Noah Rice Blackwell

Noah Rice Blackwell was born in Rockbridge Co., VA in Dec., 1870 to James H. and Martha Jane Mines.* 

James and Martha were contemporaries of Reuben Wetzel, Sr. and Sarah Jane Wood Coffey of Nelson Co., VA.  Reuben and Sarah were married on Dec. 16, 1852 in Nelson Co.**

Rose Forest Maywood "Maywood" Coffey was born to Reuben and Sarah on Nov. 28, 1873 in Amherst Co.  She was married to Noah on Dec. 4, 1894 in Rockbridge Co.1

Maywood and Noah lived all of their lives within a few miles of their birthplaces.  From marriage in 1894 to the census n Jan., 1920 they were residents of Walkers Creek District in Rockbridge Co.  In 1930 they were living in the South River District of that county; in 1940 they were in Augusta Co.  By then, all of their children were grown with families except one, Minnie, born in 1898, who was still unmarried and living at home.

In addition to Minnie, Maywood and Noah had 10 other children:

Bulah May, born 1895, died 1973, married Brown Hartford Staton.

Minnie was second born.

James Earl, born 1900, died 1980, married Madge Allen.

Nina D., born 1902, married 1) William G. "Jack" Houser; 2) Percy V. Thompson.

Murrell R., born 1904, married Frank Blair Cox.

Rev. Leonard W., born 1905, married Gladys Merita "Bunky" Grimm.

Edith P., born 1907, married Guy Wilton Houser, probably related to Jack, above.

Earnest H., born 1910, not known to have married.

Blanche, born 1912, married Hansford Lee Lynn.

Cecil W., born c1913, probably died young.

Hazel B., born 1915, married Hunter O. Dunaway.

More detail on the children is available on request.

Noah died at age 75 on Mar. 17, 1946 near Spottswood in Augusta Co. and was buried at Mount Carmel Presbyterian Cemetery at Steeles Tavern in Augusta Co.

N. R. Blackwell2

Staunton, March 19 - Funeral rites for N. Rice Blackwell, 75, who died Sunday at his home near Spottswood, were held Tuesday at Mount Carmel Presbyterian Church.  Burial was in the adjoining cemetery.

He is survived by 10 children:  Mrs. Brown Staton, Mrs. Jack Houser, Mrs. Guy Houser, of Spottswood; Miss Minnie Blackwell, at home; Earl Blackwell, of Moffaits Creek; Mrs. Frank Cox, of Rockbridge Baths; Herman Blackwell, of Middlebrook; L. W. Blackwell, of Waynesboro; Mrs. Hansford Lynn, of Radford; Mrs. Hunter Dunaway, of Fairfield.

Rose preceded Noah in death.  She passed away on Mar. 3, 1946 and was also buried at Mount Carmel.  She was 72 years old.

More detail on Roses' ancestry is available on request.

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*Martha Jane was the second wife of James; his first wife, Nancy Bensen, died in c1856 leaving him with a number of small children to raise.  He and Martha were married on April 22, 1858 in Augusta Co., VA ["Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XR73-PW6]

**Marriage Register, Nelson Co., VA - Marriage Register, Book No. 2, 1854 - 1926, p59, line 29.

1Rockbridge County Marriages 1853-1896, VA State Archives, Reel 43; Bureau of Vital Statistics [read and extracted by Mary Ann Taylor].

²"The Richmond Times Dispatch (Richmond, VA)", http://bit.ly/1GT2oQ1, Wed., Mar. 20, 1946, Page 20.

Other sources:  1900-1940 US Federal Census, Find-A-Grave, FamilySearch.org, and Jarrett Wilson Harlow via Carol Hite Harlow, citing marriage, birth, census and death records of Nelson, Amherst and Rockbridge counties as well as family histories.

Adoniram Judson & Emily Caroline Rone Coffey

                                                                                                                               
Adoniram Judson Coffey, born Jan. 6, 1830 to Reuben and Polly Dowell Coffey, was  (probably) named by his preacher father for the American Baptist missionary of the same name.*  This Adomiram married Emily Caroline Rone, born Aug. 28, 1832 in NC, died in Ellettsville, Monroe Co., IN on Nov. 11, 1906.  They were married on Oct. 28, 1852 in Owen Co., IN.**  Adoniram died Apr. 7, 1882 in Ellettsville.  Both are buried at the Coffey Family Cemetery in Ellettsville.

The family farmed in Owen and Clay counties from their marriage until their deaths and, raised at least nine children there.

