William Henry Harrison & Margaret A. Reid Coffey

William was a won of James Harvey and Anna Eliza Graham Coffey, born c1838 in Indiana.  He married Margaret A. Reid on 17 Feb. 1863 in Washington Co., IN.  I have not been successful in locating their death dates or burial sites.

They had at least seven children, all except the last, Clyde M., born c1877, were born in Washington Co.  Clyde was born in Labette Co., KS.

The children were: Maurice; Mary, Zella, Hanah, Eliza, James, and Clyde.

The only successful find for those was Zella W., born 10 Aug 1867 in Salem, Washington Co., IN and died 8 Nov 1941 in Miller Co., AR.  Zella married Alvah Horace Whitmarsh, born 22 Oct 1864 in Princeton, Bureau Co., IL, on 16 Nov 1891 in Labette Co.  Alvah died 11 Nov 1923 in Miller Co., AR.

Marguerite Holman Magee*

Alvah and Zella were parents of at least one child, a daughter named Mary Marguerite Whitmarsh.  She was born 14 Jul 1892 in Texarkana, Bowie Co., TX and died there on 20 Jul 1967.  She married John Cabell Ware Holman, a son of Henry Brown and Mary Stuart Holman, born 17 Aug 1891 in Washington, Hempstead Co., AR and died in Texarkana, Bowie Co. Both are buried at State Line Cemetery, in Texarkana, Miller Co.

I know of only one child born to this union; Marguerite Holeman, born 9 Mar 1922, died 13 Oct 2008.  She married Fleet Foxworth Magee in Texarkana, Miller Co. on 23 Jun 1945.  He was born 7 Dec 1916, died 25 Apr 1986, birth and death locations not know to me.  

My interest in the Coffey family is locating the death and burial dates/places for William Henry and Margaret A. Reid Coffey.  Please contact me if you have any ideas.

*Photo from contributor at FindAGrave, Memorial No. 76972494

Ellis Empsey Marshall Coffey

In this photo, L-R, is: Herman Herbert Coffey, born Apr. 3, 1902, died c1919; Ellis Empsey Coffey, and Josie Ella Coffey, children of Henry and Sarah Jane.

I have previously written about the parents of Ellis, Henry Kelly (Caleb) and Sarah Jane Gragg Coffey. Ellis was the seventh of 10 children of Henry and Sarah, and was born Sep. 18, 1895 in the Globe township of Caldwell Co., NC.

Ellis married Zora Alice Phillips (marriage date not found, but probably c1920). She was born Dec. 8, 1896 in Ashe Co., NC and died Dec. 24, 1928 in Watauga Co. Her death occurred just about eight months following the birth of Edna Faye, leaving Ellis alone with five children, all under seven years. Zora was buried at Brown's Chapel in Watauga Co.

Sometime shortly after Zora's death he married Hettie Taylor, born Mar. 7, 1907, died Jul. 29, 1972. She is also buried at Browns Chapel.

There were three known children born to this union: John Thomas, born Mar. 4, 1933; Dorothy Louise, born May 1, 1937; and Dan Graham, born Apr. 13, 1939.

The birth record for the first child gives Hettie's surname as Taylor. The records of the next two gives her name as Hettie Harrison. She may have been previously married.

I did find a birth record for a male child born to Hettie Taylor and Ellis Harrison in 1933. This is likely a name entry error because their son John Thomas, was born that year. The given name Ellis for Mr. Harrison is also a bit too coincidental.

Ellis died Apr. 7, 1965 in Watauga Co. His headstone reveals that he was a WW1 veteran and recipient of the Purple Heart medal.

Ellis and Zora were parents of at least five children:

Arthur Henry, born Feb. 8, 1921, died Jul. 16, 1993 in Jefferson Davis Parish, La. In 1930 he was still living with his parents in Watauga Co. I have no further information.

Herman Eugene, born Jun. 20, 1922 in Watauga Co., died Mar. 6, 1989 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC. He married Sally Kate Greer (marriage date not found, but probably late 1940s). Together they were the parents of at least three children: Sam Curtis Coffey, born Oct. 10, 1950; William Ellis Coffey, born Oct. 27, 1952; and Martha Jean Coffey, born Jul. 24, 1957, all in Watauga Co. Sally Kate was the daughter of Arnet and Hazel Snow Eggers Greer and was born Jul. 24, 1930 in Watauga Co.

