The Coffee Pioneers of the Texas Panhandle

In the last blog, I transcribed the death report for Woodson "Woods" Coffee, a native Texan, from the Amarillo Daily News of June 13, 1953.  That information defined how Woodson became a pioneer in the Texas Panhandle.  With this blog, and perhaps a few later, I will attempt to show how Woodson came to be one of those pioneers.

This particular line of Coffee families comes from what we Coffee/y researchers often refer to as "the Chesley line." Because there was a Chesley, Jr., researchers have long believed that a Chesley Sr. must have existed. So far, however, no record of Sr. has ever been found. Current thinking has some leaning more towards Edward Coffey, Jr., son of Edward Sr., and his wife Anne Powell. As more sophisticated DNA testing methods become available, we learn more about our ancestry.

We can begin here with the mythical Chesley and his supposed wife, Jane Cleveland.  Their supposed son, Joel, married Martha Stepp or Stapp and had about nine children; namely Joseph; Cleveland; Catherine, Joel, Jr., James, Jane, Celia, Nathaniel (Nathan?) and Nebuzaradan.

Dr. Marvin Coffey in his book about his ancestor, James Bluford Coffey, cited years-old information from Mrs. C. R. Porter of El Reno, OK.  She repeated the story of Chesley and Jane, stating that it came from a daughter of Nathan and Sarah Eliza Emeline Coffey Porter c1895 and presumably from older records which she had access to.

Another source, a Mr. Lee Robert wrote in 1998 "that Joel, born 1780, m Martha 'Patsy'?.  They had 6 children: Nathaniel, m1 Louisa Durham, m2 Nancy Clark; Alvina (Elvira), b 1811, m Martin Wright, Mar 27, 1828.  She died Sep 7, 1869; Caroline, m Unk Summers; Martha L., m Perry M. Stacy; Francis m Jackson Jones; Henry B., m Sara Ann Isbele."  Seems doubtful this is the same Joel, however.

Joel was b. late 1740's and d. 1789.  Married Martha in 1753. Martha was b. 1737.  Joel was son of Chesley and Jane Cleveland Coffee. Their children were Jesse Cleveland; James, Joel, Nathan, Katy, Frances Jane, Sealey, Nebuzarren, Cleveland.  

Source:  Revolutionary Ancestors, 1976; Wood Coffee Will and Inventory. [Joel's 1789 names his children and there is present a comma between Jane and Sealy; e.g. Jane, Sealy]

"Joel and Martha are also mentioned in The Georgians, Genealogies of Pioneer Settlers, by J. H. Austin.  [As pertains to the Coffey families, this book is of doubtful accuracy]

"Joel's will (probate) dated 1789 Wilkes Co., NC.  Children listed as James, Joel, Cleveland, Nathan, Katy, Jane and Celia.  See North Carolina will book C, page 321.

A Joel Coffey was named as one of the buyers from the estate sale of Robert Patrick in Surry Co., NC in Feb., 1778.  Robert Patrick apparently died between 1774 and 1777.  He was on the 1774 tax list of Benjamin Cleveland and again in 1775.  He was not listed on the 1777 tax list.

Marvin Coffey wrote in his work that "A DAR record has always listed Joel as born 1730, and married in 1753 to Martha Sealy, born 1737.  However, their youngest son Nebuzaradon was born posthumously in 1780 would thus have been born when Martha was 52 years old."[1]

A number of researchers have theorized that Joel married Martha Sealey who died, and he then married Martha Step.  Others have the opinion that Joel married a widow by the name of Mrs. Martha Step Sealey while another group has said that Sealey was a nickname for Celia which was the middle name of Martha.  Another thought is that Joel was born much earlier, about 1750.

Joseph is not listed in Joel's 1789 will (Wilkes Co., NC Will Book I, p260) but does appear in other researcher's works.  He could have been born to Joel's first wife and died before the will was made.  Joseph has also been reported to have gone to Kentucky quite early, and already otherwise provided for by his father thereby not making the will.  And, even if Joel had only one wife, Joseph could still have died quite young.  Marvin noted that there was a Joseph Coffey on early tax records of Adair Co., KY.

Martha Step's father was named Joseph so it would have been customary for Joel and Martha to have given a son that name.  A daughter Celia was referred to as Sealy in Joel's will.  Marvin's research did not uncover any Sealy families in the same county that the Coffeys lived in Virginia or North Carolina.

