Coffey Books Available

Author Betty White Martin grew up in Morristown and White Pine, TN, the only child of Lonnie White.  She has Coffey ancestry that extends all the way back to Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.

Her grandfather was John McHenry White, a son of Susan Isabelle Dalton White.  Susan was the daughter of of Carter and Nancy Whitsett Dalton.  Carter Dalton was a son of Matilda Coffey, wife of Tandy Witcher Dalton.  Matilda was a daughter of George and Margaret Rucker Coffey. 

Nancy Whitsett Dalton was the daughter of Elizabeth Coffey, wife of Nathan Whitsett and later, wife of George W. Hayes.  Elizabeth Coffey was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Rucker Coffey.

Betty has authored at least three books containing photos and some history of these families.  I have also documented them rather extensively in The Edward Coffey Project.

Our Coffey and Dalton Families In Photos, which begins with descendants of Cleveland Coffey and his wife, Susan Hayes.


Ramblings From the North Side of Clinch Mountain A pictorial history of the early families of Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., TN.

A Woman of Vim and Vigor which is based loosely on the life of Nancy Whitsett Dalton Cozart.  She was the daughter of Elizabeth Coffey and Nathan P. Whitsett.  Nancy married twice; beginning in 1854* to Carter Coffey Dalton with whom she had at least five children: Susan who married Thomas Jefferson White; James Tandy, married Mary Emeline Jackson; Betty; Tennessee, who married Perry Singleton and, Pleasant.  There may have been others because it was seven or more years between Tennessee, born 1867 and Pleasant, born c1874.  

Carter and Nancy apparently divorced because they were married a second time in 1860**.  When Carter died in 1877 Nancy had an affair with his uncle, Anderson Dalton and had two more children, Matilda, born c1877 and Milton, born in 1880.  Nancy seems to have also had an affair with her former father-in-law, Tandy Witcher Dalton, a brother to Anderson and had another child, Charles S.  

Tandy did not die until 1909 so they likely divorced as well for on Oct. 13, 1888 she married James Wiley Cozart.  No children are known from that union. 

These books are very reasonably priced and available on Amazon.com.  They can be reviewed and purchased by clicking on the title of each book. E-mail me if you would like to discuss these books with the author.

*https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8YC-1LX
** https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8Y8-7VH

William "Willie" Calvin Coffey

1910 Whitman Co., WA Census

Willie was born on Apr. 13, 1906 in Revere, Whitman Co., WA to Len W. Coffey.  Len was born c1878 in NC.  His wife's name is unknown but, she too was born in NC.  They appeared in the May, 1910 census for Union Pct., Whitman Co., WA and although enumerated, the mother's given name was not provided.

Willie returned to North Carolina before 1935.  It was on Oct. 8 of 1934 that he married Macy A. Martin, a daughter of Nelson Harper and Martha Virginia "Mattie" Bradshaw Martin.

Macy had a brother, Roby Sherrill Martin. born Apr. 10, 1890 in Yadkin Valley, NC, died Jul. 27, 1962 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  Roby was married to Sarah Ivalee Crisp in Patterson, Caldwell Co., NC in Jan., 1913.  In Dec., 1913 their first child, William Lee "Billie" Martin was born.  Billie Married Blanch Gertrude Wellborn, a daughter of Joseph Harrison and Carrie Elizabeth Coffey Wellborn.  Carrie was a daughter of Thomas (son of William, Jr. & Margaret Robbins Coffey) and Rachel M. Coffey Coffey (a daughter of McCaleb and Elizabeth "Betsy" Collett Coffey).

Willie died on Dec. 3, 1988 in Caldwell Co., and Macy died there in Sep. 10, 1990.  Unfortunately, I do not yet know where they were buried.  They were parents of at least two sons:  William Harper, born c1936 and Thomas Lemuel, born 1939.  They appeared in the 1940 census in Mulberry Twp., Caldwell Co. with Macy's widower father.

Question:  Who were parents of Len W. Coffey?

 Jack

---

Mystery solved, thanks to Bradley Ingels.  

William Calvin "Willie" Coffey was the son of William Lemuel and Faunnie Lambreth [sic] Coffey.  William Lemuel was a son of John Calvin and Nancy Caroline Tuttle Coffey.  The 1920 census for Caldwell Co. shows Willie living in the household with his uncle, William L. Lamburth [sic].  Willie's mother, Faunnie Lambreth Coffey died in June, 1910 and was buried at the Gragg Cemetery in Collettsville, Caldwell Co.  His father remarried in 1913 to Mamie A. Neff in Crook Co., OR and in 1920 they were living in Deschutes Co., OR while Willie was in NC.

William Lemuel died in Sunnyside, Yakima Co., WA on Jul. 14, 1957.  I have not yet found his burial site or, info on second wife.

Joseph, Jr. & Louvada Martin Coffey

Merry Christmas

Joseph and Louvada were married in Wayne Co., KY in 1902.  He was born there in 1886 to Joseph, Sr. and Louisa J. Jones Coffey.  She was a daughter of James and Sarah Jane Roberts Martin, born Wayne Co. in 1884.  Jr. died c1924 and she in Nov., 1945 and both are buried at the Dobbs Cemetery[1] in Coopersville, Wayne Co.

Louvada and Joseph had at least 9 children but I have only been able to locate a few of them that grew to adulthood.

Roscoe, born 1907, died 1988 at Coopersville.  Married to a lady named Ruby c1933 and had at least two children:  Geraldine, c1834 and, Velta, born c1938.  They are in the 1940 Wayne Co. census.[2]

Frank O., born Jan., 1909, married Sarah Jane Gregory, born c1911, in about 1930.  They had children Anderson, Othal, Stanley Estel and Audrey.  Frank died in 1973 and is buried at Elk Spring Cemetery in Montecello.

Joseph, born Apr., 1911, likely died young as did Elmer, born Feb., 1912 who died on Jun. 1913.  He is buried at Kidd Cemetery in McCreary Co.  Another son, Maynard, born Feb., 1914 also may have died young.  I have found no records for him.

Everett, born 1916, died in Pulaski Co. in 2007.

Inman, born c1919, died in Oct., 1965.

There appears to have been another son named Joseph, born in 1923 but I have not been able to conform that.  The last child I know of was Adina, born in 1925 for whom I have found no info.

Martin-Maher Marriage Record

Louvade had an older brother, Joseph Gilson Martin, born Jul. 2, 1875 in Wayne Co., died in Hampshie Co., MA in 1965.  Joseph left KY when he was a young man, probably in his mid-20's and joined the military.  In 1903 he was a soldier at Fort Ethan Allen in Chittenden Co., VT where he was married on June 6 of that year to Mary Agnes Maher.  They were both 27 years old.

