Achilles Coffey, 1806-1883

In previous blogs I have pondered whether the man some call Archelaus or Archelus Coffey was really named Achilles.

Achilles Coffey

In his book, A brief history of the Regular Baptists, principally of Southern Illinois (1877), the author is described as Elder A Coffey.  However, the title page names the author as Achilles Coffey and includes a drawing taken from a previously published photo of the man I thought was named Archelaus.  The portrait is signed "Yours Truly Achilles Coffey."

Achilles was born in Wayne Co., KY on Jul 30, 1806 to James M. and Frances Lane Coffey.  The dedication to the history book by Richard Fulkerson briefly describes the family's many moves and how Achilles had to struggle to obtain a modest education.

Achilles married Jennie Dean in Hamilton Co., IL and, in 1825 joined up with Hampton's Co., 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade to fight in the Black Hawk Indian War.  He became commanding officer of the 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade of the Illinois Mounter Volunteers.  He was furloughed in Aug., 1832 after losing his horse, saddle, bridle and blanket and mustered out later that year.  It took nearly 20 years but, he eventually received 40 acres of land for his service and, in 1855 he received another 120 acres.

Jennie died in 1876 in Saline Co., IL and was buried at Bethel Creek Church in Galatia, Saline Co., IL. Achilles survived until 1883 and was also buried at Bethel Creek.  Many of their 13 children are also buried there.

  Jack

John Clinton & Nancy Elizabeth Coffey Jacobs

What began as an attempt to correct a previous blog about a member of this family resulted in deleting that blog and starting over.  For some unknown reason I could not remove a link that connected that blog to a now deleted website.

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Nancy Elizabeth Coffey was born on May 23, 1861 in Rash, Jackson Co., AL and died there on May 16, 1918.  She was born to the union of Rice Abner Coffey and his first wife, Mary Ann Coffey.  She and Rice were first cousins as well as double-fourth cousins.  She was the daughter of Benjamin B. & Mary Elizabeth Roach Coffey while Rice was the son of Alexander Hamilton and Nancy E. Weatherly Coffey.  Benjamin and Alexander were brothers as well as double-third cousins.  These families go back to Edward through Rice and Sarah Bradford Coffey, Rev. James Coffey and wife Elizabeth Cleveland to Edward's son John and his wife, Jane Graves.

Nancy Elizabeth married John Clinton Jacobs in Stevenson, Jackson Co., AL on Nov. 1, 1883. [1]  He was born on Apr. 22, 1855 in Beech Grove, Maury Co., TN and died in Scottsboro, Jackson Co., AL on Jun. 30, 1938.[2]

Their first child, a daughter, was Bennie Coffey Jacobs, born in TN in 1884, died in Scottsboro on Oct. 17, 1899 at the age of 15 years.  She is buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Scottsboro.

Elmer Pruitt was born in Coffey Co., TN in 1887 and died in Bridgeport, Jackson Co. in 1970.  He was involved with the Gunter Stove Works in Bridgeport for many years.  His wife was Lena Geneva Givan or Givens, born c1890 in Missouri.  They were parents of nine children:  Geneva, Bettie, Elmer, Jr., Sallie Belle, Rice Abner, Henry Grady, Lethia Ring, Nathan Bedford Forrest and Mary Jane.  Elmer, Sr. died in Bridgeport in 1970, Lena in Marion Co., TN in 1977.  Both are buried at Cumberland View Cemetery in Marion Co.  Lena appears in the 1910 Finley Twp., Christian Co., MO census with her parents and a large number of siblings.  The handwriting is small and blurred making it difficult to determine what exactly the surname is: Givan, Givans, Given or Givens.

