Oscar Lee Coffey

Oscar Lee Coffey, born Sep. 7, 1878 in North Carolina to Levi Lafayette and Temperance "Tempie" Calloway Coffey, married Ollie Belle Calloway on Mar. 12, 1904[1] in Watauga Co., NC.

Ollie Belle was the daughter of William Henderson and Almirah M. "Myra" Johnson Calloway, born Mar. 10, 1886 in Watauga Co., NC.

Oscar is thought to be the same Oscar Lee Coffey who recorded several folk songs back in the late 1920s using the pseudonym Barney Dunroe.

After 12 years of marriage, he and Ollie had a child, a daughter, Ollie Jean, born Aug. 31, 1916 in Watauga Co., NC.  Ollie was graduated from Appalachian State and chose teaching as a career.  She taught for years in Lexington, NC city schools and others in Davidson Co., NC where she and her husband lived.

Ollie married Theodore Norman Owen on Jun. 18, 1941.[2]  He was 20 years her senior at the time and they lived together 30 years until his death on Apr. 8, 1971.  Ollie another 22 years before passing away on Jun. 7, 1993 at High Point in Guilford Co., NC.

Both are buried at the Lexington City Cemetery in Davidson Co.

Sadly, they had no children of their own.  Her obituary reads "There are no immediate survivors."[4]

Theo's parents were William Stanley and Elizabeth Cornelis "Bettie" Norman Owen. They were married Oct. 22, 1895 [3] in Halifax Co., NC.  He was born Nov. 22, 1855 and died Nov. 28, 1939.  Bettie was born in NC in 1868 and died Feb. 7, 1962 in Davidson Co.  She was buried at Lexington City Cemetery; William Stanley at Yadkin College Methodist Church Cemetery, also in Lexington.

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[1]Historical Studies, Appalachian State University, Department of History (Editors Evelyn G. Shepherd and Brenda M. Greene), compiler, Marriage Register of Watauga County, North Carolina 1873-1954 (Boone, Watauga Co., NC: Dept. of Hist., Appalachian State Univ., Boone, NC, 1995).

[2]ibid

[3]North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979", http://tinyurl.com/jldto5k : 29 December 2014), Wm. Stanley Owens and Elizabeth Cornelia Norman, 22 Oct 1895; citing Halifax, North Carolina, reference Page 13; FHL microfilm 317,209.

[4]Deaths, The Greensboro News and Record, Greensboro, Guilford Co., NC, 8 Jun 1993 http://tinyurl.com/hlv7s3o

George T. Johnson (1911-1941) Killed by Ambrose Shepherd

George was a son of Leander Vance "Lee" Johnson and his wife, Ella Elzina Coffey.  Lee was born in Wilkes Co., NC in 1879 to George and Eliza Whittington Johnson.  He was married in 1904 to Ella, also born in Wilkes Co. in Apr., 1883.  He died in North Wilkesboro in 1959, Ella having preceded him in 1957. Both are buried at the Reddies River Baptist Church cemetery in Wilbar, Wilkes Co.

To them were born at least four children: William Thomas, Sarah Virginia; George T. and Arthur Franklin.

George was born in 1911, the third in order.  His parents were tenants on the farm of Ambrose Shepherd in North Wilkesboro and, according to a news report of 1941, George was born and raised on the Shepherd farm.  Several years prior to 1941, George had lived away from the farm and had been working as a truck driver..

On the morning of June 15, 1941, George, age 30 years,  was shot and killed by Ambrose Shepherd.

At the trial, testimony of an eyewitness to the shooting reported that Johnson had removed Shepherd's glasses and struck him, then picked up a couple of rocks.  It was then that Shepherd retreated to his home and retrieved a gun with which he shot Johnson as he was preparing to leave.

George was buried at the Reddies River church cemetery.

Shepherd was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to the NC State Penitentiary for a period of three to five years. The verdict was upheld on appeal. He died in 1956 at the age of 73 and was also buried at the Reddies River church cemetery.

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Sources: The Greensboro [NC] Daily News and Greensboro Record, period newspapers.

Joseph Monroe & Cassandra Coffey Blackerby

Joseph, [corrected from James] a son of William and Caty Haydon Blackerby, was born in Northumberland Co., VA on Apr. 17, 1806. He married Cassandra Coffey, the eldest child of Nebuzaradan and Elizabeth Easley Coffey on Jan. 1, 1834 in Pike Co., IL.

Nebuzaradan Coffey was a native of Wilkes Co., NC, born there on Aug. 29, 1789 to Joel and Martha Stepp Coffey.  He married Elizabeth on Sep. 13, 1810 in KY. She was born in Cumberland Co., KY on Aug. 15, 1790 to William and Sarah Ann Lester Easley. The family left KY and moved to IL in 1831 where they remained until departing for Oregon in 1847. Their children were Cassandra, Martha, Thomas C., Mary, Sarah, Catherine Jane, Sidney J., German J., Elizabeth, Denton D., and Louisa.

Cassandra was born on Aug. 23, 1811 in Pilot Knob, KY and died in Marion Co., OR on Jan. 18, 1885 in Silverton, Marion Co., OR.  She is buried at the Aumsville cemetery in Marion Co.

She and Joseph Blackerby had at least six children, the first three sons, Thomas, William and Sidney were born in Pike Co.  Their fourth child, Marquis de Lafayette Blackerby was born in the Oregon Territory on Sep. 20, 1848 and died in Marion Co. at age 5 on Jan. 3, 1854.  After this child came Elza M., born in 1851 and, Arthur Franklin, born 1853.  Both were born near Silverton in Marion Co. where the family patented land on Drift Creek, southwest of Silverton.

Asterisk marks approximate location of first Blackerby patent and then east for 600+ acres

I have not found the Blackerby family in the 1860 OR federal census.  They first appeared in 1850 in Silverton, Marion Co. when Joseph was 47 years old and Cassandra was 40. Children still at home were William, age 16; Thomas, age 14; Sidney, age 7 and Marquis, age 2.  David and John T. Porter, age 3 and 4 respectively, were also in the household.¹, ³  She and Joseph next appear in the 1870 census in Silverton, Marion Co. when Joseph was 64 and Casandra was 59.  Children still at home were Elza, age 19 and Frank, age 15.

Eldest child, Thomas Richard Blackerby was born May 20, 1836 in Pike Co. and died in Silverton, OR on Feb. 25, 1906.  He married Mary E. Allen on Mar. 4, 1866 in Marion Co.  Mary was born Oct. 10, 1843 in IL and died in Silverton on Oct. 27, 1918.  Both are buried at the Silverton Cemetery. Their children were Grace, born 1867 and Pearl, a son, born 1869.  Grace married William Lloyd Jones, a native of Wales, UK, c1892.  He died in 19333 and she in 1934. both buried at Fern Hill cemetery in Aberdeen, Grays Harbor Co., WA. Pearl married Stella E. Bosler. He died in 1949, she in 1961.  Both are buried at Silverton.

The second child, also a son, was J. William C. Blackerby, born 1834 in Pike Co. He married Saprhonia J. Sears on Sep. 10, 1864 in Marion Co.  J. William is thought to have died on May 14, 1867 somewhere in central Oregon.  Nothing else of this family is known by me of this family.

Sidney German Blackerby, third born, also in Pike Co., came along on Oct. 6, 1843.  He married Margaret Adaline Wilcox on Jul. 23, 1863 in Marion Co.  Margaret was born c1846 in KY.  Their children were William; O. Florence; Levia; Ada Lora; Howard; Thomas Roy and Jannie C. Sidney died Apr. 29,1910 and was buried in Burns, Harney Co., OR at the Burns IOOF cemetery where Margaret is also likely buried.

Following Marquis was Elza M., born Jan. 18, 1851 at Silverton. He and Mary Frances Johnson Clymer were married on Nov. 6, 1878 in Marion Co.  She was a daughter of Henry Vance Clymer and Mary Layman Johnson, born 1856 in Marion Co. Elza died on Oct. 13, 1926 in Multnomah Co., OR and was buried at Silverton in the Warren cemetery. Mary died Dec. 9, 1879 and is also thought to be buried at Warren.²

The last known child was Dr. Arthur Franklin Blackerby, born Jun. 30, 1853 in Marion Co., died in Silverton on Jan. 19, 1934. He married Sophia Maria Gustavsen, a native of Finland, born there in Dec., 1873. The marriage took place in Clatsop Co., OR on Jan. 8, 1895.  Sophia died in Multnomah Co. on Apr. 20, 1962. Children from this marriage were daughters Sana Cassandra "Cassie," born in 1895 and Meva F., born 1899.

Dr. Blackerby's first wife was Jennie Stanton to whom he was married on Nov. 12, 1879.  They appeared in the 1880 census at Silverton.  She died on Jul. 9, 1883, perhaps in childbirth, and was buried at Miller cemetery in Silverton.  There are no known children. 

Dr. Blackerby was buried at the Silverton cemetery.  Sophia was buried at Portland Memorial.