Twins Ida Mae and Ella May, born Mar. 1, 1924. [Larry Williams, in an e-mail on Nov. 7, 2010, informed me that Ida and Ella were the same person: "Mama disliked Ila (or Ida) so much that when she was grown she listed her name as Ella."

Edna Faye, born Apr. 20, 1928. Edna married Quinton Jones Wheeler on Dec. 6, 1947 in Watauga Co. I have found only one child for them: Mary Adinia Wheeler, born Jul. 17, 1950 in Watauga Co.

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

Photos courtesy Mary Ann Sherfey Westerman

Nathan Coffey (1788 KY - 1834 IL)

Nathan or, perhaps, Nathaniel Coffey was a son of Joel and Martha Stepp [var] Coffey. He was born Jan. 10, 1788 in Kentucky, and married Sarah (Sally) Meredith on Nov. 11, 1806 in Adair Co., KY. Sarah was the daughter of David and Hannah Cook Meredith.

Twelve of their 13 children were born in KY, the last there in Feb., 1829. Their last was born in IL in Jan., 1831. These dates indicate that the family left Adair Co. in about 1830 for IL, and arrived there before Jan., 1831. Nathan died in Pike Co., IL on Sep. 19, 1834. Sarah died there on Dec. 26, 1853.

Their children were:

Martha Bagby, born Jan. 8, 1808, and married Charles M. Benbook in Eadsville, Wayne Co., KY on Mar. 18, 1826.

Woodson Rickets, born Oct. 1, 1809.

Elizabeth Graham, born Apr. 27, 1811.

Meredith Washington, born Mar. 3, 1813, married Eliza Hutchinson on Jul. 24, 1836 in Pike Co., IL. They appeared in the 1840 census in Pike Co.

Joel Woodson, born Mar. 5, 1815.

Daniel Franklin, born Apr. 18, 1817, died Sep. 22, 1867. He married Elizabeth Conner, born c1820 in KY, on Aug. 6,1842 in Pike Co., IL. Daniel died Sep. 22, 1867 in Griggsville, Pike Co., IL. Their children were: Sarah E., born c1843; Nathan F., born c1845; J. Hardin, born c1847; Tabitha (Delitha?) M., born c1849; Daniel Franklin, Jr., born c1851, married Nancy M. [LNU] c1876 in IL. their children were Russell J., born c1877 and Burton B., born Feb. 1880. Burton B., born c1853; Thomas M., born Apr. 2, 1855, married Lillian May Hathaway on Jul, 5, 1883 in Pike Co., IL; Lillian was born c1862 in Griggsville, Pike Co.; Mary J., born c1857; Grace L., born c1861, died May 19, 1914 in Kaw, Jackson Co., MO. The family appears in the 1850 and 1860 in Griggsville, Pike Co. census.

Hannah Jane, born Mar. 19, 1819, married William Wells Apr. 12, 1835 in Pike Co. William was born c1815 in KY and apparently died before 1860. He was not present for the census that year. However, two of the children born to Hannah Jane were born after 1860, making it possible that William was away at war, returned before 1863 and died before the 1870 census. Their children were Haster M., born c1837; William, born c1843; John, born c1845; Hardin, born c1849; Jane, born c1851; Frances, born c1854; George, born c1863, and Nelly, born c1865. William is with the family in the 1850 Griggsville, Pike Co. census, but was absent in 1860 and 1870.

Kizia Catherine, born Jan. 9, 1821, married Archibald Campbell Mar. 9, 1840 in Pike Co. Archibald was born c1817 in KY. Their known children were as son, J. W., born c1843 and E. E., a daughter, born c1846. She and Archibald were in the 1850 Pike Co. census.

Thomas Chelton, born Dec. 18, 1822, married Rebecca J. Daigh, Jun. 11, 1848 in Pike Co. Rebecca was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Daigh. Thomas later married Helen L. Brower. They were in the 1850 Pike Co. census in the household with Rebecca's parents.

Eliza Emeline, born Mar. 10, 1825 in Simpson Co., KY, died Dec. 9, 1901 in Pike Co., IL. She married John Porter Nov. 28, 1850 in Pike Co. He died May 27, 1895 in Pike Co., and Eliza died there on Dec. 9, 1901. Their known children were: Emma, born Jan. 8, 1852; Sarah, born Oct. 6, 1856; Jane, born c1858; and John D., born Sep. 23, 1860. They appeared in the 1860 through 1880 Newburg Twp., Pike Co., IL census.

