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.

Captain Dick & Lettie J. McBride Coffey

Captain Dick Coffey

Lettie McBride

Captain was one of the nine sons of Joseph and Beth Ada Strunk Coffey of Kentucky.  He and Beth Ada were parents of at least 13 children, all born between 1854 and 1880 in KY and TN.  Captain was born on Jan. 19, 1872 in Flat Rock, McCreary Co., KY and died in Oneida, Scott Co., TN. on Oct. 25, 1950.  His bride was Lettie J. McBride to whom he was married on Mar. 19, 1901* in Scott Co.  Lettie was born in Oneida in 1881 and died in Scott Co. in Jan., 1926.  Both are buried in the Coffey Cemetery** in Oneida.

I have found seven children for Cap and Lettie.  They were:

Maude, born 1902, Scott Co., TN, died 1990 in Anderson Co., TN.  She married Elmer Davis in Scott Co., 1922.  He died in 1975.

Ada, born 1903, Scott Co., died 1984 in Scott Co.  Married Arnold George Lewis, born 1900, died 1967.

Jefferson, born 1906 in Scott Co., died 1930 in Boyd Co., KY.  Married Nellie Richmond in 1923, Scott Co.

John "Johnny", born 1907 in Scott Co., died there in 1976.  Married Stella Phillips in 1931, Scott Co.  One son I know of, Lee, born 1934 in Scott Co.

Emily, born 1911 in TN, died 1930 in KY.

Walter Othel Coffey

Mamie Matilda Baltimore Coffey

Rev. Walter Othel, born 1913 in Scott Co., died 1974 in Fayette Co., KY.  His wife was Mamie Matilda Baltimore, daughter of Ben and Mamie Donelson Baltimore, born in Sparta, White Co., TN in 1915.  She died in Pine Knot, McCreary Co. in 1986.  They were married in Cooperative, McCreary Co. in 1932.  Children:  Joyce, Shelby, Patricia, Johnny, Ronnie, Phyllis, Charles and Donna Sue (not in birth order).  Walter and Mamie are both buried at Pine Knot cemetery.

Their last child was Ome, born 1916 in Oneida, died 1937 in Boyle Co., KY.

More info is available on DVD or CD.

Jack

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*"Tennessee, State Marriage Index, 1780-2002," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VNCG-QRD : accessed 28 Nov 2012), Captain Coffey and Lettie Mcbride, 1901.

**Lat: 36.50440, Lon: -84.52310. Look north of the intersection of US 27 (Depot St.) via W. 3rd to Stanley St.

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Photos are courtesy of Theresa/Thunderbird584 at Find-A-Grave

Joshua & Mary "Polly" Coffey Oatts

Joshua was a native of Virginia, born in that state on Jul. 5, 1791. He was a son of Robert and Mary or May Jones Oatts. On Jan. 4, 181 Joshua married Mary "Polly" Coffey, probably in Wayne Co.,KY, a daughter of Lewis Russell and Bidant "Biddy" Moore Coffey.

One of the sons of Joshua and Mary was Lewis, born Dec., 3, 1837, died Feb. 12, 1898 in Wayne Co. I don't have a marriage for Lewis. He is buried at Elk Springs Valley Cemetery at Oil Valley in Wayne Co., KY.

Lewis and "his sister" [he had two: Emily, born 1831 and Sophronia, born 1839) are mentioned in the Slave Narratives, a Gutenberg Project. This work was originally prepared by the WPA and, released in eBook format on April 6, 2004. A part which mentions the Oatts family of Wayne Co. reads as follows:

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves, by Work Projects Administration

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

Title: Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Kentucky Narratives
Author: Work Projects Administration
Release Date: April 6, 2004 [EBook #11920]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SLAVE NARRATIVES ***
Produced by Andrea Ball and PG Distributed Proofreaders. Produced from images provided by the Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.

Mercer County. Ex-Slave Stories. (Hazel Cinnamon)

Interview with Will Oats--Ex-Slave:

Will Oats, 84 years of age, was born in Wayne County, up Spring Valley in 1854. He was the son of Betty Oats and Will Garddard of North Carolina. He has three sisters: Lucy Wilson, Frances Phillips that live in Ohio, and Alice Branton of Mercer County, Kentucky. He has two brothers; Jim Coffey and Lige Coffey of Harrodsburg.

