William and Moses Coffey Mystery Families

I have two children in the Edward Coffey Project named Welby Coffey, both born in 1890 in Lincoln Co., KY, and died there in 1891.  Unfortunately, I have no source for either one.

My project shows one belonging to The Moses and Margaret Catherine Goode Coffey family as their 10th child.  The second Welby is shown as the son of William A. and Mary Belle A. Batt Coffey as their fifth child, also born in Lincoln Co., also no source except for a Find-A-Grave memorial.

Obviously, there is an error in family assignment but, given there are no census records for 1890 it's been confusing for me to assign him, and a couple of others to the correct family.

This is what I believe might be the family of William and Mary Belle:

*Christopher "Crit" Coffey, 1880-1890; Mary S., 1887-1888; Eugene, 1888-1888; Satila, 1889-1889; Welby, 1890-1891 and Salley, 1893-1893.  If correct, the tragedy of this family is overwhelming.  However, Mary died Aug 31, 1889 (obituary available) so she cannot be the mother of Salley or Welby and might have died at the birth of Satilla who died in July 1889.

When Mary died in 1889, William remarried, this time to a widow (perhaps), Eliza M. Rhoton.  They were parents of Arthur, 1893-1988 and William, Jr., 1896-?

I have the family of Moses and Mary Catherine recorded as:

**Martha (Mattie) Amanda, 1866-c1910; Mary Jane (Jennie), 1868-1937; Elizabeth (Betty), 1871-1921; George "Buck" Anderson, 1873-1952; Susan Angeline, 1875-?; Bertha Page, 1879-1945; Lucy Jasper, 1881-1967; James Terry, 1884-1958; Chloe Satilla, 1889-1889; Welby, 1890-1891; Archie Laura, 1891-1972; and Sally Florence, 1893-1893.

This family was equally tragic with the loss of at least two of their children; three if Welby is included.

I'm searching for a few clues that will help identify the proper family for Welby and Satilla as well as an accurate listing of his siblings in either family.  

As a discerning reader you will undoubtedly recognize the confusion. Hopefully, I have sufficiently outlined here pertinent info that might be helpful to you.

Any help will be appreciated!

*Christopher appears in the 1880 family census; In 1900, four children are enumerated: Carrie, born 1882, age 17 and Chester (Christopher?), born 1885, age 15 and may be Eliza Rhotan's children by a previous marriage. Also listed are Arthur and Willie, sons of William and Eliza's union. In 1910, only Arthur, age 16 and William, age 14 are enumerated.

**The first two appear in the 1870 Moses family census. The first five appear in the 1880 family census record. Also, two females, one in each family, named Satila, born 1888, died c1888-89. James T., age 15 and Archie, age 8 appear in the 1900 census.

William Stanley Coffey

William Stanley Coffey, a son of Salathial "Sail" Coffey and wife Nancy Dunbar, is thought to be a descendant of the mythical Chesley and said wife Jane Cleveland.  William was born in Russell Co., KY on Jul. 9, 1842 and died in McKinney, Collin Co., TX on Jun. 23, 1922.

William and Sarah Elizabeth Lucas were married on Feb. 27, 1866 in Collin Co., TX where most, if not all of their 10 children were born.  Sarah was the daughter of Peter and Mary E. Lucas.

Their children were:

+ Dr. John Cicero Coffey, born Jan. 6, 1867, died Apr. , 1954 in Wichita Co., TX.  His death was caused by chronic myocarditis at the Wichita Falls State Hospital.  I have not found his burial site.  He married Gabriella "Ella" Coffey in Grayson Co., TX on Oct. 28, 1895.  Gabriella was the daughter of Matthew Slaughter Coffey and his wife Virginia Texana "Jennie" Butridge.  Matthew and William Stanley were very distant cousins.  Matthew is a known descendant of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.  Dr. Coffey and Ella were parents of one know child, a daughter named Ruth, born Aug. 5, 1897, died Jan., 1984 in Amarillo.  Ruth married Roy Raymond Hunter in Texas c1929.  He was born Apr. 11, 1894 in that state and died in Amarillo on Aug. 4, 1975.  Their children were Virginia, John C., Mary L. and Roy Raymond, Jr.

+ Robert Henry Coffey, born Oct. 8, 1868, died Apr. 13, 1950 in Collin Co., and was buried at Fitzhugh Cemetery in Forest Grove, Collin Co.  His wife was Minnie Mabel Biddy, a daughter of George and Edna McDonald Biddy.  She was born in TN on Jul. 2, 1873 and died in McKinney on Feb. 20, 1968.  They were married in McKinney on Dec. 18, 1892.  Their children were Clarence Milton, 1893-1949; Tressie A., 1896-1975; Hallie Elizabeth, 1899-1993; and Edgar Biddy, 1901-1967.  Minnie was buried at Fitzhugh along with Clarence and Tressie.  Hallie's burial site is yet unknown to me.  Edgar rests at Forest Grove.