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Footnotes:

¹ Cassandra's sister, Catherine Jane married Stephen Porter in Pike Co. in 1844.  Catherine died in 1850 and the two Porter children were hers. Her first child was Nancy Louisa Porter, born c1845 in IL but she was not mentioned in the census record.

² I have not found a Warren cemetery in Marion Co. It appears that the cemetery name has sometime in the past been renamed Mount Hope.  See http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/marion/cemeteries/waldohill.txt

³ See William Porter's 1848 Trail Diary at http://www.oregonpioneers.com/porter.htm

Hugh R. Blunt

Hugh R. Blunt was born Sep. 11, 1822 in Louisiana to Nelson and Elizabeth Blunt.

There are two inconvenient facts lacking in this family's research.  First, Hugh is not a proven son of Nelson, and second, Nelson is a not a proven son of James Blunt and Pembroke Powers.  It is only their proximity in time and place that makes me believe they are closely related.

James' son Hugh R. Blunt, born c1776 in North Carolina, married Euphemie "Pheme" Powers on Aug. 21, 1806¹ in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA. Hugh Blunt died Feb., 1827 in Iberville Parish.  By 1830 his widow is found on the tax rolls of St. Helena Parish.²

A Nelson Blount [sic] disappeared from St. Helena Parish in c1812³ and a family with Nelson as head appeared in the Natchitoches Parish, LA census of 1820, "age to 45." Given the birth year of Hugh R., Nelson's age would have him born in the late 1770s, close enough for me to suspect them of being brothers.  By 1830, Nelson lived in Claiborne Parish, LA which had been cut from Natchitoches Parish in 1828.  He likely died before 1840 because he does not appear in that or any later census record.

The names Hugh and Nelson often appear in a number of my North Louisiana Blunt families.

Back to Hugh R.

James R. Bishop and his wife Peninah Walker had eight children, all daughters.  Hugh R. married two of them.  His first wife was fourth born, Mary Ann Bishop.  They married on Feb. 11, 1850 in Claiborne Parish.4

That union resulted in the birth of two children, the first being James Bert "Jim" Blunt on Mar. 11, 1851 in Columbia Co., AR.  The second born was Frances "Fanny: on Apr. 22, 1852 in Bossier Parish, LA.  Mary Ann is known to have died around that period and it seems reasonable to believe that she died giving birth to Fanny.

Living with Hugh and Mary Ann then was Beneta [sic], James and Peninah's youngest daughter, born Jan. 5, 1839.  Beneta continued to care for Hugh's children over the years until on Jan. 25, 1857 she married Hugh in Lafayette Co., AR.5

Together they had three children:

Martha Ann, born 1858, died 1927, married James C. "Tiny" Johnson in 1881.

Amanda M. "Manda", born 1859 in Rusk, Cherokee Co., TX, died 1936 in Minden, Webster Parish, LA.  She married James Monroe Braley on Aug. 19, 1881.

Hughriah Nelson "Hugh" Blunt, born 1863 in Bossier Parish, LA, died 1939 in Bossier. Married Labicey Etta "Et" Leonard on Jan. 8, 1883 in Louisiana.6

Amanda and Hugh

James Monroe Braley was the son of the German emigrant Johan Frederick Braley.  Braley appears to be an Anglicized spelling; I believe the original surname was Brahle.  He arrived in Sag Harbor, Suffolk, NY on board the vessel Markus in May, 1832, having embarked at Amsterdam.7

Johan Frederick, or Meckie as he was known to his family, wandered around somewhere in the US until 1850.  That is when he first appears in Claiborne Parish, LA, married to the widow, Elizabeth Edwards who had two daughters of her own, Sarah, born ca 1833 and Elizabeth, born c1835, both in Louisiana.

Meckie and Elizabeth had five children of their own, all boys!

James Monroe Braley

Amanda Blount Braley &
Ora Elizabeth Braley Coffee

James Monroe was the second born.  He arrived on Aug. 19, 1849 in Claiborne Parish and married Amanda on Aug. 19, 1881.  They settled down in Webster Parish, formed from parts of Bienville, Bossier and Claiborne Parishes in 1871. All of these Parishes were once part of Natchitoches Parish.

On Jan. 7, 1893 James homesteaded 159.97 acres in Twp. 23N, Range 10W in Webster Parish.  They remained in that area for the remainder of their lives.  Six of their seven children survived to adulthood including a daughter that would eventually become my maternal grandmother,

Ora Elizabeth Braley was born second on Jan. 14, 1884, one year to the day after the first child, also a daughter, was born and which died in Aug., 1884.

J. M. Braley Homestead

Ora, content to remain single, did not marry until she was 25 years old.  She was very likely of considerable help to her mother Mandy who had five younger children.

Ora was the third wife of my grandfather, Albert Lilburn "A. L." Coffee.  He was 11 years older than Ora when they married and had lost his first two wives to death.

Della was his first wife and she gave birth to two children; Ora May West Coffee in 1894 and Carl Glenn Coffee in 1896, both in De Ann, Hempstead Co., AR.  Della died in 1898 and A. L. married Ida Lee Timberlake in 1899 at De Ann.  They had two children as well:  John Timberlake "Jack", Coffee - for whom I was named, my real name being Jack rather than John - born Mar. 5, 1900 and Ruby EcElvy Coffey, born 1902, both in Hempstead Co.

Children from the first union lived to adult hood and have a considerable number of descendants.  Jack did not marry until 1927 when he married Katie Louise Johnson, a native of Newton Co., MS, on Aug. 4, 1927 in Natchez, Adams Co., MS.  Katie lived in Natches with her family.  Jack was employed repairing levees along the Mississippi.  In 1928 Jack died of pneumonia without having produced any children.  Ironically, Katie later married a Mr. Blount and moved to Wood Co., TX where she died in 1966.  I have not yet learned who Mr. Blount was.

Ruby never married and died in Minden, Webster Parish in 1985.

By marrying A. L., Ora took on the task of raising his motherless children while giving birth to six of her own.  Her first born was my father, Frank Hurley Coffee (Frank to me, Hurley to his nieces and nephews).

Frank was born in De Ann in 1910 and died in Jefferson, Marion Co., TX in 1976.  I never knew him as anything more than the man that had sired me.  I had met him on several occasions, the last time right after I took my discharge from the US Army in 1968.  He never impressed me in any way other than an alcoholic and an "old five and dimer."  My mother was his second wife.  By the time he had passed away in 1976, he had been married at least six times.  Fortunately, he sired only two of us; the second by his fourth wife.

I have photographs of  him that I refuse to publish.

Sources:

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¹Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records, 1804-1819, Vol. 3, Page 114.  Although non-Catholic, Spanish rule demanded all residents of the territory to record births, marriages and deaths with the Catholic church

²Ernest Russ Williams, Jr., Genealogical and Historical Abstracts of Legal Records of St. Helena Parish, LA, 1804-1870 (1995), p171. The document shows she was farming 160 acres along the Amite River in the parish of St. Helena, and owned 3 slaves. Total state and parish tax for the year was $4.80. Phamy's property was described as being "east of the Seuttfield Tract." Next door to her was James Blount [sic] who was farming 640 acres, owned no slaves, and paid $1.25 tax in 1830.

³Conveyance Book B, St. Helena Parish, LA, April 9, 1812; James Norton deputy Sheriff, sold property of Nelson Blount [sic], "lying on Spring Creek, above where William Wells now lives", to A.L. Osborne for $100; to satisfy a judgment against Blount in favor of William Boykin. Wit.: Matthew Steward.

4Dodd, Jordan R, et. al. Early American Marriages: Louisiana to 1850. Bountiful, UT: Precision Indexing Publishers, 19xx.  Spouse 1: Bishop, Mary Ann Spouse 2: Blunt, Hugh Marriage Date: 11 Feb 1850 Marriage Location: Louisiana Claiborne Parish

5"Arkansas County Marriages, 1837-1944,", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FQLC-6WT : accessed 24 Oct 2013), Hugh Blunt and Benetia Bishop, 25 Jan 1857.

6 Etta Leonard Blunt Family Bible (Thomas Nelson & Sons, 381-385 Fourth Avenue, New York, NY). Etta's Bible has been an invaluable source for dates and places.

7"United States Index to Passenger Arrivals, Atlantic and Gulf Ports, 1820-1874" , index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-22118-3356-49?cc=1921756 : accessed 13 Aug 2014), Boyl-Bran > image 4740 of 6297; citing NARA microfilm publication M334.

Lewis Russell and Bidant "Biddy" Moore Coffey

Lewis' will has been transcribed and can be found here.  In his will, he named his children Betsy, Rachel, Polly, James, Henderson, Shelby, Benjamin F.,Thomas, and Edward.  He mentioned his deceased son Jesse and named Jesse's daughter Sophronia as a legatee.  Son Cleveland may have been deceased without descendants as he is not mentioned.