Mary Agnes was fairly consistent in census records, telling us where he father was born.  In 1920 she reported his birth in French Canada.  In 1930 he was said to have been born in English Canada.  She was not as consistent with her mother's birth place.  In 1920 she said her mother was born in NY state and, in 1930 she told us her mother was born in VT.  We can be fairly certain that the father was Canadian and her mother was an American.  After leaving VT, the couple migrated to Northampton in Hampshire Co., MA where they lived for the remainder of their lives.  I have not however, found them in the 1910 census.

Gilson WW1 Draft (front)

Gilson WW1 Draft (rear)

They were in Northampton in Sep. 12, 1918 when Gilson Martin registered for the draft.  He made no mention of his prior service.  He was described as being tall and stout with blue eyes and "bouzs"[3] colored hair.  That year he was a cabinet maker for the Florence Furniture Co. in Florence, MA.  He and Mary lived at 18 Plymouth Ave. in Florence.

In 1920 they lived at 16 Plymouth Ave., and Joseph was a casket maker.  Mary was a spooler in a local silk mill.  In 1930 they lived at 258 West St. in Northampton and Joseph was a painting contractor while Mary was still spooling.  By 1940 they were residing at 58 Front St. in Northampton.  Mary was retired and Joseph was a laborer working on park improvements in Northampton.

Mary died in 1960 and Joseph in 1965.  Both are buried at Saint Mary Assumption Church cemetery in Haydenville, Hampshire Co., MA.  They had no children.

I feel a touch of sadness for both, but especially for Joseph.  He likely never returned to KY and probably never saw his parents or any of his siblings again.

Additions and/or corrections welcomed!

Jack

---

[1]Coopersville is a "wide spot" in the road, about 8 miles SE of Monticello.  Follow KY 92 from Monticello to Coopersville.  The cemetery is behind the Canada Creek Baptist Church on KY 92.  Geo coordinates are 36° 45' 32.81" N 84° 44' 8.55" W

[2]1940 KY, Wayne Co., ED 116-8, Sheet 10B, Coopersville to Sinking road, dwelling 171, rents, $1, Coffey Roscoe, head, male, white, age 32, married, 2d grade, born KY, same place, farm labor; Ruby, wife, female, white, age 24, married, 4th grade, born KY, same place; Geraldine, dau., female, white, age 6, born KY, same place; Velta [sic], dau., female, white, age 2, born KY

[3] I have studied the card closely and it still appears to be "bouzs" colored hair.

Clifton Connard Coffey (1876-1957)

Updated: 5/30/2014

Clifton Connard Coffey was a son of John and Rosanna Jane "Roxie" Nash Coffey.  He was their second son and child born in year 1876 and was born on Nov. 27.  Their first born was Lampkin, in Jan., 1876.

Clifton married Myrtle A. Martin on Apr. 30, 1911 in East Bend, Yadkin Co., NC.  Myrtle was a daughter of Wesley Alexander and Flora Anna Poindexter Martin and was born in Aug., 1891.

A little bit of info about the Martin and Poindexter families:  

Wesley was born on May 18,1862 in Yadkin Co., the son of Bennett R. and Martha Millner Truelove Martin.  Wesley died on Dec. 3, 1947 in East Bend; Flora on Jun. 18,1958 in Yadkinville, Yadkin Co.  He and Flora were married on Apr. 16, 1885 in East Bend.

Bennet and Martha were married on Jan. 10, 1856 in Yadkin Co.  

Flora Anna Poindexter was a daughter of John A and Paulina Allen Poindexter, born on Dec. 25, 1879 in Yadkin Co.  John and Paulina were married in Yadkin Co. on Oct. 28, 1868.  

Children of Clifton and Myrtle, all born in VA, were:

Gates (?), born c1913; Lynn A. (male), c1914; Nell L., c1916; Edythe, c1918; Dr. Everett Lee, c1922; Janice I., c1925 and Lewis G., c1927.

Dr. Everett Lee Coffey married Janice Mundy and had at least one child, a son named Clifton Lee, born Aug. 21, 1955, died May 28, 2008 at Hardy in Bedford Co., VA.

Corrections and/or additions welcomed.

Jack

WW1Draft Registration for Clifton Connerd/Conard  Coffey

Ethel Coffey Martin (1884-1967)

Ethel M. Coffey was the second to youngest child and last daughter of Rev. Jasper Hill and China Frances Culp Coffey.  See here and here for earlier blogs about this family.

She was born Sep. 10, 1884 and died in Gentry Co., MO in 1967.  Ethel married John W. Martin, born 1882 in IA on Apr. 9, 1908 in Gentry Co.  John died in 1945 in Gentry Co. and was buried at Grandview Cemetery in Albany, Gentry Co.  Ethel lived until 1967 and died in Gentry Co.  She is also buried at Grandview.

I have found only three children for them:  Jasper Daniel, born Apr. 14, 1909 in Gentry Co., died there on Feb. 4, 1973 and was also buried at Grandview.  Second was Omar B., born Mar. 8, 1911, Gentry Co., died on Jun. 18, 1986 and was buried at Grandview. Their third child was Margaret Frances.  I have no further information about her.

Dr. Edmond Aurelius Coffey

Edmond Aurelius Coffey was a son of Lewis and Elizabeth Cleveland Coffey, born Mar. 3, 1810 in North Carolina, died Aug. 28, 1895 in Aubrey, Denton Co., TX.  He is buried at Belew Cemetery in Aubrey.*

He married Dianah Bagby c1830, probably in NC where she was born on Jan. 27, 1811 to Edmond and Nancy Ann Martin Bagby.  Dianah died in 1889 in Etowah Co., AL and was buried at Union No. 3 Baptist Church Cemetery at Ballplay, Etowah Co.

Many researchers believe the family first settled in Gwinnett Co., GA where their 12 children were born.  The 1840 census for that county does show an Edmon Coffee with 2 males under 5; 1 male, age 5 to 9; 1 male, 30-39; 1 female under 5; 2 females, age 5-9; and 1 female, age 20-29.  The census also counted 8 slaves at the residence.

Census records for 1850 and 1860 show the family residing in Cherokee Co., GA.  In 1870 they were in Etowah Co and, 1880 in Blount Co.  Sometime shortly after Dianah's death, Dr. Coffey relocated to Denton Co., TX, perhaps to join number seven son, Aurelius (1842-1918) who was in the Denton Co. census of 1880 and 1900 and who died there in 1918.