James Cleveland, born May 31, 1827.

Sarah Ann, born Feb. 4, 1829, married Charles Tomlinson Nov. 14, 1863 in Pike Co. Charles was born c1831 in New Jersey. They appeared in the 1870 Macon Co., MO census and in 1880 in Warrensburg, Johnson Co., MO. They had no known children.

Corrections and/or additions can be sent to me at the e-mail address below.

Sophia Suttenfield Porter (1815-1897)

Sophia Porter, North Texas pioneer, was born on December 3, 1815, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the second child of William and Laura (Taylor) Suttenfield (or Suttonfield). Little is known of her childhood, but many stories exist about her adult life and her four marriages. In 1833 she married Jesse Augustine Aughinbaugh (or Auginbaugh), a druggist and teacher. In 1835 the couple arrived in Nacogdoches, where she said Aughinbaugh deserted her. As a participant in the Runaway Scrape, Sophia claimed to have arrived at the battle of San Jacinto and to have nursed Sam Houston there. Holland Coffee, a member of the House of Representatives and an Indian trader, successfully lobbied the Texas Congress to pass a bill granting Sophia Aughinbaugh a divorce from her missing husband, and on January 19, 1839, she and Coffee were married at Independence in Washington County. From there the couple traveled over 600 miles to Coffee's Station on the Red River in Grayson County. There they developed Glen Eden Plantation and the town of Preston until Coffee was killed in 1846. In December 1847 Sophia married Maj. George N. Butt (or Butts), who helped her run Glen Eden until he was killed in 1863. Butt reportedly was ambushed by a member of William C. Quantrill's gang. The sobriquet "Confederate Paul Revere" was given Sophia during the Civil War, when she is said to have ridden her mount across the Red River to warn Col. James G. Bourland and his men that Union troops were at her plantation. The story continues that Mrs. Butt supplied the enemy with enough wine that they remained unaware of her departure. One account claims she locked the inebriated men in her wine cellar while she rode off. Other variants say either that Bourland escaped the Unionists or that he came to Glen Eden and captured them. On August 2, 1865, Sophia Butt married Judge James Porter, and they lived together at Glen Eden until his death in 1886. Sophia joined the Methodist church in Sherman in 1869. She had no children, but she raised two of Holland Coffee's nieces. She died on August 27, 1897, and was buried near Glen Eden. When the area was to be inundated to form Lake Texoma, her home was dismantled with the intention that it be reassembled as a museum of Grayson County history, but the wood was mistakenly burned.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Holland Coffee Papers, Sherman Public Library, Sherman, Texas. Mary Daggett Lake, "Glen Eden, Red River Valley Landmark," Southern Home and Garden, March 1936. Graham Landrum and Allen Smith, Grayson County (Fort Worth, 1960; 2d ed., Fort Worth: Historical Publishers, 1967). Sherrie McLeRoy, Mistress of Glen Eden: The Life and Times of Texas Pioneer Sophia Porter (Sherman, Texas: White Stone, 1990). Audy J. and Glenna P. Middlebrooks, "Holland Coffee of Red River," Southwestern Historical Quarterly 69 (October 1965). Glenna Parker Middlebrooks, "Sophia Coffee, History's Firefly," True West, October 1973. Sophia Porter Papers, Sherman Public Library, Sherman, Texas.

Holland Coffey (1807-1846)

Holland Coffee, Red River trader, the son of Ambrose and Mildred (Moore) Coffee, was born on August 15, 1807, probably in Kentucky. He was orphaned at age eleven and grew up in McMinnville, Tennessee, with an uncle, Jesse Coffee. In 1829 he arrived in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with Silas Cheek Colville, James Mayberry Randolph, and several others. There he established Coffee, Colville, and Company. He supplied local settlers, Indians, and trapping expeditions, and made contact with Sam Houston, who was living at the time among the removed Cherokees. In 1833 Coffee conducted a trapping expedition to the upper Red River. Afterward, he established a trading post at the old Pawnee village, probably the old north-bank village of the Taovayas near the site of present Petersburg, Oklahoma. He was a major link in completing the Camp Holmes treaty of August 24, 1835, the first treaty to authorize the relocation of eastern Indians to lands west of the Mississippi.