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Lewis Russell Coffey was a grandson of John and Jane Graves Coffey through his father, the Rev. James Coffey and his wife, Elizabeth Cleveland.  James and Elizabeth, through their 11 children are responsible for many of the Wayne and Pulaski Co., KY Coffey families.

Lewis was number 11, born Nov. 18, 1772 in Amherst Co., VA, died Sep. 29, 1850 in Wayne Co., KY.[1]    He married Bidant "Biddy" Moore on Dec. 10, 1795 [2] in Wilkes Co. NC, a daughter of Jesse Moore and Alley Johnson.  Biddy was born on May 3, 1775 in Albemarle Co., VA and died in Wayne Co. on Jan. 13, 1857.[1]

Eleven children were born to Lewis and Biddy.  They were:

Elizabeth G. (Betsy), 1797-1868, who married Richard Northcraft Cullom.  Richard was a farmer and a legislator, born in Maryland in 1795.  He and Betsy were married in Wayne Co., KY where Richard's family had moved early in his life.  In 1830, he and Betsy moved to Tazewell Co., IL where they lived the remainder of their lives.  In 1836 he was elected to the 10th Illinois General Assembly where he served with Lincoln.  In 1840 he was elected to the IL Senate.  He served in a number of other elected offices and died in Tazewell Co. on Dec. 3, 1872.  Betsy died on Dec. 5, 1868.  Both are buried at the Old Washington Cemetery in Tazewell Co., IL.  They had at least five children, the third being Shelby Moore Cullom (1829-1914).  He followed his father into politics and was elected to the IL state house in 1855.  In 1865 he was elected to represent IL in the US Congress where he served three consecutive terms.  In 1876 he was elected Governor of IL and served nearly two terms.  He resigned in the middle of the second term to become a candidate for the US Senate, to which he was elected and served five consecutive terms and was considered several times as a candidate for the US presidency.[3]  He married twice, both wives daughters of Samuel and Hannah Beaver Fisher.  All are buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, IL.

Rachel, 1798-?, married Thomas Jefferson Jones c1830.  They were probably married sometime around 1830 and were in the 1860 Wayne Co., KY census.  Thomas was age 55; Rachel age 59.  I know of two children:  Margaret (1830-1862) married Martin Sallee.  In 1860 a John Jones, age 11, was in the household with Thomas and Rachel and, could be a son or a grandson.

Mary Jane "Polly", c1803-1855, married Jooshua Oatts in Wayne Co. on Jan. 4, 1821.[4]  They were in the 1850 Wayne Co., KY census with children Cleveland, age 21; Emily, age 18; John R., age 15; Safrona [sic], age 14; Lewis, age 10; T. J., age 8 [Thomas J.]; Shelby C., age 6 and Russell, age 5.  In addition to those, they also had Cosby [1823-1890] and James Douglas [1824-1893].  Joshua died in 1858 and is buried at Elk Springs Valley Cemetery in Oil Valley, Wayne Co.  Polly died of typhoid fever in 1855 and is also buried at Elk Springs Valley.

James Lewis, 1802-1855, married Sarah Alloway "Sally" Strange in 1830, Wayne Co.  Sally was born in McMinn Co., TN in 1807 to Archelaus Alloway and Elizabeth Coffey Strange.  Elizabeth Coffey Strange and James Lewis Coffey were first cousins.  James died in Wayne Co. in 1855 and Sally there in 1885.  Both are buried at Elk Springs Valley.  They had at least 10 children:  Jesse Columbus; Elizabeth E.; Anjeletta; George W.; Cleveland McKendree; Mary "Molly"; James Franklin; Sarah J. "Sallie"; Obidah Strange "Obie"; and Verlinda J. "Linnie."  More information about this family is available.

Henderon, c1802-1868, married Minerva Alexander in 1827, Wayne Co.[5] Minerva was born c1805 in KY and died in Wayne Co. in 1881.  Harrison died in 1868 and both are buried at Elk Springs Valley.  They had at least 10 children:  Telitha; Mary Alexander; Shelby; Joseph; Emily Biddy; Nancy "Nannie"; Elizabeth "Betsy;" Lewis; Mary Anna and Susan.  More information about this family is available.

Shelby "Shelly," 1811-1863, married Zerilda Emarine Meadows, daughter of Andrew and Jane Graham Meadows.  She was born in Wayne Co., 1822 and died there in 1900.  Shelly died in 1863 [6] and both are buried at Elk Springs Valley.  I have only three children for them:  Shelby, Jr., 1833-?; Andrew Lewis, 1844-1887; and Mary Jane, 1854-?.  More information about this family is available.

Edward Northcraft Cullom, c1813-?, married Rachel A. Isaacs.  Rachel was born in 1823 and died in Wayne Co. in 1872.  She is buried at Kendrick Cemetery in Monticello, Wayne Co., KY.  No further information.

Jesse Moore, 1815-1835, married Elizabeth "Eliza" Smith in 1832. [5]  They had a daughter, Sophronia, born c1833.  No further information.

Benjamin Franklin, 1816-1868, married Mary Ann Worsham in 1842. [5]  Mary Ann was born in 1826 in KY and died in Wayne Co. in 1886.  Both are said to be buried in Monticello at a Coffey Cemetery. [7]  Their children were Emma; Martha; William E.; Mary A.; Ida S.; Benjamin, Jr.; Robert Lee and Nannie J.  No further information.

Cleveland L., 1817-?, married Sophronia Oatts, born 1812m died 1877 in Wayne Co.  Children were at least two:  Lewis J. and Mary C.  Sophronia is buried at Elk Springs Valley.  No further information.

Thomas Coleman, c1819-1890, married four time, first to Mary Heaven or Havens in 1839, Wayne Co.[5]  No children are known to have been born to this union.  Second wife was Patience Jane Miller in 1848.[5][8]  He and Patience had at least three children:  Margaret, c1841, John, c1843 and Marshal, c1850.  Patience died in Wayne Co. in 1855.  That date is not proven and her burial place is not known to me.  Third wife was Sarah Havens, likely some relation to Mary, his first wife.  Nothing is known of her.  Thomas' fourth wife was Mrs. Amanda Jane Hudson Stone, born c1819.  They had at least three children:  Amanda, c1851; Alley, c1853 and Mary, c1856.  According to the KY DAR, Thomas died in Lincoln Co. and is probably buried there.[9]

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Some documentation as well as this information and Lewis' ancestors, his family and his descendants can be found on the Edward Coffey Project CD or DVD.  In fact, all of the Coffey's that I have written about in this blog over the past number of years can be found in my Edward Coffey Project, with much of it updated since the blog was written.

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[1] Grave monument
[2] Coffey, Laurence H., editor, Thomas Coffey and His Descendants (Chattanooga, TN: N. Sanders, 1931), Page 85.
[3] Governors of Illinois (Chicago, IL: Biographical Publishing Company, 1891), Pages 175-176.
[4] Dodd, Jordan. Kentucky Marriages to 1850. [database online] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 1997. Electronic transcription of marriage records held by the individual counties in Kentucky.
[5] From Wayne County, Kentucky Marriages, 1801-1860. Source gives brides name as Mannen Alexander; Manerva in 1850 and 1860 Wayne Co. census. Bond missing; married 29 March 1827 by Racoon John Smith.
[6] “Kentucky Probate Records, 1792-1977,” Image database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/).
[7] Wayne Co. KY Cemeteries compiled by B. B. Coffey, Sr., Page 31.  This cemetery is referred to in the source as Coffey Cemetery and is said to be located at or near the intersection of Spruce St. and Hiland View Dr. in Monticello.
[8]The bride's name appears to be Jane Meeker in record. Surety was Isaac N. Shepherd. Bond dated 23 August 1848; Minister return is missing.
[9] Kentucky DAR, compiler, Kentucky Bible Records (: DAR, 1966), Vol. IV.

Albert and Sarah Goodnight Coffey

Albert was the second eldest son of the Rev. Reuben A. and Martha "Polly" Dowell Coffey, born Feb. 22, 1810 in Wilkes Co., NC.  Albert married Sarah Goodnight in Monroe Co., IN on Dec. 5, 1833.[1]  Sarah was born c1803 in Shelby Co., KY.

Albert died in Jan., 1837, just a few years into his marriage with Sarah, and leaving her with two young children to raise.  The first was Julia Ann, born in Aug., 1836 followed by Wesley W., born Dec. 13, 1837 in Owen Co., IN.  Sarah never remarried and died c1880 in Spencer, Owen Co., IN.  Daughter Julia married William R. Stogsdill in Owen Co. in 1856 and Sarah lived with them in Owen Co. for almost 30 years.

Sarah's son Wesley married Laura Joseph Howe in Owen Co. in 1865.[2]  Laura was the daughter of Amon Price and Harriet C. Thatcher Howe and was born in IN in 1843.  Together, they had three children, only one of which married and has descendants.  That was Bryon Howe, born in 1866, Owen Co., died 1945 in Los Angeles, CA.  He was their first born, followed by Hallie H. in 1874 and Albert Price in 1876.  Laura was the mother of four children but only three survived to become adults.[3]

Hallie and Albert never married and pretty much lived with their mother, or with each other, from birth to death in Los Angeles.  Albert died in 1936 at age 70, and Hallie died in 1969 at age 95.  I have not found their burial places.  In the 1941 city directory for Wilmar City in Los Angeles Co., Albert gave his occupation as "musician." Hallie reported her occupation as "stenographer."