There were twelve children born to Edmond and Dianah:

Their first was Edmund Bagby, born Jan. 1, 1831, died before 1870 in AL.  He married Melissa Jane Sewell, born c1831 in GA.  Their marriage was between 1850 when Melissa was living with her widowed mother in Cherokee Co., AL, and 1854 when their first child Frances was born.  Their other children were:  Sarah Malinda, born 1856 in Cherokee Co., died Sep. 4, 1918 in Blount Co., AL; Lydia Jane, born 1858 in St. Claire Co., AL, died Jan. 8, 1926 in Etowah; and Rachel B., born c1859.  There may have been others; these are all I know of.

Second born was Elizabeth Ann on Aug. 27, 1832, died Aug. 8, 1877 in AL.  She married Elisha Trimble Walker c1854 and had at least seven children:  Nancy; Josephine, Benjamin; Webster; Aurelius; Martha and Elizabeth.

Next was Loany who married William Woodard. She was born 1835, died Jan. 12, 1894 in Chepultepec, Blount Co.   Her children were Dianah, born 1854; Jesse T., born c1857; Edmund, born c1859; and William M., Jr., born 1862, died 1930.

Benjamin L., born May 3, 1836, death date unknown. He married Lucy Shields, born c1852 in GA.  Their children were Elizabeth, Edmond John; Nancy Walker; and Asberry Aurelius.  Probably others that I have not yet located.  Asberry Aurelius died in Denton Co., TX in 1951.

Sarah Caroline followed c1838.  She married John W. Tidmore, born in AL c1846.

Webster Gilbert was born Jun. 20, 1840 and died in Etowah Co. in 1911.  He married Louise Evaline Tidmore, possibly brother to John, c1865.  She was born Jan. 22, 1845 in AL and died in Etowah Co. in 1935.  They were the parents of 12:  James Henry; John Adams; William Thomas; Anna Elizabeth; Webster Gernagin; Edmond Columbus; Buddy J. [who probably died an infant]; Minnie Luella; Martha Jane; Nancy Victoria; Jesse L.; Mary Evergreen; Grover Cleveland; and General.

Aurelius, born Mar. 9, 1842, died Jan. 7, 1918 in Denton Co., TX.  His wife was Grace Penelope Hodges, born Oct. 4, 1844 in AL, died shortly after her husband, on Jun. 1, 1918 in Aubrey.  Their children were:  Wm Riley; Edmund Harrison; James Madison; Francis; Kathryn; Bertha Maurine; Cora and Tommy.  The first four were born in AL, perhaps Etowah Co.; the last four in Denton Co., TX.

Child number 8 was Thomas Arvil, born Jun. 30, 1843, died Mar. 9, 1917 in Pontotoc Co., OK.  His wife was Hannah Henson, born in AL c1845, died Aug., 1914 in Pontotoc Co.  Their children were:  Nathan; Mary D., Thomas; Henry Gilbert; Mettie Ellen; James Martin; John Thomas; Aurelius; and Walter Curtis.

James Madison was next.  He was born Jun. 4, 1845, died in 1922, perhaps in TX.  His wife was Elizabeth Susan Caddell, born 1847 in AL.  They married in Etowah Co. in 1867.  Chidren:  Lewis Edmond; Lemuel A; Basil C; Amanda Evergreen; Aurelius; one unnamed son (1878-1879); Mallie Jane; Laura Valera; James R.; Barbara Elizabeth; and Dessie Victoria.

Eliza Jane, born 1847, died 1915.  She married John Boone McKinney on Sep. 19, 1868 in Etowah Co.  He was born c1847 and died c1884.  Children were:  John Thomas; Edmond James; William Webster; Benjamin Aurelius; Dinah Elizabeth; Samuel Washington; and Lorena Martha Creacy Evergreen [sic].

No. 11 was Martha, born 1850, died c1920.  Her husband was Perry E. Daily, born 1853 in AL.  They were married Aug. 4, 1872 in Blount Co., AL.  Children:  Edmond; Mary; Ellen, and William.

The last child born to Edmond and Dianah was Chaney Evergreen on Dec. 28, 1852.  No other info has been found and, she likely died in infancy.

---

*Gloria B. Mayfield Project Mgr, "Cemeteries of Denton County Texas", database, Cemeteries of Texas, Cemeteries of Denton County Texas (http://www.cemeteries-of-tx.com/etx/denton/listdenton.html).

More information about this family and their descendants is available on the Edward Coffey Project DVD.

Pittward "Pitt" & Flavonia Fletcher Coffey

I completed some additional work on Pittward this morning.  Readers are invited to click on the blog title to see the original blog about this family and, which contains a few of the updates that will be included here.

---

Pittward, or Pitt as he seems to have been called, was the eldest child and son of Charles Edward and Sarah Jane Ogden Coffey.  Charles Edward was a son of John Jack and Betsey Duff Coffey and, John Jack was the third son of Jordan and Betsey Rippetoe Coffey.  By now, descendants of Jordan should know that he was actually a Talliaferro (Toliver) and not a Coffey.  But, they are interesting folks and they do eventually get back together with the Coffeys through intermarriage.

Pitt was born in Virginia - and very likely Amherst Co. because his parents never left.  They lived there, raised their children there and are now buried there.  His first wife was Lucy Parks White, daughter of Henry A., and wife Elizabeth, born c1863.  She was the fourth of six children in the White household in the 1870 Peddlar Twp., Amherst Co. census.

Lucy apparently died in childbirth, c1882.  Her only child was Vernie Irvine, born Sep. 23, 1882, died Mar., 1970 in Buena Vista, VA.  Vernie married Robert L. Seay on Dec. 13, 1899.  He was also an Amherst Co. resident, having been born there on Oct. 25, 1875.  They had at least six children:  Evelyn, Vivia, John Robert, Henry Vaughn, Marion and William Lee.

Sometime between Vernie's birth and Sep., 1885, Pitt married Flavonia [sic] Fletcher, a daughter of Lucian and Maria Frances Crawford Fletcher.  Flavonia was born Apr. 8, 1869 in Amherst Co. and died on Jan. 4, 1955 at Fraziers Bottom in Putnam Co., WV.  Their first child was Jesse, born Sep., 1885, died unmarried on Feb. 12, 1918 at Charleston in Kanawha Co., WV.  He is buried at Spring Hill in Charleston, Kanawha Co.

The second child was Janet Aurelia, born Jul. 24, 1888 in Kanawha Co., died Mar. 27, 1945 at Huntington in Cabell Co., WV.  Janet died by suicide when she jumped off the 5th Ave. bridge spanning the Guyan River.  She was nearly 57 years old and was Mrs. Chester L. Martin.  Her first husband was T. Edward Berry to whom she was married on Nov. 19, 1908.  I have not found them in the 1910 census and do not know if any children resulted from that union.  Martin was her second husband, but I have not found a marriage date.  Chester died on Sep. 14, 1959 in Huntington.  His burial place is not known to me; Janet is buried at Spring Hill.

