25, 1961.  Both she and George are buried at Warner Memorial Cemetery in Muskogee Co., OK.

The biography for George tells us that he and Julia had four children:  John L., born in Mar., 1898 in TX; May L., born May 19, 1900 in OK and twin daughters, Georgia W. and Geordia W., born c1903 in OK.  May married John P. Nickens on Aug. 30, 1926 in Cleveland Co., OK and had at least two children, Georgia C., born c1928 and Mary R., born c1929.  May is also buried at Warner but the burial site for John has not been located.  In the 1930 census John and May were residents of Cleveland Co. where he was employed as a "decorator" for the Kress Co. and May was a public school teacher.  Marriage records for the other children of George and Julia have not been found.

George began his career as a school teacher in Erath Co. and was principal of schools in that county at Huckaby.  He was later a teacher at Alexander, TX and Walnut Springs, TX.  He went to Washita Co., OK Territory in 1899.  Later they would relocate to LoneWolf in Kiowa Co., OK and even later to Goodwell in Texas Co., OK.  In 1930 they were in Vann, Muskogee Co.

In 1911 George served as state senator in OK's third state legislature.  He later served in the 17th (1939), the same legislature in which Will Rogers was then serving.

The following is a rather long biography produced by John Bradfield Thoburn on pages 1413-1414 in his 4th volume, A Standard History of Oklahoma, published in 1916.  I have broken it up somewhat to make it a bit easier to read.**

"There is no profession to which men devote their energies more dignified in its ethics or more reasonably helpful to their fellow-men than that of education, the always advancing standards of which demand of its devotees constant study and a keen and comprehensive knowledge of a wealth of subjects. These demands, in turn, redound to the benefit of the community, for not infrequently the capable educator is chosen for positions in the law-making department of our government, where he is able, through his superior attainments, to contribute materially to his locality’s development and progress. Of the educators of Western Oklahoma who have won prominent positions in their calling and at the same time have served the communities capably in legislative office, one of the best known and most popular is George A. Coffey, ex-state senator and at present superintendent of schools of Carter, Beckham County. His labors as an educator have covered a period of more than twenty years, and his advancement in his profession has been steady and consistent. Few men have contributed in greater degree to the cause of education, and no man has a better record for straightforward, energetic effort as a public servant.

'Mr. Coffey was born in Saline County, Illinois, January 13, 1874, and is a son of Rev. J. M. and Mary R. (Glasscock) Coffey, and a descendant of Irish ancestors who came to America in Colonial days and settled in Virginia. His father was born in Saline County, Illinois, in 1846, and as a young man adopted the vocation of farmer, an occupation he has followed throughout his life, in connection with his labors as a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church. With the exception of a year spent in Kansas, he resided in Saline County, Illinois, until 1888, in that year removing with his family to Baylor County, Texas, and two years later going to Brown County, in the same state. There he made his home until April, 1893, when he took up a homestead in Washita County, Oklahoma, and after proving his claim disposed of his land and bought his present farm, also in Washita County. He is now living a retired life, being in comfortable financial circumstances. Mrs. Coffey, who survives at the age of sixty-seven years, is a native of Tennessee.

'Mr. Coffey of this review comes of a race of people noted for longevity, none of his ancestors, male or female, having died under the age of seventy-five, and some of them reaching the age of 112.

"George A. Coffey attended the country schools of Saline County, Illinois, until he was fourteen years of age and at that time went with his parents to Baylor County, Texas. He went to the high school at Seymour, and in 1890, when his parents went to Brown County, Texas, he entered Howard Payne College and finished the teachers’ training course in 1894. In the meantime he had already entered upon his educational career, having taught several terms in Oklahoma and Texas, and in 1894 began to devote his entire time to his chosen calling, as a teacher in Erath County. In the term of 1895-6 he was principal of schools at Huckaby, Erath County, Texas, and during the terms of 1896-7, 1897-8 and 1898-9 was teacher at Alexander, Texas, while in 1899, 1900, he was engaged in the same capacity at Walnut Springs, Texas. On December 25, 1899. Mr. Coffey came to Oklahoma and filed on a claim in Washita County, on which he began to live March 10, 1900, and continued to reside thereon for five years, finally proving up and selling it. During this time, in 1900-01, he had continued his professional labors as principal of schools at Gage, Oklahoma, continued as such in the term of 1901-2, and in 1902-3 was principal of the schools at Cordell, there organizing the first graded school in Washita County. In the terms of 1903-4 and 1904-5 he was superintendent of schools at Port, Oklahoma, in 1905-6 at Rocky, Oklahoma, in 1906-7 at Port again, and in 1907-8, 1908-9 and 1909-10 at Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. 