Continuing our trek to Woods and eventually his descendants, we begin with Joel and Martha's son James and Elizabeth Coffey Coffey.  James and "Betty" were cousins. Her father Nathan and James's father Joel were brothers.

Of the nine known children of James and Betsy, seven were male and two were female.  We'll concentrate on only one son, he being Logan McMillon Coffee [sic] thought to have been born Dec. 7, 1809 in Adair Co., KY. James and Betsy were married there on Mar. 4, 1804 [from descendants but no independent confirmation.] Logan was born in that County on Dec. 7, 1809 [no independent confirmation.]

When he was nearing age 30 he wandered off to Alabama where he met Mary Elizabeth Ragland. The two were married in Jackson County, AL c1837. Mary was a native of Jackson Co., TN. In 1840 the family was living in Marshall Co., AL but by the 1850 census, they were in Colorado Co., TX; in 1860 they were in Lavaca Co., TX. Perhaps they headed to far northwest Texas when the sabers began to rattle loudly in AL.

Logan's death was somewhat mysterious in that his body was never recovered.  He is said to have been hauling freight from Brownsville, TX back to Lavaca Co., when he was probably murdered in June of 1865; perhaps by Indians or maybe Confederate raiders.  In the book - On the Headwaters of the Lavaca and Navidad, by Paul Boethel, the author indicates that the circumstances of his death were "fraught with suspicions, possibly murder by his companions from the same neighborhood."

After Logan's murder, his widow Mary petitioned the court under date of Aug. 20, 1865 for administration of the property, saying her husband died about June 20th, 1865. (Probate records, November term, Lavaca Co., TX). 

Logan and Mary had eight children, 5 sons and 3 daughters.  The eldest child was Mansel Matthews Coffee [2]

Mansel was born in 1839, Jackson Co., AL where he met and married Georgiana Frances Reynolds on Jun. 4, 1861.  They were parents of nine children, seven sons and two daughters. Woodson "Woods" Coffee was their eldest, born Mar 1, 1862 in Gonzales Co., TX.

Woodson married Ollie Pickens Stribling, daughter of Cornelius Kinchelo Stribling and Nancy Carolina Stribling, presumed cousins. Their children also numbered nine.  They had six sons and three daughters. 

[1]Interesting to note that John M. Porter of Lincoln Co., MO married Eliza Emeline Coffey, daughter of Nathan and Sarah Meredith Coffee in 1850 Pike Co., IL. They resided there a very long time with John dying there in 1895.  Eliza died there in 1901. Further, Martha Coffee, a daughter of Nebuzaradan married William Porter, brother to John and they named one of their sons Joseph Woods Porter.

[2]No idea why they began spelling their name this way, but speculation says it happened in Alabama where General John Coffee of Battle of New Orleans fame had settled and became quite prominent in the state.

Joseph Monroe & Cassandra Coffey Blackerby

Joseph, [corrected from James] a son of William and Caty Haydon Blackerby, was born in Northumberland Co., VA on Apr. 17, 1806. He married Cassandra Coffey, the eldest child of Nebuzaradan and Elizabeth Easley Coffey on Jan. 1, 1834 in Pike Co., IL.

Nebuzaradan Coffey was a native of Wilkes Co., NC, born there on Aug. 29, 1789 to Joel and Martha Stepp Coffey.  He married Elizabeth on Sep. 13, 1810 in KY. She was born in Cumberland Co., KY on Aug. 15, 1790 to William and Sarah Ann Lester Easley. The family left KY and moved to IL in 1831 where they remained until departing for Oregon in 1847. Their children were Cassandra, Martha, Thomas C., Mary, Sarah, Catherine Jane, Sidney J., German J., Elizabeth, Denton D., and Louisa.

Cassandra was born on Aug. 23, 1811 in Pilot Knob, KY and died in Marion Co., OR on Jan. 18, 1885 in Silverton, Marion Co., OR.  She is buried at the Aumsville cemetery in Marion Co.

She and Joseph Blackerby had at least six children, the first three sons, Thomas, William and Sidney were born in Pike Co.  Their fourth child, Marquis de Lafayette Blackerby was born in the Oregon Territory on Sep. 20, 1848 and died in Marion Co. at age 5 on Jan. 3, 1854.  After this child came Elza M., born in 1851 and, Arthur Franklin, born 1853.  Both were born near Silverton in Marion Co. where the family patented land on Drift Creek, southwest of Silverton.