Byron married Nellie Branham in Owen Co. in 1894.[2]  She was a daughter of Laroes and Susan Amanda Halbert Branham, born in Indiana in Sep., 1873.  She died on Jul. 4, 1962 in Los Angeles.

There were four children born to their marriage, all in Spencer, Owen Co.:

Thatcher Howe, born 1895, died 1956 in Los Angeles.  Thatcher married Lessa Leona Freeman in Riverside Co., CA in 1919.  She was the daughter of Fletcher and Margaret McClellan Freeman, born in Oct., 1899 in Iowa, died in Los Angeles in 1979.  I believe that Thatcher and Lessa had just one child, a daughter named Mary Jane, born in 1920.  She married John Batterso and they both lived with her parents in LA in 1940.

Thatcher's sister, Naomi Josephine was born in 1896 and died in LA County in 1970.  She was married to Karl Keeler in Marion Co., IN in 1916.[2]  They had at least two children, Lois Karlyn, born c1919 and Karl, Jr., born c1921.  Lois married a Mr. Teters and died in LA County in 1990.

Byron's third child was Cecile Louise, born 1897, died in LA County in 1946.  She married Joseph Adolph Iverson c1927, probably in CA.  He died in Chatsworth, LA County in 1986.  She died well before that, in 1946, LA County.  This may be the same Joseph who was buried at Oakwood Memorial Park in Chatsworth, LA Co.  His bio at Find-A-Grave reads:  "Son of Carl Johan and Augusta Matilda (Wagman) Iverson. Husband of Louise and Iva. Brother of Carl Jr and Aaron Iverson, Anna Foss and Sena Baker. Joe was the owner, along with brother Aaron, of the Iverson Ranch in Chatsworth, famed filming place of many American westerns of the 1930s through the 1960s, including The Lone Ranger series and numerous episodes of Bonanza."  I know of no children born to his union with Louise but, a website devoted to the ranch and some of the history, has a photo of Ed Iverson, reported there to be the one of "the owner," which could be Aaron's son..

Coffey Sprinkler
Click for larger view

The fourth child and second son was Jule Hubert, born in 1899, died in LA County in 1979. He married Harried Ellen Johnson c1925. She was born in Ramsey Co., MN in 1899 and was the mother of at least two children: Harry, born c1927 and Priscilla H., born c1931. Jule held numerous patents during his lifetime, including US 3088677 for the "Oscillating Arm Pop-Up Sprinkler," seen on many lawns across the US.  To be sure, others have made "improvements," but the basic concept remains Jule's.

He was a 1924 graduate of CalTech and died in Clarement, CA in 1979.  His daughter, Priscilla Coffey McKenna wrote to the alumni newsletter that "he was retired and had been living in Claremont, California....He lived a long and exceedingly useful life and we will miss him very much."[4]

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Malcolm Carnegie McKenna

While searching for Jule's daughter Priscilla, I found that she married Malcolm Carnegie McKenna, son of Donald Carnegie and Bernice Caroline Waller McKenna.  The McKennas were a family of philanthropists; Donald being a Pennsylvania industrialist and the namesake of Clarement McKenna College in CA.  Malcolm and Priscilla were married in Claremont on Jun. 17, 1952.  He died on Mar. 3, 2008 in Boulder, CO.  Before his retirement, Malcolm was Frick curator of vertebrate paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History and professor emeritus of geological sciences at Columbia University.

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[1]Indiana State Library Genealogy Database: Marriages through 1850, Indiana State Library online [http://199.8.200.229/db/marriages_search.asp], accessed Sep.,2005.
[2]Indiana Marriage Records Index, 1845-1920;.Index to Marriage Records Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940.
[3]1900 Owen Co., IN census record
[4]Caltech News, June 1979, California Institute of Technology (http://caltechcampuspubs.library.caltech.edu/2366/1/1979_06_13_04.pdf : viewed 21 December 2012), Vol 13, No. 4, Page 8, Obituaries.

Wesley W. Coffey - Request for Help

My original blog on Wesley W. Coffey.

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Today I received the following e-mail from Hal Shaw.  Please contact him directly if you can help with his request:

Dear Sir.

I am Hal Shaw,  I am looking for a photo of Wesley Coffey.  Wesley was Worshipful Master of the Spencer Masonic Lodge #95 in 1899.

The lodge has photo of all the Worshipful Master  hanging on the wall of honor from 1849 to the present, that is all but 7.  We are trying to complete the wall of honor, by locating the missing photos.

We are missing a photo of of the following gentleman:

John W. ALLISON, master 1849,

E. S. HOWE who was master in 1850 ( I noticed you are also working on the Howe family, I am not sure if E.S. Howe is related to Laura Howe 1843- 1940  or her father Amos Price Howe 1790- 1871.  Maybe you know the answer to this)

Isaac Johnson, master 1851

Lewis Stay, master 1868

A. J. Richards, master 1881,

Edward C Steel, master in 1889.

WESLEY W. COFFEY, master in 1899.

If you can help with a photos or know of anyone who might be able to, please let me know.
email is Shaws at comteck.com or 7121 Hickson Hill Road, Poland, IN 47868 [replace "at" with "@" to e-mail Mr. Shaw.]

In your blog or newsletter, you ask for burial place for Wesley Coffey.  He is buried in Riverside Cemetery in Section D, Spencer, Owen County IN.  His son Robert Coffey is also buried with him. Robert born and died 1880.

I did see on the internet at a Jean Birston  posted she had a picture of Wesley, but her emails come back as undeliverable.

Thank you in advance for any help.

Hal Shaw

Jordan & Rachel Lorinda Coffey Hampton

Rachel Lorinda "Rinda" Coffey was a daughter of Jesse Calton and Nancy A. Raines Coffey.  She was born on Nov. 14, 1856 in Haywood Co., NC and died Oct. 14, 1934 in the Blue Ridge Twp. of Watauga Co., NC.*  She was probably buried alongside Jordan in the Hampton Family cemetery in Blowing Rock.

Jordan was a son of Emanuel and Sarah Orilla Moreland Hampton and was born Sep. 10, 1856 in Watauga Co.  He and Rachel were married there on Nov. 7, 1875.**  Over the next 30 years, Rachel became the mother of at least 15 children.  The family appeared in every Watauga Co. census from 1880 until 1930, the last available.

The children as I have them:

Martha L., born Sep. 6, 1875, died Nov. 16, 1940 at Blowing Rock.  Her spouse was James Carey Ashley, born Feb. 2, 1868 in Wilkes Co. to Benjamin and Sarah Brown Ashley.  They were married on May 10, 1899 in Watauga Co.  James died Jun. 30, 1955 in Blowing Rock.  Both are buried at Middle Fork Cemetery in Boone.

Emanuel Arkie "Arkie", born Dec. 26, 1879, died Dec. 19, 1963 in Boone.  He married Mary Ann Storie on Nov. 19, 1905 in Patterson, Caldwell Co.  She was born in NC c1883.  Their daughter, Adda Leona Hampton, born Oct. 14, 1918, died Sep. 23, 1968 in Blowing Rock, married Rhonda Lester Coffey, a son of Rufus Monroe and Emma Eliza Robbins Coffey.  Arkie is buried at Mount Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery at Boone.  I have found no other info on Mary Ann.

Harley E., born 1881, died unknown.  He married Estella Lay on Jul. 28, 1901 in Deerfield, Watauga Co.***

William Spencer, born Jul. 21, 1882, died Sep. 7, 1964 at Boone.¹

Sarah Elizabeth, born Nov. 11, 1883.  No further information.

Eliza Jane, born Jul 30, 1886, died Jan. 23, 1972 in Watauga Co.  Her spouse was Roby Luther Storie, a son of J. L. & Martha Caroline Curtis Storie.  He was born Sep. 9, 1879 in Caldwell Co. and died at Boone on Oct. 12, 1952.¹  They were married on May 31, 1908 in Watauga Co.***  Both are buried at Mount Lawn Memorial Park in Boone.

Rev. Jesse Amos, born Jul. 30, 1886, married Verta Harrison, daughter of Jeremiah William and Delphia Melinda Cook Harrison on Aug. 13, 1911 in Watauga Co.  Rev. Hampton died a horrible death on Jan. 12, 1927 when he was crushed in his mill while removing ice from the wheel.  He is buried at the Hampton Cemetery in Boone.¹  Verta was born Aug. 15, 1884 and died Aug. 14, 1966 at Blowing Rock.  She is also buried at the Hampton Cemetery.  Another daughter of Jeremiah and Delphia married Newton Leonard Harrison, a son of Anson Lafayette and Eliza Jane Coffey Harrison.  Eliza was also a daughter of Jesse Calton and Nancy Raines Coffey.
Walter, born Feb. 3, 1889 in Watauga Co., died Mar. 10, 1956 in Statesville, Iredell Co., NC. He was buried at Mount Lawn in Boone.

