Columbus Iverson Philyaw

Columbus, born Aug, 16, 1867 in Caldwell Co., NC, was a son of Gideon and Martha M. Teague Philyaw.

According to North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979, Columbus married Hanna J. Vance on Aug. 2, 1888 in Johns River Twp., Caldwell Co., NC.  That record names her parents as Wesley and Elizabeth Vance.

Hannah was born in Jul., 1873 in NC and died May 5, 1915 in Collettsville, Johns River Twp., Caldwell Co.  She died on May 4, 1915 in Globe Twp. and, her death certificate names her parents as John Hicks, a native of Tow River Twp. in Avery Co., and Betty Vance, a native of Mitchell Co., NC.

The part about her parents is a bit confusing to me.  Those who know which is accurate are invited to contact me.

There were at least 11 children born to this couple, a few of whom married into the Coffey family:

Edward W, born Apr., 1891, married Etta Baker on Nov. 28, 1920 at Mortimer, Wilson Creek Twp., Caldwell Co.  They were in the 1930 census at Mortimer and there were no children in the household.  Death records have not been found.

Martha Elizabeth, born Jan., 1893, married John S. Crisp on Aug. 4, 1912 in Johns River Twp., Caldwell Co. John was born Jul. 4, 1888 in NC and died in John River Twp. on Nov. 7, 1936.  I have not found another marriage record or a death record for Martha.  They had at least six children:  Loucile [sic]; Joseph; Morris; Forest Columbus; Jewel; and John Vernon.  John is buried at the Crisp Family Cemetery at Collettsville.  Martha is probably there as well but I have found no record of her death.

Margaret A. "Maggie," born May 1895 in Caldwell Co., died there in Feb., 1977.  She married William Pope on Dec. 18, 1914 in Globe Twp.  Their children were at least five:  May E.; Fred W.; Arlie T.; Hannah; and Wayne G.  Margaret is buried at Rocky Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Collettsville.  William is probably buried there as well but I have found no record of his death.

Gideon Fred, born Sep. 20, 1897 in Caldwell Co., died in Morganton, Burke Co. on Nov. 24, 1970.  He married Ida Jane Coffey, a daughter of Finley Carroll and Connie Rebecca Tolbert.  Ida was born in Caldwell Co. on Aug. 6, 1902 and died Nov. 16, 1972 in Valdese, Burke Co.  Their children were at least six:  Leona Mae; Connie; Louise; Lucille; Noma [sic]; and Ransom (?).  Gideon and Ida are buried at the Tolbert Family Cemetery in Mortimer.

Daniel Wesley, born Dec. 21, 1899, died in Lenoir on Jan. 22, 1981.  He married Emma Rich on Nov. 21, 1920 in Wilson Creek Twp., she the daughter of John Robert and Sarah Cordelia Taylor Rich, and born c1905.  Her death record has not been found.  His burial place is not known to me.  Their children were at least four:  Lois, Edith, Coleen and Margaret.

Oscar R., born c1903.  No other information.

Rooney N. was the name of the child who occupied this place in the birth order in 1910.  She was age 5.  In  1920 her name appears to be Veller, and in 1930 her name was Velma.  Velma is said to have married Arvil Harden Coffey but, I have not found a marriage record.  She died on Apr. 20, 1993 in Caldwell Co., and was buried at White Springs Cemetery in Blowing Rock.  Arvil, born Jul. 12, 1914 to George Wiley and Ida Belle Norman Coffey, died Aug. 25, 1987 and is also at White Springs.  I have not located them in the 1930 census and have no children for them.

Dewey George, born Feb. 10, 1907, probably in Caldwell Co., married Lucy Mae Coffey, sister to Ida Jane who married Dewey's brother Gideon.  They were married on Jun. 19,1828 in Lenoir and had at least three children:  Claude Wilson; Ma Gene and Sherl [sic] Allen.  Dewey died Apr., 1980 and Lucy on Mar. 23, 1985 in Lincolnton, Lincoln Co., NC.  Dewey is buried at the Tolbert Family Cemetery in Upton, Caldwell Co.  Lucy is probably there as well.

Arley A., born c1909.  No other information.  I wonder if his name was Early or Orlie?

Torrance Iverson, born 1911, died Dec. 24, 1966 at Black Mountain in Buncombe Co.  He married Cora Lee Shoe, daughter of Mansfield Hoover and Hattie Mae Belle Shoe.  She was born Oct. 25, 1920 in NC and tied in Newton, Catawba Co. on Oct. 15, 2011.  Both are buried at Rocky Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Collettsville.  I have no children for them.

The last child known to me to be born to Columbus and Hannah was Irene, c1914.  She married Ira Roosevelt Bristol, a son of James Greenberry "Jim" and Elsie Jane Bell(e), on Oct. 30, 1934 in Caldwell Co.  Ira was born May 11, 1911 in NC and died in Valdese on Feb. 22, 1969.  He is buried at the Bristol Family Cemetery at Collettsville.  Irene died on Nov. 4, 2002 in Blowing Rock and is probably also buried at the family cemetery.

In just a few days the 1940 census will available and I will hopefully, be able to expand my research on all of the NC Coffey and allied families.

Joseph Joshua and Rosa Belle Coffey Pennell

According to his death certificate, Joseph was born Jul. 1, 1878. In 1900 he reported to the census taker that he was born in August, 1880, was 19 years old and had been married for three years. Rosa reported that she too was age 19 and was born in September, 1880. Her death certificate reports only that she was born in 1879.

Joseph was the son of John and Susan Adeline Reid Pennell. Rosa was the daughter of William Franklin and Sarah (Sally) Holsclaw Coffey. William Franklin from Alexander Co., NC and was a son of Calvin and Serena White Coffey. Joseph died on Jan. 28, 1970 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC and Rosa on Nov. 12, 1949 in Taylorsville, Alexander Co.

Their children were:

William Arthur, born Jun., 1898, married Mary Lola Earp.

[Update May 6, 2010: Mary Lola, born Aug., 1894 in Little River Twp., was the daughter of James and Jane Earp. See 1900 Little River Twp., Alexander Co., NC census]

Lola, born c1901, married Thomas M. Farrell

John Robert, born 1905

Sallie Emma, born Sep. 11, 1908, died Aug. 27, 1994. She married Glenn A. Payne, born 1905, died 1980.

Luther V., born 1910

Samuel B., born c1911

Hershell george, born Jul. 16, 1915, died Sep. 6, 2005, married Mary JoAnn Spencer

Edna Hessie, born Sep. 29, 1915, died Jan. 5, 2001. She married a James, last name unknown

Perry Conly, born Sep. 26, 1923, married Mary Lou Hubbard. Perry died on Jul. 21, 2003

Other children of John and Susan Adeline Reid Pennell were:

Mary Salina, born c1863

Susan C., born c1864

Samuel Leroy, born 1866, died Dec. 15, 1942, married Nancy M. Caldwell.

Lawson William, born 1863, married Lena Hollar, daughter of David A. and Ellen Bentley Hollar.

Lavina E., born c1871, died Nov. 6, 1963

Michel Andrew, born 1872, died Nov. 23, 1956. He married Nora Ainer Coffey, sister to Rosa who married Joseph Pennell.

Frances E., born 1875, died Apr. 15, 1937, married Lark Pope.

Elsie, born Mar., 1882

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