"During the time he resided at Lone Wolf, Mr. Coffey served as a member of the Oklahoma State Senate, to which body he was elected on the democratic ticket. His service therein was a notable one, he being chairman of the committees on Penal Institutions and Enrolling and Engrossing Bills, and a member of the committees on Public Service, Fees and Salaries, Education, Insurance, Mines and Manufacturing, Public Health and Military Affairs. He introduced and secured the passage of the bill for State Aid for Consolidated Schools, the first bill of its kind and now a law. He was one of the authors of and introduced into the Senate the bill which created the present State Board of Education, and of the bill that secured the large appropriation for the buildings at the Granite Reformatory. Mr. Coffey took a leading part in the fight against the Muskogee Fair Bill, and opposed a large appropriation for the governor’s inaugural ceremony. For a number of years Mr. Coffey has been a leading figure in all the prohibition campaigns, being a stump speaker of forcible address and convincing argument against the liquor traffic.

"In 1910-11 Mr. Coffey was superintendent of schools at Mountain Park and Retrot. Oklahoma, in 1911-12 at Spring Creek, in 1912-13 at Sentinel, and in 1913-14 at Spring Creek again, and in the fall of 1915 was called to the position of superintendent of schools at Carter, Oklahoma, with a corps of six teachers and a scholarship of 300 pupils. Mr. Coffey is a valued member of the Washita County Teachers Association and the Oklahoma Teachers Association. He has at various times been honored in a professional way, having served as a member of the Board of Examiners of Erath County, Texas, for four years, and of Washita County, Oklahoma, eight years. During the greater part of this time he has devoted the summer terms, when others are enjoying vacations, to faithful and energetic work in the summer normal schools. 

"A recent review of the life and labors of Superintendent Coffey said in part as follows: 'He is a man of versatile ability, being known for twenty-three years to the people of Southwestern Oklahoma in the various capacities of pioneer and progressive educator, fraternal and religious lecturer, prohibition speaker and school legislator. He has ever been in the front ranks of every fight for better government, better schools, morality and decency. His fearless stand for humanity and the right has made him a host of friends. In the school room, in the state senate, in his home, and among his neighbors and friends, he has ever been the same common, plain, unassuming man. The humblest citizen and smallest child in the county may approach him on the same plane of confidence and friendship and be assured of receiving the same consideration and courtesy that would be given to the highest educators and officials of the state with whom he has frequently associated. In his work he has enjoyed the friendship and respect of the ablest men of the state, yet he has spent his time for the uplift of the common people; and the overwhelming support that they have given to all his public aspirations gives proof that they fully appreciate his efforts in their behalf.'

"With his family, Mr. Coffey belongs to the Baptist Church. His fraternal connections are with Lone Wolf Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Sentinel, and the Rebekahs of the same; the Woodmen of the World, at Sentinel, and the Modern Woodmen of America at Lone Wolf.

"Superintendent Coffey was married in Erath County, Texas, in 1895, to Miss Julia Gordon Lockhart, daughter of the late Elder J. C. R. Lockhart, who for more than seventy-five years was a. Baptist preacher in Alabama and Texas. Four children have been born to this union: John L., who is a teacher in the public schools of Carter, under his father; Mary L., who is a member of the sophomore class, at Carter High School; Georgia, who is in the seventh grade of the public schools at Carter; and Geordia, twin of Georgia, also in seventh grade."

---

*http://www.pendleyusa.com/sampendle/index.htm#TOC, accessed Sep., 2005.
**Search Google Books for George A. Coffey

Lawrence Lasenby Coffey (1841-1912)

Lawrence was the ninth child and third son of Archelaus and Jane Dean Coffey.  His middle name is a puzzle - at least to me.  He was born in Gallatin Co., IL on Aug. 20, 1841 so I looked in that state for someone of prominence with that surname.  The only one that shows up in IL was Jeremiah Lasenby in the 1840 Johnson Co., IL census.  Jeremiah was a slave holder and probably was not the model Archelaus wished to honor when he named his son.  So, the mystery remains as one that I'll look at out of curiosity sometime in the future.