+  Mary Frances "Molly" Coffey, 1869-?, married Samuel Lloyd Renfrow on Apr. 13, 1887 in Collin Co.  He was born c1876 in that county and died there on Apr. 3, 1907.  His "Report of Death" does not name his burial site.  Their children were Ethert Alford, 1887-1948; William Lloyd, 1890-?; Alberta, no dates; Edgar, 1891-?.

+ Denie Elzada Coffey, 1871-1948.  Her first husband was General Jackson Moss, no dates.  They were likely married in Collin Co. c1885±.  I know of at least two children: Sarah Leona Moss, 1889-1959 and Orlia Jackson Moss, 1891-1975.  Orlia married Ermyne Mitchell (1895-1974).  both are buried at Cottage Hill Cemetery at Celina, Collin Co.  Denie's second husband was William Dillon Goode, born 1866 in Roanoke, VA.  He died in Plano, TX in 1916; Denie at Wylie, Collin Co., in 1948.  I know of two children for them:  Clarice, born c1909 and Virginia, born c1910, both in TX.

+ Missouri B. Coffey, born 1873, died and was buried at Forest Grove.  Nothing else is know.

+ Laura Ellen Coffey, 1875-1966.  Laura married William John Ledbetter, born in TN in 1866, c1896.  He died at Paducah, Cottle Co., TX in 1932 and was buried there in the Garden of Memories Cemetery.  Laura Ellen also died in Paducah and was also buried in the Garden of Memories.  Their children were Horace Chilton, 1897-1971; Aaron, 1898-?; Roy Robert, 1902-?; Nila Erona, 1905-?; Ruth Ellen, 1909-? and Mary Elizabeth, 1911-?

+ Salathiel "Sales" Coffey, 1896-1944.  He married Eva Phylena Conner on Dec. 19, 1900 in Collin Co.  She was born in 1881 at Sulphur Springs in Hopkins Co., TX and died Dec. 21, 1945 in Amarillo.  Both are buried at Llano Cemetery in Amarillo.  Their children were Elmer, 1901-1906; Leona Meda, 1905-?; Laura Ella, 1908, married Arlie Colley Swint c1926.  He was born in TX in 1907 and died in Wichita Falls in 1980 and was buried at Rosemont Cemetery in Wichita Falls.  Laura's death date and place of burial is unknown to me.  Following Laura was Frances Lorene, 1915-?; Willis L., 1917-? and Amos B., 1920-1926.  He is also buried at Llano.

+ Alwilda Davis Coffey, born 1878, died 1968 in McKinney.  She married Silas Earl Walker on Dec. 5, 1899.  He was born in 1875 and died in 1926.  Both are buried at Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney.  Their children were Jessie Lois, 1901-?; Silas, Jr., 1905-? and Vernon Coffey, 1908-?.

+ Charles Milton Coffey, 1880 to 1918.  He is thought to have died unmarried and buried at Fitzhugh Cemetery.

+ Homer Lucas Coffey, born 1882, died 1958 at McKinney.  He married Lela Mae Holder in 1902.  She was born in TX in 1884 and died in McKinney in 1930.  In 1940 Homer married Mrs. Lizzie E. Short.  I have no other information on Lizzie.  There was at least one child born to Homer and Lela, a daughter named Sarah Elizabeth in 1906.  No other information.

Please e-mail additions and/or corrections to me at the address provided on the right.

Ernest Arnold & Lucy Jasper Coffey Reichenbach

Ernest Arnold Reichenbach was born to Johan Samuel and Elizabeth Kubli Reichenbach on Jan. 19, 1879 in  Switzerland.  I have not yet found where he entered the US.  Lucy Jasper Coffey was a daughter of Moses and Margaret Catherine "Kate" Goode Coffey, born Oct. 11, 1881 in Lincoln Co., KY.

Lucy first married Walter Terry Mobley in Lincoln Co. on Jun. 15, 1899 [1].  They were the parents of two sons, Coy Brooks, born c1901 and, Walter Terry, Jr., born c1903.  Walter, Sr. apparently died because on Aug. 30, 1904 she married Ernest in Lincoln Co.