As a child he lived with his mother, brothers, sisters, and grandmother. Their quarters were in the yard of their master; and they were as comfortable as any slaves--with plenty to eat and clothes to keep them warm.

Will was just a boy at that time, and he cut wood and carried it in; and did other chores around the house such as help to milk and feed the stock. Their food was plentiful and they ate all kinds of vegetables, and had plenty of milk and butter, fat meat, and bread.

The family all wore home made clothing, cotton shirts, heavy shoes, very heavy underwear; and if they wore out their winter shoes before the spring weather they had to do without until the fall.

Will was owned by Lewis Oats and his sister; they lived in a two story house, built of log and weather boarded. They were very wealthy people. The farm consisted of over 230 acres; they owned six slaves; and they had to be up doing their morning work before the master would wake.

When working and the slaves would disobey their master, they were punished in some way; but there was no jail. They didn't know how to read or write, and they had no church to attend. All they had to do when not at work was to talk to the older folks. On Christmas morning they would usually have a little extra to eat and maybe a stick of candy. On New Year's Day their work went on just the same as on any other day.

Will, as a boy loved to play marbles which was about the most interesting game they had to play. Of course, they could play outside as all children do now when they had spare time.

At that time there were few doctors and when the slaves would get hurt or sick, they were usually looked after by the master or by their overseer.

After the war had closed, Will's grandmother walked from Monticello to Camp Nelson to get her free papers and her children. They were all very happy, but they were wondering what they were going to do without a home, work, or money. But after Will and his mother and grandmother got their freedom, the grandmother bought a little land and house and they all went there to live. Of course, they worked out for other people and raised a great deal of what they ate. Will lived there until he grew older and went out for himself; and later moved to Mercer County where he now lives.
Bibliography: Interview with Will Oats, Ex-Slave of Mercer County.

Coleman & Rosa "Rosey" Burks Coffey

A reader recently wrote asking about the Coleman Coffey family of Wayne and McCreary Counties in KY. Until now I had not written much, if anything in my blog about Coleman.  The following represents what information I have found.

Additional information about connecting families can be found at the following links:

http://coffeycousins.blogspot.com/2011/11/sheridan-l-sherd-sarah-sally-coffey.html

http://coffeycousins.blogspot.com/2010/11/sheridan-l-sherd-dobbs-sarah-sally.html

http://coffeycousins.blogspot.com/2007/11/truesdell-coffey-1941-2007.html

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Coleman was the eldest son of Henry Baker and Sarah Elizabeth Dobbs Coffey.  According to information found on his death certificate he was born Nov. 8, 1869 in KY and died in Co-operative, McCreary Co. on Oct. 26, 1948 and was buried at  Sherd Dobbs Cemetery in Stearns.

Rosa or "Rosey" was a daughter of Benjamin Richard and Rebecca Jane Vaughn Burks.  According to her death certificate, Rosa was born Apr. 30, 1875 in Wayne Co. and died in McCreary Co. on Mar. 18, 1942.  She too is buried at Sherd Dobbs Cemetery.

Info provided by others report that Coleman and Rosa were married on Mar. 1, 1891 in KY but, omits the county.  They are said to have had at least nine children, all born in Kentucky between 1892 and 1913.

William Gaines was the first, born Feb. 25, 1892, died Jul. 20, 1963 in McCreary Co.  His first wife was Kizzie Coffey, born May 19, 1901 in McCreary Co., died there on Apr. 8, 1949.  She the daughter of George Washington Coffey and wife Margery "Sis" Troxell and, first cousin to William; their father's were brothers.

To them was born Harrison, Mar 2, 1919, died in Pulaski Co., KY on Aug. 16, 1983, and buried at Sherd Dobbs; Bertie, born c1922 and Martha, born c1926.  I know nothing more about these children.

Both William and Kizzie are buried at Sherd Dobbs.

