William Harrison Parmley, Spouse of Sara Zerilda Coffey

WILLIAM H. PARMLEY

The farm and gin interests of Montague county, Texas, have an enterprising representative in the subject of this sketch, William H. Parmley.  He is a Kentuckian by birth and was born in Wayne County, September 13, 1858, son of Robert and Serilda (Strunk) Parmley, both natives of Kentucky.

Robert Parmley, Sr., grandfather of William H., was a Virginian and a great hunter who at an early day settled in the wilds of Kentucky, where he improved a farm and carried on agricultural pursuits extensively, having slaves to do his work.  He was twice married.  By his first wife the children were:  James, Garner, John, Washington, Lewis, Robert, Jr., Henderson, Giles, Mrs. Sidney Gan, and Mrs. Rebecca Rice.  Following are the names of the children by the second wife:  Mrs. Betty McBath.  William, Lad, Mrs. Abigail Winchester, Mrs. Ersley Stokes, Mrs. Vie Young, Mrs. Ellen Powers and H. Clay.

Robert Parmley, Jr., in his early manhood taught school for some years.  Although a southerner, he was a Union man, and two of his brothers, William and Lad, were Union soldiers.  He however took no part in the war.  He is politically a Democrat and was honored with official position in his native State, and also since his removal to Kansas.  He moved west in 1877 and settled in Cowley county, Kansas, where he improved a good farm and was for many years successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits.  Now at the age of eighty-two years, and still vigorous, he is living retired in Burden, that county.   Here he has served as justice of the peace and city judge.  He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and of the Masonic fraternity, and has long been known as a generous, big-hearted, broad-minded man with a character in every way above reproach.  His first wife died in 1879. She belonged to one of the early families of Kentucky; was a member of Cumberland Presbyterian church, and was a woman of lovely Christian character.  Little is known of her family history.  Fowlowing are the names of her children:  Mrs. Milda Rice James (deceased); William H.; John (deceased); Ned (deceased); Bell, wife of George R. McClelland, and Ellen, wife of M. Mackey.  The father subsequently married a Mrs. Burris, his present companion. 

William H. Parmley was seventeen when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Kansas.  His education was received chiefly at home under his father's instruction and in the practical school of experience.  He assisted his father in the development of their farm in the new State of Kansas.  Then in 1880 he returned to Kentucky, married the sweetheart of his youth and took her back to Kansas with him. The next two years he was employed in breaking prairie with two yoke of oxen.  He rented land in Chautauqua county one year;  moved to Llano county, Texas, where he raised two crops; returned to Kansas, but soon came back Texas, this time settling in Montague county, where he bought eighty acres of land, to which he afterward added another eighty acres, and where he remained eight years.  His next move was to Indian Territory, but he did not remain there long.  Coming again to Montague County, he purchased land where he now resides.  To his original purchase here, one hundred and sixty acres, he has since added until he is now the owner of one thousand acres, 600 acres of which are under cultivation, most of which he rents, his chief products being corn and cotton.  His farm with its commodious, modern residence and other buildings, wind mill and fine water, large orchard of choice fruits, etc., is certainly an ideal country place.  In 1900 Mr. Parmley became interested in ginning.  He erected a gin with a daily capacity of twenty-five bales, to the operation of which he has since given his attention in ginning season.  It has been by his own energy and good management that Mr. Parmley has accumulated his estate since coming to Montague County, and he has well earned the title of self-made man.

Politically, Mr. Parmley is a Republican, posted and up-to-date in the country's progress and hopeful of Republican success in Texas.  He is one of the active members of the Farmer's Union, and both he and his wife are identified with the Missionary Baptist Church.

Of Mr. Parmley's domestic life, we record that he married Miss Serilda Coffee who was born in Kentucky, December 18, 1858, daughter of Jackson and Martha J. (Spann) Coffee, the former a native of Kentucky, the later of Tennessee. Her grandfather, Nathaniel Coffee, was a prominent farmer of Kentucky.  His children were:  Jackson; Cleve, one of the early settlers of Texas and William.  Jackson, a farmer in Kentucky until 1882, that year moved to Texas and settled in Hopkins county, where he spent two years; then came to Llano county, and two years later to Montague County, where he lived with his daughter for fifteen years.  He died here October 20, 1889. He was a plain, honest farmer, a member of the primitive Baptist church, and was highly respected by all who knew him.  His children in order of birth are:  Shelby, Lewis, Jack, Henry, and Willis, all deceased;  Samuel and Robert of Indian Territory;  Cleve, who resides with his sister, Mrs. Parmley;  Clay, who died in early life;  Eliza, wife of J. Kennett;  Mrs. Serilda Parmley;  and Mollie, deceased.  The children of Mr. and Mrs. Parmley are:  Robert, Leenora, Charles L., Thadeus, William F., Maud, Dosha and Lula S., all living at this writing except Lenora, who died at the age of three months.

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A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas.
Captain B.B. Paddock, Editor, Illustrated Vol. II; 1906, The Lewis Publishing Company of Chicago & N.Y. Page 539-540
Thanks to Jacqueline Daffron for providing this info on 9/22/2012 - Click on title link to read earlier blog on this family.