Annie Theodosia "Dosia" was born in 1890, Coffee Co., TN, and married Mitchell Luther Harris of Cumberland Co., NC in Scottsboro on Mar. 14, 1910.  He died in Scottsboro in 1960, she in 1974.  She is buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Scottsboro and he is probably there as well.  Their children were John Clinton, Roderick Edward, Dr. Elmer Jacobs; Dr. Ruth; Mitchell Luther, Jr.; and an unnamed son who was born and died in Feb. 1928 at Autauga Co., AL.

Henry Woodfin Grady was born in 1892, Maury Co., TN.  He married Sarah Louise Wilson in 1913, McMinn Co., TN.  Sarah was born there in 1893 and died in Scottsboro in 1988.  They too are probably buried at Cedar Hill but I have not found them there.  I know of a couple of children:  Nancy Elizabeth, born 1915 and John Clinton, born 1918, both in Scottsboro.

Rice Abner was born in TN in 1894 and died in Scottsboro in 1980.  He married Jewell Riggs, born 1898 in GA, died 1952 in Scottsboro.  Jewell was living with her paternal grandparents in Haralson Co., GA in 1900.  I have not located her parents.  I have not found the marriage record for Rice and Jewell and do not know of any children.

Veda Pearl was born in AL in 1896 and married Claude Evans Spivey of Rhea Co., TN in Dec., 1917 at Scottsboro.  They had at least two children, Carolyn, born 1918 and Lunita Jacobs, born 1925, both in Scottsboro.  Carolyn married William Bethel Wilson on Jun. 26, 1941 in Tuscaloosa Co., AL.  Their engagement was announced in the Tuscaloosa News on Jun. 15, 1941.[3]

Miss Spivey Is Engaged to Wed Mr. William Wilson

Mr. and Mrs. Philo Dayton Benham announce the engagement of their niece, Carolyn Spivey of Scottsboro, Alabama to William Bethel Wilson of this city.

The wedding will take place on the evening of June 26 at 7 o'clock in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Benham and Tuscaloosa relatives will attend the nuptial vows.

The bride-elect is the grand-daughter of the late John Clinton Jacobs, widely-known banker of North Alabama, and of Mrs. George Wesley Spivey of Dayton, Tenn. [sic].  She was graduated from Penn Hall Preparatory School in Chambersbury, Penn., and attended Sweet Briar College in Virginia where she was affiliated with the Kappa Delta sorority.

The bridegroom-to-be, known and admired in this city as Bill Wilson, is the son of Dr. and Mrs. John W. Wilson of Audubon Place and a nephew of Owen Meredith and of Commander J. E. Meredith (U.S. Navy) of Mobile.

Mrs. Wilson was graduated from the Tuscaloosa High School where he was a member of the S.E.A. fraternity.  At the University of Alabama he was affiliated with the Kappa Alpha fraternity and other social organizations. 

Philo Dayton Benham was the husband of Veda's sister, Fletcher Pitts Jacobs.  Fletcher was born in Jackson Co. in 1899 and died in Scottsboro in 1962.  Philo was born - according to the marriage record - in Delaware in 1895.  He and Fletcher married in Jackson Co. in 1929 and, he died in 1960.  Both are buried at Cedar Hill.  I know of no children for them.[*]

The last known child of John and Nancy was Lunita, born in 1902.  She married Robert Martin Lane in Scottsboro in 1927 and had at lest two children; Robert Martin and Frances Fletcher.  Nothing more is known of this family.

[*] Jerry Dickinson wrote in a Jan. 18, 2013 e-mail that "Fletcher Jacobs and Philo Dayton Benham did have at least one child - Nancy Benham b. 29 Jan 1933 in Alabama d. 9 Mar 1967 - Fulton, Georgia.  Married a Steenhuis.  Found her SSN/1940 census/some ship passenger list.  She is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery."

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[1] "Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FQNJ-B2H : accessed 26 Nov 2012), J. C. Jacobs and N. Elizabeth Coffey, 01 Nov 1883.

[2] Information about John Clinton Jacobs was originally found at a website (Jacobs Family History) owned by Mary Ellen Harris.  There was an abundance of info about the family, including photos of all of the children of John and Nancy.  The site appears to be off line now; at least at the link I first found.