Third child was Alma Elizabeth, born at Jarretts Ford in Kanawha Co. on Mar. 1, 1890.  She was first married there to Thomas H. Young in 1911. They divorced sometime c1921 (it says so on the license for her second marriage) after giving birth to at least three children by Thomas:  Harless, c1913; Margaret, c1915; and Carroll Fletcher, c1918.  Alma married her second husband Frank C. Briscoe when she was 34 and he was a 51-year old widower.  They were married in West Virginia in 1924, and lived for awhile at 215 Hunt Ave. in Charleston where she gave birth to two of his children:  Mary, born c1925 and Joseph H., born c1927.  I haven't found a death record for James.  Alma died on Dec. 12, 1969 in Charleston but not before marrying again at age 73 to the 72-year old James Marshall Lawson on Apr. 25, 1963 in Kanawha Co.  Alma is buried at Spring Hill.  The buial places of her three spouses are unknown.

[Update] Child number four was Harry Clarkston, born Jun. 8, 1892 at Elkview in Kanawha Co., WV; died at Fraziers Bottom, Putnam Co., WV on Mar. 14, 1969.  His wife was Cecil Ann Fisher, born May, 1895 in Putnam Co. and died there in 1985.  She and Harry are buried at Saint Albans, Kanawha Co. WV at the Cunningham Memorial Park cemetery. I am still searching for a marriage date and place.

Number five was Fletcher Euick (?), born Jul. 5, 1895 in Charleston, died Nov., 1980 in Kanawha Co.  Also, no info on possible wife and children.

Six was Stoughton (I've seen it spelled Stephen, but it's Stoughton on his death certificate) Edward, born Feb. 27, 1897 in Kanawha Co., died of tuberculosis in Charleston on Apr. 17, 1918 at age 21,  He is also buried at Spring Hill.  He also was unmarried.

The last and seventh child that I have for Pitt and Flavonia was James Tinsley.  He was born Sep. 21, 1901 in WV and died from heart failure at age 330years Oct. 10, 1934 in Charleston.  He was also unmarried.

David Franklin & Elizabeth Conner Coffey

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

---

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

Wesley W. & Laura Josephine Howe Coffey

I have previously written about one of the sons of this couple.  Readers can view that blog here.

---

Wesley W. Coffey was born on Dec. 13, 1837 in Clay Twp., Owen Co., IN and died there before 1910.  He enlisted in Co. H, 14th Indiana Volunteers in Clay Co. in 1861 and was on the county tax rolls in 1866.

The following was found in a Clay county source:*

"Wesley Coffey, attorney at law, was born December 13, 1843 [sic] in Clay Township, Owen County.  His parents, Albert (Gooderight) [sic] [Goodnight] Coffey - the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Kentucky - emigrated to Indiana from North Carolina about 1828.  Four years later they came to Owen County, and located in Clay Township, on a farm where the mother now resides.  The father died in October of 1838.

Wesley is the elder [sic] of two children, and lived at home until 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Fourteenth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. J. H. Martin, and was in active service for two years.  Then, on account of ill-health, he was put on detached service, sent to Frederick, Md., and remained there until the close of the war.  He participated in the following battles:  Rich Mountain, Cheat Mountain and battle of Winchester.

At the close of the war, he returned home to Owen County, remained one year, after which he purchased a farm in Clay Township, where he remained two years.  He then sold and went into the grocery business at Spencer with W. R. Stogsdil.  About 1875, he sold his interest and went into the insurance business, and the study of the bar in Spencer.

He was married in April, 1865, to Laura J. Howe, daughter of Amon P. and Harriet Howe, old settlers in Owen County.  Mr. Coffey is a member of the A. F. & A. M., of the K. of P., of the Royal Arcanum, and the Grand Army of the Republic, and was for four years Justice of the Peace of Owen County.  He is a public spirited citizen, and highly estemed [sic] by those [who] know him."

He married Laura Josephine Howe in Owen Co. on Apr. 13, 1865 and appeared there in the 1880 and 1900 census of Spencer in Washington Twp.  Laura was a daughter of Amon Price and Harriet C. Thatcher Howe and was born in July, 1842.  She lived with her parents in Washington Twp. until her marriage to Wesley.  She can be found in the 1910 Owen Co. and, the 1920 census of Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN.  By 1930 she was living with two of her children in San Gabriel, Los Angeles Co., CA.  The city 1939 and 1941 city directories of Los Angeles list Laura, Hallie and Albert at 709 E. Hellman Ave. in Wilmar City.

There were three children born to Wesley and Laura.  The first was Byron Howe, born Jan. 29, 1866 in Owen Co., died July 4, 1945 in Los Angeles.  Click on the above link to read more about him.

The second child was a daughter, Hallie H., born Jan. 14, 1874 in Owen Co.  Hallie died unmarried on Dec. 13, 1969 in Los Angeles.

Their last child was Albert Price, born May 29, 1876 in Owen Co. and was a musician.  He died in Los Angeles on May 30, 1946 at the age of 70.  I have found no record of him ever having taken a wife.  He lived most of his life with his mother or with Hallie, with whom he shared the house on E. Hellman Ave., at least until 1941.

---

*Charles Blanchard, Editor, Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana: Historical and Biographical. Illustrated. (Chicago, IL: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884), Page 832.  The birth year given in the bio is incorrect.  He was also about a year younger than his sister Julia Ann.

Jackson Lafayette Coffey

Jackson Lafayette Coffey

Jackson was a son of Alfred Alphonso and Julia Ann Dawkins Coffey and was born on Jan. 28, 1865 in TN and died Nov. 24, 1946 in Corsicana, Navarro Co., TX.  Apparently, sometime in his life he was a policeman as seen in this photograph, credited to Madlyn Dill Simkulet.  Madlyn is very likely a descendant of Jackson's daughter, Clara who married Orand Edwil Dill.  It appears - if colors are accurate - that Jackson was a red-headed Coffey.

Ellie Horton Coffey

Jackson married Ella Mahle "Ellie" Horton c1886.  Ellie was the daughter of W. A. and Annie Gibson Horton, and was born Jan. 30, 1868 in GA and died on Dec. 22, 1956 in Corsicana.  Both are buried at the Hamilton-Beeman Cemetery in Retreat, Navarro Co.  This photo of Ellie was also credit to Simkulet.

The 1900 census found the couple in Marion Co., TN.  By 1904 they were in Texas.  The following census they were in Navarro Co. and in 1920 in Henderson Co., TX.  In 1930 they were back in Navarro where they continued to live until death claimed them both.

