Hiram Kinsey & Mary Ann Evans Coffey

Hiram was born to Campbell & Elizabeth Caroline Eads Coffey on Feb. 8, 1862 in Maries Co., MO.  He died Nov. 13, 1925 in that county and was buried there at the Vienna Public Cemetery.  He and Mary Ann, a daughter of Jesse and Nancy Evans were married on Jun. 13, 1886 in Maries Co.  She died Feb. 9, 1931 and is also buried at Vienna.

The Coffeys lived their entire lives in Jackson Township, Maries Co. and raised seven children there; 5 boys and two girls.

Of the boys, William Sidney was the only one known to have married.  He was the eldest, born Apr. 4, 1887 and died of pneumonia on Mar. 18, 1922.  His wife was Mary Catherine Weidinger, born in MO in Mar., 1890.  They were parents of two children, Marie Bernice, born c1915 and James Cellus, born c1917, both in St. Louis Co., MO.  William is buried in Vienna at the public cemetery.  Before his death, William was a street car motorman in St. Louis.

Linnie Gertrude was born second on Jul. 2, 1889, died in Feb., 1973.  She married Jesse Stirling Snodgrass, born Dec. 13, 1888 in Maries Co., and died there Sep. 22, 1969.  Both are buried at the public cemetery in Vienna.  They too lived their entire lives in Vienna.  There were no known children born to the union.

The other boys were:  Earl Rufus, born Jun. 13, 1893, died Apr. 14, 1968; Sherman James, born May 14, 1897, died Sep. 12, 1972; Jesse Lee, born Apr. 14, 1900, died Jul. 23, 1989 and Thomas Roy, born Feb. 13, 1906, died Dec. 12, 2001.  Jessie was the only one to serve during WW2.  He enlisted on Nov. 18, 1942 at Jackson Barracks in St. Louis  None of them are known to have married and all are buried at Vienna in the public cemetery.

For a brief time in the 1930's Earl was a Missouri Highway Patrolman.  He later joined his brother Sherman as a building carpenter.  Jess worked for an orphanage as a laborer before joining the Army and Tom was a truck driver for the WPA in the 40's.

Born between Earl and Sherman was a daughter, Caroline Elizabeth in Apr., 1894.  She married Francis Behm, born May 18, 1890 in MO, on Nov. 14, 1912 in Maries Co.  Together they had two sons, Harold N., born c1915 in MO and Woodrow F., born Apr. 14, 1918 in Illinois, died Dec. 4, 1997 in MO.  Caroline and Francis divorced before the 1930 census.  She and her two sons were living in Pacific, Franklin Co., MO in 1930.  She was still there in 1940 but only Woodrow remained at home with her.  Caroline died on Mar. 31, 1977 and was buried at Vienna.  Francis Behm died on Sep. 12, 1968 and is also buried at Vienna.

After her divorce, Caroline worked for a time as a hotel waitress and later as a restaurant cook.

Squire Coffey in Missouri

The reader question on the previous blog prompted me to do a bit of digging into the Squire Coffey men of Missouri.

I have found three with that name in Maries Co. and they are all related to Squire Coffey, born 1803 in Burke Co., NC, died after 1840 in Cherokee Co., NC.  I'll call him Squire 1.  He was a son of Smith Coffey and Hannah Boone.

Squire 2, the first in Maries Co. was a son of Marvel Coffey and Rachel Boone.  He was born in TN in 1828 and died 1912 in Hickory Co., MO.  He married Drucilla Parker and had children: Matilda, William D. B.; John R., Mary E., Martha E.; and Malinda J. 

Smith Coffey and Marvel Coffey were half-brothers, sons of Thomas Coffey; Smith by first wife, Elizabeth Smith and Marvel by second wife, Sarah Fields. Rachel and Hannah Boone were sisters, daughters of Jesse Boone who was a son of Israel, a brother to Daniel.

Squire 3 was Squire Jackson and, a son of Irvin S. and Nancy Hughes Coffey.  Irvin was a son of Marvel and Rachel.  Squire Jackson was born c1853 and married Sarah F. Gibson in 1876, Maries Co.  Their children known to me were Carnie Ellis and, Earnest J.

Squire 4 was also Squire Jackson and a son of John M. and Susan A. Vanderpool Coffey.  John M. was a son of Irvin and Nancy Hughes Coffey.  This Squire Jackson married Clara Della Eads on Sep. 29, 1901 in Maries Co.  Two of their children were Leslie H. and James C.

Squire 2 through 4 were double-first cousins to Squire 1, with 50 years separating the youngest from the oldest.







No. 983

A Downside to using Headstone Info

Monroe Cleveland or Jesse Cleveland Coffey?