Finimore Lindley, born Dec. 5, 1890, died Apr. 18, 1970 at Boone.  He married Nevada Bowles on Jun. 29, 1913 in Watauga Co.***  Nevada was born Jul. 1, 1894 in Watauga Co., died at Boone on Jan. 23, 1994.  Both are buried at Mount Vernon.

Constance "Connie" Geneva, born Oct. 12, 1992, died Mar. 3, 1984 at Boone.  She married Joseph William "Joe" Wheeler on Jan. 31, 1915 in Watauga Co.***  Joe was born May 1, 1892 in that county and died at Triplett, Elk Twp., Watauga Co. on May 9, 1951.  Joe's death certificate reports his burial in the "family cemetery" at Triplett.  Connie is probably also buried there.

Birdie, born Oct. 25, 1894.  No further information.

Oliver Estes, born Aug. 1, 1898 at Blowing Rock, died on Oct. 15, 1937 at Statesville.  He married Inez Day, born 1899 in NC, on Feb. 14, 1918 in Watauga Co.***  Oliver is buried at Boone in the Hampton Cemetery.

Elzy (Elsie?) Caroline was born Dec. 21, 1898, married Mar. 2, 1919*** to J. W. Johnson, born in NC c1895.

Jeremiah Russell, born May 8, 1902, died Dec. 21, 1954 in Watauga Co.  He married Fannie Lee Herman, a daughter of Carroll Marvin and Essie Loaney Coffey Herman on Dec. 25, 1921** in Watauga Co.  Essie was a daughter of John Nelson "Nels" and Laura Ann Henley Coffey.  Jeremiah is buried at Mount Lawn.  Fannie died Jul. 18, 1990 at Boone and is probably also buried at Mount Lawn.

Child number 15 was Theodore Augustus "Gus," born May 30, 1904, died Jun. 12, 1956 at Boone.  He married Edna Serena Green, daughter of Albert and Bertha Triplett Greer on Feb. 1, 1926 at Bamboo in Watauga Co.***  Edna was born Sep. 25, 1906 in Watauga Co. and died Jun. 6, 2008 at Boone.

Obituary, The Watauga Democrat, Jun. 10, 2008

Mrs. Edna Serena Greer Hampton, 101, of 206 Ridgewood Road, Deep Gap, died Friday, June 6, 2008, at Glenbridge Health Care Center.

She was born Sept. 25, 1906 in Watauga County, a daughter of the late Albert and Bertha Triplett Greer.

Mrs. Hampton was one of the original 43 charter members of Trinity Baptist Church in Deep Gap, N.C., where she attended for many years and also taught Sunday School.

A life well lived, Edna is fondly remembered by her family and friends as a maker of beautiful quilts, fine embroidery, good cooking, love of family, and a gentle spirit. As a descendant of some of the first settlers in this area (as well as Daniel Boone’s sister and Benjamin Greer, a soldier of the Revolutionary War) she is one of the last of a pioneering breed of true Americans. She enjoyed most of all family get-togethers, always featuring loads of good food. Edna enjoyed gathering and preserving food when in season. She is remembered best sitting at her quilting frames, or holding an embroidery hoop and needle, peeling and paring vegetables and fruits for canning, drying, freezing or preserving.

Survivors include four daughters, Rosella (Kay) Nolte of Millersville, Md., Evalee Stone of Lenoir, Bonnie Steelman and husband, Harold, of Deep Gap, and Margaret Jewell of Raleigh; two sons, Dale Hampton and wife, Marie, of Boone, and Kenneth Hampton and wife, Hazel, of Bowling Brook, Ill.; one sister, Maude Clawson of Boone; and four half-sisters, Bernice Cox of Lenoir, Ruth Miller of Boone, Gladys Gilbert and Melba Hayes, both of Boomer. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

Obituary Photo

She was preceded in death by her husband, Theodore Augustus Hampton (Gus); two daughters, Reba Rourke; and an infant, Shelby Jean Hampton; one grandson, Claude Nolte; three sons-in-law, Robert Rourke, Bernard G. Stone and Joseph Jewell; three sisters, Mrs. Lawrence "Maggie" Green, Mrs. Walter "Lily" Triplette and Mrs. Willard "Ora" Watson; two brothers, Virgil Greer and Sherman Greer; two half-brothers, Bynum Greer and Vaughan Greer; and one half-sister, Chloe Greer.

Services will be conducted Monday afternoon, June 9, 2008, at 2:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Home Chapel. The body will lie in state, at the chapel, from 12:30 until 2:00 o'clock. Officiating will be Dr. Wayne Brown. Burial will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.

The family will receive friends, Monday afternoon, from 12:30 until 2:00 o'clock, at the funeral home, prior to the service. At other times, friends may call at the home of Bonnie and Harold Steelman, 206 Ridgewood Road, Deep Gap.

Online condolences may be sent to the Hampton family at www.hamptonfuneralservice.com.

Hampton Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

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*Racheal L. Hampton, death certificate No. 442 (14 October 1934), Bureau of Vital Statistics, North Carolina State Board of Health, Caldwell Co., NC. (familysearch.org)
**Historical Studies, Appalachian State University, Department of History (Editors Evelyn G. Shepherd and Brenda M. Greene), compiler, Marriage Register of Watauga County, North Carolina 1873-1954 (Boone, Watauga Co., NC: Dept. of Hist., Appalachian State Univ., Boone, NC, 1995).
***North Carolina County Marriages, 1759-1979 , digital images, FamilySearch.Org (www.familysearch.org).
¹Source available on request 

Note:  Someone appears to have been cropped out of the family photo.  A shoulder and arm appears to the far right. Source of photo unknown; appears to be from a publication.

Finley T. and Mary Delight Clark Loudermelt - Corrections

Corrections/additions highlighted.

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The Loudermelt surname is spelled any number of ways, depending, it seems, on the specific family.  One of my e-mail friends, Lloyd Coffey of Alexander Co., NC, wrote in response to my question about this, that families in his area of NC spell their surnames "Loudermelt", "Loudermilt", and "Lowdermilk".  His research into this family has uncovered such spellings as "Lautermilch," the original German spelling, as well as all of the above spellings except with the letter A instead of O.

Mary D. Clark Loudermelt

When Finley married Mary Delight Clark in Mitchell Co. on Dec. 25, 1883, his surname was spelled Lawdermilk on the marriage record.  In the 1920 census it was Loudermilk; Loudermelt in 1910 and Loudermilt in 1920.  I haven't found his death certificate, or any death record for that matter that would tell me how it was spelled on that document.  When Mary died in Taylorsville, Alexander Co. on Jan. 31, 1954, her name was spelled Loudermelt on the death certificate.  She was buried at Rocky Face Cemetery in Alexander Co.

Naming only their children known to have married Coffeys

Their first child was John Minford*, born Oct. 27, 1884, died Oct. 20, 1927.   John married Celia L. Coffey* on Oct. 7, 1910 in the Globe.  Celia was the daughter of Eldelano "Lano" and Mary E. Austin Coffey.  Celia was born in Caldwell Co., NC in Mar., 1891 and died Dec. 23, 1973.  Their children were Lottie, Eva Mae, Annie and Myrtle.  If the birth and death dates for John and Celia are close, then Celia lived for another 46 years after John died and, may have remarried.

Finley and Mary's fifth child was a daughter, Ella Mae, born Oct., 1891, died Feb. 11, 1975 in Lenoir, Caldwel Co.  She married Thomas Newton "Black Tom" Coffey on Dec. 5, 1909 in Mortimer, Caldwel Co.  Tom was the son of Jesse (Cleveland?) "Red Eye" Coffey and Lucinda Louise "Lou" Coffey Coffey.  Tom and Ella may had at least 13 children who produced a long line of descendants for the couple.  Please contact me for more info on their children.

Eliza Loudermelt Coffey

Jesse C. Coffey

Eliza was the sixth child born to Finly and Mary.  She was born Dec, 23, 1892 and died May. 18, 1987 at Hiddenite in Alexander Co.  Eliza married Jesse Cleveland, another son of "Red Eye" and Lou Coffey.  Jesse Cleveland was born Dec., 1888 in Caldwell Co., and died Sep. 28, 1923 in Norton, Wise Co., VA.  Jesse was shot and died of septicemia, and accounts of the shooting vary.  It appears to have been accidental.  Their children were six who also provided Jesse and Eliza with a long list of descendants.  Same offer as above for more info.  He is buried at Glenco Cemetery at Big Stone Gap, Wise Co., VA.  Eliza is buried at Rocky Face.