The family left KY sometime between 1907 and 1909.  Ernest, Jr. was born c1906 and Margaret Katherine was born in 1907, both in KY.  Their next child was Bessie, born c1909 in IN.  Louise, was also born in IN c1911.  By Jan of 1924 the family was in Sumatra, Rosebud Co., MT where they remained at least through 1930.  In 1940  Lucy and Ernest were living in Benton Co., WA.

Ernest died in 1965 in Medford.  Lucy died in San Diego, CA on Dec. 31, 1967 [2].  I have not yet found either of their burial sites.

Their children, including those named above were:

Ernest Arnold, Jr., born c1906; Margaret Katherine, born Apr. 24, 1907 in Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY; Bessie, born c1909 in Indiana; Louise, born c1911 in IN, Robert, born Jan. 27, 1914 in Sumatra, died May 31, 1932 in Sumatra, Julia, born 1917, married twice.  First was to Eldon Callaway, born c1911 in MT, died before 1940.  At least one child born to that union, a daughter named Roberta Adele Calaway on Sep. 23, 1936 in Los Angeles Co., CA.  Julia's second husband is said to have been Robert Mason Buslach, but I have no further information on him.  Following Julia was Millie, born Jan. 1919 in Sumatra and, Joseph W., born Oct. 19, 1921 in Sumatra, died Sep. 19, 1995[2] in San Diego Co., CA.  He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego.

Robert's obituary:

Obituary, The Billings Gazette, Sat., Jun. 11, 1932

Body Being Brought Here For Services

The body of Robert Reichenbach, 17-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Reichenbach, Sr., who died at Sumatra last Tuesday, is being brought to Billings, Friday evening.  The boy, who was born at Sumatra, July 27, 1914, died in a diabetic coma.

He is survived by his parents, two half-brothers, Coy Mobely of Billings and Walter Mobely of Beech Grove, Ind., two brothers, Ernest Reichenbach, Jr., of Billings and Joe Reichenbach of Sumatra, and by five sisters, Mrs. A. C. Taylor of Miles City, Mrs. John Ward of Meeteetse, Wyo., Mrs. Owen Witt of Kenewick, Wash. and Julia and Jane Reichenbach of Sumatra.

Services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock in Smith's chapel.  Interment will be in Mountview [sic] cemetery.


Additions and corrections welcomed!

     Jack

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[1]Dodd, Jordan, comp. Kentucky Marriages, 1851-1900: Name: TERRY MOBERLY [sic] Spouse: LUCY COFFEY Marriage Date: 15 Jun 1899 County: Lincoln State: KY

[2] California Death Index, 1940-1997

John Nathan & Emma Mariah McGowan Coffey

John was born in Texas on Apr. 21, 1847 to William Saunders and Elizabeth Schooler Coffey.  His parents moved from Kentucky to Texas before 1850 and settled in Lavaca Co., where John was likely born.  He was there on Feb. 15, 1872 when he married Emma Mariah McGowan, born Jan. 12, 1849 in MS.  John died Sep. 13, 1919 and Emma died on Nov. 17, 1933, both in Brown Co., TX and are buried in the Zephyr Cemetery.

John and Emma were parents of at least nine children.  At least five of those grew to adulthood.

Elizabeth J., born c1873, Lavaca Co., no further information.
William Sanders [sic], born Jul. 16, 1874, died Aug. 16, 1877 in Lavaca Co.
Lucinda Collins, born Dec. 10, 1875, died Aug. 6, 1877 in Lavaca Co.
Cecil Isadora, born Sep. 4, 1877 in Schulenburg, Fayette Co., TX; died Apr. 11, 1959 at Goldthwaite in Mills Co., TX.
Martha T. "Mattie", born Feb. 9, 1879 in Schulenburg, died Jun. 25, 1949 in Brownwood, Brown Co.
Zula P., born Apr. 1, 1885 in Brown Co., died May 4, 1973 in Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX.
John Narvin, born Sep. 8, 1886 in Brown Co., died Dec. 8, 1918 in Zephyr, Brown Co.
Zachriah Brooks, born Jan. 1, 1889 in Brown Co., died Mar. 29, 1967 in Brownwood.
Jesse L., born Jul. 11, 1892 in Brown Co., no further information.

Cecil Isadora was the first that I know to have married.  Her spouse was Andrew Franklin Shelton, born Jan. 16, 1871 in Jackson Co., NC, died Feb. 12, 1972 in Goldthwaite, Mills Co., TX.  Both are buried at Oak View Cemetery in Mullin, Mills Co., TX.