[3]The Tuscaloosa News

The photos were found on the Former Jacobs Family History website, no longer on-line with the same web address.

Eli Coffey (1825-1899)

This Eli was a son of James M. & Frances Lane Coffey.  He was born Oct. 6, 1825 in Gallatin Co., IL and died in Hamilton Co., that state, on Oct. 7, 1899.  I believe that in his 74 years, Eli was married at least three times.

The first wife that I am aware of was Nancy Russell, born c1827 in TN to James and Margaret McCarter Russell.  She and Eli are thought to have married on Jun. 17, 1852 in Hamilton Co.  They were there for the 1860 census of that county.  Eli was 32, Nancy 23 and their children were Frances M., age 7, Malvina J., age 5, Louisa E., age 3 and James A., age 5 months.  Another child credited to them was Thomas R., born in 1863 and died in 1864.

Melvina Jane was born Jan. 15, 1856 and died Apr. 20, 1932 in Hamilton Co.  She married Alexander Franklin "Frank" Laswell, born Oct., 1857 in IL, died in Hamilton Co. in 1905.  Their children were James Frank; William A.; Dalton; and Walter.  Frank, Melvina and son James Frank are known to be buried at the Rector Cemetery in Walpole, Hamilton Co., IL

James A. was born c Jan 1860 in IL and died Mar. 3, 1929 in Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO.  I believe he was twice married, his first wife's name unknown.  The 1900 census finds James and then wife Henry Etta [sic] in Benton Twp., Fulton Co., AR.  He and Henrietta had been married for only six years yet the oldest child in the home was Saloma [sic], age 13.  Children who I believe were born to James and Henrietta were: Ora, c1898; Rosa D., Feb., 1900 and Lora A, c1903.  James' death certificate gives his full name as James A. Chiless Coffey, born Oct. 6, 1855.  However, we see from the 1900 census that he was born in Oct., 1859.  I choose to believe the census record to be more correct.  Henrietta's death certificate named her parents as Jack Thomason and E. Blackshire.  She died Mar. 14, 1929 in Kansas City, MO, 11 days following the death of James.  Both are buried at Maple Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, Wyandotte Co., KS.

In the 1870 record for Hamilton Co., Eli was enumerated with a wife (apparently) named Melbonia [sic], age 40.  Children were Louisa and James A., from his first marriage, and Mary E., age 4; Samuel, age 2; and Nancy, age 11 mos., all seemingly from this second wife.  The only child that I have any info about is Mary.  She is said to have married James William Holland in IL c1889 and given birth to at least four:  John, Henry, Ella J. and Nellie.

Eli's third wife was Nancy Ellen Foster to whom he was married on Oct. 10, 1872 in Hamilton Co.  Nancy was born Nov. 10, 1845 in IL and died in Hamilton Co. on Apr. 15, 1879.  Their children known to me were: Modesty Ann, Sarah, and John Eli.

Modesty was born in Oct.,1874 and married c1899 to Thomas Warren McKay, born Jan.,1860 in IL.  Their children were:  Anna Beulah, Dora E., Melvina, Sarah E., James, William E., and Louis Elton.

Sarah, born Feb., 1876, married  Samuel Lloyd Holland, born c1861 in IL and very likely to be close kin to James William who married Sarah's half-sister, Mary E.  Their children were:  Riley, Jessie, Samuel, Charlie, James, and Sarah.

John Eli was born Jan. 25, 1878 in IL and died in Hamilton Co. on Mar. 22, 1952.  He married Sarah E. Shaptaw on Oct. 21, 1900 in Hamilton Co.  Sarah was the daughter of Valentine and Lucinda Whitsett Shaptaw and was born in June, 1883, died 1953 in Hamilton Co.  Both are buried at the Rector Cemetery.  Their children were: Lucinda, John Elvis, Janie Evelyn, Mamie Ellen, Alvin Floyd, Resia [sic] Ethel; Newman Arthur; Othel Leman, and Roy Lee.  The only on that I have additional info about is Alvin.  He married a lady named Hazel c1927 n IL and they had Grace, born c. Nov., 1927.

