William Riffe & Jane L. Bell Coffey

William was the oldest son of Osborn Nightingale and Jane L. Bell Coffey.  He was born Feb. 4,1807 in Kentucky and died in Santa Barbara Co., CA in 1903.  He married Orilla Hill, the daughter of a Mr. Hill who married a Miss Wood.  Orilla was born on May 31, 1856 in IA and died in Santa Barbara on Aug. 3, 1943.  Both are buried at the Goleta cemetery in Santa Barbara Co.

It is unclear to me if William married late or was perhaps married prior to his marriage to Orilla, c1885.  He was 54 years old then and Orilla was 29.  William last appeared in a census with his parents in 1850, Lincoln Co., MO.  I next find him in the 1900 Santa Barbara Co. census with Orilla and their four children:

Minnie Belle, born Aug. 6, 1885, died Mar. 9, 1972.  She never married and is buried at Goleta.

George William, born Jan. 7, 1888, died Nov. 16, 1967.  He apparently never married and is also buried at Goleta.

Lelia J., born Feb. 22, 1892, died Dec. 4, 1964 in Santa Barbara.  She married Jesse R. Hill, perhaps a relative of Orilla, c1920.  Jesse was a widower and brought two sons, Richard, born c1912 and, Clifford, born c1918 to the marriage.  I have not yet found Lelia and Jesse in the 1930 census.  Neither have I found a burial site for them.

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Update - May 2, 2012


 Jesse Reason Hill and Lelia J. Coffey were married on Jul. 27, 1910 in Santa Barbara Co., CA.*  The two children, Richard M., born c1912 and Clifford, born c1918, should then be his children by Lelia. The 1920 census**  names Jesse's wife as Lydia and that her father was born in MO and mother in IA. I suspect the 1920 census to be in error vis-à-vis Lelia.

*California County Marriages, 1850-1952, "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XLZ2-LQ9 : accessed 2 May 2012), Jesse Reason Hill, 1910.

**Mar. 18, 1920 Santa Barbara Co., La Patera, ED101, Sheet 7A, Fair View Road

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Osborne Delano, born Sep. 19, 1894 in CA, died Aug. 7, 1981 in Santa Barbara.  He married c1921 to Josephine E. Lessett, daughter of a French born father and a California born mother.  They were in the 1930 Santa Barbara census with two children:  Helen J., born c1922 and William K., born c1924.  Osborne is buried at Goleta; I have not found death information for Josephine.

David Franklin & Elizabeth Conner Coffey

 David was a son of Nathaniel and Sarah Meredith Coffey.  Nathaniel (Nathan) was a son of Joel and Martha Stepp/Step Coffey.  Joel is said to be a son of the oft-labeled "mysterious" Chesley and Jane Cleveland Coffey.

As described below, Nathan came to Pike Co., IL in 1829 with his parents and other siblings.  He married Elizabeth Conner there on Aug. 6, 1842  and in 1850 was elected Justice of the Peace for Pike Co.  The family farmed and raised children throughout the 1850s and early 1860s, but in June of 1862 David entered the Civil War on the side of the Union when he became commander of Co. B, 68th Ill Regt.  He was 45-years old.

The 68th was organized for 3-months service in June, 1862 and most of the men were from the northern part of the state.  During the second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run to us Rebels) he was detailed to "hospital service."  The record does not say if he was wounded, sick or had special talents needed in the hospital.  In any event, he died on Sep. 22, 1867 in Griggsville, Pike Co.

"David F. Coffey, deceased, one of the pioneers, was born in Simpson county, Ky., May 18, 1817, and was a son of Nathan Coffey, deceased, well known in this county, who brought his family here in 1829 and settled on sec. 3, Griggsville township, at the summit of the hill which was afterward christened "Coffey Hill," and is still called by that name.  He was the father of 13 children, of whom David F. was the 6th.  The latter was married in 1842 to Elizabeth Conner, daughter of Francis Conner, deceased, who came to Franklin Co., Ill., in 1832.  Mr. and Mrs. Coffey had 10 children, of whom 9 are living, - Sarah E., Nathan F., J. Hardin, Delitha M., Daniel F., Burton B., Thomas M., Mary J., and Grace L.  Mr. Coffey was Captain of Co. B, 68th Regt. Ill. Inf., in the Rebellion, but was detailed to hospital service during the second battle of Manassas.  He died Sept. 22, 1867, at the age of 50 years; had been a member of the Baptist Church for about twenty-seven years."¹