William married second to Alice Phillips, a daughter of Pate and Elizabeth Cox Phillips.  According to her obituary and the 1940 McCreary Co. census, Alice was born c1935.  She died on Oct. 9, 1978 in Springfield, Clark Co., OH and was buried at Sherd Dobbs.

Alice Coffey, 43, Springfield, Ohio, died Oct. 9 in Springfield.  Funeral services were conducted Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. at Hickman Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Earl Davis officiating.  Burial was in Sherd Dobbs Cemetery.

She was born in 1935 in McCreary County to the late Pate and Elizabeth Cox Phillips.  Her husband, Gaines Coffey, preceded her in death.  She lived here for many years and was a homemaker.

Survivors include her children, Gaines Coffey, Jr., Somerset, Mrs. Bertha Carroll, Covington, Dean and Linda Coffey, both of Dayton, Ky., and Herman Mark Hughes, Smithtown.  One brother, Lloyd Phillips, Cincinnati and two sisters, Flossie Clark, Dayton, Ky., and Lola Irvin, Eaton, Ohio.

Hickman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

The child Herman Mark Hughes may be a step-son from a marriage subsequent to the death of William in 1963.

The second child born to Coleman and Rosa was Ada J., born May 4, 1896, died Jan. 15, 1971 in McCreary Co.  Her husband was John Sherman Dobbs, a son of Stephen Tolbert and Mary Gregory Dobbs.  They were married in KY on Oct. 8, 1912.  Sherman was born Aug. 11, 1885 in Wayne Co. and died in Oneida, Scott Co., TN on Dec. 23, 1968.

Sherman Dobbs, life long resident of the Cooperative community, died Saturday December 23,1968, in Scott County Hospital, Oneida, Tenn.

Mr Dobbs, 82, a retired coal miner, had been ill for more than a year. The deceased was born August 11, 1885, in Wayne County, the son of the late Tolbert Dobbs and Polly Ann Gregory Dobbs. He was a member of the New Haven Baptist Church at Cooperative.

Surviving are his wife, Ada Coffey Dobbs, one daughter, Mrs. Lillie Bell, Muncie, two sons, Dewey Dobbs, Muncie and Roy Dobbs, Cooperative; two brothers, Jeff Dobbs, Monticello, and Albert Dobbs, Cooperative.

Funeral services were held on Christmas Day at 1 o'clock in the afternoon with Rev. Robert Jones and Rev. Earl Davis officiating. Burial was in the Sherd Dobbs Cemetery with Hickman Funeral Home in charge. His grandsons served as pall bearers.

I have their children as:  Roy, born Oct. 30, 1913, died Apr. 26, 1988 in Pulaski Co., KY; Lillie, born Sep. 16, 1915 in Wayne Co.; Dewey, born Oct. 13, 1917 in McCreary Co.; an unnamed child born Nov. 1, 1926; Ida Dester, born and died Mar. 20, 1932 in McCreary Co.; and Hubert, born Feb. 28, 1938, died Oct. 20, 1936 in McCreary Co.

The third child was Sarah E., born Mar. 14, 1898, died Apr. 1, 1984 in McCreary Co.  Her husband was Rhodes Bell, born Mar. 6, 1893 in KY, died Nov. 8, 1977 in Oneida, TN.  Both buried at Sherd Dobbs.

Two children following Sarah was Rosie, born c1902 and Henry, born c1904.  No further information.

Lona was child number six.  She was born on Apr. 30, 1905 and died Jun. 12, 1989.  She married Thomas Gregory, perhaps some kin to Mary Gregory Dobbs, wife of Stephen Tolbert Dobbs.  Thomas was born Feb. 26, 1903 and died May 23, 1967 in McCreary Co.  He and Lona are buried at Sherd Dobbs.

Their children, all born in McCreary Co. were:  Austin, born Jul. 10, 1926, died Dec. 6, 1958.  His wife was Juanita Roberts; Ray, born May 28, 1928, died Feb. 8, 2000 in Clermont Co., OH; Betty M., born c1935; Ina, born c1937; Lona, born c1939 and Donald Lee, born Mar. 24, 1948, died Aug. 22, 1997.