Their children were Arthur F., born c1896; Emma Rue, born Jun. 15, 1900 in Mullin, died Aug. 11, 1957 in Bluff Dale, Erath Co., TX.  Emma married a Mr. Hancock and died in an automobile/train accident in which she suffered a severe head injury.  She was returned to Mullin and was also buried there; John Nathan, born c1902; Vada Elizabeth, born Oct. 12, 1906, died Feb. 18, 1933 in Brownwood, Brown Co., TX.  She was buried at Mullin also; William Dewey, born c1908; Homer W., born c1911; and Minnie R., born c1916.

Martha "Mattie," was married c1905 to Cecil McCutchan, born Oct., 1879 in Brown Co.  He was a son of John B. and Emma Goode McCutchan, Missouri natives who moved to TX, probably before the turn of the 20th century.  John died in 1907, Brown Co., and Emma died in 1936 at Abilene in Taylor Co., TX.  Both are buried at Zephyr in Brown Co.

Cecil and Mattie are not known to have had any children.  They were childless in the 1920 census and Cecil died on Sep. 22, 1919.  In 1920 Mattie was enumerated with an "orphan" child, Milford Tenyson, age 14.  She died in 1949 in Brownwood and was buried with Cecil at Zephyr.

Zula is named in the Texas death records as Zula K. McCown.  No other information.

John Narvin married Mollie Couch, a daughter of John Pleas and Maggie Brewer Couch.  John was born in TX and Maggie in TN.  Mollie was born on Mar. 16, 1888 in TX and died in Fort Worth on July 5, 1951.  She and John were parents of:

Effie Pearl, born Mar. 2, 1906 in Brown Co., and died in TX on May 6, 2001.  Effie married James Matthew "Jim" Jones on May 25, 1924 in Brownwood.  He was born in tX on Nov. 15, 1900 and died there on Mar. 27, 1967.  Their children were Jack R., born c1925 and Trelilita (sp?), a daughter, born c1926, both in TX.

John Pleas "Bud". born Jun. 1, 1908 in Brown Co., died Jan. 6, 1970 in Brownwood.  He married Ida Louise Hill on Dec. 7, 1930 in Brownwood.  No further information.

Annie Jessie, born Jul. 10, 1910 in Zephyr, died there of burns on Feb. 28, 1921.  She is also buried at Zephyr.

William Lynn, born Aug. 16, 1912 in Brown Co., died there on Dec. 2, 1989.  William married Sallie Venice Smith, a daughter of Thomas Greenberry and Sarah Jane Williams Smith.  She was born in Cottle Co., TX on Oct. 11, 1911 and died in Brown Co. on Mar. 8, 2004.  Both are buried at Zephyr.  Thomas and Sarah are buried at the Breckinridge cemetery in Stephens Co., TX.

Narvin Wayne, born Oct. 3, 1914 in Zephyr, became a Naval officer.  He married Bonifa A. Williams, a dauther of Russell B. and Lanie R. Williams, on Apr. 11, 1941 in El Paso Co., TX.  Narvin died on Sep. 17, 2005 in Graham, Young Co., TX.  Bonifa died there on Oct. 27, 1994.  I know of one child, Charles Noel, born Dec. 30, 1937 in El Paso Co.  There is an unexplained gap of four years between his birth and his parents marriage date.

Their last child was Lee C., born c1917 in Brown Co.  No further information.

Zachariah Brooks, born Jan. 1, 1889 in Brown Co. and died there on Mar. 29, 1967.  He married Kate Marie "Katie" Graves on Apr. 30, 1911.  Katie was born July 5, 1895 in Red River Co., TX and died in Zephyr on Oct. 5, 1984. Both are buried at Zephyr.

Their children were:

Cecil Franz, born Mar. 12, 1912 in Brown Co., died Feb. 27, 1997.  His spouse was Lee Frances Lunsford, born Oct. 5, 1923, died Dec. 16, 1948.  They too are buried at Zephyr.  Frances was a daughter of Marvin A. and Clara Mae Ramsey Lunsford.  No further information.

Allie, born c1915.  No further information.

Lowell W. "Toss", born Nov. 21, 1918 in Brown Co., died there on Sep. 6, 2002.  He is also buried at Zephyr.

The last known child of John and Emma was a daughter, Jessie L., born Jul., 1892.  No further information.

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Update Jul. 23, 2011:

The McGowan surname seems to have evolved to McCown.  I have seen some death records where it was spelled McCowan but, for the most part, the family appears to have been a bit more consistent with the McCown spelling.

Emma Mariah McCown was a daughter of James P. and Lucinda Isaacs McCown. Her sibling, Zachary Taylor McCown married Sarah Texanna Perkins c1869 in TX and, their son, Ivan Lynn McCown was the husband of Zula Coffey, mentioned above.  Zula was born Apr. 1, 1885 in Brown Co., TX and married Ivan c1902 in TX.  He died Jun. 9, 1940 in Zephyr, Brown Co., TX and is buried at Zephyr Cemetery with Zula.