Asterisk marks approximate location of first Blackerby patent and then east for 600+ acres

I have not found the Blackerby family in the 1860 OR federal census.  They first appeared in 1850 in Silverton, Marion Co. when Joseph was 47 years old and Cassandra was 40. Children still at home were William, age 16; Thomas, age 14; Sidney, age 7 and Marquis, age 2.  David and John T. Porter, age 3 and 4 respectively, were also in the household.¹, ³  She and Joseph next appear in the 1870 census in Silverton, Marion Co. when Joseph was 64 and Casandra was 59.  Children still at home were Elza, age 19 and Frank, age 15.

Eldest child, Thomas Richard Blackerby was born May 20, 1836 in Pike Co. and died in Silverton, OR on Feb. 25, 1906.  He married Mary E. Allen on Mar. 4, 1866 in Marion Co.  Mary was born Oct. 10, 1843 in IL and died in Silverton on Oct. 27, 1918.  Both are buried at the Silverton Cemetery. Their children were Grace, born 1867 and Pearl, a son, born 1869.  Grace married William Lloyd Jones, a native of Wales, UK, c1892.  He died in 19333 and she in 1934. both buried at Fern Hill cemetery in Aberdeen, Grays Harbor Co., WA. Pearl married Stella E. Bosler. He died in 1949, she in 1961.  Both are buried at Silverton.

The second child, also a son, was J. William C. Blackerby, born 1834 in Pike Co. He married Saprhonia J. Sears on Sep. 10, 1864 in Marion Co.  J. William is thought to have died on May 14, 1867 somewhere in central Oregon.  Nothing else of this family is known by me of this family.

Sidney German Blackerby, third born, also in Pike Co., came along on Oct. 6, 1843.  He married Margaret Adaline Wilcox on Jul. 23, 1863 in Marion Co.  Margaret was born c1846 in KY.  Their children were William; O. Florence; Levia; Ada Lora; Howard; Thomas Roy and Jannie C. Sidney died Apr. 29,1910 and was buried in Burns, Harney Co., OR at the Burns IOOF cemetery where Margaret is also likely buried.

Following Marquis was Elza M., born Jan. 18, 1851 at Silverton. He and Mary Frances Johnson Clymer were married on Nov. 6, 1878 in Marion Co.  She was a daughter of Henry Vance Clymer and Mary Layman Johnson, born 1856 in Marion Co. Elza died on Oct. 13, 1926 in Multnomah Co., OR and was buried at Silverton in the Warren cemetery. Mary died Dec. 9, 1879 and is also thought to be buried at Warren.²

The last known child was Dr. Arthur Franklin Blackerby, born Jun. 30, 1853 in Marion Co., died in Silverton on Jan. 19, 1934. He married Sophia Maria Gustavsen, a native of Finland, born there in Dec., 1873. The marriage took place in Clatsop Co., OR on Jan. 8, 1895.  Sophia died in Multnomah Co. on Apr. 20, 1962. Children from this marriage were daughters Sana Cassandra "Cassie," born in 1895 and Meva F., born 1899.

Dr. Blackerby's first wife was Jennie Stanton to whom he was married on Nov. 12, 1879.  They appeared in the 1880 census at Silverton.  She died on Jul. 9, 1883, perhaps in childbirth, and was buried at Miller cemetery in Silverton.  There are no known children. 

Dr. Blackerby was buried at the Silverton cemetery.  Sophia was buried at Portland Memorial.

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Footnotes:

¹ Cassandra's sister, Catherine Jane married Stephen Porter in Pike Co. in 1844.  Catherine died in 1850 and the two Porter children were hers. Her first child was Nancy Louisa Porter, born c1845 in IL but she was not mentioned in the census record.

² I have not found a Warren cemetery in Marion Co. It appears that the cemetery name has sometime in the past been renamed Mount Hope.  See http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/marion/cemeteries/waldohill.txt

³ See William Porter's 1848 Trail Diary at http://www.oregonpioneers.com/porter.htm

Mrs. Sophia Porter

"Mrs. Sophia Porter.

"Noted Woman Passed Away At Preston, Texas

"She Entertained Lee, Grant and Jackson at Her Grayson County Home Before the War.