Child seven was Wilburn, born Jun. 7, 1908, died Mar. 16, 1977 in Pulaski Co.  He married Roxie Gregory, a daughter of Obie and Laurie Dobbs Gregory.  Roxie was born Feb. 12, 1910 and died in McCreary Co. on Sep. 29, 1978.

Eva, born Jan. 14, 1912, was child number eight.  I have no other information on her.

The last child was George H., born Aug. 24, 1913, died Mar. 27, 1967.  George married Lucy Haynes on Dec. 28, 1946 at Hill Top in McCreary Co. I am told that Gary T. Coffey, born Mar. 30, 1962, died Apr., 1962 was one of their children.  Lucy is said to have married Lee Sosh after the death of George.  She died on Jun. 14, 1991 and is buried at Sherd Dobbs.  Lucy was the daughter of Albert L. and Cora Tucker Haynes

Corrections and additions welcomed!

Rev. John H. & Minerva Jane Coffey Nelson

John, sometimes referred to as "Rev. John Nelson," was a farmer in Caldwell Co. when he married Minerva Jane Coffey in that county in 1865.  He was a son of John M. & Elizabeth Penley Nelson*, born in Caldwell Co. on May 19, 1841.  Minerva, a daughter of Wilborn & Sarah Cottrell Coffey, was born there on Dec. 20, 1844.  John likely served the Confederacy during the Civil War.  There were at least three with the name from NC who enlisted.**  Which if any, is this John has not been determined.

Minerva gave John at least 11 children, all born in Caldwell Co. between 1869 and 1890.  They were:

Nora Cornelia, born Sep. 25, 1869, died May 22, 1953 at Belmont in South Point Twp., Gaston Co., NC.  Her spouse was Seth J. Setzer, a son of Larkin and Julia Holsclaw Setzer, born c1862.  They were married at Patterson on Mar. 20, 1888.  Seth died on Sep. 5, 1937 at Reidsville in Rockingham Co. and Nora on May 22, 1953 at Belmont.  Seth was buried at Mount Holly city cemetery in Gaston Co. while Nora was buried at Greenwood cemetery in Belmont.

Sarah, born Sep., 1870.  No further information.

Thomas, born c1873, married Mary Ingle, daughter of Mark & Nancy Ingle on Jul. 24, 1898 in Patterson Twp.  Mary was born c1876 in NC.

Minnie J., born Dec., 1874, married William "Willie" Estes on Feb. 15, 1903 in Johns River Twp.  He was born in 1880 in NC.

Robert Lee, born Feb. 1, 1875, married Junie Mae Phillips on Jun. 28, 1913 in Caldwell Co.  Robert died Jun. 6, 1955 in Lenoir; Junie there on Mar. 9, 1962.  Both are buried at Lenoir in Harpers Chapel cemetery.

William Rufus was born Dec. 6, 1879 and married Kate Pearl Suddreth, a daughter of Toliver Suddreth, on Oct. 4, 1913 in Caldwell Co.Kate was born c1890.  Rufus died Jun. 23, 1954 and was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Park in Lenoir.  No info on Kate's death date and burial location. They had at least two children:  Albert Lee and Edna Minerva.

Henry L. & Mary C. were born in Dec., 1880 and Aug., 1883, respectively.  No further information.

George W. was born Mar., 1885 and married China Carlton on Feb. 14, 1910 in Burke Co., NC.  Children that I know of were:  Rubie, born c1917, Lorrane, born c1919, one unnamed, born c1926 and Willis Ester, a male?, born c1935.

Milton League, born Aug. 2, 1887, died in Lenoir on Feb. 18, 1966.  Milton married Cora Lee Kirby, born Sep. 3, 1894 in Caldwell Co. on Jun. 29, 1917.  Cora died Oct. 31, 1971 in Lenoir.  Both are buried at the Nelson Chapel in Lenoir.

The last child born to John and Minerva was Albert J., born in Apr., 1890.  He married Lucy B. Greene in 1919.  She died Oct. 4, 1938 and he followed her on Apr. 22, 1939.  I'm still looking for their burial places.  Chidlren:  Hattie Belle, born 1920; Mattie, born 1921; Annie Mae, born 1923; and Willie Wilson, born 1924.