 In his family book describing the ancestors and descendants of James Bluford Coffey, Dr. Marvin Coffey wrote that Lawrence married Susan Melvina Barker in Hamilton Co., IL on Nov. 20, 1862.  In 1870 they appeared in the Montgomery Co., KS census with only initials for first names.  This fact has created a lot of confusion over the true names of his children born in those early years of his marriage.

1870 Montgomery Co., Fawn Creek Dist., Montgomery city PO, Page 3, dwelling/family 28, Coffey, L., age 29, male, white, farmer, $400, born IL; S., age 24, female, white, keeping house, born IL; J., age 6, female, white, born IL; A., age 4, male, white, born IL; J. S., age 3, female, white, born KS; A., age 1, male, white, born KS.

We don't fare much better in 1880:

1880 Saline Co., Long Branch Dist., ED109, Page 41, dwelling/family 383, Coffee, Lesenly [sic], white male, age 39, married, farming, born IL, parents born IL; Melvina, white female, age 35, wife, married, keeping house, born IL, parents born IL; Riley, white male, age 16, son, single, born IL; Harmon, white male, age 14, son, born IL; Ethen, white female [sic], age 12, son [sic], born IL; Edith, white female, age 7, dau., born IL; Alley, white female, age 4, dau., born IL; Maude, white female, age 6 mos., born IL; Barker, Emit, white male, age 17, single, hired hand, born IL, parents born IL

 Emit Barker was a hired hand in the census but likely related to Melvina.

If we chart out the children from the available census records, ages of the entire family progress as expected but, there are some missing or mis-identified:

• Lawrence: 29 in 1870, 39 in 1880 and 58 in 1900
• Susan:      24              35                   54
• J.               6              16 (Riley)        Gone
• A.               4              14 (Harmon)   Gone
• J.S.            3              12 (Ethen)      Gone
• A.               1               Gone
• Edith                          7                     Gone
• Alley                          4                      Gone
• Maude                         6/12              Gone
• Eva E.                                               14

In addition to these eight, there was Orilla Jane, born Sep., 1863 and is the 6-year old female in 1870.  She married William Ezell in 1884 so should have been but was not included in the 1880 census  Shelby Carr was born in 1882 and may have died young.  He would have been old enough in 1900 to have married but I have not found him in a census record for any year.  And, we are missing Ollie or Clemma Grace, born in 1871 who should have but did not show up as a 9-or-10-year old in 1880.

L-R Four Generations

A descendant of Clemma, who recently contacted me, reports that Clemma married Grigg or Gregg Madison Morris c1906.  Their children were Albert Amon (there's Amon again), born Jan. 27, 1908, died Jun. 17, 1995; E. S., a son and J. D., a daughter. The oval photo is thought to be one of Grigg/Gregg on the left, baby Albert and Clemma.  The elder gentleman in the rear may be Grigg/Gregg's father; otherwise he is unknown.


Updated 9-14-2010: L-R in the photo is Amon Hume Coffey (1865-1953), Lawrence Lasenby Coffey (1841-1912), Baby Albert Amon Morris (1908-1995) and Grace Coffey Morris, daughter of Amon Hume. Note that Amon Hume has not been positively identified as the man on the left in this photo, but all indications are that he is. It appears then that Lawrence did not have a daughter named Clemma Grace - perhaps why there isn't one with the family in 1880 - but that he did have a grand-daughter by that name.

Albert Amon Morris Family

Albert, according to my contact, married Katie Lee Elam and had sons Douglas, Robert and Morris.  They were married in OK on Dec. 4, 1927 and appeared for the first time as a family in the 1930 South Cimarron Twp. of Logan Co., OK. He was buried at the Duncan Municipal Cemetery in Stephens Co., OK. Katie was born Nov. 17, 1909 in Coleman Co., TX and died in Ardmore, Carter Co., OK on Apr. 18, 2000.  She is buried next to Albert in Duncan.

Albert & Katie Headstone

 As always, corrections and/or additions are welcomed!

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.