He and Elizabeth had nine children, all born in Pike Co.:

Sarah E., born c1843, Nathan F., born c1845; John Hardin, born Aug. 31, 1847, died Apr. 29, 1917 in Oklahoma; Delitha M., born c1849; Daniel Franklin, born Mar., 1851; Burton B., born c1853; Thomas M., born 1856; Mary J., born c1857; and Grace L., born c1861.  Grace died of pneumonia on May 19, 1914 in Kansas City, Kaw Twp., Jackson Co., MO.  She is buried at St. Joseph in Buchanan Co., MO.  She had been a teacher at the Garfield School in Jackson Co.  Delitha was also a school teacher in Griggsville in the 1880s.

John Hardin married Ellen Martin on Oct. 14, 1875 in West Grove, Davis Co., IA.  Ellen was born in 1855 - probably in IA - and died in OK in 1938.  Both are buried at Fairlawn Cemetery in Oklahoma City.

Daniel Franklin married Nancy Margaret "Maggie" Hill on Oct. 14, 1874 in Scott Co., IL.  Maggie was born in Mar. 1856 in IL.  This family moved around quite a bit.  In the 1880s they lived in Chambersburg, Pike Co.; in 1900 they lived in  Brunswick, Chanton Co., MO; 1910 in Dodge City, Ford Co., KS and in 1920 in Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO.  Their children were:  Russell J., born Feb., 1877, IL; Burton B., born Feb., 1880 in Chambersburg, Pike Co.; Elizabeth, born May, 1883 in IL; Florence, born Mar., 1888 in MO; Flossie, born Apr., 1891 in MO; Lola, born Jan., 1898 in MO and Marie, born Mar., 1899 in MO.

Thomas M., born 1856 in IL, married Lillian M. Hathaway on Jul. 5, 1883 in that state.  He was a Minister of the Gospel.  Sometime between their marriage and 1894 the family moved to Iowa where five of their six children were born:  Grace H., born Aug. 30, 1884; Allen, born May, 1886; Inez C., born Sep., 1888; Maud M., born Feb., 1890; Myrna M., born Feb., 1894.  Their last child was Paul I., and he was born Jan., 1899 in Union Co., South Dakota.  By 1910 they were in Alva, Crook Co., WY where they apparently remained, at least through the 1920 census.

Grace married Victor M. French (not the Little House on the Prairie character) on Oct. 2, 1907 in Crook Co.  Victor was born in Egan, Moody Co., SD and died in Rapid City, Pennington Co., SD in Oct., 1967.  Grace died in Alva in 1917, apparently during, or right after the birth of their third child.  Victor later married Delia Foley, but I have not found a marriage record or list of their children.  His children with Grace, all born in Crook Co., were:  Russell E., born c1909; Celia M., born c1910 and Geraldine B., born c1917.  The two girls were enumerated with Grace's parents in 1920; Russel with his father.  Victor, Grace and Delia are buried at the Alma Cemetery in Crook Co.

Maud M., also school teacher (as was her sister Inez in 1910) married Leslie Browning Hopper on Feb. 17, 1913 in Crook Co.  I have not found them in any census.

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¹Charles C. Chapman & Co., Compilers/Publishers, History of Pike County Illinois;: Together With Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military and Political History; Portraits of Prominet Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1880), Pages 515 & 516.

Roby Monroe Coffey Family

Roby Monroe Coffey was a son of George Washington "Wash" and Matilda "Tilda" Coffey Coffey.  Wash and Tilda were distant cousins.  Roby was the ninth of the 11 children born to Tilda, and first saw light on Mar. 20, 1881 in Ashe Co., NC.  He died on Oct. 1, 1955 of a coronary occlusion and was buried in the Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Watauga Co., NC.