Coffee moved west to the mouth of Cache Creek, near Taylor, Oklahoma, in early 1836. He was respected by the Indians, became knowledgeable in Indian languages and customs, and ransomed many Indian captives. In April 1837 he was on Walnut Bayou, near Burneyville, Oklahoma, and by September he had moved across the river to Washita (Preston) Bend. Coffee was accused of aiding Indian depredations through trade-specifically by giving the Indians guns and whiskey in exchange for stolen cattle and horses-and was investigated by the Texas Congress. In the winter of 1837 he visited Houston, where he made satisfactory explanations to the government. On November 16, 1837, President Houston appointed him Indian agent, and on September 2, 1838, Coffee enacted a treaty between the Republic of Texas and the Kichai, Tawakoni, Waco, and Tawehash Indians at the Shawnee village, near the site of modern Denison. Coffee was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from Fannin County for the 1838-39 session. He married Sophia Suttenfield Aughinbaugh (see PORTER, SOPHIA) on January 19, 1839. Thereafter, he dissolved his partnership with Colville and turned to the development of Glen Eden Plantation in Grayson County. He furnished supplies for the Military Road expedition of William G. Cooke in the winter of 1840-41 and participated in framing the Texas Indian treaty of August 24, 1842. He developed the town of Preston near his trading post in 1845 and provided the supplies given to the Indians in the Comanche treaty of 1846.

On October 1, 1846, Coffee became offended over a remark about his wife and attacked Charles Ashton Galloway, a trader from Fort Washita, who stabbed him to death. Coffee had no children. He was entombed in a brick aboveground crypt at Glen Eden; his grave was removed to Preston Cemetery at the time of the impounding of Lake Texoma.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY: Grant Foreman, Pioneer Days in the Early Southwest (Cleveland: Clark, 1926). Graham Landrum and Allen Smith, Grayson County (Fort Worth, 1960; 2d ed., Fort Worth: Historical Publishers, 1967). Audy J. and Glenna P. Middlebrooks, Holland Coffee of Red River, Southwestern Historical Quarterly 69 (October 1965)

James Harvey Coffey [Update 8-22-07]

Born Aug. 6, 1806 in Wayne Co., KY, James Harvey Coffey was a son of John Waid and Mary (Polly) Harbert (var.) Coffey. John, born c1788 in (probably) Amherst Co., VA, was a son of Archelus (var.) and Eleanor Wade Coffey. Polly Harbert was born Oct.30, 1781 and died Apr. 19, 1853 in Bloomington, McLean Co., IL. She was a daughter of John and Mary Harbert. Polly and John married Dec. 29, 1801 in Wayne Co., KY.

Archelus' daughter Jane, born Jun.. 22, 1782 in Wilkes Co., NC, died Oct. 2, 1862 in McLean Co., IL, married William Harbert on Jan. 28, 1802 in Wayne Co., KY. William was the brother of of Polly.

James Harvey was the second of the nine known children of John and Polly. He married Anna Eliza Graham on Nov. 14, 1834 in Jackson Co., IN. They were married Nov. 14, 1834 in Jackson Co. James died Feb. 13, 1855 in Washington Co., IN.

Known children of James and Anna were:

Celestin E., a daughter, born c1836 in Indiana [Celestin may be a daughter-in-law. She was not with the family in 1860. I have not found the family in 1850 which would confirm her status]

William H. H., born c1838 in Indiana [William Henry]

John Waid, born Jan. 13, 1841 in Washington Co., died Apr. 15, 1922 in Daviess Co., IN. John married Elizabeth Matilda (Eliza) Persinger on Oct. 26, 1869. She was born Nov. 7, 1842 and died Jan. 18, 1939 in Daviess Co. Their children were George Henry, born about Mar. 1870; James Harvey, born c1872; William Waid, born Oct. 11, 1873; Anna Eliza, born Sep. 6, 1876, died Mar. 21, 1942; Mary Elizabeth, born Jul., 1880, and Minard Ernest, born Feb. 11, 1883.

Almira Eliza, born c1843, married Lewis Warwick Jul. 25, 1869 in Washington Co., IN. In 1870 they were in the Jefferson Twp., Washington Co., IN census.