Salathiel (Sail or Sale) Coffey (1812KY - 1892TX)

Back on Feb. 6, 2006 I wrote a short blog on Salathiel. It was mostly information - a copy, really - about him from the Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas, Illustrated. Since that time, I have compiled much more information for his family than I have time to include here. Needless to say, Ill share the info with anyone who needs it.

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Salathiel was born Apr. 20, 1812 in Logan Co., KY and died on May 29, 1892 in Collin Co., TX.  He was buried at Forest Grove cemetery in Collin Co. His first wife was Nancy Dunbar of Russell Co., KY, born c1809, died May 29, 1892 in Collin Co.  I am not sure where Nancy is buried, but most likely she is also in Forest Grove.

[My understanding is the Forest Grove and Fitzhugh cemeteries are considered one cemetery now?  Anyone know for sure?]

With wife Nancy, Sail/Sale Coffey fathered at least seven children:

First - Lettitia, born Oct. 15, 1838 in Wayne Co., KY.  She married Thomas Jefferson Reagan who was born c1838 in Missouri.  Both Lettitia and Thomas died before August., 1869. To them were born three children:  Lettitia Ellen, born c1858, George Washington, born c1859 and Mary Catherine, dob unknown.  Lettitia and Mary were mentioned in a petition brought before the August 1869 term of a court in Collin Co., TX wherein "Sayles Coffey" sought to and become guardian of "Lentittia and Mary Catherine Regan", both "orphans and minors under the age of 14 years and living in Collin County..."  The two girls were found living with Martin Watson, relationship yet unknown, in McKinney, Collin Co., in the 1870 census.

Second - Mary Ann "Polly Ann", born Jun. 22, 1840, died Jan. 7, 1918 in McKinney.  Polly married Elder John Meyers McKinney, born Apr. 14, 1832 in MO, died Jan 1, 1918 in McKinney.  Both are buried in Forest Grove/Fitzhugh.  Their children were 1)J. D., born Oct. 5, 1859, died Aug. 8, 1925 in McKinney.  He is buried at Pecan Grove cemetery in McKinney; 2)Giles Lee, born Aug. 25, 1866, died Jun. 1, 1959 in McKinney.  Giles married Mary Mathews, born Jun., 1866 in Wood Co., TX.  Their children were Ettie, born 184; Cecil, born 1893 and Eustace, born 1898.  3)John S., born 1868, died 1954; and 4) Wiley Benton, born 1870, died 1954.  Wiley married Lula A. Klepper c1900 in McKinney and fathered Collin, born 1902, died 1918 and Juanita, born c1904.

Third - William Stanley, born 1842 in Russell Co., KY, died 1922 in McKinney.  He married Sarah Elisabeth Lucas on Feb. 27, 1866 in McKinney.  She was born Aug. 27, 1847 in TX and died Mar. 7, 1892.  They too are buried at Forest Grove/Fitzhugh.  William and Sarah had at least 10 children:

1 - Dr. John Cicero, born Jan. 6, 1867 in McKinney, died Apr. 7, 1954 in Wichita Co., TX.  Dr. John married Gabriella "Ella" Coffey, a daughter of Matthew Slaughter and Virginia Texana Butridge Coffey.  These two Coffey families were not related.  John descended from Edward while Matthew Slaughter descended from Peter.*  John and Ella had only one child, Ruth, born Aug. 5, 1897, married Roy Raymond Hunter of TX c1929.  They had a child, Virginia, born c1930 in Knox Co., TX.  Sarah Lucas Coffey is buried at Fitzhugh.  William's burial place has not been located but, he too is likely at Fitzhugh.

2 - Robert Henry, born Oct., 1868 in Collin Co. and died Apr. 13, 1950.  He married Minnie Mabel Biddy on Dec. 18, 1892 in McKinney.  She was born Sep., 1874 in TN and died Feb. 20, 1968 in Collin Co.  Robert is at Fitzhugh where Minnie is also likely to have been buried.  Their children were:  1) Clarence Milton, born Nov. 5, 1893, died Feb. 26, 1949 in Wylie, Collin Co.  He married Ola Ellen Leake on Aug. 3, 1913 in Collin Co.  She was born there on Nov. 24, 1893.  Clarence is buried at Forest Grove; Ora's death date and burial place is not yet known.  They are known to have had at least two children: Marcella Ann, born 1915 and Alma Christine, born 1919, both in Collin Co. 2) Tressie Alma, born Oct., 1896, died May 27, 1995 in Collin Co.  She married Virgil Robert Osborn Oct. 9, 1912.  His birth date is not yet known; he died May 29, 1997 in Collin Co.  They had at least two children:  Willis, born c1914 and Vernon, born c1916. 3) Hallie Elizabeth, born May, 1899, died Jun. 3, 1993 in Collin Co.  She married Roy Lee Biggs on Jan. 18, 1920 in Collin Co.  Their children were Elizabeth and Billie Jean.  4) Edgar Biddy, born Aug. 1901, died Jul. 31, 1967 in Collin Co.  His wife was Lucille.