On Sep., 12, 1918, Roby registered for the draft in WW1 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  He was described as being 37 years old, tall with blue eyes and dark colored hair.  He was a farmer and resided at Shulls Mill in Watauga Co. with his wife.  He did not mention the number of children in his household, but by that date, should have been the father of at least six children:

Roby Monroe Coffey Family

Lena, born Dec. 13, 1903, died 1979, married George Norvell Fox Aug. 10, 1927 in Carter Co., TN.  George was born May 7, 1902 in Watauga Co., the son of John Lee and Jodie Ella Shook Fox.

Lelia Nancy, born May 20, 1906 in Caldwell Co., died May 7, 1969 in Lenoir.  She married Ralph Washington Jones on Jul. 31, 1926 in Watauga Co.  He was born Jun. 1, 1906 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Jul. 14, 1987.  Both she and Ralph are buried at Harris Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery in Hudson, Caldwell Co.  They had at least three children, all now deceased:  George Sylvester, born Jun 3, 1927, died Jun. 9, 1946; Thelma, born Jan. 29, 1930, died Dec. 14, 2006 as Mrs. Claude D. Payne, and Peggy Ann, born Dec. 4, 1948, died Apr. 5, 1960.

Bina Lee, born Jun. 29, 1909 in Caldwell Co., died Jul. 10, 1999 in High Point, Guilford Co., NC.  She married her distant cousin, Troy Talmadge Coffey, on Nov. 3, 1928 in Carter Co., TN.  Troy was the son of George Calvin and Louisa Elizabeth Curtis Coffey.  Troy and Bina had at least one child, a son Wayne Lewis, born Oct. 9, 1929, died Sep. 24, 1999.  Troy was born Mar. 4, 1906 in Watauga Co., and died Apr. 18, 1995 in Thomasville, Davidson Co., NC.

Lottie Merle, born Feb. 12, 1912 in Caldwell Co., died May 3, 1998 in Culpeper, Culpeper Co., VA.  She married Ralph James Moore on Jan. 21, 1928 in Watauga Co.  Ralph was born Apr. 4, 1908, a son of Wiley Hill and Ellen Hodges Moore.  After Ralph died, Lottie married Herbert Hensley who also preceded her in death.

Cora Lee, born Oct. 18, 1914 in Caldwell Co., and died there on Dec. 31, 1990.  She married Earl Boyd Miller, a son of Daniel Lafayette and Emma Coleman Miller, in 1932, Caldwell Co.  Earl was born Dec. 24, 1911 in Caldwell Co., and died in Hudson, NC on Oct. 15, 2006.  Earl was buried at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Hudson.  Cora is also presumed to be buried there.

Ruth, the sixth child, was born Dec. 31, 1916 in Caldwell Co.  she married Edward R. Cook on Aug. 29, 1936 in Watauga Co.  No further information is known.

It is not clear to me where the other children in the family were when this family-style photo was taken.  Because the first six children were only girls, the children in the photo have to be:

Frank E., on the right, born c1919

Boyd Ray, on the left, born Mar. 26, 1923.  Boyd married Mary Elizabeth Hayes.

Margaret Allena, the "babe in arms," born Apr. 7, 1926, died Feb. 10, 1990.  Margaret married John Wellington Ford on Jul. 12, 1941 in Watauga Co.  John was born in North Carolina on Jan. 8, 1925 and died in Lenoir on Sep. 7, 1980.  According to his obituary, John was buried in the Ford Cemetery in Caldwell Co., white Margaret was buried in the Bolick Family cemetery in the Globe, Caldwell Co.  There were at least two children born to them:  John, Jr., born Sep. 20, 1945, died Dec. 9, 1996; and Della Mae, born Dec. 23, 1947, died Mar. 12, 1995.

Please contact me to add to or to correct any of this information.

The headstone and church photos are courtesy of Connie Coffey Dorsey.  The Roby Coffey family photo is courtesy of Margaret Coffey Farley.

William Lewis and Martha Cropp Coffey

William and Martha Cropp Coffey, whose headstones can be view by clicking on the title link, have been identified.