Mary Ann, born c1846

James Harvey, Jr., born Jun., 1848, died 1904, married Diantha E. Boling, born Apr. 1860 in Indiana, on Dec. 8, 1883 in Washington Co., IN. Their children were Cora M., born Jul. 1884; Harry L., born Apr., 1888; Lola B., born Jan., 1893; Lilly D., born Mar., 1899; Talmage I., born Jan. 4, 1903, died Nov. 13, 1978; and Myra E., born c1903. After Junior died in 1904, Diantha married William Partlow on Nov. 7, 1907 in Washington Co. In the May 6, 1910 census she was enumerated as divorced. She remained in Washington Co. through the 1930 census, and died c1942.

Addie Caroline, born Aug., 1851 in Indiana, married Theodore William Crow on Mar. 16, 1886 in Washington Co. Theodore was born Sep., 1854 in IN. Their children were Minnie, born Oct., 1887, and William F., born Sep., 1890. Addie is thought to have been married prior to Theodore but,he has not yet been identified.

Please send additions and/or corrections to me at the e-mail address below.

Elizabeth Angeline Coffey

Elizabeth was the youngest daughter of Joel and Sarah Mackey Coffey. Joel was born Jun. 15, 1789 in TN and died Dec. 10, 1855 in Vancouver, Clark Co., WA. He married Sarah Mackey on Apr. 19, 1818 in Maury Co., TN. Sarah was born 1795 in Rutherford Co., NC, the daughter of William Lewis Mackey and Elizabeth Ashbrook.

Elizabeth was born May 8, 1836 in Booneville, Cooper Co., MO and died Apr. 12, 1905 in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR. She married Lewis Van Vleet (marriage record not found). Lewis was born Oct. 21, 1826 in New York and died Apr. 15, 1910 in Washington.

From a website owned by the Port of Camus-Washougal [1] I learned that "Lewis Van Vleet, who established a DLC (Donation Land Claim) in Fern Prairie, was a U.S. Deputy Surveyor and Clark County Representative in the Territorial Senate." The Lewis and Elizabeth Van Vleet home, located at 202 NE Graham St., Portland, Oregon is on the National Historic Register.

The Van Vleets had at least five children:

Lois, born Dec. 25, 1856, died May 13, 1857

Harriet Lewis, born Nov. 17, 1858, died Nov. 16, 1863

Sophia Louisa, born Oct. 30, 1862, died May 30, 1913. From the same website mentioned above, I learned that "Louisa Van Vleet Spicer Wright , was one of the first women doctors in the state of Washington. She was born in 1862 at her parents' "Oak Grove Farm" in Fern Prairie. In 1885 she graduated from medical school [at] Ann Arbor, Michigan. The land on which this park is located was given to Louisa by her father. In 1901, Louisa married James W. Wright, a widower."

Lewis, Jr., born May 18, 1875, died Aug. 30,, 1957

Felix F., born Jan. 11, 1878, died Nov. 26, 1919. From an undated paper by an unknown author I found that Felix was murdered in Newman, Stanislaus Co., CA. He apparently attempted to intervene in an argument between a friend and Ed Newson, an officer in the Newman Police Department. Newman first beat Felix then when he called for help, Newman shot Felix three times. The subsequent Coroner's inquest determined that Felix was murdered. Felix left a wife and eight children.

Lewis, Elizabeth and all of the Van Vleet children are buried in the Fern Prairie Cemetery [2] at Camas in Clark Co., WA.


[1] http://www.portcw.com/parkersLanding.htm
[2] Fern Prairie Cemetery Burial Records, Cemetery Dist. #1, PO Box 969 Camas, WA 98604 online [http://www.rootsweb.com/~wafpc/p54.htm], accessed [downloadable pdf containing all burial records]

Thanks to Nathan Reynolds of Longview, WA for information about the Fern Prairie Cemetery website.

Minard Ernest Coffey

Descendants of Minard Ernest COFFEY

Minard Ernest COFFEY was born in Vallonia, Jackson Co., IN on Feb 11, 1883 to John Waid and Elizabeth Matilda Persinger Coffey. John Waid was a descendant of James Harvey and Anna Eliza Graham Coffey.

Minard registered for the WWI draft on Sep 12, 1918 in Washington Co., IN.

Minard and Ida May MCKNIGHT were married about 1908 in Indiana. They appeared in the Washington Co., IN census on May 6, 1910, Jan 15, 1920, and Apr 17, 1930.