Edgar was their first, born Sep., 1853, died Nov. 16, 1922 in Terre Haute, Vigo Co., IN.  He married Rachel A. Betts in Clinton Co., IN on Oct. 27, 1874 and had at least one child, a daughter named Pansy.  Rachel may have died at the birth of Pansy because sometime before 1880, Edgar married his cousin Sophronia Coffey, a daughter of Lewis and Harriet Powell Coffey.  Sophronia had previously married Samuel T. Howe, a Kentuckian born c1835.  She and Howe had at least two children, Ida, born c1861 and Lucy, born c1865, both in IN.  Samuel may have died in the Civil War.  Sophronia died in June, 1923 at Terre Haute and she was buried alongside Edgar, who died Nov. 16, 1922, at Highland Lawn Cemetery in that city.

Obituary, Terre Haute Tribune, Nov. 17, 1922, p2

Edgar Coffey, 69 years old, for a number of years owner of a drug store in Lafayette avenue, died yesterday evening at the home of his daughter, Mrs. George Jacobs, 68 South Twenty-first street, where he made his home.  Mr. Coffey also was interested in the Coca-Cola bottling works in Lafayette avenue [sic] for some time.  The body was removed to the Gillis chapel, where the funeral will be held.  Mr. Coffey is survived by the daughter; a step-daughter, Mrs. Ida M. Goodman, of Minneapolis; a grandson, George Edgar Jacobs; three sisters, Mrs. Ellen Faulkner, Mrs. Fay McBride, of Terre Haute, and Mrs. Lillian Harboc, of Trinidad, Col., and three brothers, Eliza [sic], Larkin and Reuben Coffey.

Obituary, Terre Haute Star, Saturday, June 23, 1923, p2

The funeral of Sophronia Coffey, 80 years old, who died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. George Jacobs, 632 Walnut street, was held at 2:30 o'clock today at the Gillis undertaking establishment.  She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. George Jacobs and Mrs. I. M. Goodman of Minneapolis; two grandchildren and one nephew.  Burial will be in Highland Lawn cemetery.

The second child was a son, Carson, born c1855.  Carson appeared in the household with his parents at the  1860 and 1870 census but, disappeared thereafter.  I have not found him in any subsequent record and I suspect he likely died in his early teens.

Ellen, born c1857 was married to Jasper Newton Falkner on Sep. 14, 1880 in Spencer, Owen Co.  Jasper was born on Mar. 25, 1846 in that county and died in Republic, Ferry Co., WA on Apr. 8, 1934.  Ellen preceded him in death on Aug. 30, 1928 at Republic.  Both are buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada.  Their children were Donald Ford, born 1881; Roy Judson, born 1885; Kittie Faye, born 1888 and, Wallace, born 1889.

A son, Elzy, born 20 Aug.1859 was next.  The little info that I have indicates he married Emma Clause. He did appear in the 1920 Arkansas Co. census with his brother Larkin and in the 1930 census for that same county with a wife named Sue.  I am somewhat confused about his wife's name and other particulars of this census.  Elzy must have been married prior to this marriage since he stated that he was first married at age 34, and his wife at age 17.  He died on Mar. 22, 1937 in Decatur, Macon Co., IL but his burial place has not been found although his death record reports burial at Decatur.***

Elzy was followed by John Jay on Oct. 10, 1853.  He married c1904 to Edith Iva Hill, born Dec. 5, 1876 in IA, died Oct. 12, 1940 in Boise, Ada Co., ID.  John died there on Nov. 9, 1922.  Both are buried at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.  Their children were Ray O., born 1905 in CO; Edith Iva, born 1907 in ID; John Earl, born c1911, died Jan. 24, 1995, buried at Dry Creek Cemetery in Boise; Harold, born 1913, died Jul 30, 1939 in Lewis and Clark Co., MT, butied at Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.  Their last child was Ralph H., born c1917.

Reuben, born Jul., 1866 was the sixth child.  He married c1901 to Elizabeth J. Propst, born c1878 in CO.  Their children were Helen, Faye and, Catherine, all born in CO.  In 1910 the family did appear in the Decatur Twp., Macon Co., IL census.

Lillian was next, born c Jan., 1870.  She was married c1905 to Fred A. Harlow of Massachusetts.  They had children John Frederick, Fayette, Dorothy, Doris Caroline, Lillian Trask and Carson, perhaps named for Lillian's brother.