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*John H. was not the only child of John M and Elizabeth to marry a Coffey.  Their son George W., born 1837, married Mary Lou Coffey on Jun. 9, 1859 in Caldwell Co.  Mary Lou was a daughter of McCaleb and Elizabeth Collett Coffey.  George died on Jun. 8, 1860 in Lenoir; Mary Lou on Sep. 24, 1863.  They are both buried at Nelson's Chapel in Lenoir.  Another of the Nelson children, a daughter named Mary Ann, married Elijah L. Coffey on Jun. 20, 1867 in Caldwell Co.  Elijah was a son of William Coffey, Jr., and his wife Margaret Robbins.
**One John H. enlisted in Co. F, 6th Regiment, NC Infantry. Another enlisted in Co. D, 52d Regiment, NC Infantry and a third [John H. D.] enlisted in the 33d Regiment, NC Infantry.

Other sources used:  1850, 1870, 1880, 1900 US Federal Census; NC Death Certificates; Various cemetery records; NC Registrar of Deeds web service; familysearch.org


All of the surnames in this blog represent some very old Caldwell and Watauga  Co. NC families, some pre-Revolutionary.  Many of the ancestors of these herein named were pioneer hunters, explorers and settlers in those counties..

Benjamin Franklin & Martha Cecelia Dobbs Coffey

Benjamin was born Feb. 10, 1851 in Wayne Co., KY to Nelson N. & Kissie Watters Coffey. His wife, Martha Cecelia Dobbs, was born Mar. 18, 1850 in Wayne Co. to George Washington & Lurany H. Strunk Dobbs. They were married on Dec. 5, 1872 in Whitley Co., KY.

Martha Cecelia Dobbs Coffey with unidentified grandchildren
Photo Courtesy Charles Gilbreath 

Benjamin died of nephritis on on Apr. 6, 1918 in McCreary Co. and is buried in the Coffey Cemetery at Yamacraw. Martha died there of pneumonia on Mar. 5, 1938 and is also buried in the Coffey cemetery.

Their children were:

Nelson, born c1874

Benjamin, Jr., born Wayne Co. on Feb. 16, 1876, died McCreary Co. on Nov. 15, 1855. He married Sallie Belle [?] [May?] Clark on Nov. 11, 1902 in Kentucky. Both are buried in the Coffey cemetery. They were parents of at least 11 children. Some additional information is available.

Tolbert Nelson, born Feb. 5, 1878, died Jul. 15, 1907. He married Sarah Roberts c1899 in Wayne Co. After Tolbert died, Sarah married Andrew Cader Worley on Feb. 9, 1914.

Nettie, born Jun. 10, 1881, died Feb. 20, 1973 in McCreary Co. She married George Phillips on Jan. 24, 1906. He was born c1884 in Wayne Co., and died Jul. 25, 1974 in McCreary Co.

L. Henderson, born Mar. 29, 1886 in Kentucky, died Jan. 5, 1909 in McCreary Co. He married Alice Sims Clark c1905 in Kentucky. She was the daughter of Henry and Rebecca Morrow Clark, born Dec. 5, 1887 in Kentucky, doed Oct. 26, 1979 in Wayne Co. She married second to Alex Blane Tucker in Jan., 1911.

America Florence, born Mar. 11, 1889 in Wayne Co., died Nov. 29, 1993 in Stearns, McCreary Co. Her husband was Sherman L. Corder, born c1891 in Kentucky, died Dec. 25, 1981 in McCreary Co. They were married c1922.

Maggie, born 1893, married James E. Keith.

James Perke, born Aug. 24, 1895 in McCreary Co., and died there on Feb. 14, 1929. He married Clara May Correll, a daughter of William and Rose M. Simpson Correll. They were married Jan. 16, 1924. Both are buried in the Coffey Cemetery at Yamacraw.  Clara died on Sep. 25, 1995 in Sidney, Shelby Co., OH.

Contact me for additional information on ancestors and descendants of this family or, to make corrections.

Elsie Matthews Coffey (Updated 4/13/08)

The death of Elsie Matthews Coffey of McCreary Co., KY was announced today in the McCreary County Record of Whitley City, KY.