Within a couple of days of writing the previous blog about headstones, I received this from Lloyd Coffey, a grandson of Jesse Cleveland Coffey.  Jesse was a son of  Jesse "Red Eye" and Lucinda Louise Coffey Coffey:

"My grandfather, Jesse Cleveland Coffey, son of Jesse C. 'Red Eye' Coffey, is buried in Glencoe Cemetery in Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Virginia.  It is in southwestern Virginia and is the location of the 'Richmond District' about which I wrote you earlier.  For some reason, his grave marker has his name as Monroe Cleveland Coffey.  I know that the name Monroe is in our family several times, but I do not know how it got attached to my grandfather.  I have attached a picture of his gravestone.  I do not know the source of any of the information on the stone."

Unless this information is passed on through the family, future researchers looking for Jesse Cleveland's grave site will be disappointed when it cannot be found.

Jesse Cleveland, who I'm sure I've written about in earlier blogs, married Eliza Loudermilk, a daughter of Finley T. & Mary Clark Loudermilk in Caldwell Co., NC in 1910. Eliza was born on Dec. 3, 1892 and died Mar. 18, 1987 in Hiddenite, Alexander Co., NC.

Her obituary:

The Watauga Democrat, Boone, NC Mar. 20, 1987

Mrs. Eliza Coffey

Hiddenite Resident

Mrs. Eliza Coffey, 94, of Route 1, Hiddenite, died Wednesday, March 18, at the residence following an illness of one week.

She was born in Caldwell County, Dec. 23, 1892. She was a daughter of the late Finley Loudermilk and Mary Clark Loudermilk. She was a homemaker. He husband, Cleveland Coffey, preceded her in death.

Survivors include three sons, Lester Coffey and Rayford Coffey, both of Lenoir, and Eugene Coffey of Statesville, two daughters Mrs. Zelma Campbell of Hiddenite and Mrs. Nettie Hodge of Lenoir; one brother, Daniel Loudermilk of Taylorsville, and 36 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Services were held today at 2 p.m. at the Adams Funeral Home Chapel in Taylorsville. Officiating were the Revs. Homer Baity and Bobby Eads. Burial was in the Rocky Face Baptist Church Cemetery in Alexander County.

Adams Funeral Home in Taylorsville was in charge of arrangements.

She and Jesse were parents of six children:

1 - Annie Rivers "Nannie", born Jan. 1, 1910 in Avery Co., NC, died Apr 15, 1952 in Boone.  Annie married her second cousin, William Glenn Coffey and had at least one son, Jerry Guy, born Sep., 12, 1933, died Jan. 25, 1998 in NC.

2 - Lester Deverlin, born Apr. 12, 1913 in NC, died Jul 20, 1988 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  His wife was Grace Thelma Bennett, born Jul. 27, 1924 in Avery Co., died Feb. 22, 2005 in Lenoir.

Her obituary:

The Hickory Daily Record, Catawba Co., NC, Feb. 25, 2005

GRACE B. COFFEY

LENOIR - Grace Bennett Coffey, 80, of Rosedale Drive, died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005, at Gateway Nursing Center.

She was born July 27, 1924, in Avery County to the late Jesse Cleveland and Etta Naomi Hardin Bennett.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lester Deverlin Coffey; four brothers; and two sisters.

Mrs. Coffey was a homemaker and a member of Zacks Fork Baptist Church.
Survivors include three sons, Donald Odell Coffey Sr. of South Sioux City, Neb., Lloyd Everette Coffey of Taylorsville and Benson Howard Coffey and wife, Teena, of Lenoir; a daughter and son-in-law, Estie Loretta Coffey Smith and Tallie Smith of Lenoir; a stepbrother, Jimmy Kirksey of Hickory; three sisters, Mrs. Virginia Whittington of Lenoir, Mrs. Ollie Coffey of Boone and Mrs. Jean Holdridge of Gainesville, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Jerry Smith, Sharon Smith Clonch, Wayne Smith, Jeannie Smith Childress and Stella Coffey, all of Lenoir, Donald Coffey Jr. of Granite Falls and Gail Coffey Farmer of Arizona; 16 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, at 2 p.m. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel, conducted by the Rev. Jerry Smith, Ken Osier and Eliza Bishop.  Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens.

Serving as pallbearers will be Cregg Clonch, Ryan Smith, Dustin Smith, Josh Coffey, Scott Coffey, Victor Whittington and Shane Whittington.

The family will receive friends tonight, Thursday, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

For additional information, the family contact person will be Sharon Clonch, granddaughter, at 1216 Cottrell Hill Road, Lenoir.

Memorial contributions may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 9140 Arrowpoint Blvd., Suite 380, Charlotte, N.C. 28273, or the Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders Association, Western N.C. Chapter, 31 College Place, Suite D320, Asheville, N.C. 28801-2644.

Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

3 - Zelma Izora, born Sep. 1, 1915 in NC, died Aug. 6, 1993 in Alexander Co.  She married Lex Garland Campbell, born 1910, died Mar. 8, 1992, also in Alexander Co.  They had at least two children, Betty Lou, born 1935 in Alexander Co., died in Harmony, Irdell Co. on Jan. 24, 2005 and, Gary Lee, born Nov. 25, 1947 in Alexander Co., died Jul. 30, 2005 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC

I have obituaries for both of these and will forward on request.