I recently received the following e-mail from John Thompson, a great-grandson of Jackson and Ellie:

Good morning Jack. My name is John Thompson. I am Lillie Coffee Covington"s grandson. 'Ella' Coffee was my great grandmother. She was my mother's grandmother. We knew her as Ellie. That's what my mother and grandmother called her.

I read, with interest, your information and I have to say I am impressed by the work that you have put into the site. I was looking for information about Lillie's parents when I ran across your site.  Very good job!

Thank you for the excellent information.

I knew Ellie. She lived with my grandmother for the last several years of her life. In fact my grandfather James, 'Jim', Covington built a room on their little house in Corsicana for her. Since we lived in Corsicana and were at my grandmother's house every day, I remember Ellie very well. She was a sweet and kind woman. I can remember playing in her room and under her bed as a little boy. I was born in 1950 so I was around her until I was six.

Ellie was a strong Christian woman with a rock solid faith in her Lord and God. She passed this down to us. My whole family is now saved and serving God in various capacities because of this woman. I want you to know that she changed the course of my brother's and my life by her prayers for us as babies and little children. She was a great woman. I thought you would enjoy knowing some firsthand information about Ellie's later years. She was full of life and was healthy until the very end of her days. She passed her longevity on to her daughter. My grandmother Lillie lived to be 98 and was also healthy until the very end.

Well, I trust that this is a blessing to you. Keep up the good work.  And again, thank you so much for this excellent site. I will be passing the site information to my family.

Sincerely, John Thompson

There were at least 10 children born to Jackson and Ellie:

Clara, born Dec. 17, 1884 in TN, died Sep. 6, 1956 in Houston, Harris Co., TX.  Clara was the wife of Orand Edwin Dill to whom she was married c1902.  Orand was born Jun. 22, 1875 in TX and died May 11, 1951 in Terrell, Kaufman Co., TX.  He is buried at Dresden in Navarro Co. while Clara is at Forest Park in Houston.  They were parents of at least five:  Duna Winnifred, James Shannon, Lee Roy, Norma Geline and Orand, Jr.

The second child was Charles Clifton, born Dec., 1887.  No further information.

George Clinton "Clint" was next, born Dec 1, 1889 in Chattanooga, Hamilton Co., TN, died May 12, 1965 in Corsicana.  Clint married Ella Mae Covington on Dec. 28, 1913 in Jester, Navarro Co.  She was born Mar. 6, 1889 in GA to Elias Haskell and Mary M. Martin Covington and was a sister to James Alexander "Jim" Covington that married George's sister, Lillie Mae and to John Elias Covington who married Tennie Pearl Hunt.  Ella Mae died Jun. 22, 1983 in Corsicana.  She and Clint are buried at Hamilton-Beeman.

Their children were at least six in number:

Beauford Clinton Coffey

Beauford Clinton, born 1917 in Navarro Co., died 1982 in Montgomery Co., PA.  Beauford married a lady by the name of Miriam and were parents of at least two children, Wayne and Bryan.  He was a veteran of WW2, having enlisted in the US Army on Mar. 12, 1942 at Camp Walters, Palo Pinto Co., TX.

Margaret Ellen, born 1919 in Jester, married Charles Willie Cooper, born 1918, died 2002 at Corsicana.

Gracie Fay, born 1922 at Purdon in Navarro Co., married Joe Pierce Woodard.  He was born in 1918 and died in Fort Worth on Feb. 26, 1979.  He is buried at Hamilton-Beeman.

Alfred G. Coffey

Alfred G., born 1925 in Purdon, died Nov. 3, 1967 at San Angelo in Tom Green Co., TX.  He married Helen Emily Hinrich and was the father of at least three:  Beverly Kay, Emily Lisa and Alfred, Jr.  He was also married a second time to a lady named Reba but I have no information about her or possible children.  Alfred is buried at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens in San Angelo.  He was also a veteran of WW2.  He enlisted into the US Army in Dallas on Jun. 23, 1943.

The next child born to Clint and Ellie was Oneida Mae "Johnnie," born Nov. 10, 1926 in Wood Co., TX, died Nov. 3, 1999 in Garland, Dallas Co., TX.  Johnnie married Charlie Lee Bascam Caskey on Feb. 9, 1946 in Corsicana.  Charlie was born in 1917 in Dawson, Navarro Co., and died Dec. 5, 1998 in Garland.  Both are buried at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.  They had at least one son, John Carl, born 1955, died 1997.

The last child of Clint and Ellie was Betty Jo, born Feb. 10, 1931 in Corbet, Navarro Co., died Nov. 13, 1985 in Dallas.  She married Willie Pete Thompson, born Jan. 31, 1930, died Dec. 25, 1983 in Dallas.  Both are buried at Hamilton-Beeman.

Corrections and additions are welcomed.

More on this family to follow.

---

My appreciation to Madlyn Dill Simkulet for making the photographs available and, to John Thompson for his kind remarks.  Clicking on The Farm to Mkt Road link below will show the location of the Beeman-Hamilton cemetery.

David F. Coffey 1817-1867 Pike Co., IL

From a History of Pike county, Illinois, pub. by Charles Chapman & Co., Chicago, 1880

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

I have unsourced information on three of the nine children who survived:  John Hardin Coffey, born Aug. 31, 1847, died Apr. 29, 1917,  was married on Oct. 14, 1875 in West Grove, Davis Co., IA to Ellen Martin.  Daniel Franklin Coffey married Nancy Margaret LNU in Mar., 1851 in Pike Co.  They were parents of at least seven children, born between 1877 and 1899.  Thomas M. married Lillian Mae Hathaway on Jul. 5, 1883 in IL and had at least six chilren, born between 1884 and 1899.

Please contact me if you can add to or correct any of the family information.

---

Update Oct. 7, 2011 Victor Mahlon French and Grace Harding Coffey were married on Oct. 2, 1907* in Crook Co., WY.  Grace was a daughter of Thomas and Lillian Mae Hathaway Coffey.

Their children were:

Russell Elmore, born Jul. 23, 1908 in Alva, Crook Co., died Aug. 11, 1992 in Belle Fourche, Butte Co., SD. His wife was Dorothy, last name unknown. He is buried at Alva Cemetery in Crook Co.

Celia Mae, born Jan. 27, 1910 in Alva, died Jul. 26, 2006 in Gibbon, Buffalo Co., NE. She married Morton Lee Howard on Aug. 16, 1934. He was born Dec. 11, 1912 in Pierre, Hughes Co., SD and died in Nebraska on Jun. 17, 1982. Both are buried at Riverside Cemetery in Gibbon.

