William Noah Coffey, Bigamist & Murderer

William Noah Coffey
(After arrest)

William Noah Coffey was born Dec. 10, 1874 in Collettsville, Johns River Twp., Caldwell Col, NC to Israel Boone and Catherine Emma Spainhour Coffey.  Catherine was born in NC in 1845 to Noah Spainhour and wife Elizabeth Ann Mason.  Israel was a son of Daniel Boone and Clarissa Estes Coffey.  Daniel was the son of William Coffey who married Annie Boone, daughter of Jesse and Sarah McMahan Boone.

Nothing spectacular appears to have happened in the life of William Noah to have brought him any national notoriety until 1926. In a fit of what might be described today as a "mid life crisis," he met and illegally married a 53-year old widow by the name of Hattie Hales who was described as a buyer for a department store. In 1927 he was accused of bigamy and murder of Hattie.

When he registered for the WW1 draft in 1918, he described his job as a publicly employed credit collector.  He had married Alberta Ellen Winnek, born in Massachusetts in 1877, in Kansas on Jun. 24, 1903*.  They had three children:  Douglas Fredwill Coffey, Alberta Ellen Coffey and Miriam Martin Coffey.  After her divorce from William, she and her children began using the surname Winnek.

While searching archived newspapers, I found William on the front page of the Jan. 30, 1927 edition of the Sarasota [FL] Herald-Tribune.  The article was written after he had been arrested for the murder of Hattie Hales Coffey in Lancaster, WI.  This article indicates that he eventually confessed to her murder and led authorities to the place where he had killed her, cut her body into pieces and buried them in shallow graves at various locations in a place known as "Ritter's Woods," aka "Bratton's Woods."

William Noah Coffey
 (in front of automobile)

In an attempt to find more information about William, I located the June, 2014 History and Politics blog by Dennis A. Wilson in which he described receiving a cardboard box with photos of William and various locals searching the area where he had confessed to having killed and buried Hallie.

William was convicted of the murder and sentenced to prison at Wisconsin State Prison at Waupun, Dodge Co., WI.  He died there in June, 1962 and was buried at the Waupun state cemetery.  In 1965 his remains were relocated to the Calvary Cemetery at Waupun in Fond du Lac, WI.

He was my third cousin, twice removed.

It remains difficult to determine how Alberta Ellen spelled her maiden name.  It is recorded as Minnek [sic] in the marriage record to William Coffey.  In her death record her mother's maiden name was given as Martin - explaining where Martin comes from in daughter Miriam name - but a father's name was not given.  Alberta's Find-A-Grave memorial tells us that her father was Frederick Gideon and Ellen Mary Martin Winnek [sic].

After she was divorced from William Noah Coffey and moved to Chicago, she became known as Alberta Ellen Winneck [sic] and her children's surname was also changed to Winneck.  When her son Douglas was married, the record shows that his name was Winnek and his father was William Winnek but, a marriage record has not been found for Alberta's marriage to a Winnek of any spelling and with any given name.  Perhaps she also changed the name of William N. Coffey to William Winnek to satisfy some procedural requirement for supplying a father's name.

Douglas Fredwill Winnek - Isabel White Marriage License

The Coffey family appeared in the 1910 census at Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., WI; 1920 in Madison, Dane Co., WI and in 1923, the city directory for Madison shows them residing at 33 N. Carroll St.  In 1930, Alberta was living in Chicago, Cook Co., IL with her two daughters. Her surname was spelled Winneck.

In 1940, Alberta resided with Douglas and his wife and children at 616 Harold in Mamaroneck, Rye Twp., Westchester Co., NY.  The surname was spelled Minnick [sic].  Douglas gave his occupation as "inventor." He died in 1999 and his remains were cremated and scattered into the Pacific off Point Cabrillo, Monterey, CA.  His Find-A-Grave memorial spells his surname Winnek.

When Douglas married for the second time in 1935, his surname was spelled Winnek.  He reported on the license application that he had been previously married and had obtained a Mexican divorce a few weeks prior to taking his second bride, Isabel White in Cuyahoga Co., OH.  That and the fact that he had two years of college training are likely reasons he was not present in the 1930 household.  He has not yet been found in 1930.