William (Willie) is the son of John Robey and Mamie W. Womack Coffey. John, Mamie, William and Martha are buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Buena Vista, Rockbridge Co., VA.

For those of you have been to Coffeytown and have seen the Coffeytown stone, Willie was the creator.

The following was sent to me by John Taylor:

"Willie painted the rock you photographed which says ”Coffeytown”. It’s the second rock to say that. The house next to the church – the green one – was Charles E Coffey’s house and has been sold out of the family. In his sideyard (away from the church) is a huge bolder, It originally had the word “Coffeytown” painted on it, but the locals ticked off the new owner of the property, so he stripped the paint off the rock. Then “Willie” had a boulder brought in and he painted it with the “Coffeytown” word!

Willie’s son Pike presently lives on the hill to the right of the [new] rock as you see it from the main road."

More Green Hill Cemetery Headstones

Green Hill Cemetery,  Buena Vista, VA

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 Please contact me at the above e-mail address is you can identify these folks and their ancestors. Click on the image to see a larger image.

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Updated Jan 8, 2011

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Son of John Robey & Mamie Womack Coffey

Mary, w/o Nelson McKinley Coffey

Who were/are Philip's parents?

Still need her husband & family

Daughter of Nelson McKinley & Mary
Thompson Coffey.  Who was her husband?

Wife of Finley Houston Coffey
Her maiden name was Tomlin

Hilda Marie Coffey 1939-1940

Hilda Marie is another Coffey buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Buena Vista, VA. She may be the daughter of Fermin H. Coffey. He is the only male Coffey that I find in my file from that area with a name that fits the initials on the headstone.

Fermin was born c1900 in Rockbridge Co., VA to Matthew D. and Willie Jane Ramsey Coffey. I have not found a wife for him.

Anyone who can help may contact me at the above e-mail address.

Hilda A. Coffey 1944-1948

This is another Coffey gravesite found in Green Hill Cemetery in Buena Vista, VA that I need help identifying.

According to the headstone, Hilda was born on Aug. 30, 1944 and died Apr. 25, 1988. I do not know if she married a Coffey, or was born and died a Coffey.

Anyone who can help can contact me via the above e-mail address.

Gilmer Clinton and Catherine Wiseman Coffey

This couple is buried at the Green Hill Cemetery in Buena Vista, Virginia.

According to the headstone, Gilmer was born Nov. 27, 1909 and died Jun. 23, 1951. Catherine was born Apr. 17, 1919. There is no death date for Catherine on the stone.

I need help finding his parents. A search of the census record for 1910 failed to find him.

Anyone with information can contact me at the above e-mail address.

Dawson Henry Coffey 1875-1934

Dawson Henry (or, Henry Dawson on WW1 draft registration and Henry D. on his headstone) was born on Jul. 4, 1875 in Nelson Co., VA. He died on Aug. 13, 1934 and was buried in the Green Hill Cemetery at Buena Vista in Rockbridge Co., VA.


When he registered for the draft on Sep. 12, 1918 in Rockbridge Co., he was described as being short and slender with blue eyes and brown hair. He was at the time 43 years old, and gave his birthdate as Jul. 4, 1875. Henry was then a farmer who resided at Buena Vista with his wife, Katie.

He and Katie appeared in the census record from 1900 through 1930 in Buena Vista. In 1900 he gave his occupation as "laborer." In 1920 and 1930 he gave his occupation as "teamster." In those days and that place, being a teamster had nothing to do with driving a truck. However, the jobs were the same. A teamster in those days generally had their own team of horses and, hired out to move or haul furniture, equipment, etc.

Katie was Katherine Davidson, born in Aug., 1879 in Amherst Co., VA. She died on Jul. 12, 1937, probably in Rockbridge Co. She too is buried at Green Hill.

There were eight children born to the marriage:

Littie, born Aug. 12, 1900, died Sep. 7, 1958.