Ida was born in Indiana on Oct 27, 1889 She died on Aug 17, 1949 in Washington, Daviess Co., IN. Minard and Ida May had the following children:

I. Wesley Allen COFFEY, born in Indiana in Apr 1910 He appeared in the Washington Co. census on May 6, 1910 in the household with his parents; on Jan 15, 1920 in the household with his parents, and in the census on Apr 17, 1930 in the household with his parents.

II. Arthur COFFEY, born in Indiana about 1914 He appeared in the census on Jan 15, 1920 in the household with his parents, and in the census on Apr 17, 1930 in the household with his parents.


III. Arley COFFEY, born in Indiana about 1916 He appeared in the census on Jan 15, 1920 in the household with his parents, and in the census on Apr 17, 1930 in the household with his parents.


IV. Virginia M. COFFEY, born in Washington Co., IN about 1923 She appeared in the census on Apr 17, 1930 in Washington Co., IN in the household with her parents.


Sources

United States Federal Census

World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918

Additions and/or corrections are welcomed.

James Harvey Coffey, Jr. (1848-1904)

James Harvey Coffey, Jr., son of James and Anna Eliza Graham Coffey, was born Jun., 1848 in Washington Co., IN. He died in 1904, probably in Washington Co., but I have not confirmed that. He married Diantha E. Boling, daughter of Gilbert and Martha E. Barrows Boling. She was born in April 1860 in Indiana. James and Diantha were married Dec. 8, 1883 in Washington Co.

Together, they were the parents of at least six children:

Cora M., who could also be named Bobbie, was born Jul., 1884. She married Henderson Haley on Dec. 23, 1905 in Washington Co. They had at least two children: Frederick L., born c1907, and Henderson, Jr., born c1918. They divorced before the 1920 census, and Henderson remarried. His second wife was Hattie Eglen who he married on Feb. 6, 1917. Henderson was 33 and Hattie was 14 when they married.

Harry L., born Apr., 1888 - no additional information yet.

Lola B., born Jan., 1893, married Harry Gallion on Aug. 12, 1915 in Washington Co. They were divorced before 1920. That year Lola was enumerated as a divorced woman in the household with her widowed mother, and Harry as a divorced man in the household with his parents in Jackson Co., IN.

Lilly D., born Mar., 1899 in Indiana, married Clyde Jackson on Feb. 12, 1916 in Washington Co. No additional information yet.

Talmage I., born Jan. 4, 1903, died Nov. 13, 1978. No additional information yet.

Myra E., born c1903 in Indiana, married Michael Baker on Aug. 13, 1919 in Washington Co. No additional information yet.

Following James' death in 1904, Diantha married William Partlow on Nov. 7, 1907 in Washington Co. They were divorced before 1910.

Additions and/or corrections welcomed.

Thomas A. and Margaret Ann Coffey Wright (Update)

Updated Sep. 15, 2008.

Thos. & Margaret Coffey Wright

Margaret was a daughter of Austin and Mary A. Blaylock Coffey. She was born Aug 22, 1847 in Caldwell Co., NC and died there on Dec. 1, 1931. Thomas was born c1834 in Georgia and died Apr. 5, 1906 in North Carolina.

Both are buried in the Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Watauga Co.

They had nine children:

Mary Josephine

- Mary Josephine, born Oct., 18, 1867, died Jan 31, 1944 in Mabscott, Raleigh Co., WV. Mary married Tilmon Monroe Gragg, a son of Edmond and Indiana Gragg Gragg on Mar 3, 1883 [Marriage Book 6, Page 24] in Caldwell Co. Tilmon was born Feb., 1858 in Caldwell Co., and died in Camden Co., NC [North Carolina Death Records, 1968-1996 on Dec. 12, 1928. I know of three children: William Henderson, Rhett and Alverdia.

[Two additional children have been reported to me: Cora E. and Bina. No other information provided]

- Sarah Jane, born c1870, married Edmund G. Haupt in Caldwell Co., 1893. No other info.  [A child, Maude, born Apr. 1892, married Frank Baker. Both families were in Knox Co., TN census records for 1910]

- Robert Arthur, born c1875, married Lurenie Holloway, a daughter of Reid D. and Martha Andrews Holloway, on Jul. 14, 1894 in Watauga. Robert disappeared shortly after marriage but fathered a son with Lurenie.  Robert Reaves Wright was born Jun., 18, 1895.  Robert married Nettie McAlister on Jun. 17, 1917 in Watauga Co.  He died on Jan. 18, 1944.  Lurenie later married William Wiley Church c1896.