Hopefully, I have the wives and children sorted correctly.  Please e-mail any corrections and/or additions.  I would especially like to know who "Mebonia" was.

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The Rector Cemetery appears to be about 2.5 miles due east of Walpole at coordinates 37.93385, -88.59622. Cut and paste into Google Maps for exact location. Or, visit Find A Grave to see burials.

Archelaus Coffey (1806-1883)

In the ancient world there were a number of men named Archelaus.  Diogenes wrote in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers (translated by C.D. Yonge) that four men had lived with such a name.  One such man lived before Socrates and was the son of Apollodoras.  He is considered the last of the natural philosophers.  The other three were: a geographer who described the travels of Alexander the Great; a poet and the third, an orator.

There was one other: Herod Archelaus, son of Herod the First, ruler of Judea.  Herod Archelaus was ruler of Judea from 4BC to 6AD.

Wikipedia mentions others - one a deacon and 3d Century Saint - and they can be read about here.  I think it would be safe to say that those in the Edward Coffey genealogy - at least - were named for the 3d Century martyr rather than the one who crucified Jesus Christ.

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Other researchers with an Archelaus in families not even remotely associated with the Edward Coffey line of descendants have noted the name found spelled various ways; sometimes as Archilles, Achilles, etc.

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Elder Archelaus Coffey

The Archelaus of this blog was a son of James M. & Frances Lane Coffey.  He was born on Jul. 30, 1806 in Wayne Co., KY and died in Saline Co., IL on Mar. 10, 1883.  His wife was Jane - perhaps Jennie - Dean who he married on Apr. 23, 1824 in Hamilton Co., IL*.  At some point in time he too became known as Achilles Coffey.

At around the age of 19 or 20 years, Archelaus was commissioned a 2nd Lt. on Dec. 19, 1825 and fought in the Black Hawk Indian wars beginning on May 12, 1832.  He was promoted to Captain and given command of "Captain Coffey's Company" of the 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, Illinois Mounted Volunteers. He somehow managed to lose his horse, saddle and other tack during a forced march in August 1832 and was subsequently furloughed and mustered out on Sep. 25, 1832.  In 1851 he received 40 acres of land for his service and, another 120 acres in 1855.

He and Jane initially lived in Gallatin Co., IL but for the most part, lived out their lives in Saline Co., IL.  They were for awhile (1860) in Humboldt, Allen Co., KS, but returned to Saline Co. by 1870.  Archelaus died there on Mar. 10,1883.

In 1877 Achilles was encouraged by his fellow churchmen to "write a history of the Baptists, principally of Southern Illinois..."  When the book was completed, Richard Fulkerson Golconda of IL was asked to prepare the forward.  Instead, he wrote a short biography of "Elder A. Coffey."

Having been intimately acquainted with Elder A. Coffey for the last forty years, and believing that it will not be amiss, I will therefore give a short history of his life.

He was born in Wayne County, Kentucky, July the 30th, A. D. 1806.  In the year 1813, the time of the British war, his parents moved to the territory of Indiana, Jefferson County, and settled four miles from the fort.  Here they suffered many privations and fears, insomuch that they remained only one year.  Thence they removed to Washington County, and settled near the town of Salem, where they remained three years.  In the fall of 1817, they moved back to Wayne County, Kentucky, but stayed there only the short space of one year.  In 1818, they went to Alabama, where they remained two years.  On 30th July they started for Illinois, and in the fall of 1820 landed in what is now Sangamon County, where they were again among the Red Men.  Here they stayed two years, and them moved to what is now Saline County, Illinois, which was then a very wilderness country.  During all this time they were almost entirely destitute of any means of education.