"The Denison Herald

"Died - At Preston, Grayson county, Texas, Friday, August 27, 1897, Mrs. Sophia Porter, aged 81 years, 8 months and 24 days.

"Four score and two years covers many interesting events in American history, and especially that of the great Southwest, and as Mrs. Porter has been so peculiarly identified with the history making events of her own time and environments, some family historian will doubtless seek to preserve the honorable record.

"Sophia Suttonfield was born at Fort Wayne, Ind., September 3, 1815.  Colonel Suttonfield, her father, was a Virginian by birth and served as an officer in the war of 1812.  He erected the first house at Fort Wayne and was there with his family in 1814.  There was neither railroad, telegraph nor steamboat this side of the Atlantic, and Spain owned a vast area of country northwest of New Orleans.  Mexican independence had not yet been secured, although the republican cause seemed in a promising way.  Many chivalrous Spaniards who had fought against the great Napoleon and had been compelled to flee from Spain after the restoration of the Bourbons, were impelled to lend the swords to the patriot cause in Mexico.  Don Jose Manuel Herrera, Don Luis Aury, Colonel Young, Colonel Perry and other Gallant Spanish and American officers had selected Galveston Island as the base of operations and a place of rendezvous for the privateers, and on the 12th of September, 1816, organized a government and unfurled the flag of independence.  Commodore Aury was made civil and military governor of Texas and Galveston Island, and took the oath of fealty to the republic of Mexico.  Five years after this the indomitable Stephen Fuller Austin - a worthy son of immortal Moses Austin - led the first body of immigrants into Texas by way of Natchitoches¹, pitching their camp in what is now Washington county, and thus beginning the permanent settlement of Texas by Anglo-Americans.

"While her future home was thus being established by deeds of heroism and self-sacrifice, such as have never been paralleled, this child of destiny was developing into a beautiful woman.  Her graces and refinement brought her first and greatest sorrow, for her accomplishments attracted the attention of a German officer with whom she was persuaded to elope to the Southwest in 1835.  Their first Texas home was in Waxahachie, but his desertion and subsequent death left this friendless young widow among people who were then in the midst of their supreme struggle for independence, and before the decisive battle of San Jacinto she was with the refugees protected by the army of Sam Houston.

"Colonel Holland Coffee was at this time one of the most prominent men in Texas and in 1838 was elected to the third house of representatives from the new county of Panola.  While upon a visit to Waco Colonel Coffee met the subject of this sketch, and the result was their marriage at the close of that year.  Colonel Coffee had received large grants of land for his gallant military services, and much of it had been located in the rich bottom of Red river.  In 1839 the bride and groom established their home at what is now known as Preston Bend, in this county.  They were indeed pioneers and lived at first in a stockade as a necessary protection against the roving bands of Comanche Indians.  Denison's wooded site was the shelter of thousands of buffalo and other wild game.  Sherman was not yet in existence, and only a very small settlement at Bonham.  Colonel Coffee was killed in 1847.  His wife remained a widow until 1852, when she was married to Major George Butts, a typical Virginian of the bluest blood, who was connected with the Federal army.  Again the home was stricken by a violent death, for Major Butts was killed by bushwhackers during the first year of the war.  This bereavement prompted Mrs. Butts to leave the plantation, and she moved to Waco, taking with her a large number of slaves.  These faithful servants were then hers by the acknowledged right of possession and most of their remained to the end of their days in a service that had brought to them all the benefits of emancipation except actual freedom.

"Mrs. Butts was a remarkably well preserved woman at the age of 50, and her charms compelled the admiration of the grace and chivalric.

"Among those who met this thrice-made widow and who became a successful suitor, was Judge Jonas Porter of Missouri, an officer in the Confederate army, who had stopped at Waco on his way to Mexico.  Judge Porter was a widower whose wife had died while he was in the war.  He was at one time a member of the Missouri legislature and had risen to a high place in Masonry and Odd Fellowship.  A quiet wedding in 1865 and a removal to the bride's home at Preston, brought this remarkable woman back to the community that is now mourning the loss of its best friend.

"Judge and Mrs. Porter are remembered by many who are still living as being ideal entertainers, who had preserved intact the regime of that incomparable Southern hospitality so characteristic of ante-bellum days.  Judge Porter was courteous and scholarly and greatly assisted his wife in retaining at this home the attractions of refinement and education.