Romilous Linney followed Eliza in Nov., 1895 and married Alberta "Bertie" Coffey, a daughter of Samuel Monroe and Josephine "Josie" Dellinger Coffey.  Readers who need more info on Samuel and Josie should use the upper right "search this blog" window to find previous blogs about this family.  Romilous' death date and place of burial is not known to me.  Bertie is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Lenoir.  I have only one child for the, a son by the name of Ronald "Ronnie" Loudermelt, born May 17, 1921 in Avery Co., died Apr. 28, 2010 in Lenoir. He is also buried at Woodlawn.

Ronald "Ronnie" was a son of Albert Abner Loudermilk by Bertie.   He and Bertie were not married.  Romilous "Rom" died of meningitis at age 19 and is buried at Lowdermilk Cemetery on Anthony Creek Road in Avery Co., near Carey's Flat.

When Romilous died in 1915, Bertie was just 10 years old and they were probably not romantically connected.  Bertie later married Clyde Johnson**.  This married produced at least one child, Essie Johnson.  I haven't found out what happened to Clyde but, sometime later she was with Albert Loudermelt**, a brother to Romilous.  Marriage - if there was one - to Albert apparently did not last too long because Albert married Julia Jennings** while Bertie was still living.  Finally, on May 25, 1926 Bertie*** married Andrew Jackson "Andy" Jennings and gave him at least eight children between 1925 and 1946.  Andy Jennings**** was brother to Julia who married Albert Loudermelt. Albert Abner (Ab) Loudermelt was shot and killed on Aug. 14, 1929 by Paris Coffey.

The last child that I am aware of being born to Finley and Mary was Mary Octavia on Oct. 9,1903 in Avery Co., died Mar. 31, 1977 in Boone, Watauga Co.  She married Fredrick Abner Coffey on May 12, 1922 in Carter Co., TN.  Fredrick was born Jan. 18, 1902 in Caldwell Co. to George Washington, Jr. and Tempey S. Calloway Coffey.  He died Apr. 6, 1930 in Banner Elk, then in Avery Co.  Frederick is buried at Boone Fork cemetery while Mary rests at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock.  They had five children:  George, Mary Hazel, Roy Lee, Everette and Ola.

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*Birth and Death dates unsourced.
**No marriage record found so far.

***Some of Bertie's marriages may be out of sequence or perhaps not marriages at all.  The only date that I have confirmed for Bertie is the one to Andy.
****He was also brother to Lavinia Jennings who married Raymond Dellinger, son of Reubed D. Keever and Rebecca S. Coffey Dellinger.  The Jennings were children of Van and Daisy Shelton Jennings.

Cornelius & Ailsy Elizabeth Greenfield Coffey

Betty Greenfield Coffey

Cornelius Coffey

Cornelius Coffey was the fifth child of at least 11 born to William Coffey, Jr. and his wife Margaret Robbins.  William, Jr. was a native of Yadkin Valley, born May 5, 1812 in that part of Wilkes Co., NC that later became part of Caldwell Co.  Margaret was born c1816 in North Carolina, the exact area is unknown.  He died May 8, 1893 in Buffalo Twp., Caldwell Co..  Margaret preceded him in death on Apr 26,1882.

Obituary, Lenoir Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC, May 28, 1893

To the Editor of the Lenoir Topic:  Died at his home on Buffalo, in Caldwell county, May the 8th, 1893, William Coffey, aged 81 years and 8 days.  His wife, Margaret, also departed this life April 26th, 1882, in the 66th year of her age.  The Lord blessed them with a family of twelve children of which seven remain to mourn their loss.  Brother and Sister Coffey joined the Baptist church in 1847; was soon ordained in the office of Deacon and Deaconess, which office they executed well.  They both lived consistent Christian lives.  We were present at the funeral of Sister Coffey, and remember hearing Brother Coffey express his desire to be asleep in Jesus with his companion.  Since that time his greatest delight has been in the worship and service of the house of the Lord, often expressing a strong desire to be freed from the temptations and perplexities of this, and after an illness of about 6 months he fell asleep in the full triumphs of faith and was gathered to his loved ones that had gone before.  Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.  M.C. and J.H.J.

 Cornelius was born Jul. 27, 1844 at Buffalo Creek in Wilkes Co. and died Jun. 2, 1906 in Morganton, Burke Co.  He was enumerated as a a patient at the Broughton State Hospital in Morganton in 1900.  He is buried in the cemetery on the hospital grounds, his grave marked by a simple funeral home marker.  I have not yet found his wife's final resting place.

He married Ailsy Elizabeth "Betty" Greenfield on Feb. 20, 1868 in Caldwell Co.  She was born Sep. 7, 1850 and died Jun. 11, 1928, presumably in North Carolina.

Their children, all born in Caldwell Co., were:

William Larkin, born Jun. 19, 1870, died Jan. 5, 1953 in Granite Falls, Caldwell Co.  His wife was Alice Selma Setzer, daughter of Paul and Jemina Simmons Setzer, and was born Sep. 9, 1865 in NC, died Aug. 22, 1941 in Granite Falls.  Both are buried there at Pinecrest Cemetery.  Their children were Charles Mozer; Fannie C.; Claude Augustus; Ada M.; Walter Victor; Garland Cecil; Ethel; and Lucy Jane.

Elbert Finley, born Mar. 1, 1872, died Apr. 29, 1959 in Salisbury, Rowan Co., NC.  His wife was Mary Louise Lentz, born Jul. 19, 1903 in NC, died Dec. 25, 1990 in Salisbury.  Elbert is buried at Westlawn Memorial Park in China Grove, Rowan Co.  Mary Louise is probably there as well but, I have found no record of that.  Their children were at least two:  Jack Nolan and Robert J. "Bob" Coffey.

Martha Louisa, born c1874.  Her spouse was Roy Abernathy.  No other information on either.  Their children were also at least two:  Collis Odell and Julia.

John Oliver, born c1876, died May 19, 1947 in Hinesville, Liberty Co., GA.  His wife was Eva Broce, born Jan. 4, 1881 in Bristol, Sullivan Co., TN, died Jan. 20, 1946 in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., OH.  After John's death, Eva married Berch E. Scott of Highland Co., OK.  He was born Aug. 12, 1872 and died in Cincinnati on Aug. 4, 1943.  Both are buried at Vine Street Cemetery in Cincinnati.  John's children with Eva were:  Bruce, born c1899 in TN; Ethel, born c1902 in TN; Fred Howard, born c1905 in TN and Edna Lucille, born c1907 in NC.

Mary Etta, born Jun. 10, 1878, died Apr. 24, 1952 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  She married on Aug. 25, 1900 in Watauga Co. to Larkin Solomon Presnell, born Feb. 10, 1870 in Watauga Co., NC to James H. and Rebecca Green Presnell.  Larkin died Jun. 24, 1941 in Caldwell Co.  He is buried at Howell Cemetery in Vilas, Watauga Co. while Mary Etta rests at Blue Ridge Memorial Park in Lenoir.  Their children were also at least two:  Clarence Haskel, born 1901 and Roy Lee, born 1903, both in Watauga Co.

Annie Elizabeth, born Aug. 22, 1881, died Sep. 14, 1946 in Lenoir.  She married Aug. 25, 1901 in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., to Jesse Steele Johnson, a son of James Harvel and Zelphia Almida Sloan Johnson.  Jesse was born Jan. 24, 1881 in NC and died Sep. 12, 1965 in Lenoir.  They are buried at Belleview Cemetery in Lenoir.  They were also parents of at least two children:  Nellie Clyde, born 1903 and Lewis Albert.

The last child was George T., born Jul., 1883, married Jul. 27, 1902 to Nellie Taylor in Burke Co., NC.  I have only one child for them:  Billie, a daughter, born May 28, 1908 in Lenoir.

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Photos of Cornelius and Betty courtesy of Donna Schultz

Rev. Patrick Henry & Cora Lee Coffey Clements

Patrick's father was James P. Clements.  His mother was Eliza Jane Allen.

"Mr. Clements has for ancestors Methodist people for a hundred years; so he has a right to shout, on proper occasions.  His birthplace was on the rich level of blue grass found all along the platform of the Blue Ridge.  He dates from October 9, 1861.  He was blessed with the favor of working on a farm in early life.  It beats a gymnasium to strengthen the thews and tendons of a young fellow.  And he learns much of the things needful in the country pulpit, as illustrations and the drift of thought.  He also was clerk in a store, another valuable aid in knowing the people.  Our Academy at Bedford and our College at Ashland educated Mr. Clements, 'in book-learning.'

He is stout for his inches, five feet nine; 165 pounds, hair, auburn; voice clear, sonorous reaching.  He speaks with moderate speed, perhaps faster that the average.

He came into the Conference in the usual way in 1895.  He and Miss Coffey were married April 19, 1899.  They have a clever boy to gladden their hearts.