It may be rather strange that a man who has been raised among the savages and wild beasts, could write a history, but when we consider that the most talented and useful men have been what is termed self-made, the mystery is solved.  Elder Coffey took a great deal of pains to gain an education, and is a tolerably fair scholar.  He made a profession of religion in his youth and attached himself to the Baptist Church before the division of the Missionary question.  Believing the Bible and the Bible alone to be the only rule of faith and practice, and being utterly opposed to the inventions of men in the affairs of religion, he stood firm on the principles upon which the church was founded.  And by his unswerving fidelity to the Apostle's doctrine, he rendered much service to the Regular Baptists of this country.  Taking the Bible alone for his guide, and finding that the church of Christ was set up on earth and was to stand forever, his inquiring mind led him to search history to find out where she had been in the dark ages, and the Baptists having such implicit confidence in him, have repeatedly requested that he write a history of the Baptists, principally of Southern Illinois, which he with a great degree of reluctance consented to do.  Having examined his manuscript, I, with all my heard, recommend his little volume to the Regular Baptists, and to all enquirers after truth.

There is no man that stands higher among the Regular Baptists than does Elder Coffey, not only among them, but he is a man of good report with them that are without.  Having laborer to the best of my ability in the same gospel field the the last thirty years, I know whereof I speak.

Respectfully, Richard Fulkerson, Golconda, Illinois, January 1, 1877

Note how often this family moved and how busy Archelaus remained throughout most of his life:

Born 1806 in Wayne Co., KY; 1813 in Jefferson Co., IN; 1814 in Washington Co., IN; 1817 back in Wayne Co., KY; 1818 in Alabama; 1820 Sangamon Co., IL; 1822 Saline Co., IL; 1824 married in Hamilton Co., IL; 1832 in Black Hawk War; mustered out in 1832; 1833 joined Bethel Church in Saline Co.; 1834 chosen moderator of Church; 1836 Ordained to preach; 1844 on list of Presidential electors; 1877 wrote a book and died in 1883.

 Archelaus and Jane were parents of at least 13 children.  I have chosen however, to write first about their ninth child, a son, Lawrence Lasenby, born Aur. 10, 1841, died Jun. 9,1912.  He will be the subject of the next blog.

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Dr. Marvin Coffey wrote in his book that the court clerk mistakenly entered his name as Nicholas Coffey.

George Holland & Samantha Ann Ridgeway Coffey

George was born in July, 1841 to Cleveland and Malinda Coffey Coffey.  Malinda and Cleveland were second cousins, he a son of Jesse and Margaret Edmisten Coffey; Malinda a daughter of George and Margaret Rucker Coffey.

It appears that George was married at least twice, perhaps three times.  He was found in Washington Co., VA in 1870 with wife Rebecca A. V., born c1844 in that state.  There were two children in the home:  John F. M., born c1868 and Charles S., born c1874.  Both were born in TN.

Samantha Ridgeway Coffey

The 1880 census for Richwoods, Sharp Co., AR finds him with wife Samantha Ann Ridgeway.  Samantha was born in Aug., 1851, Henry Co., TN and died in 1943, Lawrence Co., AR.  She is buried at Walnut Ridge in Campbell Twp., Lawrence Co.  Her headstone provides us with only birth and death year.

In addition to George H. and Samantha A. Coffee [sic], in the household at the time of the census was: John F. Coffee, age 11, born TN; Charles F. Coffee, age 6, born TN; Cora D., age 3, born MO, and Millie L. A., age 1, also born in MO.  Thomas Hardy, a third child born to George and Samantha was born Feb. 25, 1881 in MO.

I have seen some genealogies that give Thomas the middle name of Harry. However, his WW1 draft registration, which he completed on Sep. 12, 1918 in Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO, was signed by him as Thomas Hardy Coffey.