Walker Lee, born Mar. 3, 1904, died Sep. 11, 1947. Walker married Sarah Montgomery on May 24, 1924 in Buena Vista. She was born Jan. 12, 1908 in Buena Vista and died there on Sep. 24, 1990. They had at least one child, Thurman L., born Oct. 13, 1929, died Feb. 21, 1991. Thurman is buried at Green Hill. I do not yet know where Walker and Sarah are buried.

Eva Lena, born Aug. 30,1908 in Nelson Co., and died Mar. 28, 1963 in Lexington, VA. She married Horace Orey Pugh on Mar. 16, 1936 in Buena Vista. Horace ws born there on Oct. 3, 1894 and died there on mar. 14, 1958. Both are buried at Green Hill.

Eva's obituary:

Obituary, Roanoke Times

Mrs. Eva Coffey Pugh, 55, died last Thursday morning in a Lexington hospital. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Edward Potter, Buena Vista; one son, Marshall Ray Pugh, Buena Vista; three sisters, Mrs. James Fitzgerald, Miss Myrtle Coffey, both of Buena Vista, Mrs. Jewel Everett, Maryland; one brother, Russell Coffey, Glasgow; four grandchildren. funeral services were held at 4 PM Saturday at the Pentecostal Holiness Church by the Rev. B. L. Underwood. Burial was in Green Hill Cemetery.

William McKenley, born Jan. 26, 1909 in Nelson Co., and died Aug. 30, 1998 in Buena Vista. He married Annie Burley in Buena Vista on Sep. 27, 1926. Annie was born May 22, 1907 in Amherst Co., and died on Aug. 30, 1998 in Buena Vista. Both are buried in Green Hill.

Annie's Obituary:

Chittum, Annie Burley, 91 of Buena Vista, died Sunday, August 20, 1998 [sic] at Shenandoah Valley Health Care Center. She was born May 22, 1907 in Amherst County, daughter of the late James Burley and Sarah Lawhorne Burley. She was preceded in death by two husbands, William Coffey and George T. Chittum. She is survived by two sisters-in-law, Frances Burley and Blanch Burley, both of Covington, several nieces and nephews, a stepson, Thomas Chittum of Covington, many stepgrandchildren and a special friend, Ruby Humphries of Buena Vista. Graveside services will be conducted 11 a.m. Tuesday in Green Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at Bolling, Grose & Lotts Funeral Service.

Myrtle Idell, born Dec. 14, 1911, died Sep. 8, 1988

Mabel L., born Sep. 15, 1912, died May 16, 1989

Mamie Virginia, born May 6, 1915 in Rockbridge Co., died Feb. 24, 1973 in Lexington. Mamie was married on May 23, 1942 in Lynchburg, VA to James Henry Fitzgerald, born in Rockbridge Co. on Jan. 12, 1897. James passed away on Jan. 27, 1972 in Lexington.

Russell Henry Coffey was born Apr. 11, 1920 in Rockbridge Co., and died on Jan. 23, 1998 in Roanoke, VA. He married Elizabeth (Nettie) Wheeler. Russell is buried in the Glasgow Cemetery in Rockbridge Co. I have no further information on Nettie.

Russell's Obituary

Obituary, Roanoke Times, Roanoke, VA

Coffey, Russell Henry, 77, of Natural Bridge Station, died Friday, January 23, 1998 at Roanoke Community Hospital, Roanoke, Va. Born August 11, 1920 he was the son of the late Henry D. and Catherine Davis Coffey. He was a farmer and retired from the N & W Railroad after 31 years service. He was a veteran of WW II. He was preceded in death by a son, Russell "Boona" Coffey. Surviving are his wife, Myrtle Campbell Coffey, eight children, Joyce Pugh, Buena Vista, Kenneth Coffey, Buena Vista, Hazel Link, Natural Bridge, Kathy Walters, Timber Ridge, Darrell Coffey, Clifton "Chuck" Coffey, Tammy Coffey, and Daniel Coffey, all of Natural Bridge, sixteen grandchildren and nine great-granschildren. funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday, January 26, 1998 at the Lomax Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ralph VanNess officiating. Burial will follow in the Glasgow Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lomax Funeral Home.

More information on this family is available from Marshall Pugh, who contributed the photograph and his family history.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address for additions or corrections.