Mr. Clements served two years at South View and Providence, near Lynchburg, and then was assigned to Lunenburg, where he now expounds.  He has made marked improvements in the material and spiritual condition of his present charge.  There is much subterranean, wholesome humon in 'Pat' Clements, which bubbles up at times.  And, withal, the grave questions he is charged to expound, fill his soul with profound seriousness."*

The following is amended from what you may have read here previously:

 His wife was Cora Lee Coffey, born Dec. 16, 1875 in Amherst Co., VA to Daniel Rufus and Mildred J. Lawman Coffey. 

Patrick Henry Coffey died on Sep. 29, 1950 in Wakefield, Sussex Co., VA and was buried at Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, VA. Cora died on Feb. 8, 1964 in Hampton, VA and was also buried at Blandford.

Their children were Bascom L., born c1901; Louise T., born c1904; and Mildred L., born c1915.

James P. Clements was born in Amherst Co., VA on Aug. 4, 1823 and died there on Mar. 13, 1924.  Eliza was also born in Amherst Co. on May 28, 1827 and died there on Nov. 26, 1899.  Both she and James are buried at Mount Horab United Methodist Church Cemetery at Amherst, Amherst Co.

A daughter of James and Eliza was Mary Jane Clements, born 1858, died 1937 in Amherst Co., married Augustus Decereaux Whitten.  Their son, Marvin Harrison Whitte, born 1882, died 1975, married  Hattie Stinnett in 1902, Caswell Co., NC.  Their daughter, Lottie Pearl Whitten, (1913-1997) married Reuben Loyal Coffey (1909-1988), a son of Reuben Wood and Nettie Belle Nicely Coffey.

James Thomas Clements, another son of James and Eliza, married Lucy Johnson and their daughter Nevie, married John Woodson Coffey, a son of Henry Landon and Lillie Belle Burch Coffey.  Another daughter, Ella Lazenby married Harry B. Coffey, a son of Henley and Avarilla Ogden Coffey.  Still another daughter, Sadie Lillian married Edgar Littleton Coffey, brother to Harry B.

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*John James Lafferty D. Litt., Author, Sketches and Portraits of the Virginia Conference: Twentieth Century Edition (Richmond, VA: n.p., 1901), Page 463.

Eli Charles Coffey

Eli was born on Jan. 8, 1832 in Georgia, probably Pickens Co., to Jesse S. and Winifred Crumpton Coffey. Jesse was a product of Wilkes Co., NC where he was born on Jul. 19, 1799 and where he married Winifred on Dec. 22, 1821.

By trade, Eli was a stone cutter and worked in the quarries in Pickens Co. most of his adult life.  He was the fifth of at least seven children born to Jesse and Winifred.  His older siblings were Thomas Walton, Larkin D., Lewis Elbert and William R.  Those younger than him were Martin Van Buren and John Gordon.

Aaron Bonville Coffey (L)

Eli married Susan Tribble c1859.  In 1860 and in 1870 Eli was enumerated in Pickens Co., GA without Susan and child Aaron, who had been born on Jan. 12, 1860.  Susan and Aaron have not been found elsewhere in Georgia for 1860 or 1870.  Eli married for a second time in 1872 to Frances Bradford and then died before the 1880 census.   His son Aaron first appeared in a census record in 1880 when he was found living with a Crockett family in DeKalb Co., GA.

This seems to indicate that Susan died about the time of Aaron's birth and that he was perhaps farmed out to other family members while Eli pursued work as a stone cutter.  Just months after Eli died in Aug., 1874, Frances Bradford Coffey gave birth to his son, Eli, Jr.  Frances remarried c1877 and in 1880 Eli, Jr. lived with her and his step-father John Howell in Pickens Co.

Eli and Frances were buried at Long Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery at Marble Hill in Pickens Co.  Susan's burial place is unknown.*

George Aaron Coffey (l) & Ava George

Aaron Bonville Coffey was married c1890 in GA to Florence C. Johnson, a daughter of George W. and Vashti P. George Johnson.  A daughter Marie was born to them in Mar., 1891 and a son, George Aaron. in Dec., 1895.  Both births occurred in Lithonia, DeKalb Co.  Marie died in 1911 at age 20 and was buried in the Lithonia City Cemetery.  George married Bessie "Bess" Chupp and died in Lithonia in 1963; Bess died in 1975.  Both are also buried in the Lithonia City Cemetery.

Eli Charles Coffey, Jr. married Margaret Gertrude Shumate on Feb. 20, 1902 in Whitfield Co., GA.  She was born on Nov. 24, 1877 in Dalton, Whitfield Co. to Ignatius and Elizabeth Gertrude Bitting Shumate.  Junior died Oct. 9, 1948 in Whitfield Co.; Margaret died there on Nov. 13, 1940.  Their burial ground is unknown to me.  I know of one child, a daughter, Lou Shumate, born c1907 in Dalton.

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Source for photo of Aaron and George Aaron: "Interior of the Lithonia Banking Co.," (circa 1912) & interior of George's Dry Goods Store.  Photographs from "Vanishing Georgia"; Georgia Archives, 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. 
*There is a grave for a Susan T. Coffey at Lithonia. The stone simply reads "Susan T. Coffey 1840-1891."  Susan Tribble who married Eli was born c1840.  If this is Eli's wife, they apparently divorced extremely early in their marriage, but where did she go?  I found a Sue Coffey in DeKalb Co. residing with her brother, but his surname was Webb.  Do we have an incorrect maiden name for Susan?  Where were her parents?

Elisha "Lish" and Anna Harmon Moody Coffey

I touched a bit on Elisha and Anna Coffey in the Aldridge & Coffey blog of May 1.  Elisha was a son of Joseph and Isabella Lindsay Coffey and was born c1814 and almost certainly in North Carolina.

Anna was a daughter of Edward and Frances Carter Moody and was born c1814 in NC.  She died before 1880 and probably in Watauga Co.  Elisha appeared in that county's 1880 census as a widower.

There are at least two other sons of Lish and Anna for whom I have very little information.  They were all born early enough to have been strong candidates for service during the Civil War and, may have been killed.  Those sons were Jacob, born c1838 and, DeKalb, born c1839.  Some genealogies that I have seen also names another Levi, born c1844 as their son.

I think the Elisha Coffee [sic] and wife Hannah in the 1850 Watauga Co. census is this couple.  In addition to the parents, there was Levi, age 16; De Calb [sic], age 11 and Mary Cannon, age 7.  I am not certain who Mary Cannon was, but there is at least one Cannon female (not Mary) who married into a Coffey family in Burke Co., NC.

In 1860 Watauga co., Jacob, age 21 appeared with the family.  Another child, May A. Harmon [sic] age 2, was enumerated with the family. Although named as a child of Elisha, it isn't clear to me yet that he was.

The 1870 Watauga co. census shows that May Harmon was then Mary Harmon, age 13.  Except for a black male, age 14, named John Adges [?], the only others in the household were Elisha and Ann.

As mentioned earlier, Elisha appeared as a widower in the 1880 census for Watauga Co.

Levi Lafayette, who appears to be the eldest child of Elisha's, was born May 30, 1833 in Burke Co., and died Feb. 11, 1925 in Watauga Co.  He married "Tempie" Calloway, a daughter of James and Nicey Gragg Calloway, c1859 in Watauga Co.

To them were born at least seven children:

1 - Caroline Lavinia Coffey, born Mar. 6, 1860, died Feb. 13, 1923.  Caroline married her cousin David Nathaniel Coffey c1886.  David and Caroline are mentioned in several blogs.  If you are interested in more about them, search the blog archives [use search window in upper left corner and surround search term with quotes; e.g., "David Nathaniel Coffey."]  You can view a photo of David and read a bit of info about him in this blog.

2 - Joseph DeCalb Coffey, born Jan. 24, 1863 at Shulls Mill in Watauga Co., and died there on Dec. 30, 1930.  He married Lutittia [sic] F. Walters, a daughter of Johnathan and Emeline Long Walters, on Apr. 9, 1899 in Watauga Co.  Both are buried at the Byrd Cemetery in Foscoe, Watauga Co.

3 - Judith Coffey, born c1866 - no further information.

4 - Emma Coffey, born Oct. 19, 1869 in Watauga, died Jan. 3, 1938 in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC.  Emma also married a cousin, William M. Coffey c1896.  William was a son of Smith W. and his wife Charity Elizabeth Redmond.

Laurence Coffey gives this name as Elizabeth Baker Redmond, indicating to me that she was probably married previous to her marriage to Smith.  However, in an e-mail to me dated Aug. 23, 2007, Carolyn Curtis wrote this:

"Elizabeth was born 6/25/1836 and died 5/20/1912. She was not married prior to her marriage to Smith Coffey on June 25, 1854 (that was her 18th Birthday). According to the Caldwell County Court of Pleas and Quarter Session, Volume II – January Term 1848, Elizabeth, an orphan child of 11 years of age, was bound to Lucinda Baker (that is where the Baker name originated) until age 18, at which time she was give her freedom, $6.00, a new suit of clothes, a bible and she was to be taught to read and write."


I seem to recall some speculation that Elizabeth was full or part Indian and the Redmond might have something to do with that part of her heritage.  But, that is something that I have not pursued.