There are a few genealogies available that list the child Flora R., born in 1876 to George and a wife named Rebecca Bowman.  If she was the child of George Holland Coffey she must have been born from circumstances we are not familiar with, because George was still living with Samantha in 1880, Sharp Co., AR and there is not a child named Flora in the household.

Another - or perhaps the same - George H. Coffey in Lawrence Co., AR married Sarah E. Barnett.  They were in the 1900 Portia, Lawrence Co. census; George born Jul., 1840 and Sarah born Aug., 1860 in MO.  Their children were Myrtle, born c1897 and Jesse Dewey, born c1898.  Also in the household was Eula Barnett, enumerated as a step-daughter.

I have no idea when George Holland died.  Samantha lived until 1943 when she died and was buried at Walnut Ridge.  In 1920 and 1930 she resided with her daughter Willie, who married Lewis E. Watkins in 1903.

Did George and Samantha divorce?

Lane-Coffey Headstone

Samantha's oldest child by George Holland Coffey was Cora Duffle Coffey, born Jan. 14, 1878 in MO, died Nov. 2, 1946 in Walnut Ridge.   Cora married William R. Lane on Dec. 31, 1895 in Lawrence Co., AR.  He was born Aug. 18, 1863 in Lawrence Co. and died there on Aug. 12, 1925.  Both he and Cora are buried at Walnut Ridge in the Lawrence Memorial Park Cemetery.  Her headstone reads Duffle C. Lane.

Willie Lea Ann was her second child, born c1879 in MO.  She married Watkins on Dec. 29, 1903 and their children were:  Alma Pauline, born c1906 in MO; William P., born c1912 in AR; Jessie R., a daughter, born c1914 in AR and Bonnie Kathlene, born c1919 in AR.

Samantha's last know child was Thomas - mentioned above.  His first wife was Carrie Belle Lafferty who he probably married c1900 in MO.  He has been difficult to find in census records.

With Carrie, Thomas fathered at least four children:  Mabel, born Oct. 15, 1902 in MO, died Sep. 23, 1979 in Lake City, Columbia Co., FL; Manuella, born Jul. 5, 1904 in TX, died Jan.11, 1970 in Kansas City, MO; Glenn, born c1906 in TX; and Marguerite, born Mar 6, 1908 in MO.

Thomas was married second to Mary Anita Singleton, or Templeton.  They were married on July 30, 1915 in Jackson Co., MO.  He died on Jan. 23, 1952 in Santa Clara Co., CA.

The marriage license application for Thomas and Mary reads in part, "desiring to procure a license to marry Mrs. Maria Templeton of Walnut Ridge, County of Lawrence, and State of Arkansas...," and the license was signed by "Marrie Templeton."  However, typewritten in the top left margin of the license is "Cor. Name by Aff. B 50964 Book B 4530-Page 605-Apr 7-52."  She was a "Mrs." as given in the application, so perhaps her maiden name was Singleton.

The only census record that I have thus far found for Thomas was the 1910 Fishing River Twp, Clay Co., MO record of his family with Carrie.

Please contact me if you have info to share on this family.

Archelus and Jane Dean Coffey

It isn't clear to me if Archelus' name was really Achilles.  I sometimes think that they are used interchangeably, but that's only my perception.  He was another son of James M. and Frances Lane Coffey, and a brother to James, subject of the previous blog.  Dr. Marvin Coffey wrote that his name was recorded as Nicholas Coffey on his application for a marriage license.

Archelus was born Jul. 30, 1806 in Wayne Co., KY and died in Saline Co., IL on Mar. 10, 1883.  Marvin wrote that he received a commission as a second lieutenant on Dec. 19, 1825, and volunteered for the Black Hawk Indian War on May 12, 1832. After receiving a promotion to Captain, he became commanding officer of "Captain Coffey's company, 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade, Illinois Mounted Volunteers of the Black Hawk War." He was furloughed in August 1832 after losing his horse, saddle, bridle and blanket during a forced march. He was mustered out on Sept. 25, 1832.  In 1851 he received 40 acres of land for his service, and another 120 acres in 1855.