Geraldine Belle, born Jun. 26, 1917 in Alva, died May 9, 2009 in Rapid City, Pennington Co., SD. Her husband was Willard Beard to whom she was married on Dec. 22, 1940. Geraldine's remains were cremated and her ashes scattered in an unknown location.

After Grace's death in 1917, Victor was married to Delia Foley, born Mar. 7, 1900 in Cheyenne, Laramie Co., WY, died Sep., 1973 in Cheyenne. From Russell's obituary** we learn that they were the parents of two children: Naomi Jean, born May 9, 1927 in Alva, and Eleanor who married a Mr. Egan. Delia is also buried at Alva in Crook Co.

Naomi married Edwin Gibson Rounds, retired Major, USMC, born Jun. 20, 1920, died Mar. 31, 1985 in ND. Jean died on Jul. 2, 2011 in ND. Both she and Edwin are buried at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, Meade Co., SD.

---

*Groom's Name: Victor M. French Groom's Birth Date: Groom's Birthplace: Groom's Age: Bride's Name: Grace H. Coffey Bride's Birth Date: 1884 Bride's Birthplace: Bride's Age: 23 Marriage Date: 02 Oct 1907 Marriage Place: , Crook, Wyoming Groom's Father's Name: Groom's Mother's Name: Bride's Father's Name: Bride's Mother's Name: Groom's Race: Groom's Marital Status: Groom's Previous Wife's Name: Bride's Race: Bride's Marital Status: Bride's Previous Husband's Name: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M71134-1 System Origin: Wyoming-VR Source Film Number: 968135 Reference Number: 2:1VQRD96 [NB: Oct. 2 could be the license date and the marriage occured on Oct. 7 as given below by Debra Tower]

**Obituary from The Sundance Times, Sundance, Crook Co., WY
Russell E. French, 84, Belle Fourche, and former longtime Crook County resident, died Tuesday, Aug. 11 at Belle Fourche Long Term Health Care Center.  Survivors include his wife, Dorothy, Belle Fourche; two sons, Joe Russell, Crawley, LA, and ned Victor, Winnemucca, NV; two daughters, Marlys Grace, Lander, WY, and Lea Kathryn, Wasilla, Alaska; 10 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; four sisters, Celia Howard, Gibbon, NE, Geraldine Beard, Edgemont, Elanor Egan, Maple Valley, WA, and Jean Rounds, Cheyenne.  Services were held Friday at Alva Community Church in Alva, WY with Elder Merlin O'Haver officating. Burial was in the Alva Cemetery.

Rhodes Gregory

According to his WW1 draft registration, Rhodes Gregory, a son of Frank and Isabelle Gregory, was born in Kentucky on Apr. 4, 1892 in Slavans, KY.  He was 24 years old at the time, and described as being tall and slender with black eyes and brown hair.  He was married and had two children at that time.

A few birth records for his children have been found, and each names the mother as Mattie Bell.  It is not yet clear to me that Bell was her maiden name.  I do know from the 1920 and 1930 census record that her given name was Mattie.

He and Mattie had at least eight children, two of which married into the Coffey family in Wayne Co., KY.

Lula, their third child, was born Jan. 18, 1918 in Wayne Co., and died there on Mar. 28, 1991.  She married Roscoe Coffey, a son of Joseph and Luvada Martin Coffey.  Roscoe was born Apr. 24, 1907 in Kentucky and died in Coopersville, Wayne Co., on Nov. 10, 1988.

Dina, the sixth child of Rhodes and Martha, was born c1925.  She married Inman Coffey, a brother to Roscoe.

Rhodes died in Wayne Co. on Dec. 15, 1969.  I have an unsourced death date for Mattie as Jun. 8, 1950.

Other children born to Rhodes and Mattie were:

Ethel, born Aug., 6, 1914
Lena, born abt Jul., 1916
Marion F., born Jan. 22, 1920
Herman, born Feb. 6, 1925
Nina, born c1926
Leonard, born Oct. 15, 1931

Corrections and/or additions can be sent to me at the above e-mail address, or entered below as comments.

Jefferson & Lina Mae Barnett Coffey

Jefferson Coffey, born Jun. 25, 1884 in Wayne Co., KY, was the first son and fifth child of Lewis Jr., and Permelia Ann Tucker Coffey. He married Lina Mae Barnett, born Oct. 24, 1884 in Wayne Co., c1906.


Their children were:

Oscar H., born c1907

Eva J., born Jan. 24, 1909, died Mar. 30, 1975.  Eva married Sheard Martin, born Jul. 25, 1903, died Feb. 28, 1981 in Wayne Co. Both are buried at the Dodson Cemetery in Steubenville, Wayne Co.


Alfred Wilborn, born Jul. 29, 1911

Leonard C., born Nov. 8, 1913, died of tuberculoses and pneumonia on Nov. 22, 1917. According to Wayne County, Kentucky Cemeteries Book by B.B. Coffey, he was buried at Ross-Rhoda Dodson Cemetery in Montecello, Wayne Co. His death certificate reports only that he was buried at Dodson Cemetery.

Osro William, born Apr. 1, 1916, died Jul. 9, 1986 in Wayne Co. He married Opal Tucker [Taylor?], born Jun. 11, 1912, died Oct. 28, 1983 in Wayne Co. Both are buried at Lockett Chapel in Monticello.

Valda L., born Feb. 27, 1919

Alma E., born Jul. 27, 1921

Huey H., born Jun. 20, 1923. Huey appears with his parents in the photograph.

Separating cemeteries with similar names in the same general location is difficult. Please drop me an e-mail, or leave a comment, if you have more up to date information for any of these family members.

Charles Edward and Sarah Jane Ogden Coffey - Update 2-22-2011

If you live anywhere in the US where the humidity and ambient temperature typically try to out do each other in the summer, you'll understand when I write that not much physical activity has been going on at my house for the past couple of days!

The outside cooling unit went down on Sunday.  A friend knowledgeable about such things came over and changed out a capacitor and the compressor started.  That lasted about an hour and we spent last night with every fan in the house, and one outside, running!

Today, I moved the wireless laptop out onto the deck and set up office in front of that large fan where I remained for most of the day.  Heat doesn't seem to bother my wife as much as me, so she rarely ventured out unless it was to refill my empty iced tea glass!

By the time my friend got back this afternoon with the new outside unit, temps were 91F inside and 90F outside!  Humidity inside and out was at about 49%.  But, it didn't take long to install the new unit and temps inside are steadily dropping.  We can look forward to a cool nights rest once again!

