Eliza J. Kirby Coffey

"In Memoriam.

"The subject of this sketch, wife of our esteemed townsman, Mr. Geo. E. Coffey was born in Caldwell on the 9th day of July, 1882 and died at her home in Blowing Rock on the morning of Sunday the 30th day of January, 1916, leaving, beside her mother, Mrs. Kirby, and her husband, four children as follows:  Ollie May 12 years, Ralph Sylvester 9, James Luther 7, and Eula Deal 4.  Mrs. Coffey, up to the 25th of October 1914, enjoyed perfect health, but, suffering from a stroke of paralysis at that time and from several subsequent strokes, her strength gave way and though all that medical skill could do was done for the good woman, she succumbed at last to the inevitable and, though she seemed better on Saturday, cheerful and even attempted to walk, something she had no done for over a year, the final, fatal stroke came that night and before the dawning of another Sabbath Day the soul had taken its flight.

"Mrs. Coffey joined the Second Adventist Denomination at Patterson in 1899, married George E. Coffey on the 22nd day of September, 1901 at Grove, Caldwell county and moved to Blowing Rock soon afterward.  She always looked on the bright side, even in her moments of suffering saying 'it was all for the best,' was a devoted wife and affectionate mother and dutiful daughter, had strong faith in Christ, her Saviour, and 'believed firmly in the Resurrection of the Dead and hoped to meet her dear ones in Paradise.'

"The funeral, as noted last week, was held by her pastor, Rev. Eber Gragg of Foscoe, the Reformed church not able to hold the people who came to pay the last sad tribute to her memory, though the day was most inclement, Mr. Gragg most impressively pointing to the 1st and 2d Resurrections and bidding his hearers prepare for it by rising from their sins hero and watching for the Eternal Dawn."

"The three doctors who attended Mrs. Coffey during her long illness, Doctors Brooks of Blowing Rock, Perry of Valle Cruces and Mordecai of Blowing Rock have the deep gratitude of the family and so have all the kind friends and neighbors who were most kind and considerate during it all.  God bless them!

"Mrs. Coffey's favorite text will close this sketch which is written by a friend of the family but which he feels is but feeble tribute.

""Instead of the throne shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not cut off.  Isaiah 55:13.  W. R. Savage Blowing Rock, N. C.""

Source: W. R. Savage, "In Memoriam," Obituary, Watauga Democrat, Boone, Watauga Co., NC, 10 February 1916, Death of Mrs. George E. Coffey; On-line Archive (http://tinyurl.com/kq4nj3b : viewed 28 September 2014); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library, Chapel Hill, NC. Watauga Democrat. (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.), 10 Feb. 1916. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82007642/1916-02-10/ed-1/seq-2/>.

---

Geo. E. Coffey was George Edgar whose father is not known.  His mother was Margaret Anne Kincaid who was a daughter of Milton and Abigail Bristol Kincaid of Burke Co., NC.

In addition to the four children listed above, there was another child, a son, born Nov. 2, 1914 and believed to have died at birth or shortly thereafter.

The other children: Ollie Mae, born Mar. 15, 1903, died Oct. 10, 1962 at Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., NC, married Fred A. Boger.

Ralph Sylvester, born Aug. 13, 1905, died Nov. 19, 1989, buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Blowing Rock, NC.

James M., born Jul. 27, 1908, died in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. on Feb. 4, 1933, married a lady named Ethel.

Ola Deal, born Feb. 7, 1912, died Jul. 7, 1999 in Blowing Rock; married Charles William Craig, born Mar. 28,1910 in Watauga Co.

Margaret Anne "Maggie" Kincaid had been married on Feb. 6, 1860 to William Elbert Coffey in Burke Co. and appeared there with him through the 1900 census.  William died in Morganton, Burke Co., in 1912.  Their last child was a daughter also named Margaret, born on Jan. 20, 1880.  George was born in 1883, well before William Elbert Coffey died.  However, George's death certificate does not name a father and instead wrote "illegitimate" in that place.

After Eliza died in 1916, George married Pearl White in 1918, Catawba Co., NC.  That was also Pearl's second marriage.  Her first husband was John L. Kirby who died in Mecklenburg Co., NC of Paresis on July 31, 1917, a month and a few days after their marriage on Jun. 3, 1917.

George died on Apr. 15, 1931 in Blowing Rock and was buried there at Mount Bethel.  I have not yet found Pearl's death date or burial site.  She and George had at least two sons, Edgar B. and Roy Edward "Pete" Coffey.

Lula Eloise Coffey

Lula was born c1866 in Caldwell Co., NC to William Elbert and Margaret Anne Kincaid Coffey and, was the third of at least seven children born into that family.  She married Corey [1] Thomas Cain c1885 in NC.  Corey was born Jul. 17, 1860 in Wake Co., NC and died Oct. 27, 1921 in Statesville, Iredell Co., NC.

Corey and Lula had at least three children, two of which survived to adulthood.  Their first child, William Elbert was born Nov. 10, 1886 in Burke Co., NC and died there on Apr. 5, 1887.  Their other two children, both girls, were born years apart, leading me to believe that more children were born that did not survive.

The second child was Mary Margaret, born Dec. 6, 1890 in Burke Co., died May 3, 1955.  I do not know where she died but, her grave site can be found at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Morganton, Burke Co.