Jane "Jennie" Dean was the daughter of Jacob and Susannah Hatty Dean, but I have no birth or death dates or places for her.  They were married Apr. 23, 1824 in Hamilton Co.  Jacob was born Jun. 23, 1775 in Virginia while Susannah was born c1766, also in Virginia.  Jacob died on Aug. 5, 1851 in Hamilton Co.

There were at least 13 children born to Archelus and Jane, but only a few lived to adulthood:

Permelia, born c1825, probably in Gallatin Co., IL.  Her death date is not known.  She married Charles Samuel Sloan c1844.  He was born in 1814 and died in 1863.  There were nine children born to this union:  James, Mary, David, Samuel T., Melvina, Louisa Jane; William Monroe, Hannah and Sibelia Permelia.  Permelia married second to Abel Hunt on Dec. 13, 1866 and gave birth to at least one additional child, Paulina Hunt, born Jun. 14, 1868, died Dec. 20, 1957.  Paulina married Amon Hume Coffey on Sep. 8, 1886 in Harrisburg, Saline Co., IL.  Amon was her cousin, and a son of Lawrence Lasenby and Susan Melvina Barker Coffey.  Lawrence was a younger brother to Permelia.

Paulina, born Sep. 10, 1826 in Gallatin Co., died Jul. 26, 1843 in Saline Co., IL.

James Asbury, born Nov. 18, 1827 in Gallatin Co., died Jan., 1870 in Dodge City, Ford Co., KS.  He married Louisa Adelade Ferris Long Carnahan on Dec. 27, 1849 in Saline Co.  She was born c1833 in Wayne Co., KY.  Their children were:  John Jerry, Phoebe, Mary, Ebben Rice, Lulu, Irena R., Amy, and Elizabeth.

Sales M., born May 19, 1831, died Feb. 1, 1890.

Malvina, born Dec. 31, 1833 in Gallatin Co., and died Jul. 18, 1854, probably in Gallatin Co.

Louyica J., born Gallatin Co. on Aug. 5, 1836, died there on Jun. 28, 1838.

Laura, born Gallatin Co. on May 20, 1838, died Aug. 3, 1841.

Amanda E., born Gallatin Co., on Aug. 20, 1839, and died there Oct. 29, 1839.

Lawrence Lasenby, born Aug. 20, 1841 in Gallatin Co., and died Jun. 9, 1912 in Eureka Springs, Carroll Co., AR.  He married Susan Melvina Barker, born c1843 in IL.  They were married Nov. 20, 1862 in Hamilton Co., IL.  Their children were:  Orilla Jane, Amon Hume, Irene Ellen, Ethan Otho, Ollie Grace, Eddie Emmitt, Allie Elizabeth, Maude May, John Wilson, Shelby Carr, and Ethel Eva.

C. A., (gender?) born Dec. 3, 1841, died Dec. 5, 1841.

G. E. C., (gender?) born Feb. 7, 1843, died Feb. 8, 1843.

John McClernan, born 1847, married Mary Glaslock (or Glascock?) on Aug. 15, 1869 in Saline Co., IL.

Phoebe Ann, born Nov. 16, 1852, died Dec. 18, 1852.

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

John and Nancy Snyder Coffey

This John was a son of James M. and Frances Lane Coffey.  He was born Apr. 22, 1810 in Wayne Co., KY and died Apr. 8, 1879 in Lookingglass, Douglas Co., OR.  Nancy was born Dec. 1, 1815 in Virginia and died Feb. 28, 1893 in Lexington, Morrow Co., OR.

He descends from Edward and Ann Powell Coffey through their son John and wife Jane Graves; their son, James and Elizabeth Cleveland; their son Archelus and Eleanor Wade.  Archelus and Eleanor were parents of James M.