Larkin was born in Feb., 1872 and married a lady by the name of Nancy E. Dilday.  He appeared in the 1910 Rock Co., NE as an unmarried man and later, in 1920, the Arkansas Co., AR census with his with Nancy and his brother Elzy.

The last child born to Adoniram and Emily was Faye H., born May 1874.  She married Earl McBride and had children Richard, Frederick, Paul and, Pauline.

Please contact me if you can fill in any of the blanks.

Jack

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*Wikipedia: Adoniram Judson was born in Massachusetts in 1788 and died at sea in the Bay of Bengal on Apr. 12, 1850.  He worked to form the first Baptist association in America, translated the Bible into Burmese and established a number of Baptist churches in Burma.  The name Adoniram means "my lord is exalted" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this was the name of an overseer of tribute [taxman] under the kings David, Solomon and Rehoboam. He was stoned to death when the Israelites revolted against Rehoboam's taxation.
**Indiana Marriage Records Index, 1845-1920;.Index to Marriage Records Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940:  Name: Adnoviam [sic] J Coffey Spouse Name: Emily C Rone Marriage Date: 28 Oct 1852 Marriage County: Owen  Index to Marriage Record 1850 - 1920 Inclusive Vol Source Title 3: W. P. A. Original Record Located: Compiled by Indi Book: 27 OS Page: 309
***Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch Historical Records from Illinois Department of Health. "Certificates of Death." Illinois Department of Health, Springfield, Illinois. FHL microfilm. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah:  name: Elzy Coffey titles and terms (original):  death date: 22 Mar 1937 death place: Decatur, Macon, Illinois gender: Male marital status:  race or color:  age: 77 estimated birth year: 1860 birth date: 20 Aug 1859 birthplace: Owen Co., Indiana father: Adimiriam J. Coffey father's titles and terms (original):  father's birth place: North Carolina mother: Emily C. Rhone mother's titles and terms (original):  mother's birth place: South Carolina occupation: carpenter residence: Stuttgart, Arkansas street address:  spouse: Elizabeth spouse's titles and terms (original):  spouse's birthplace:  burial date: 24 Mar 1937 burial place: Decatur Twp., Macon, Illinois cemetery: Graceland informant:  additional relatives:  digital folder number: 4008433 image number: 888 film number: 1786729 volume/page/certificate number: cn 12621 

Charles Edward Coffey, Jr.

Another son of Charles Edward Coffey, Sr.  was Charles, Jr., born Nov. 9, 1859 in Amherst Co., VA. Junior married Sallie M. White on Nov. 6, 1880 in Amherst and with her fathered five children:

Lottie Jasper, born Dec. 21, 1883, died May 7, 1939. She married Moses Hill Trevey c1902. Moses was born Jan. 22, 1878 in VA., and died May. 23, 1954 in Amherst Co. Both are buried at Allwood Cemetery at El Bethel Church in Amherst Co. Their children were Norman; Harry Andrew; Helen Audrey; Hesper D.; and Hill.

Ashby Darmon, born Feb. 20, 1884, and died Jul 23, 1929. Ashby never married and had no known children. He is also buried at Allwood.

Inez, born Apr. 13, 1885 - no further information.

Hettie, born Feb. 9, 1887, died Mar. 13, 1974 in Temple City, Los Angeles Co., CA. Hettie first married Henry L. Harlow, born Apr. 1883 in VA, c1907. She is thought to have had three children with Henry, but I have found only two: Mayo C., born c1908 and Robert C., born c1914. In 1910 Henry and Hettie lived in the Pedlar Dist. of Amherst Co. where Henry was employed as an engine fireman, presumably on the railroad. By 1920, Henry was living with his two sons in the household with his mother, Amanda, and his step-father, Marshall P. Gatewood, in the Pedlar Dist. I have not located him after 1920. Hettie is said to have married a second time to a Mr. Thompson and then a third time to Chauncey Lucas. In 1960 Hettie was living alone in Los Angeles Co., CA and died in Temple City, LA Co., CA on Mar. 13, 1974.

[Update 7/29/08:  Hettie's children with Henry were:  1) Mayo Carrington Harlow, born Jul. 8, 1907 in Amherst Co., VA, and died Jan. 4, 1983 in Bedford City, Bedford Co., VA.  2) Margaret Victoria, born May 21, 1910 in Amherst Co., died Feb. 15, 1995 in Otero Co., NM; 3) Charles Robert, born 2 Nov., 1913, died Dec. 6, 1972 in Los Angeles Co., CA]

The last child of Charles, Jr. with Sallie White was Beulah, born Oct. 25, 1889. She married Leonard Tyree Mason on Jan. 7, 1910 in Lynchburg, VA. I know of only one child, a son Thomas B., born Jan. 12, 1919, died Mar. 8, 2007.

