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.

Daniel T. & Mary Linnie Coffey Montgomery

Mary was a daughter of Larkin D. & Temperence Elaine "Tempi" Gravitt.  My original blog on Larkin and Tempi can be read here.

Mary was born c1853 in Georgia and died c1909, probably in AL.  She married Daniel T. Montgomery, date unknown but probably c1879 in Alabama  Nov. 27, 1870 in Lawrence Co., AL.* Daniel was born Aug. 15, 1846 in AL, died in Leon, Love Co., OK on May 30, 1937 and was buried there.  The family has not been found in the 1900 census ** and by 1910 Daniel was in Love and enumerated as a widower.

I believe he was a son of Alex and Salina Caroline Thompson.  Little information has been found on Alex and Salina except that Alex died in AL on Dec. 28, 1886.  In census records, Daniel always said that his mother was born in Ireland and his father in IL.  In addition to Daniel, they were also parents to Mary Elizabeth Montgomery, born c1852, died Mar. 22, 1948 in Moulton, Lawrence Co., AL.

In 1850 Alex was in Limestone Co., AL and appears to be unmarried.  He was enumerated with the Joseph Montgomery family; Joseph, age 39, was likely his brother.  Joseph's wife was Mary. Others in the household were Hannah L. Montgomery, age 23 (sister perhaps); and Mary J., age 17 and John, age 11.  Alex had children Sarah, age 13; Joseph M., age 11; Christian (?) J., female, age 9 and Daniel, age 4.

By 1860 Alex had remarried Priscilla Holt and the family was in Moulton, Lawrence Co., AL.  Others in the household were: Sarah, age 22; Joseph, age 21; Floran (?), female, age 16; Daniel, age 12; Mary, age 6; and James, age 5.

Alex and family remained in Moulton for the 1870 census.  In addition to Alex and Priscilla, others in the household were:  Sarah, age 33; Daniel, age 23; Mary, age 18; James, age 15; John D., age 12; Robert, age 10; and Margaret, age 3.  In the index, Priscilla is spelled "La Sillie."

Daniel T. Montgomery

Daniel was married and living in Pinhook, Lawrence Co. in 1880.  His census entry is dim and rather difficult to read.  The index, however, lists D. T., age 32, farmer, born TN, parents born TN; M. L., age 22, wife, born GA, parents born GA; E. T.; J. L.; and D. J.

Daniel and Mary had at least two children, David Lawrence, born Jan. 26, 1881 and, John C., born Jul. 1, 1891, both in AL.  Birth and death dates are from headstones.

After 1880, Daniel can be found in the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census in Leon, Love Co.  In 1920 he lived with Laurence and with John in 1930.  He died in Leon on May 30, 1937 and was buried at Leon Cemetery.

Ethel Brintle Montgomery

David married Nov. 3, 1902 in Gainesville, Cooke Co., TX to Ethel Isola Brintle.  She was born Dec. 19, 1885 in Giles Co., TN and died Oct. 19, 1971 in Marengo, McHenry Co., IL.  David died Mar. 8, 1945 in Marietta, Love Co., OK.  Both he and Ethel are buried there at the Lakeview Cemetery.  They had at least one child, Myrtle, born c1905 in OK, died in Oct. 1968.  Her spouse was W. O. Smith.

John C. Montgomery

Gertrude Montgomery

John married a lady named Gertrude***, born Apr. 15, 1891 in AR, died Mar. 28, 1980 in Love Co., OK.  Their children were Cecilia, LaJuana, twins Wilma and Nilma and Laurence, all born in OK.  The 1930 census record for these children is a bit difficult to read and I have guessed at the names Louisiana and Nilma.  John died on Feb. 17, 1961 in Love Co. Both he and Gertrude are buried at Lakeview Cemetery.

Update:  The family still lived in Love Co., Marietta, OK, in 1940.  John was the proprietor of a retail grocery store.  Cecilia had two years of college behind her and, Wilma and Nelda were a high school graduates.  Son Laurence was in his second year of high school.

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Mary Elizabeth Montgomery was born c1852 and died Mar. 22, 1948 in Moulton, Lawrence Co., AL.  She married William R. Coffey, brother to Mary Coffey Montgomery.  William was born c1848 in GA and died in Moulton on Apr. 15, 1930.  They are both buried at the Montgomery Cemetery in Moulton.  Their children, as I know them, were William Albert, born c1871 in Lawrence Co., died there on Dec. 11, 1925, also buried at the Montgomery Cemetery; Henry Clay, born Nov., 1873, died Feb. 13, 1940; L. C., born c1876; Daisy L., born Jan., 1881 and Julia M., born Apr., 1887, all in Lawrence Co.

Henry Clay married c1895 to Martha Jane "Jennie" Gray, a daughter of Matthew A. and Martha Pettus Gray.  She was born in AL in May, 1875 and died on Mar. 30, 1946 in Moulton.  Both are buried in Moulton and probably at the Montgomery Cemetery.  Their children were: Alpha M., born May, 1898; Wilbur Lawrence, born c1903; Daisy, born c1907; Charlie Clay, born c1909 and Sanders H., born Jul. 26, 1913.  All were born in Lawrence Co.

Wilbur Lawrence married Nancy Myrtle Jackson, a daughter of Robert E. and Mary E. Ezell Jackson.  She was born in AL in 1902 and died Dec. 2, 1948 in Moulton.  Wilbur died May 10, 1960 in Moulton.

Sanders married Velma Gobbe [sic], and died Sep. 10, 1939 in Moulton.

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Sources:

*County Marriage Records, Lawrence Co. Marriage Book F, Page 24.

**1900 IT, Chickasaw Nation, TS6-7 S. R1-2 W, ED 177, Sheet 22A, dwelling 334, family 341, Montgomery, D. T., head, white male, born Aug., 1846, age 53, married 29 yrs., born AL, parents born AL, farmer; Mary L., wife, white female, born Jan., 1853, age 47, married 29 yrs., mother of 7, 5 living, born GA, parents born GA; Daniel J., son, white male, bor Jun., 1881, age 19, single, born AL, farm laborer; John C., son, white male, born Jul, 1891, age 8, born AL

***Gertrude Benning, daughter of John K. & Mattie Melissa Clark Benning.  Index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NMB8-WP5

Indexes of Vital Records for Alabama: Deaths, 1908-1959. Montgomery, AL: State of Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Record Services Division, 19--

United States Federal Census. Original data: United States Federal Census for years cited. 

Find-A-Grave

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!