Daughter Alberta Ellen married Albert Rosenheck.  He died in 1985, probably in NJ.  She died in 2006, also probably in NJ.  Both are buried at Lakeview Memorial Park in Cinnaminson, Burlington Co., NJ.

The last child, Miriam Martin, married twice.  According to CA marriage records, her first husband was Jacob Anton Wassenberg and they were married on Apr. 10, 1938. He died in 1950 and was buried as Andreas Anton Wassenberg at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes in Los Angeles Co., CA.

Her second husband was William Dennis Stoltz, born 1917 in PA, married Jun. 19, 1954 in Los Angeles Co.  He died at Riverside, CA in 1997.  Miriam preceded him in 1978.  They too are buried at Green Hills.  On the certificate of marriage to Stoltz, she named her father as William Coffey and mother as Alberta Winnek.

Wm Dennis Stoltz-Miriam M. Coffey Marriage Certificate

I suspect the actual surname was some variation of Winneck. and I have recorded it as Winnek in my file for this family.

Corrections and additions welcomed.

---

* "Kansas Marriages, 1840-1935", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FW21-GPB : accessed 19 December 2014), William N. Coffey and Alberta Minnek, 24 Jun 1903; citing Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas, reference p 444; FHL microfilm 1,547,792.

Photos are courtesy of an used with permission of Dennis A. Wilson

Charles Edward Coffey, Jr.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

His obituary:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

Photo courtesy John Taylor

Lottie J. Coffey Trevey

Lottie J. Coffey Trevey

Lottie J. Coffey was the daughter of Charles Edward Coffey, Jr., and his wife Sallie M. White. Charles is in the Jordan Coffey line.

She was born Dec. 21, 1883 in Virginia, and probably in Amherst Co., and died there on May 7, 1939. She married Moses Hill Trevey c1902. Moses was born Jan. 22, 1878 in (probably) Amherst Co., VA and died there on May 23, 1954.

There were five children born to the marriage: Norman, born c1906; Harry Andrew, born May 18, 1908, died Apr. 24, 1924; Helen Audrey, borm May 18, 1908; Hesper D., born c1915, and Hill, born Jun. 12, 1923, died Jun. 9, 1926.

Lottie's sisters and brothers were Hester; Ashby Darmon, born Feb. 20, 1884, died Jul. 23, 1929; Inez, born Apr. 13, 1885; Hattie, born Apr. 2, 1888; and Beulah, born Oct. 25, 1889.

Beulah married Leonard Tyree Mason Jan. 7, 1910 in Lynchburg, VA. He was born Jul. 7, 1888 in Campbell Co. I know of only one child: Thomas B., born Jan. 12, 1919, died Mar. 8, 2007:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

William Lewis Coffey

William was a son of Richard L. and Julia Mattie Mason Coffey. He was born Sep. 7, 1866 in Brown Co., IN and died May 18, 1934 in that county. He married Rosa Belle Clarke on Jul 2, 1892 in Brown Co. She was born Jan. 22, 1872 in Brown Co., and died May 25, 1946 in Marion Co., IN.

William was a high school teacher and principal, and later became superintendent of Brown county schools where he served until about 1911. He was later an executive cashier for the Nashville State Bank in Nashville, Brown Co.

His biography* states that he was a "Republican in political alignment and is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pyhthias." William served on numerous boards and committees in Brown County in which he spearheaded "Liberty Loan" campaigns, Red Cross affairs, and Near East relief work. Rosa is said to have been the granddaughter of Dr. Charles Clark, a "kinsman of the great frontiersman and western explorer, George Rogers Clark."


Their children were:

- Marie, born Jan. 1895
- William Wendell, born Feb. 23, 1902
- Arthur Livingston, born c1905
- Alton Powell, born c1904
- Marguerite, born Apr., 1910

The family appeared in all census records in Brown Co. from 1900 through 1930. Arthur and Alton were twins. There were likely other children born between 1895 and 1902 that did not survive beyond infancy.

I have not researched the children and their descendants.

Please contact me if you have additional information and/or corrections to this data.


*From a book with no cover or title. See [http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/message/rw/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties.brown/1341; the author of this message, and transcriber of the William L. Coffey biography wrote: "This book has no cover, and no index, and no author..."]