3 - Mary Frances "Molly," born Dec. 16, 1869, died Jan. 2, 1892.  She married Samuel Lloyd Renfrow on Apr. 13, 1887 in Collin Co.  He was born there c1876 and died in McKinney on Apr. 3, 1907.  Their children were: Ethert Alford, born 1887; William Lloyd, born 1890; Alberta; and Edgar, born 1891.

4 - Denie Elzada, born Nov. 17, 1871 in Lucas, Collin Co., died Jun. 14, 1948 in Wylie.  She married first to General Jackson "Jack" Moss.  His birth and death dates are not yet known.  Their children were Sarah Leona, born Jun. 27, 1889, died Nov. 11, 1959 in Wylie, and Orlia Jackson, born Nov. 27, 1891 in Lucas, died Mar. 20, 1975 in Lubbock.  Denie's second husband was William Dillon Goode with whom she had at least two more daughters, Clarice Lora, born 1908 and Virginia Belle, born 1910.

5 - Missouri B., born Aug. 14, 1873, died Mar. 7, 1875.

6 - Laura Ellen, born Mar. 7, 1875, died Feb. 12, 1966 in Paducah, Cottle Co., TX.  Laura married William Johnson Ledbetter c1896.  He was born Jul. 3, 1866 in TN, died Feb. 17, 1932 in Paducah.  Their children were: Horace, Aaron, Roy Robert; Nila Erona; Ruth Ellen; and Mary Elizabeth.

7 - Salathiel "Sales", born Dec. 13, 1876 in Collin Co., died Dec. 17, 2944 in Amarillo, Potter Co., TX.  Sales married Eva Phylena Conner, a daughter of Julius and Mary Hinman Conner on Dec. 19, 1900.  She was born Mar. 15, 1880 in Hopkins Co., TX and died Dec. 21, 1945 in Amarillo.  Their children were: Leona, born 1905; Laura Ella, born 1908; Frances Lorene, born 1915 and Willis, born 1917.  Laura married Arlie Collie Swint c1926 and had children: J. Ronald, born 1928 and Irma Glyn, born 1931.

8 - Alwilda Davis, born Jul. 31, 1878 in Collin Co., died in McKinney on Jan. 11, 1968.  She married Silas Earl Walker on Dec. 5, 1899.  He was born Sep. 6, 1875 to J. F. and Martha Williams Walker and died Apr. 3, 1926 in McKinney.  Their children were Jessie Lois, born 1901; Silas Earl, Jr., born 1905; and Vernon Coffey, born 1908.

9 - Charles Milton, born Aug. 18, 1880, died Oct. 6, 1918 in McKinney.

10 - Homer Lucas, born Aug. 14, 1882, died Feb. 11, 1958 in McKinney.  He married Lela Mae Holder, daughter of W. A. and Elizabeth Johnson Holder in Nov., 1902.  She was born Feb. 1884 in TX and died Feb. 15, 1939 in McKinney.  They had at least one child, Sarah Elizabeth, born Jul. 16, 1906.  Homer and Lela are buried at Johnson Cemetery in Collin Co.

More later!



*We know through DNA testing that Edward and Peter were some kin to one another but so far back in their ancestry that the kinship was extremely diluted.




No. 992

Wadsworth (Watt) Goode

Wadsworth ties into my Coffee family through Margaret, his daughter who married Lilburn Warren Coffee.

Wadsworth F. (Watt) Goode was born Jan. 1825 in Alabama. His parents were born in South Carolina. He married Nancy Emmeline Moore in Fayette Co., TX on Aug. 15, 1851. She was born in Mar. 1834 in Mississippi. Her parents were natives of North Carolina.