William Harrison & Sara Zerilda "Relda" Coffey Parmley

Sara Zerilda "Relda" Coffey, born Dec. 28, 1858 in Monticello, Wayne Co., KY, died of cancer on Sep. 9, 1940 in Kingsville, Kleberg Co., TX, was the daughter of Andrew Jackson and Martha Jane Spann Coffey.

"Relda" was the wife of William Harrison Parmley to whom she was married on Aug. 18, 1880. William was born Sep. 13, 1858 in Wayne Co., KY and according to his death certificate died on Jan. 10, 1933 in Kingsville.

William is buried at Chamberlain Cemetery in Kingsville, and "Relda" is presumed to be there as well.

Their children were:

Robert Edward, born in Texas, died Nov., 1955, place unknown. He was a resident of Guadalupe Co., NM when he registered for the draft on Sep. 12, 1918. In that record he was reported to be of medium height and build with gray eyes and light colored hair. He was then a self-employed stock raiser and farmer, age 36, born Jun. 26, 1882. He lived with his wife, Vada C. Parmley in Pastura, Guadalupe Co. In 1920 he was residing with his family in Vaughn, Guadalupe Co. In that census he reported his place of birth as Kansas.

Update: Sep. 22, 2012:  Robert Married Nevada "Vada" Webb, c1903.  She was born Apr. 21, 1882 in AR and died Sep. 30, 1933 in Bryan Co., OK.  She is buried at  Bennington Cemetery, Bennington Bryan Co., OK.  Robert married a second time to a lady named Laura, married name probably Chambers.  In 1940 the family lived in Bryan Co. and there were two Chambers boys living in the household as "boarders."

Lenora, born Aug. 12, 1884 in Texas, died Nov. 20, 1884.

Charles Leroy, born in Nocona, Montague Co., TX, died Jun. 14, 1980 in Wood Co., TX. He registered for the WW1 draft on Jun. 5, 1917 in Union Co., NM. He was of medium height with slender build, blue eyes and brown hair. He was 30 years old, born Jun. 4, 1887. He listed his residence then as Centerville, NM where he farmed. He was unmarried at the time of registration. He is said to have married and divorced Minnie Lee Conckle between 1908 and 1910.

Thaddeus McCall was born in Bonita, Montague Co. He married Lizzie Williams on May 28, 1915, probably in Hartley Co., TX where he registered for the WW1 draft on Jun. 5, 1917. He was also of medium height and build with gray eyes and brown hair. He was 26 years old, born Jun. 28, 1891 in Nocona. He was married with one child, and a resident then of Channing, TX where he was a stock man. According to his death certificate, Thaddeus died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Wichita Co., TX on May 12, 1941. He was buried at Dumas in Moore Co., TX.

William Frank, born Oct., 1892 in Texas, died Jun. 6, 1982. He married Ella Pearl Parman of Missouri in March, 1914. No other information.

Manna Netta, born Jun., 1896 in TX, died Nov. 5, 1930 in California. Married John Hamilton. No other information.

Update Sep. 22, 2012:  John Tomlinson and Manna Neta were married in 1920.  He was born Jan. 28, 1897 in GA and died in San Bernandino Co., CA on Jan. 25, 1980.  Manna died Nov. 5, 1930 in CA.  After Manna died, John remarried to a lady named Madeline M., born c1892 in PA.  No further info.

Dosia Ann, born Oct., 16, 1897 in TX, died Jan. 5, 1994 in Kleberg Co., TX. She apparently died unmarried since her death is recorded as Dosia Parmley.

Update Sep. 22, 2012:  She was unmarried and lived with her mother in Kleberg Co., TX in May, 1940.

Lula Serilda, born Aug. 14, 1899, probably in TX, died Jan. 12, 1984. She married Frank John Elzik on Jun. 24, 1922 in Kleberg. He was born Jan. 10, 1901 and died Jun. 20, 1967. 

Update Sep. 22, 2012:  Lula and Frank had at least two children:  Frank, Jr., born Aug. 1, 1923 in Kleberg Co., died there on Jul. 6, 1973 and was buried at Chamberlain Cemetery in Kingsville, Kleberg Co.  Their second child was Wilma Jean, born Mar. 24, 1926.  No further information on her.

Andrew Jackson Coffey was born c1825 in Wayne Co., KY and died Oct. 25, 1899 in Montague Co., TX.  He and Martha Jane were married on Jan. 8, 1850 in Wayne Co.  She was born c1834 in Wayne Co., and died there c1876.  Andrew was a son of Nathaniel and Louisa Durham Coffey.  Nathan was a son of Joel who was a son of James and Elizabeth Cleveland Coffey.  James was a son of John Coffey and Jane Graves.

Elizabeth Cleveland is said by some to have been a daughter of Edward Coffey and Grace Cleveland; Edward being a brother to John.  I've seen no proof of this.

Both Edward and John were sons of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.

Corrections and/or additions can be sent to me at the above e-mail address.