Sarah Ellanora

- Sarah Ellanora (Ellie), born Jan. 26, 1877, died Dec. 18, 1942. Sarah married Samuel Wiley McCroskey in Nov. 1900 in Knox Co., TN. Sarah had been previously married on Oct. 16, 1896 to Henderson Phillips. Samuel was a son of William and Mira Johnson McCroskey and was born Apr. 10, 1869 in Bluff City, Sullivan Co., TN and died Apr. 14, 1926 in Burke Co., NC. Their children were: Raymond, 1902-1926, Mae, 1904-1983, Lula Nevada, 1907-?, Earl Lemuel, 1909-1967; Lany Esther, 1910-1978, Edward Lawrence, 1915-?, Virgie Edith, 1917-1970, and Roy Lois, 1921-1970.

More information is available on the McCroskey-Wright family.

- Sarah L., born c1879. No other info.

- Emmerette [born c1876, died 1897] married Thomas Coleman May 17, 1892, Caldwell Co.  [Marriage Book 9, Page 209].  I know of two children: Robert Lawrence, born Feb. 19, 1891 and Lloyd Ziniman, born Aug. 10, 1895.  [There was a third, Ora, born 1897. She married Boyd Ragan.]

Thomas Lemuel

- Thomas Lemuel, born Mar. 22, 1884, died Mar. 23, 1946. He married Sarah Emeline Bragg, daughter of James Jackson and Rhoda Cox Bragg. Sarah was born Mar. 18, 1893 in Summers Co., WVa., and died Sep. 10, 1979 in Caldwell Co., NC. I have found three children for them: Thomas Jackson, born 1915; Rexford Lemuel, born 1922, and Vadis Graham, born 1927.

[Three other children have been found: James Selden, born Jan. 9, 1917, died May 13, 1990; Margaret Marcella, born 1919, died 1979; and Theodore Frank, born Nov. 5, 1924, died Jan. 19, 1982.]

  - Annie Lee, born Jul. 27, 1885, died Dec. 11, 1951, married Roby Monroe Coffey on Mar. 19, 1903 in Watauga Co. Roby was son of George Washington and Matilda Coffey Coffey, and was born Mar. 20, 1881 in Caldwell Co., and died in Lenoir, NC on Oct. 1, 1955. There were at least nine children born to this union and will be a subject of a later blog.

- Doctor Hill, born Apr. 1, 1889, died Oct. 4, 1949 in Watauga Co. He married Virgie Nona Gragg, daughter of Leonard L. and Alva Sims Gragg on May 20, 1913 in NC. Virgie was born Oct. 18, 1897 in NC and died in Watauga Co. on Nov. 13, 1945. At least four children were born to them: Meda Geneva Virginia, born May 22, 1914; William Paul, born Jun. 19, 1918; Agnes Adele (Addie), born Aug. 15, 1921, died Jan. 25, 1988; and Thomas Hill, born Dec. 20, 1930. "Addie" married James Bynum Coffey on Jul. 5, 1939 in NC. James was a son of James Hardy and Lillian Mae Gray Coffey. James died Apr. 26, 1986 in Watauga Co. Their children were Patricia Joe Ann, born Mar. 21, 1941, died c1996, and James Robert, born Sep. 27, 1942, died Nov. 11, 1999.

I am uncertain whether Sarah Ellenora and Sarah L. are the same person. It seems unlikely to me that there would be two, much less three children born to the same parents who gave their children the same first name.

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Photo courtesy Margaret Coffey Farley

Jasper Hill Coffey

Jasper Hill Coffey has appeared here previously. See Coffee/Coffey Call: Jasper Hill Coffey for earlier information.

The following appeared in the Coffey Cousins' Clearinghouse newsletter of Dec., 1995 on pages 5-7. It was provided by Ray Coffey who had extracted it from The Albany Capitol Newspaper dated Thur., Sep. 1, 1921. The paper was found at the Albany city library.