She was born at Jones Hollow, Kentucky on March 3, 1928 the daughter of the late Marcus and Flonnie Phillips Matthews. Her husband was Grover Conley Coffey, who I believe was a son of Benjamin Franklin Coffey, Jr., and Sallie Belle Clark.

Please contact me at the above e-mail address if you can confirm Grover's parents.

Click on the title link to view Elsie's obituary, and to view her photograph.

Update Apr 13, 2008:

Nettie Coffey, a daughter of Benjamin Franklin Coffey and wife Martha Cecelia Dobbs, was born Jun. 10, 1881 in KY, and died Feb. 20, 1973 in McCreary Co., KY. She married George Phillips on Jan. 24, 1906 in KY. He was born c1884 in Wayne Co., KY and died Jul. 25, 1974 in McCreary Co.

They were parents of at least three children: Flonnie, born Oct. 22, 1906; Mattie, born Aug. 13, 1908; and Otto, born Jul. 3, 1910.

Flonnie married Marcus Matthews. They were the parents of Elsie.

Elsie married Grover Conley Coffey, son of Benjamin Franklin Coffey, Jr.




L-R: Sally Clark, w/o Ben'j Franklin Coffey, Jr.; Flonnie Phillips Matthews, d/o Geo. and Nettie Coffey Phillips (Nettie sister of Ben'j, Jr.); Adina Coffey, dau. of Sally and Ben'j; Mattie Phillips, sister to Flonnie; Lee Roy Coffey, s/o Sally and Bej'j; Dovie Coffey; and Dorothy Coffey, d/o Sally and Ben'j.

Not yet sure who Dovie belongs to.

Photo courtesy Ola Jackson 4/08

Doctor Hill Wright

Doctor was a son of Thomas A. and Margaret Ann Coffey Wright. He was born April 1, 1889 in North Carolina and died Oct. 4, 1949 in Watauga Co., NC. He married twice, first to Virgie Nona Gragg, a daughter of Leonard L. and Alva Sims Gragg. She was born Oct. 18, 1897 in North Carolina and died Nov. 13, 1945 in Watauga Co. They were married May 13, 1913 in Watauga Co.

They had at least four children:

Meda Virginia*, born May 22, 1914

William Paul, born Jun. 19, 1918

Agnes Adele, born Aug. 15, 1921, died Jan. 15, 1988. Addie married James Bynum Coffey, a son of James Hardy and Lillian Mae Gray Coffey on Jul. 5, 1939 in North Carolina. James was born Apr. 28, 1912 in Watauga Co., and died there on Apr. 26, 1986. There were at least two children born to this union: Patricia Joe Ann, born Mar. 21, 1941, died c1996, and James Robert, born Sep. 27, 1942, died Nov. 11, 1999.

Thomas Hill, born Dec. 20, 1930

Doctor's second wife was Sally Phillips, but I have no information on her except that she also married Austin Blaine Coffey on Nov. 13, 1951 in Watauga Co. Doctor and Austin were first cousins.

Hill Wright registered for the draft in Watauga Co., NC on Jun., 5 1917, and was described as being tall and slender with gray eyes and black hair. He gave his age as 28 yrs. old, born Apr. 1, 1889. He farmed and lived with his wife and one child in Shulls Mill at the time of registration. He also claimed support of his mother.

He and Virgie appear in the 1920 and 1930 census in Watauga Co. They divorced sometime after the 1930 census was enumerated and Hill Married Sally Phillips.

By 1942 Hill and Sally were living in Talbot Co., MD. Hill was employed by and gave his address as George Jopp's Restaurant on Philadelphia Road. He described himself as being 52 yrs. old and, 5' 9.5" tall with blue eyes, gray hair and ruddy complexion. He weighed 160 lbs.

He and Sally returned to Watauga Co sometime after 1942 where he died on Oct. 4, 1949 and was buried there in the Boone Fork Baptist Church Cemetery. Virgie apparently never remarried and died Nov. 13, 1945 in Watauga Co. Virgie is buried at White Springs Cemetery in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co.

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 *Meda's birth record lists her name as Meda Virginia, born May 22, 1914. I have been told however that her middle name was Geneva and perhaps her birthyear was 1913.