In 1860 Watt and Nancy were residing in Austin Co., TX where Watt gave his profession as "trader." They were already parents of five children:

- Josephine, born c1852
- Frances (Fannie), born c1854
- Margaret, born May, 7, 1855, died Mar. 16, 1946, married Lilburn Warren Coffee
- Unnamed male, born c1857. The 1860 census referred to him by the initial R. He apparently did not survive to the 1870 census.
- Madison, born c1859

Watt's application for pension shows that he enlisted on the Confedrate side at Yoakum, TX in Apr., 1864 with Capt. Clay Davis' company and was stationed at Rancho Davis, TX. He was discharged in Apr., 1865.

According to the Handbook of Texas Online, Rancho Davis was established on the Rio Grande in 1847 by Henry Clay Davis. After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican War in 1848, the area became part of Nueces Co. It is now part of Starr Co., and is known as Rio Grande City.

The family relocated to Travis Co. after the Civil War, and then to Hays Co. by 1880. By then, four additional children had been born into the family:

- H. Richard (Dick), born Aug., 1865
- Louisa, born c1866
- Jeremiah (Jerry), born c1868
- Joseph, born c1871

In 1870 Watt had given up trading because he was listed as retired from the grocery business, and worked as a farmer. The family once again relocated, this time to Yoakum in DeWitt Co., TX. Watt was 75 years old by then. Emmeline must have died in DeWitt Co., because she is missing in the 1910 census. By the time of that census Watt was a widower and was found living in the household with his widowed daughter, Frances Goode Wilson in DeWitt Co.

Watt died in 1914 in Lavaca Co., and was buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery at Yoakum. I presume that Emmeline was also buried there, but I have no first hand knowledge of that.

In addition to Margaret, I have found a few of Watt's other children:

Frances married Jason Antonio Wilson in about 1875. He was born in Jan., 1845 and died before the census in 1910. They had 12 children, 10 of which survived to become adults. They were: Frances, born c1879; Jason, Jr., born Oct. 1880; W. Sam, born Aug., 1882; H. Joseph, born Aug., 1884; Clyde, born Apr. 1887; William, born Mar. 1889; Nancy, born Nov., 1891; Thomas, born Jul., 1892; Rosa, born Aug., 1894; and Dixie, born Dec., 1896.

Jason Jr. is the only person that I have ever found in any record who gave his occupation as "cowboy." He listed that as his occupation when he registered for the WW1 draft in Hallettsville, Lavaca Co. on Sep. 5, 1918. by 1920 he was a "hired hand" on a ranch in Coconino Co., AZ.

Madison married but I have not yet found his wife's name. He was a widower in the household with his parents at the time of the 1900 census. With him were his children: Olga, born May., 1884; Nate or Wate, a daughter, born Apr. 1885; Nellie, born Aug., 1889; and Jeremiah (Jerry), born Jun., 1891.

Richard (Dick) married Julia c1894 in Texas and in the 1900 census was the father of Mamie, born Sep., 1895; Emma, born Sep., 1897; and a then unnamed daughter, born Mar., 1900.

I would like to hear from anyone researching the Watt Goode family and his ancestors. Please write to me at the above e-mail address.

Lilburn Warren Coffee

In a previous blog about Lilburn Warren Coffee, son of my 3G-grandfather Lilburn Coffee, I did not have any information about the family of his wife, Margaret Goode.

Repeating a bit of that earlier blog, Lilburn Warren was born Sep. 1, 1850 in Hempstead Co., AR and died in Big Spring, Howard Co., TX on Mar. 30, 1918. He married Margaret Goode on Oct. 26, 1876 in Hays Co., TX

Margaret was born May 7, 1855 in TX, and died Mar. 16, 1946 in Big Spring. She was the daughter of Wadsworth F. "Watt" Goode and Nancy Emeline Moose. "Watt" was born in Jan., 1825 in Alabama; Nancy was born Mar., 1834 in either Mississippi or North Carolina. She listed both places in various census records.

According to his Civil War Pension Application dated Aug. 2, 1899, and approved Dec. 22, 1899, "Watt" served in Capt. Clay Davis' Co. from Apr., 1864 to Apr. 1865 in Rancho Davis, TX.

[According to the Handbook of Texas Online Rancho Davis was a town "on the Rio Grande near the site of the former Carnestolendos Ranch." At the end of the Mexican War in 1848, it because part of Nueces Co. "Camp Ringgold, later Fort Ringgold, was established at Rancho Davis on Oct. 26, 1848, the year the county was organized and named for James Harper Starr, Rancho Davis was renamed Rio Grande City and made county seat."]

"Watt" married Nancy Emeline Moose on Aug. 15, 1851 in Fayette Co., TX. They are found later in the 1860 and 1870 census record in Austin Co.; 1880 in Hays Co., and finally in Yoakum, DeWitt Co. According to the Texas Death Index (1902-2000), "Watt" died in Lavaca Co. on Nov. 20, 1914. He was buried in Yoakum Co. in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

I have not found a death date for Nancy Emeline.