I didn't waste all of my time just sitting in front of that fan.  With the help of my friend John Taylor, I decided to update some of the information on Charles Edward Coffey, a son of John Jack and Elizabeth Susan Duff Coffey in the Jordan Coffey line.

<--Charles Edward Coffey

Charles was born on Nov. 30, 1882 in Amherst Co., VA and died there on Feb. 13, 1924.  He is buried at Bridge Hill Cemetery in Amherst Co.

He and Sarah Jane Ogden were married Feb. 14, 1854 somewhere - probably Amherst Co. - in Virginia.  Sarah was born Oct. 22, 1833 in Virginia, the daughter of Zachariah and Elizabeth McDaniel Ogden.  She died Jan. 17, 1904 and is also buried at Bridge Hill (note headstone).


One of their sons, Pittward (Pitt) Coffey (I've see his name in some genealogies as Pitt Woodford) was married to Lucy White on Oct. 3, 1881 in Amherst Co.  The entry reads that Lucy, age 18 and a widow,  was the daughter of Henry and Eliza White. She was also sister to Sallie M. White who married Pitt's younger brother, Charles Edward Coffey.

I have seen at least one unsourced genealogy that gives her name as Lucy Parks White.  I wonder if she could have been previously married to a Parks who died, and then to Pitt!?

Lucy gave birth to a daughter named Vernie some 10 months later, on Sep. 23, 1882.  Within a very short time - probably around 1885 - Pitt absconded with Flavona Fletcher, a daughter of Lucian and Marie Frances Crawford Fletcher.  Lucian had some interest in Sweet Brian College in Amherst Co., and in 1901 Flovona received a portion of his share, some $5000.

Pitt and Flavona had already relocated to Kanawha Co. in West Virginia where Pitt farmed a little and eventually went into the grocery business.  In 1900 he was a farmer.  In 1910 he was a grocer.  The extra cash that Flavona brought home probably helped him get started in the retail business.

By 1920 Pitt was retired.  Too bad he didn't live longer to enjoy his retirement.  He died on Jan. 9, 1922 of stomach cancer, and was buried on Jan. 10 at the Spring Hill Cemetery in Charleston, Kanawha Co.

I do not yet know where Flavona went after 1920.  But, she died on Nov. 5, 1955 in Putney, Kanawha Co.

In 1930 Flavonia was living with her daughter Alma and Alma's second husband, Frank C. Briscoe in Charles, WV.
Vernie, Pitt's daughter with Lucy married Robert L. Seay, who was born Oct. 25, 1875 (not yet sure where).  He and Vernie had at least six children:

Evelyn, born Nov. 10, 1900, died Aug. 16, 1966
Vivian, born Sep. 25, 1903, died Nov. 1, 1973
John Robert, born Jun. 25, 1906, died apr. 2, 1984
Henry Vaughn, born Apr. 7, 1908, died Nov. 16, 1940
Marion, born Oct. 16, 1910, died May 23, 1975
William Lee, born Sep. 3, 1913, died Mar. 20, 1940

Pitt's children with Flavona were:

Jesse, born Sep., 1885, died Feb. 12, 1918 of "probably typhoid fever" and,  was buried at Spring Hill Cemetery in Charleston, Kanawha Co.  Jesse died unmarried.

Janet Aurelia, born Jul. 1888, died Mar. 27, 1945.  She married first T. Edward Berry on Nov. 19, 1908 in Lexington, Rockbridge Co., VA.  She later married Chester L. Martin, born 1886, died Sep. 14, 1959 in Huntington, Cabell Co., WV.  She is also buried at Spring Hill Cemetery.

Alma, born Mar., 1890. Alma married first to Thomas H. Young in 1911, Kanawha Co., WV. She gave him at least three children: Harless, born c1913; Margaret, born c1915; and Carroll Cletcher, born c1918, each in WV. She last appeared with Young in the 1920 census in Charleston. In 1924 she married a widower, Frank C. Briscoe and gave him at least two children: Mary, born c1925 and Joseph H., born c1927. That marriage license shows that Alma was divorced. Briscoe was 17 years senior to Alma and seemingly preceded her in death because, in 1963, at the age of 73, Alma married for the third time. This husband was 72-year old James Marshall Lawson. Alma is buried at Spring Hill. I have not discovered Mr. Lawson's burial place.
Harry Clarkston, born Jun. 8, 1892, died Mar., 1969.  Buried at Putnam Co., WV.

Fletcher, born Jul. 5, 1895, died Nov., 1980 in Kanawha Co.

Stoughton Edward, born Feb., 1897, died Apr. 17, 1918.  I've seen some genealogies who named this child Steven.  However, Stoughton is how it is spelled on his death certificate.  He died very young (age 21) from Tuberculosis.  He was also buried at Spring Hill.

James Tinsley, born Sep. 21, 1901, died Oct. 10, 1934.  James died early as well.  He was deceased from a heart attack by the time he was 33 years old.  He is also buried at Spring Hill.

More to come on the remainder of Charles' children with Sarah Jane Ogden.

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

Photos courtesy of John Taylor 

Joseph Harrison and Carrie Elizabeth Coffey Wellborn

Joseph Harrison Wellborn was born Mar. 3, 1873 in Wilkes Co., NC to F.D. and Mary M. Wellborn.  The 1880 census locates F.D. and Mary in Lewis Fork Twp., Wilkes Co. with two Wellborn children and three Tulbert [or, Tolbert] step-children.

Carrie Elizabeth Coffey was born Aug. 14, 1877 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC to Thomas and Rachel M. Coffey Coffey.  Thomas was a son of William Coffey, Jr., and Margaret Robbins; Rachel was a daughter of McCaleb Coffey and Elizabeth Collett.  William was a nephew as well as a first cousin once removed to McCaleb.

Caldwell Co. marriage book 11, page 245 records the union of Carrie and Joseph in that place in 1896.  According to the 1900 Patterson Twp. Caldwell Co. census, Carrie was mother to three children, two of which had died in infancy.  Their first child to reach adulthood was Jennie Beatrice, born May 11, 1900.

In 1910, the family was found in Chase, Mecklenburg Co., VA where Joseph was farming.  However, by 1917 Joseph was confined to Long's Sanitorium in Statesville, Iredell Co., NC where according to his death certificate he died from cirhosis of the liver on Oct. 11, 1917.  He was buried on Oct 13, 1917 in Patterson Twp.  The death certificate is not specific on burial location.

Carrie remained a widow in Patterson Twp. for the rest of her life, and died there from uremia on Mar. 22, 1951.  She is buried at Harpers Chapel Cemetery in Patterson.  Joseph is likely buried there as well.