4 - Charley, born 1918 in Avery Co., died Apr. 14, 1919 in Wilson Creek Twp., Avery Co.  His death record gives his name as Chasley, but Lloyd tells me that is an error.

5 - Nettie J., born Feb. 27, 1920 in Watauga Co.  No further info.

6 - Jerry Baxter, born Mar. 21, 1923 in NC, died at Blowing Rock, Watauga Co. on Jan. 14, 1973.

Campbell Coffey

Campbell Coffey was born in TN c1831 to Asbury Marvel and Rachel Boone Coffey.  He died on May 8, 1892 in Maries Co., MO.  He is probably buried with other members of his family in the Vienna cemetery in Maries Co.

Update:  Click on the struck thru Asbury to read my theory about Marvel.  Campbell is buried at the Coffey Cemetery in Vienna.*

He was married in MO c1850 to Elizabeth Caroline Eads.  I believe they had seven children, all born in Maries Co.:

Update:  Elizabeth Caroline Eads was born Mar. 1, 1834 in Osage Co., MO and died in Maries Co. on Sep. 11, 1900.  She is buried at Vienna.

William, born c1853 - No further info.

Benjamin Irven., born c1857, died in 1912.  The only marriage record that have found for Ben is the one issued for his marriage to Mrs. Martha Murphy on Mar. 5, 1885 in Maries Co.  Mrs. Murphy had at least one child, Ella, by her previous husband.  Ella, born Jan., 1874.  Martha and Ben had at least one child, a son Floid R., born May 16, 1890, died Apr. 23, 1894.

Update:  Martha Murphy was born Martha Ann Moss, in Oct., 1852 to Edward and Mary Roberson Moss.  Martha died Jul. 13, 1922 in Vienna, Maries Co., MO.  She and Ben as well as Floid are buried at the Vienna Public Cemetery.

Mary F., born c Apr 1860 - No further info.

Update:  Mary Frances married William Noah Copeland on Sep. 14, 1879 in Maries Co.  William was born to John and Nancy Copeland on Jul. 19, 1858 in Maries Co. He died in Jefferson City, Cole Co., MO on Jun. 5, 1931.  The Copelands had Eva Jane; Etta Jane; Charles B.; Campbell; and James. All were born between 1881 and 1888.  William Noah's death certificate reports that he was killed by a shotgun blast through his bedroom window.  Please contact me if you know the back story!

Hiram Kimsey, born Mar. 8, 1862, died Nov. 13, 1925.  He married Mary A.Ivens on Jun. 13, 1886 in Maries Co.  She was born in MO in April, 1865.  Their children were William, born Apr., 1888; Linnie G., born Apr., 1889, married Oct. 29, 1911 to Jesse S. Snodgrass; Earl R., born Jun. 14, 1890, died Apr. 14, 1968; Elizabeth "Lizzie", born Apr., 1894, married Nov. 14, 1912 to Francis Behne; Sherman James, born Apr., 1897; and Jessie (male), born Nov., 1899, died Jul. 23, 1989.

Update:  Hiram's wife was Mary Ann Evans, daughter of Jesse and Nancy Evans. Both are buried at Vienna as are all of their children, and some of their children's spouses.

 Isabella, born Sep., 1864, married John H. Copeland Mar. 19, 1886.

Update:  Isabella married Thomas Monroe Balance in Maries Co. but I have not found their marriage record. He died on Sep. 17, 1930 in Vienna and is buried in the Vienna cemetery.  I would like to determine if he was her first or second husband.

James Sherman, born May., 1867, married Sarah M. Cope on Jun. 5, 1892 in Maries Co.  I've found three children:  An infant born and died in 1893; Olive J., born Oct., 1895 and Willard J., born Apr., 1898.  Sarah Cope was born in March, 1873 in MO.

Update:  Sarah's complete name was Sarah Malinda Copeland, daughter of Andrew Jackson and Charlotte Rachel Holeman Copeland.  Sarah was born Mar. 10, 1873 in Vienna and died in Dixon, Pulaski Co., MO on May 4, 1940. James was born May 14, 1867 in Maries Co. and died in Waynesville, Pulaski Co., MO on Jan. 20, 1947

John M., born c1869 - No further info.

Lots of information is still missing on the remainder of Asbury and Rachel's family.  If you can help fill in the blanks, write to me at my e-mail address found over there: ----->

Jack

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*Original data: Card Records of Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans, ca. 1879-ca. 1903; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1845, 22 rolls); Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, Record Group 92; National Archives, Washington, D.C.  Another source [Berg & Frank Families] reports his buried "in a cemetery on Bill Buschman's Farm in Maries Co."