Please contact me at the e-mail address above with additions and/or corrections.

Abram Tyree and Lula Edna Coffee Hardy

Abram Tyree Hardy was born Jul. 17, 1870 in Columbus, Lowndes Co., MS to William W. and Sarah Frances Marshall Hardy. He married Lula Edna Coffee, daughter of Lilburn Warren and Margaret Goode Coffee on Jun. 7, 1899 in Colorado, Mitchell Co., TX. Lula was born Nov. 19, 1878 in Kyle, Hays Co., TX. Abram died Apr. 13, 1906 in Big Spring, Howard Co., TX and Lula died Feb. 16, 1945 in Big Spring. Both are buried in the Mount Olive Cemetery at Big Spring.

Abram and Lula had two children: Zou Margaret, born Apr. 28, 1900, died 1958, and William Tyree Hardy, born Jan. 26, 1903, died Sep. 13, 1985.

Zou Margaret married Robert M. Parks, son of James Robert and Rosa Ann Cardwell Parks Jun. 27, 1929. Robert was born Aug. 10, 1901 in Big Spring, and died there in 1957. At the time of his death Robert was only 55 yrs. old and a Conductor for the Texas and Pacific Railway. He was described as a "jovial man with a likeable personality..." Zou and Robert did not have children. Both are buried in the Trinity Memorial Park at Big Spring.

William Tyree married Alice Dawes on Jun. 2, 1932. Alice had been previously married in 1928 to a Mr. Tate Fry. There are no known children from that union. Together William and Alice had two children: Tyree Dawes, born Sep. 3, 1934, died Oct. 14, 1995, and Sarah Lu Hardy, born Jun. 11, 1943. Although both children married, neither of them produced children. William died Sep. 13, 1985 in Tom Green Co., TX, and Alice died Dec. 23, 1991 in Sonora, Sutton Co. Both are buried in Sonora.

Lula was my first cousin, twice removed. Her father and my great-grandfather James M. Coffee were brothers.

Corrections and additions can be sent to me here.

Lilburn Warren Coffee - An adventurer

Lilburn Warren Coffee was the youngest son of Lilburn C. and Sarah Hannah Taylor Coffee.

Lib, as he was known to his family, left his father's home in southwest Arkansas sometime before the census in October of 1870. He was born in Sep.1850, and was therefore around 18 or 19 years old when he left Hempstead Co.

He rambled around Texas for several years before landing in Hayes Co. In 1870 he worked for Ezekiel Nance as a farm laborer. In October 1876 he married Margaret Goode, a 21-year old Texas beauty, born May 7, 1855. The couple stayed in Hayes Co. until around 1880 when they moved to Big Spring in Howard Co., Texas. Their first child, a daughter Lula Edna, was born in Hayes County on Nov. 19, 1878. Nine more children, four boys and five girls followed, were all born in Howard Co. between 1880 and 1898. During his lifetime he ranched more than 150,000 acres, and raised cattle, horses and pack mules for the army.

The first child born in Big Spring was a boy, born Jul. 22, 1880, and died Aug. 24, 1880. The others were:

Walter Douglas, born Jul. 25, 1882, died Oct. 29, 1947
Jerry, born Mar. 17, 1884, died Jun. 4, 1959
Rubye, born March 11, 1886, died March 24, 1972
Margaret, born Mar. 20, 1888, died Apr. 25, 1983
Lilburn, Jr., born Oct. 18, 1892, died Nov. 3, 1948
Nellie, born Jun. 12, 1894, died Mar. 20, 1909
Lolis, born Jun. 7, 1896, died Jul. 29, 1985
Lillian Lee, born Jun. 19, 1898, died Dec. 15, 1985

My research has uncovered only one living male descendant of Lilburn Warren Coffee, and he is the grandson of Jerry whose marriage to Martha Elizabeth Olive in 1914 produced Jerry, Jr. Jerry, Jr. married first to Helen Lorayne Donnis which produced a son, Jerry Earl Coffee, born in 1947. Jerry Sr.'s only other son, Leslie James Coffee was killed in 1944 while flying for the US Army Air Force.

Walter Douglas married Sarah Ruth Moore in 1926. That union produced at least two sons, Robert Lee, born 1926, died 1930, and Walter Douglas, Jr., born 1927, died 1985. Although he was married at least once, I have been unable to confirm any children that he might have fathered.

There are no photographs of Lilburn Warren Coffee known to exist.