His obituary:

The News & Advance, Lynchburg, VA, Mar. 8, 2007

Thomas B. Mason, 88, of Roanoke, died Thursday, March 8, 2007. Born in Lynchburg, Jan. 12, 1919, he was the son of the late Leonard Tyree Mason and Beulah Coffey Mason. He was married to Emily Ann Wilkins Mason for 58 years.

He attended public schools in Lynchburg, graduating from E.C. Glass High School in 1936. He attended Hampden-Sydney College and received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1941. He was associated with a law firm in Arlington, from June 1941 until January 1942. 

He served as a Naval Officer in World War II from 1942 to 1946, two years of which were in the South Pacific (Solomon Islands) and Philippine areas where he commanded PT Boat 179. He participated in the landings at Leyte, Philippines, on Oct. 20, 1944.

He engaged in the private practice of law in Lynchburg from 1946 to 1956, then became a trust officer with the Peoples National Bank and Trust Company of Lynchburg (now Bank of America). He was appointed by President Kennedy as United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia in 1961, with offices in Roanoke. His family moved to Roanoke in 1962. He was re-appointed by President Johnson in 1965 and served in that office until 1969. The present U.S. Attorney's offices are located in the Thomas B. Mason Building at 105 Franklin Road.

He then became associated with the Law Department of Norfolk and Western Railway Company (now Norfolk Southern Corporation) from which he retired in 1983. He held memberships in the American Bar Association, Virginia Bar Association, Lynchburg and Roanoke Bar Associations and the Judicial Conference for the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Appeals Courts.

Tom had a long-time interest in theater and was a member of the company at Barter Theatre in Abingdon, during the summer of 1937 (its fifth season), when the late Robert Porterfield, its founder, was executive and artistic director. Tom was then 18-years old and appeared in six plays. While in Lynchburg, he performed in numerous plays at Lynchburg Little Theatre, one of the oldest Community Theaters in the nation. In Roanoke, he appeared in plays at Mill Mountain Playhouse, where some may remember his performance as Elwood P. Dowd in "Harvey". Following his retirement he acted professionally at regional, summer and dinner theaters in several other states; playing Norman Thayer in "On Golden Pond" among other roles. Tom appeared in three feature films, (Crimes of the Heart, Mississippi Burning and Gods and Generals) and seven television films. He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and Actor's Equity Association.

Tom was active in his church, having served as deacon, elder and trustee of First Presbyterian Church of Roanoke, and previously as a member and officer of First Presbyterian Church of Lynchburg.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Martha Mason Malloy and husband, Joe Malloy, of Vesuvius, and Polly Mason Dunn of Greenville, N.C.; grandchildren, Luke Malloy, Courtney Dunn and Mason Dunn; nephew, Thomas R. Mason and wife, Karen, of Alpharetta, Ga.; nieces, Anne Leadbetter and husband, Gig, of Grand Junction, Colo., and Marsha M. Matter and husband, Kevin, of Aurora, Colo.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 10, 2007, at First Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, with the Rev. Robert D. Smith officiating. A graveside service will follow at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, in the Presbyterian Cemetery, 907 Bailey Street, Lynchburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Roanoke, P.O. Box 8538, Roanoke, VA 24014; your own church; or a charity or organization of your choice.

Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel and Crematory, (540) 982-2100.

Charles, Jr's second wife was Mary Lou (Mollie) Downey to whom he was married c1891.  They had at least one son, Robert Ward, born Jun. 12, 1893, died Oct. 13, 1974 in Lynchburg, VA.  He was buried at Spring Hill Cemetery at Lynchburg.

Left to right, is Beulah, Robert Ward and Hettie.

Robert married Edna Miller Breeden on Dec. 24, 1924 in VA.  She was born Jun. 7, 1898 to Charles W. and Maggie Breeden, and died Jun. 8, 1995.  I have two children for them:  Mary Anne, born Oct. 25, 1925 and Charles Ward, born Jul. 17, 1927, died May 3, 1993.

Junior married a third time.  That wife was Eunice Sales, born Dec. 27, 1894, died Feb. 17, 1983.  There were no known children born to this union.



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

Photo courtesy John Taylor