John and Nancy were married on Sep. 13, 1832 in Gallatin Co., IL.  They settled there, and received a 40-acre land grand in 1835.  They sold this land on Sept. 20, 1841 and went to Missouri.  They were back in Illinois by 1848, and were on the Hamilton County, IL census for 1850.

By December 1852 the family was back in Missouri, probably preparing for their westward trek.  A family record cited by Marvin Coffey in his family genealogy says only  that "they moved from southern Illinois to Missouri joining a wagon train and crossing the plains in 1853."

The Coffey family arrived in Oregon on August 12, 1853.

Their children were at least 12:

Vandexer Lee, born Oct. 26, 1833 in Gallatin Co., IL, and died May 2, 1909.  He married Rebecca J. Wright, born Jan., 1854 in Indiana, on Jan. 5, 1871 in Marion Co., OR.  Vandexer died in Beech Creek, Grant Co., OR.

Miles, born c1835 in Gallatin Co.

James Bluford, born Oct. 11, 1837 in Gallatin Co., IL, died Jul. 3, 1924 in Adams, Umatilla Co., OR.  James married first to Mary Ann McCorkle on Oct. 19, 1862 in Marion Co., OR.  Mary Ann was born Nov. 26, 1847 in Marion Co., and died there on Jan. 30, 1853.  They had one child, George F., born Jan. 20, 1864, died Jul. 3, 1912 in Canada.  Mary Ann died 10 days after George was born.  He married second to Mary Elizabeth Bolin of Jul. 16, 1866 in Salem, Marion Co., OR.  Mary was born Jul. 24, 1848 in Indiana and died in Oregon on Apr. 26, 1927.  They raised at least 13 children.  This is the family of Dr. Marvin Coffey (dec'd).

Martha Ellen, born c1839 in Gallatin Co., IL and died (probably) in 1861 in Clackamas Co., OR.  She married William Arthur, Jr., born c1831 in Missouri.  They were married on May 8, 1856 in Clackamas Co.  Their known children were Mildred A., born 1857; Martha Josephine, born 1859 and William C., born c1861.

Julia Ann, born Oct. 10, 1841 in MO, died Nov. 25, 1928 in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR.  She was married to Joseph A. Hugh on Dec. 24, 1861 in Clackamas Co.  Their children were John L., born 1868, died 1960; Minnie V., born c1877; Sam J., born c1879; and Richard D., born c1881.

Eli D., born c1844 in Missouri, died between 1860 and 1879.

Infant daughter, born c1846.

Winfield W., born c Nov. 1848 in Illinois, died Nov., 1849.

Mary Jane, born c1850 in Hamilton Co., IL, died before 1900 in Morrow Co., OR.  She was married first to John Sloan in July 1874 in Douglas Co., OR.  They had at least one child, Nancy E., born c1875.    Her second husband was Arthur McCarty to whom she was married on Jan. 24, 1877 in Douglas Co., OR.  They had at least one child, Eli Howard, born Nov. 13, 1877, died Dec. 18, 1918.  Mary Jane's third husband was William W. Kirk, to whom she was married on Apr. 14, 1899 in Morrow Co.

John Achilles Winfield, born Dec., 1852, died Mar. 10, 1931.

Thomas Wesley, born Sep. 27, 1854 in Coos Co., OR, died in Portland on Sep. 2, 1939.  He married Amanda E. Coon on Jun. 27, 1878 in Douglas Co.  She was born to Jacob L. and Sarah Miller Coon on May 18, 1854 in Linn Co., OR.  Amanda died Sep. 27, 1903 in Camas Valley, Douglas Co., OR.  Thomas may have married again, but I had no information.  Their children were at least four:  Lillian L., born Jul., 1879 in Douglas Co., died 1956; Fred L., born c1881; Sarah; and Mildred V., born Oct., 1886, died Oct., 1870.

The last known child born to John and Nancy was Louisa, born and died in 1857.

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