Both Charity and Smith are said to be buried in a Coffey Cemetery at Shulls Mill.

5 - James Wesley Coffey, born May 2, 1873 in Watauga Co., died in Boone on Dec. 6, 1960.  He married Donnie Brewer c1906.  A subsequent spouse was Callie Ward, born Mar. 30, 1898, daughter of James Ward and Mary Hicks.  Callie died Aug. 25, 1975 in Boone.  They are also said to be buried in the Coffey Cemetery at Shulls Mill.

6 - Archie E. Coffey, born Mar 23, 1876, died Apr. 11, 1903.  He married Virginia Frances Brown on Sep. 30, 1900.  "Jennie" was a daughter of Samuel Walker and Nancy Jane Joyce Brown.  See the other Levi Lafayette Coffey blog for more.

7 - Oscar Lee Coffey, born Sep. 7, 1878, died Jul. 1, 1977 in Davidson Co., NC.  Oscar married Ollie Belle Calloway, born Mar. 10, 1886 in Watauga Co., died Apr. 23, 1943 in Boone.  She was the daughter of William Henderson Calloway and his wife Almirah M. "Myra" Johnson.  Ollie is buried at Foscoe in the Community Cemetery.  I have not located Oscar's burial site.

I would really love to know if the Coffey Cemetery at Shulls Mill is actually known locally by that name and where it is located.

Samuel B. Coffey

Samuel B. Coffey

Sam was born Feb. 25, 1873 in Grainger Co., TN to George and Martha M. Johnson Coffey.  George was a son of Elijah and Rebecca Shockley Coffey.

Sam's wife was Amanda "Mandy" Dalton, born Nov. 15, 1876 and died Nov. 23, 1903 in Grainger Co.  I do not know her parents.

Their children known to me were:

Tina, born c1898, Grainger Co.

Jack Oard, born Oct. 29, 1900, died Jan. 29, 1930, Grainger Co.  Jack married Leva Shockley, a daughter of Enos and Rosa Jackson Shockley on Jun. 28, 1919.  Leva was born Jun. 6, 1901 in Grainger Co., and died there on Nov. 20, 1927.  Both are buried in the Shockley cemetery in Grainger Co.  Their son, Kenneth Edward Coffey was born Apr. 20, 1925 in Franklin, Warren Co., OH and died there on May 16, 1925.  The death certificate for the child indicates that he died of malnutrition.  Sadly, his mother suffered from tuberculosis and there was no one to care for the child. [Ohio death certificate no. 32020]

At one time Sam was the sheriff of Grainger Co. and boasted of the number of stills that he had raided and destroyed.

The photograph is undated and the name of the contributor has been lost.  Please contact me if you are the owner.  I would love to know what other information is on the reverse.

Rufus & Cordelia Jane Carroll Coffey

Front L-R: Martha, Rufus, Cordelia & Bernice
Rear L-R: James Fred, William Frank & Oma Anna

Rufus was a son of William Allen and Mary Wiseman Coffey.  He was born on Jan. 24, 1860 in Brumley, Miller Co., MO and died in Bristow, Creek Co., OK in 1931.  He and Cordelia were married in Missouri on Mar. 13, 1884.  Cordelia was born Dec. 10, 1863 in Macon Co., GA and died in Bristow in 1942.  They are both buried at Bristow city cemetery.

The children of Rufus and Cordelia were:

William Frank, born Apr. 4, 1885 in Camden Co., MO and died Mar. 31, 1966 in OK.  Frank married twice.  His first wife was Sarah Ellen Scott, born Feb. 4, 1888 in MO and died July 1, 1924 in Bristow.  They had two children together, Stella, born c1908 in MO and, Alice Jane, born Feb. 24, 1911 in Bristow.  Alice died at the age of 20 in Bristow and was buried there in the city cemetery.

Frank's second wife was Senith E. Johnson Kennedy, born Dec. 11, 1902 in OK.  In 1920 Senith and her brother Henry lived with her mother and step-father Jeff Turner in Bristow.  Senith was apparently married to a Mr. Kennedy shortly thereafter.  By 1926 she was married to Frank and so did not appear in the 1930 census as a Kennedy.  The 1930 census for Frank and Senith enumerated several children in the household:  Gordon, age 9 (born c1921); Bryce, age 7 (born c1923); John J., age 5 (born c1925) and Robert, 18 mos. (born c Aug., 1928).  It appears then from this record that the three eldest children were Kennedys while Robert was a Coffey.

 Not much has been yet discovered about the remaining children:

James Fred, born Apr. 2, 1889 in Camden Co.  He married Cora Faye Rhodes.  Of the two brothers, James is the only one for whom a WW1 draft registration has been found.  He registered in Copeland precinct, Gray Co., KS on Jun. 5, 1917.  Jeff was single and a self-employed farmer in Copeland.  He was described as being of medium build and height with blue eyes and black hair.  He was 28 years old, and gave his birth date as Apr. 2, 1889 in Toronto, MO.

Oma Anna, born Aug. 23, 1894 in Camden Co., married Ray Gustin.

Martha J., born Aug. 22, 1899 in Camden Co., died Apr. 24, 1984 in Creek Co.  She married James Floyd Webster, born Dec. 12, 1897, died Jun. 12, 1978 in Creek Co.  Both are buried at Bristow in the city cemetery.

Bernice Fanny, born Aug. 13, 1905 in Camden Co., died Sep. 18, 1983 in Creek Co.  She married Raymond L. Ramsey, born Apr. 17, 1902, died July 26, 1991.  Both are buried at Bristow in the city cemetery.

Much info is still needed: The burial place of James and his family as well as Oma Ann and her family is unknown. Neither do I have a complete list of all the grand children of Rufus and Cordelia.

Albert Sampson & Mary E. Johnson Calloway

Albert was a son of Larkin and Sarah Coffey Calloway.  He was born in April, 1846, probably in Watauga Co., NC.  His death date and place is not yet known.  He married Mary E. Johnson c1868.  Mary was born Nov., 1851 and her death date and place is also yet unknown.

Albert and Mary had eight children, four sons and four daughters:

Albert Sampson Calloway Family

- William Clingman Calloway was born Jan. 26, 1870 in Watauga Co. and died Jan. 2, 1954 in that county.  He married Minerva Victori[a?] Aldridge, a daughter of James and Sallie Gragg Aldridge.  Minerva was born Nov. 24, 1874 in Watauga Co. and died there on Oct. 21, 1948.  Both she and William are buried at the Coleman cemetery in Foscoe, Watauga Co.

 - Julius Monroe Calloway, born Mar. 30, 1872 in Watauga Co. and died on Feb. 4, 1951.  He married Sabert "Sabra" Caroline Ward c1928.  Julius died on Feb. 4, 1951 in Shulls Mill, Watauga Co. and Sabert died Dec. 30, 1966 in Avery Co., NC.  After Julius died in 1951, Sabra married Joe Presnell but when she died, her children buried her at Calloway Cemetery in Foscoe with their father.

Julius and Sabra had 13 children:  May Belle, Goldie, Albert Johnson, Ivey June, Mary Sadie, Frank Wesley, William Cling, Stephen Monroe, Denver (died in infancy), Robert James (died at age 17), Norma Jean, Jimmy "J.C." Carol and Wanda Sue.

 - Sarah, born Dec., 1875

 - Ella, born May., 1882

 - Larkin Alberton, born Apr. 1, 1885 in Watauga Co., died Jan. 27, 1960 at Boone.  Larkin married his distant cousin, Nettie Louise Coffey, a daughter of Francis Richmond and Etta May Hayes Coffey.  Their children were DeEtte, born 1914; Nellie M., born 1917, died 1923; MacDonald, born 1919, died 1935 and Claude Coolidge, born 1922.

 - Lilly Jane, born 1887, died 1964, married Robert Eli Long.  I know of one child, Bruce Calloway Long, born 1912 in Watauga Co.  Lillie, and probably Robert as well, is buried at Calloway Cemetery in Foscoe.

 - Sherley Blaine, born Jan. 24, 1890.  He married Nettie G. Byers, born c1895 in NC.  They had children: Asia, born 1915; Mary Alice, born 1917; John Henry, born 1919; Della Mae, born 1921; Wanda Lee, born 1924; and Lola Bell, born 1927, all in Watauga Co.

 - Connie Dora, born Apr. 27, 1893 in Watauga Co., married Walter H. Maupin.  They are thought to have settled in Tennessee after their marriage.

In the photo are, sitting, Mary E. Johnson Calloway, Albert C Sampson Calloway, From left to right 1st row Lillie/Lula J, Connie Dora (in Marys lap), Sherley Blaine 1886 (in Sampson's lap), Larkin Alberton.  Second row left to right: Ella, Julius Monroe, Sarah, and William Clingman. The small picture in the corner under Mary is of Albert Calloway and his Aunt Lillie (the baby in Marys lap) [Photo courtesy of Wendy Calloway Lindsey, Jan., 2010].