Death of Rev. J. H. Coffey

After a brief sickness, from heart trouble and other complications, Rev. Jasper Hill Coffey, one of the oldest and most widely known ministers of the Christian Church in north Missouri, died at the home of his son, R. K. Coffey, on South Hundley Street last Sunday morning at 2:20 o'clock, aged 84 yrs. Of the four surviving sons and three daughters, all were at their father's bedside in his last days except Omer, who is somewhere in the west and could not be reached by message telling of his fathers condition. The other living sons and daughters are: R.K. of Albany; James of Miami, Okla,; Holt of St. Joseph; Mrs. Hattie Hawk of Oklahoma City, Okla; Mrs. Edna Lierley of Salt Lake City, Utah and Mrs. Ethel Martin of Albany.

Rev. Coffey had been for more than sixty years a minister of the Christian Church, having resided at Albany most of the time. After the death of his wife seventeen years ago, he had made his home with his daughters in the west and southwest and with his son Dick in Albany.

He had officiated at more weddings, conducted more funerals, preached to more people and won more men and women to the church and right living than most ministers, and the high regard in which he was held over a large section of this part of the state was probably best attested by the large number of warm friends who came from neighboring towns and communities to pay their last respects in the funeral service, which was conducted by Rev. J. D. McClure of Albany and Rev. Chally Graham of Oxford, at the Christian Church last Monday afternoon at 4 o'clock.

The church was packed to overflowing and the beautiful song service, the eloquent tribute of the ministers, the many beautiful flowers brought and sent by friends, told of the large impress[ion] which this good man had left on the community in which he had lived for over sixty years.

There were in the big audience one or two men who had heard Mr. Coffey make his first talk in Gentry county - at school house near where Gentry now stands, where his brother was teaching school when he first came out from Indiana: there was one or two present in the meeting when he united with the Christian church, out at the "Old Brick." There were a number of husbands and wives at whose marriages he had officiated: There were sons and daughters, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of couples whom he married. It was truly a gathering of friends who felt a great lover [sic] for, and a real sorrow at the going of this good, genial, kindly man who had given his life in service for his Master and his fellow-men. After the service at the church, the remains were conveyed to Highland cemetery, and laid by the grave of the wife and companion who had preceded him.

As a part of the funeral service, Rev. Graham read the following, which had been prepared by himself and by Rev. McClure, at the request of Rev. Coffey, some time ago:

"J. H. Coffey, son of Lewis and Harriet Coffey, was born on Aug. 6, 1838. He was reared on the farm where he was born, and early in life learned to take care of stock and do farm work: and through his entire life took great pride in having a neat garden and in cultivation of small fruits, and was a blessing to every community. In Worth county in 1860, he was appointed school commissioner of that county, which position he held until after the south had surrendered to the victorious forces of the Union army and peac was restored through-out the land.

On Dec. 13, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss China Frances Culp, at the home one and one-half miles east of Albany. Ten children were the result of this union, seven of who are now living, four boys and three girls, two having died in infancy, and one Dollie Whitman three years ago.

For over fifty years he was before the people as a regular minister, but when old men were no longer in demand, his modesty forbade him applying or even making an effort for a position among the people he had faithfully served and had loved so fondly. Like B. U. Watkins, he would say, "These gray hairs have knocked me out of many years work in the prime of my life." He meekly accepted the situation and was content with the occasional acting as a supply and speaking words of comfort on funeral occasions to those who were burdened with sorrow for the dead.

The greated part of his life as a minister has been spent in Gentry county and northwest Missouri. He never courted debate, but when in his judgement it became necessary, would willing stand in defense of truth. In 1868 he debated with John Shin, a Universalist minister in Dallas City, Ill. In 1870 he met a Baptist minister, by the name of Chenaworth in Gentryville. In about 1871 or 1872 he met Brother A. F. Dugger of the Church of God in a three day debate. he would say "If I am worth anything to the church, it is as an enlister, and I don't want to spoil myself by imbibing too much of the spirit of controversy." He believed that it was "more blessed to give than receive" and was therefore liberal in his gifts for charity and to the church, and what remained of his income he willingly laid at the feet of his family, to which he was strongly attached and much devoted.

"Of all the college socities to which he belonged, he gave to the Sigma Chi, a Greek fraternal society a front rank, on account of the close relation existing among the members and a disposition on their part to help one another. But with him, no human institution or fraternity could take the place of the church, to only divinely appointed institution, showing God as father and men as brethren."