Earle Thaddeus McGillicuddy
"Earle Mack"

Mary Margaret married Earle Thaddeus McGillicuddy in Philadelphia, PA on Sep. 28,1915.  The only census record found so far is the 1930 when they were still residing in that city.  They had one child then, a son also named  Earle.

Earle Thaddeus McGillicuddy was born to Cornelius and Margaret Hogan McGillicuddy on Feb. 1, 1890 in Spencer, Worcester Co., MA.  Cornelius was known professionally as Connie Mack.  Earle was also known professionally as Earle Mack.  He played for the Philadelphia Athletics baseball team from 1900-1914.  His father, Connie managed the Athletics for 50 years, from 1901 until his retirement at age 88.


Ivetta was the third child born to Corey Thomas and Lula Eloise Coffey Cain.  She was born in Burke Co. on Mar. 4 1899 and died on Mar. 6, 1982 in Statesville.  He spouse was Elbert Miller Shelton, born in NC on Oct. 22, 1897, died in Statesville on Aug. 10, 1972.  Elbert was a 1919 graduate of Princeton University.  Ivetta was also a college graduate but I have not yet found her Alma Mater.

After graduation, Elbert worked for his father, Joseph who was president of the Statesville Plywood and Veneer Co. in Iredell Co.  In the Statesville city directory for 1946-47, Elbert was listed as Vice-President and Sales Manager of the Statesville Plywood and Veneer Co.

"Eb" Shelton died of a heart attack at his home in Statesville, N.C. on Aug. 10.  He was born in Statesville and had lived there all his life coming to Princeton from Erskine College.  During World War I he joined the Naval Reserve, returning to graduate with the Class in 1919.  During junior and senior years he roomed with Bill Baker in 44 Blair.

After graduation Eb was association with his father in the Statesville Furniture Co and then served as president of the Statesville Plywood and Veneer Co. until retirement.  A community leader he served 11 years on the City Council, was active in his church, the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce.

"Eb" became one of 1919's most faithful participants at our June reunions together with his love wife Ivetta whom he married in 1927.  He was a loyal and generous supporter of the University even though at times perplexed by some of the reports from the campus.

The Class has lost a loyal member and a genial host to those classmates fortunate enough to have visited the Sheltons in Statesville.  He had missed recent reunions because of family illnesses but will always be remembered with deep affection by those who were privileged to know him well.  The Class extends our sincerest sympathy to his beloved wive, Ivetta.

The Class of 1919[2]

I do not believe any children were born to this union.  Both Elbert and Ivetta are buried at the Oakwood Cemetery in Statesville.

Updates and corrections welcomed.

 Jack

[1] His given name was spelled Cary in the 1900 and 1910 census.  In 1920 he was enumerated as Thomas T.  His death certificate reads Corey.
[2] "Princeton [University] Alumni Weekly", Sep. 26, 1972, Vol. 73, Page 19.

Gilliam & Susan Gragg Coffey

Gilliam was a son of William and Anna Boone Coffey. He was born May 21, 1810 in NC and died on Jan. 8, 1910 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC. He married first Mary "Polly" Moore on Jan. 2, 1832 in Caldwell Co.

Mary died on May. 26, 1871 in Caldwell Co. She was the mother of at least six children:

Harvey N., born Dec. 16, 1837, died Aug. 10, 1912. He married Jane Cochran, born Dec. 20, 1848, died Feb. 11, 1911. Both are buried in the Job Moore Cemetery in the Globe, Caldwell Co.

William Elbert, born 1839 in Caldwell Co., married Margaret Anne Kincaid on Feb. 6, 18 60 in Burke Co., NC. Margaret was born in 1837 and died on Dec. 22, 1921 in Morganton, Burke Co.

Harriet E., born Sep. 5, 1843, died Dec. 12, 1937. Harriet married James B. Blain on Oct. 7, 1866 in Caldwell Co. He as born May 1, 1844 in Cedar Valley, Caldwell Co., and died May 24, 1929 in Carter Co., TN. Harried was born Sep. 6, 1843 in Cedar Valley and died Dec. 12, 1937 in Elizabethton, Carter Co., TN. Both are buried in Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery at Keeneburg, Carter Co., TN

Celia Adeline, born c1847 of whom no further information.

Cordelia Adaline, born Jan. 10, 1853, died Jul. 9, 1918. She married John Boone Gragg on Dec. 17, 1877. He was born Feb. 15, 1856 in Caldwell Co., and died May 23, 1937 in the Globe. Both are buried at Job Moore.

Emma, born c1855, of whom no further information.

Gilliam married second to Susan D. (Susie) Gragg, a daughter of Jesse and Malinda Mast Gragg on June 4, 1882 in Caldwell Co. Susan had been twice before married: first to Patterson H. Moore on Sep. 6, 1866, and second to Isaac Green on Dec. 8, 1877. The only known child that survived this union was Hillie Horton, born Jul. 31, 1887, died Mar. 30, 1963.

Hillie marrie Bessie* McLean in 1908, Caldwell Co., and had at least four children: Unnamed son born and died May 16-17, 1921; James Harding, born and died Aug. 3, 1922; Fred Oral, born Mar. 16, 1924 and Ora Lee, born Feb. 27, 1927. Ora married Earl Greene in 1946, Caldwell Co.  Hillie died Mar. 30, 1963 in Collettsville, Caldwell Co., and was buried there in the Shoemake Cemetery.

The photo shows Hillie and his parents c1920. Please contact me if you contributed or know the source of the photo.

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

*I've seen another genealogy that names her Susie or Susan McLean