James Blaine & Dartha Jane Coffey Phillips

Dartha Jane Coffey was the eighth child and third of four daughters born to Henry Kelly (Caleb) and Sarah Jane Gragg Coffey. She was born Jan. 29, 1898 in Mulberry, Caldwell Co., NC, and died in Boone, Watauga Co., NC on May 21, 1931. She married James Blaine Phillips on Jun. 15, 1912 in Watauga Co. James was born Mar. 16, 1893 in Wilkes Co., and died May 21, 1954 in Caldwell Co. He was a brother to Zora Phillips, wife of Ellis Empsey Coffey, brother to Dartha.

There were 10 children born to the union of James and Dartha:

Vercie Rosetta, no information

Vesta Ivalee, born Apr. 22, 1916, died May 5, 2006. Vesta married Walter Ranzy Woodring on Jun. 10, 1934 in Watauga Co. Walter was born Mar. 7, 1892 in Watauga Co., and died there on Nov. 3, 1995. They had at least seven children: Edna Louise, two unnamed daughters, Henry Clay, Geneva Belle, Betty Jewel and Kathy Lea. Walter was the son of Henry B. and Martha Angeline Miller Woodring.

Gladys Viola, born Oct. 22, 1919, married Thomas Lee Ellis, born Nov. 25, 1918. There was at least one child, Billy Lee Ellis, born Jul. 16, 1941. Thomas was the son of Jesse and Carrie Mott Ellis.

Ellis, no information

James Glen, born Apr. 8, 1921, died Dec. 5, 1988

Charles Arthur, born Apr. 30, 1923

Mary Elizabeth, born May 23, 1925

William Blaine (Judd), born Apr. 17, 1927, died Dec. 31, 1995. He married Bertha Loretta Coffey on Jan. 1, 1949 in Watauga Co. She was the daughter of William Glenn and Nannie B. Coffey Coffey. William was a son of Jesse Calton and Julia E. Hollifield Coffey while Nannie was a daughter of Jesse Cleveland and Eliza Loudermilt Coffey. William and Bertha had at least three children: Virginia Loretta, born Oct. 8, 1949; Nona Marie, born Sep. 12, 1950, and Dorothy Annie, born Jan. 5, 1953.

Alma Jean, no information

Stella Rhea, no information

Henry Kelly Coffey was married twice more after the death of Sarah Jane. His second wife was Emma Stanberry who he married in Caldwell County in 1906. There was at least one son born to this marriage: Aaron Roosevelt, born Oct. 25, 1907, died Aug. 29, 1951. Aaron married Nellie Bell Critcher c1928 and fathered at least five children: Nellie Louise, born Mar. 22, 1929, James Gray, born Nov. 1, 1931, Ethel Mae, born Mar. 19, 1933, Emilie Lee, born Sep. 29, 1937, and Barbara Lennis, born Dec. 20, 1941.

Henry's third wife was Roberta Ellen Edmisten with whom he had at least one child, Kyda (Kitie), born Feb. 14, 1911, died Aug. 1, 1978. Following Henry's 1911 death Roberta married William Leander Robbins, a son of James and Elizabeth Coffey Robbins. William had previously married Hannah Elizabeth (Lizzie) McGuire on Mar. 8, 1896 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co. Elizabeth Coffey's parents were William, Jr. and Margaret Robbins Coffey.

Links to previous blogs on the Henry Kelly Coffey family:

http://coffeycousins.blogspot.com/2006/06/henry-kelly-caleb-and-sarah-jane-gragg.html

http://coffeycousins.blogspot.com/2006/06/henry-kelly-caleb-coffey-addendum.html

http://coffeycousins.blogspot.com/2006/02/beeler-ester-and-sallie-elizabeth.html

Haywood and Mary Elizabeth Coffey Hatley

Haywood Hatley was born Aug. 23, 1874 in Watauga Co., NC to William and Ann Hatley. He married Mary Elizabeth Coffey in Caldwell Co., NC in 1899. Mary was born Aug. 23, 1877 in Caldwell Co., and died Aug. 1, 1956 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co. She was a daughter of Jesse (Red Eye) Coffey and Lucinda Louise (Lou) Coffey.