Their children were:

Jennie Beatrice, born May 11, 1900, died Dec. 30, 1978 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  She married Thomas Hamilton (Hamp) Robbins in that county in 1920.  Thomas was a son of Thomas Clingman and Sarah Curtis Robbins.  He was born on Oct. 17, 1888 in Caldwell Co., and died Mar. 5, 1965 in Lower Creek, Caldwell Co.  Thomas is buried at Harpers Chapel and, Jennie is also presumed to be buried there.  They had at least four children:  Mary Gwendolyn, born Sep. 7, 1920; Thomas Hamilton, born Sep. 11, 1922; George Welborn, born Aug. 17, 1924, died Nov. 21, 2004; and Robert Joseph, born Dec. 5, 1926.

Carl Coffey, born Aug, 6, 1902 in Wilkes Co., died May 15, 1986 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.  He married Lula Bell Hamby in Caldwell Co. in 1921.  She was born Oct. 18, 1898 in NC and died Dec. 8, 1933 in Lenoir.  Lula is buried at Harpers Chapel, and Carl is probably buried there as well.  Their five known children were:  Clyde Colene, born Oct. 6, 1921; Mildred Marie, born 1923; Joseph Henry, born 1924, died 1997; Earl Russell, born Apr. 3, 1928, died Jun. 22, 1994; and a daughter who was stillborn on Mar. 31, 1932.  Death of the child was attributed to hydrocephalus and spina bifida.

Alma M., born c1904

Annie L., born c1906

Robert Louis, born Dec. 11, 1908, died Dec. 29, 1990.  It is unknown whether or not he married and fathered children.

Carrie was the sixth child.  She was born Sep. 13, 1910 and died Feb. 28, 1985.  She married Hugh Hardin Edmisten, a son of Newton and Alice Holshouser Edmisten.  Hugh was born Aug. 19, 1905 in Watauga Co., and died in Lenoir on Aug. 16, 1963.  Hugh is buried at Belleview Cemetery in Lenoir, and Carrie is also thought to have been buried there.

Joseph Dale, born Mar. 14, 1913

Blanche Gertrude, born Nov. 19, 1914, died Mar. 8, 2004.  Blanche first married William Lee Martin, a son of Roby Sherrill and Ivalee Crisp Martin.  He was born on Dec. 23, 1913 in NC and died in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., on Aug. 4, 1966.  He is buried in Wilson Memorial Park in Caldwell Co.  Carrie's second husband was H.C. (Bud) Andrews for whom I have no information.  It appears that Blanche did not have children by either husband, but I am not sure of that.  She is also buried at Wilson Memorial Park.

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

Joseph Harrison and Carrie Elizabeth Coffey Wellborn

Joseph Harrison Wellborn was born c1873 in North Carolina and died there before 1920. He married Carrie Elizabeth Coffey in Caldwell County, NC in 1896 [Marriage Book 11, Page 245]. Carrie was the daughter of Thomas, a son of William Coffey and Margaret Robbins. Carrie's mother was Rachel M. Coffey, the daughter of McCaleb Coffey and Elizabeth Collett.

Carrie was born Aug. 14, 1877 in Caldwell Co., and died in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co. on Mar. 22, 1951.  She is buried at Harper's Chapel Cemetery in Patterson.  An accurate birth and death date for Joseph has not been found.

Children of Joseph and Carrie were:

Jennie Beatrice, born May 11, 1900, died Dec. 30, 1978. Jennie married Thomas Hamilton (Hamp) Robbins in Caldwell Co., NC in 1920. Thomas was born Oct. 17, 1888 [death certificate], a son of Thomas Clingman and Sarah Curtis Robbins. He died Mar. 5, 1965 in Lower Creek, Caldwell Co. [Death Certificate]. Their children were Mary Gwendolyn, born Sep. 7, 1920 [NC Birth Index Book 7, Page 621], died Dec. 14, 1977; Thomas Hamilton, born Sep. 11, 1922; George Welborn, born Aug. 17, 1924, died Nov. 21, 2004; and Robert Joseph, born Dec. 5, 1926.

Carl Coffey, born Aug. 6, 1902 in Wilkes Co., died May 15, 1986 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co. He was married in 1921 to Lula Belle Hamby, born Oct. 18, 1898 in NC, died Dec. 8, 1933 in Lenoir. Their children were Clyde Colene, born Oct. 6, 1921; Mildred Marie, born 1923; Joseph Henry, born 1924, died 1997; Earl Russell, born Apr. 3, 1928, died Jun. 22, 1994; and an unnamed child, born and died in 1932.

Alma L., born c1906

Robert Louis, born Dec. 11, 1908, died Dec. 29, 1990

Carrie, born Sep. 13, 1910, died Feb. 28, 1985. She married Hugh Hardin Edmisten, born Aug. 19, 1905 in Watauga Co., NC, died Aug. 16, 1963 in Lenoir. He was a son of Newton Edmiston and Alice Holshouser.

Joseph Dale, born May 14, 1913

Blanche Gertrude, born Nov. 19, 1914, died Mar. 8, 2004. Blanche married first William Lee Martin, born Dec. 23, 1913, died Aug. 4, 1966 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC. He was a son of Roby Sherrill and Ivalee Crisp Martin. Blanche was married second to H. C. (Bud) Andrews for whom I have no information. Blanche is buried in Wilson Memorial Park in Caldwell Co.

Obituary, The News Topic, Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC

Blanch Andrews

Blanch Gerturde Wellborn Martin Andrews, 89, of Blowing Rock Blvd., Lenoir, died Monday, March 8, 2004, at Lenoir Healthcare Center.

She was born Nov. 19, 1914 in Caldwell County to the late Joseph and Carrie E. Coffey Wellborn. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, William Lee Martin; her second husband, (Bud) H.C. Andrews; three brothers and three sisters.

Mrs. Andrews was a homemaker was a member of Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church.

Survivors include three sons, Williams S. Martin, Jack O. Martin and Charles A. Martin all of Lenoir; a daughter, Mrs. Ivolee Martin McCall of Valdese; 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Greer-McElveen Funeral Home Chapel conducted by the Rev. Joe Parker and the Rev. Lynn Hawkins. Interment will follow in J.H. Wilson Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Jason Martin, Charles Martin, Jr., Jamie McCall, Travis Coffey, Tom Haus and Joel Coffey. Honorary pallbearers will be: Donovan Moose, Lee Moose and Will Haus.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Caldwell County Hospice, 902 Kirkwood Street, Lenoir, NC 28645; or to Mt. Olivet united Methodist Church, 2032 Mulberry Creek Road, Lenoir NC 28645; or to Wellborn Historical Society, 2400 Mourgea Avenue, High Meadow Apt. 4E, Valdese, NC 28690.

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