Oscar Lee Coffey

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[2]ibid

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

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

Chisolm R. Coffey (1885-1935)

Chisholm R. Coffey was a son of William Edmondson and Nancy Louisa Daniel, who descended from Edward through his son John, his son Rev. James, his son Rice, his son Henry Bradford and finally, his son William Edmondson.

The Gadsden Times, Jan. 14, 1935

CHEROKEE MAN KILLS ANOTHER IN SUNDAY ROW

Chisholm Coffey Shot to Death by Will Ashley

Chisholm R. Coffey, 48, successful Cherokee County farmer, and one of the best known men of county, was shot and killed by Will Ashley, 47, at Blue Pond Sunday afternoon at 5 o'clock. The shooting is said to have been witnessed by six people, present at the Blue Pond depot on the T. A. G. Railway where the difficulty took place.

Ashley remained at the place of the shooting and sent for the sheriff, according the report, and gave himself up to the authorities. He was lodged in the Cherokee County Jail at Centre.

According to a statement issued by Ashley to investigating officers, the shooting took place after the men had been engaged in a scuffle. Ashley told the sheriff that Coffey "abused and threatened" him and also that Coffey choked him or was attempting to choke him. He did not make a further statement. A pistol was the weapon used in the slaying and it was reported that four or five shots were fired.

Coffey was a member of one of the most prominent families of North Alabama. His mother, before her marriage was Miss Louise Daniel and her family was one of the big landholders of that part of the state. Coffey also owned large farming interests in the county, his place being situated in the valley about five miles above Blue Pond.

Funeral services for Mr. Coffey will be conducted at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the home and burial will follow at the Daniel cemetery with Brown-Service directing. The Rev. J. M. McHugh will have charge of the services.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Evan Owen, of Gadsden; Miss Lillian Coffey, of Round Mountain; Miss Sara Lou Coffey, of Gadsden; and Miss Frances and Miss Mary Coffey of Round Mountain; two sons, William and Tom Coffey of Round Mountain; three sisters, Mrs. Janie Phillips and Mrs. Mattie Elliott, of Gadsden, and Mrs. Carrie Bostic, of West Virginia.

Chisholm and his wife, Frances Eula Wheeler, a daughter of Drew and Alice Alexander Wheeler, were the parents of at least 9 children, the youngest of which was about six years old at the time of his father's death; the eldest about 23.

Children:  Infant male, born Dec. 13, 1909, died Dec. 20, 1909; Alice, born c1912; Lillian Nell, born c1915; Frances, born c1917; Mary, born c1919, married a Mr. Wood and died Jan 31, 2012 at Cedar Bluff in Cherokee Co.; William, born c1922; Thomas, born c1924; Sarah Lou, born c1928 and Alice, born c1929.