Jesse was the son of Cleveland and Mary Ann Miles Coffey, and Lucinda was the daughter of Jesse Calton and Nancy Raines Coffey. Jesse and Lucinda were first cousins, once removed, both descendants of Jesse and Margaret Edmiston Coffey.

Haywood registered for the WW1 draft on Sep. 12, 1918 in Watauga Co.*

Children of Haywood and Mary Elizabeth were:

Mancenie (Cenie), born Oct. 3, 1903 in Watauga Co., died May 28, 1974 in NC. She married Roby Leonard Rich on Jun. 12, 1920 in Watauga Co. Roby was born Jul. 2, 1894 in NC and died Jul. 17, 1953 in that state.

Alice V., born c1905 in NC, died c1924 in Caldwell Co. She married James Henry Bennett c1924 in NC. He was born Sep. 20, 1904 in NC, died Nov. 24, 1962. Alice apparently died in childbirth, because James subsequently married her sister, Jannie Delana Hatley on Oct. 31, 1926 in NC. Jannie was born Feb. 27, 1909 in Avery Co., and died Sep. 22, 1988 in NC.

Omie Devada, born Apr. 3, 1907 in NC, died Mar. 26, 1972 in Avery Co. She married Charles Woodruff, born Feb. 23, 1910, died Dec. 11, 1975.

Jannie Delana - see above.

Ernest C., born c1912

Robert Woodrow, born Mar. 15, 1915, died 1991

Beulah Doris, born Feb. 19, 1916, died Feb. 15, 1971. She married Himal Carroll.

William Jay (Bill), born Jul. 18, 1918, died Jul. 19, 1988

Jessie, born c1919

Ethel Blanche, born Mar. 8, 1921

Daisy Pearl, born Jan. 21, 1923, died Jan. 19, 1986. She married Isaac Hill Maltba.

More information is needed on the children of this family. Please send additions and/or corrections to the e-mail address below:

*Haywood Hatley registered for the draft in Watauga Co. on Sep. 12, 1918. He was described as being tall with medium build, blue eyes and brown hair. He was age 44 yrs., born Aug. 23, 1874. He was a farmer and resident of Blowing Rock, Watauga Co., NC where he resided with his wife, Mary Eliz. Hatley. He signed the registration card with his mark.

Update Sep. 21, 2007:

I believe that Haywood was the son of William M. and Eliza Ann Sides Hatley. Other children of William and Eliza were: Mary, born c1877; Jackson Sidney "Jack", born Jun. 12, 1878, died Dec. 15, 1933, married Drusinna Phillips; Kizzie Ann (Nancy K. (?), married John Wesley Coffey and Lillie Victoria, married Silas Columbus Coffey.

Beeler Ester and Sallie Elizabeth Cross Coffey

Henry Kelly Coffey





Sarah Jane Gragg

In August of 2005 I wrote a short note on Beeler Coffey. Click on the title link to read that piece, and to find a link to the file submitted by Sharon Steele-Smith of Roswell, GA. Sharon has created and shared with me a very fine document that includes numerous photographs of her Coffey, Sherfey, and Cross ancestors.

Henry Kelly and Sarah Jane Gragg Coffey were parents of Beeler as well as:

- Wallace E., born Apr. 1885, died 1968
- Docia Ann, born Jul. 27, 1886, died Dec. 11, 1886
- Robey James, born Jul. 16, 1887, died Oct. 19, 1957
- Charles Riston, born Feb. 12, 1892, died Oct. 11, 1966
- Bertie Louise, born Nov., 1893
- Ellis Empsey Marshall, born Sep. 18, 1895, died Apr. 7, 1965
- Dartha Jane, born Jan. 29, 1898, died May 21, 1931
- Josie Eleanor, born Mar. 11, 1900, died Apr. 24, 1983
- Herman Herbert, born Apr. 3, 1902, died c1919

Charles Riston Coffey married Teresa Missouri (Tressie) Sherfey, marriage date unknown.

Dartha Jane Coffey married James Blaine Phillips, marriage date unknown.

Josie Eleanor Coffey married John Henry Sherfey Jul. 6, 1916.

Please contact me if you are researching any of these families.