"In 1869 they visited Indiana and Mrs. Porter entered the Suttonfield home for the first time since her abrupt departure as a runaway bride many years before.  The aged mother was still living and welcomed the daughter with all the joy that can be expressed by a never-dying mother love.

"The year 1886 brought another sorrow into this history of a life, as Judge Porter was stricken with a fatal disease and passed peacefully away.

"Mrs. Porter was still vigorous, and did not relax her interest in all that concerned the good of those about her.  She had been a consistent member of the Southern Methodist church since 1869, and gave the ground near by upon which was built what is known as "Coffee Chapel."  To this she was also a large contributor and gave it five acres in another place for camp meeting purposes.  A few years ago she presented the Georgetown university three hundred and fifty acres of improved land, valued at ten thousand dollars.

"Thus passed away the sweet spirit of 'Aunt Sophia,' surrounded by relatives and neighbors and by servants who had been born into the household as slaves bu had considered it the highest freedom to remain with their former mistress.

"The old house seems to voice the universal sorrow, for age and decay have touched it in many places; yet the beauty has not all departed.  The broad avenue leading from the entrance to the house is lined with immense catalpa trees, grown from seed planted by Mrs. Porter, the seed having been brought by the father of Governor Throckmorton.  The grounds are full of flowers and palms, rare plants and cacti, and the spacious verandas have afforded a welcome retreat for many distinquished people.  Jefferson Davis, U. S. Grant, Ben Butler, Robert E. Lee, George B. McClellan and General Arbuckle were among the famous soldiers who enjoyed its hospitality in the early days.  Many of Quantrell's men were quartered there during their sojourn in this region.

"'Glen Eden' was known and visited by the pleasure seekers of all Northern Texas and the strangers as well as the most intimate friends were made welcome at all times."

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Source:  The Houston daily post. (Houston, Tex.), 30 Aug. 1897. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86071197/1897-08-30/ed-1/seq-3/>

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¹Natchitoches is a city in Natchitoches Parish, LA, established in 1714 as part of French Louisiana.  Its sister city is Nacogdoches, TX.

William Blackerby & Caty Haydon

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William Blackerby is said to have been born in Wicomico Parish, Northumberland Co., VA in 1755. Except for his marriage to the widow Caty Lukas on Mar. 12, 1792¹, I have found no substantial records of the family in that area.  Some researchers report her maiden name as Haydon and tell us his death was in April, 1815.  A death location for neither he nor Caty has been found.

I know of one child, a son named Joseph Monroe Blackerby, born Apr. 17, 1806 (unsourced).  He married Cassandra Coffey in Pike Co., IL on Jan. 1, 1834.²  By 1850 the couple and four children and was in Marion Co., Oregon Territory.  Living with them at the time were two Porter children: David A., age 3, born IL and John T., age 4(?) mos., born in the OR Territory.  I have not yet discovered who those children belong to.  I suspect they might be related to William Porter who married Cassandra's sisters, Sarah in 1840 (died 1848) then Martha in 1849 (died 1903),  both daughters of Nebuzaradan and Elizabeth Easley Coffey.

Joseph and Cassandra have not been found in 1860 but were still in Marion Co. in 1870.  By then they had become parents of six children:  Thomas Richard, 1836 IL-1906 OR; J. William C., c1840 MO -?; Sidney Green, 1844 IL - 1910 OR; Marqis de Lafayette, 1849 OR - 1854 OR; Elza M., c1851 OR - ?; and Dr. Arthur Frank, 1853 OR - 1934 OR.

Joseph died on Jan. 19, 1878 in Silverton, Marion Co., OR and was buried at the Aumsville Cemetery in Marion Co.  His Find-A-Grave (FAG) memorial is 29198728.  Cassandra was born on Aug. 23, 1811 in Pilot Knob, KY, a place not found on a modern Kentucky map.  Prior to her death on Jan. 18, 1855 in Marion Co., she was found residing with her son Alfred in Silverton at the 1880 census. Her FAG memorial is 7086305.

Their Children:

Thomas Richard, born Aug. 20, 1836 in IL, died Feb. 25, 1906 in Silverton.  He married Mary E. Allen c1865 in OR.  She was born Oct. 10, 1843 in IL and died in Silverton on Oct. 27, 1918.  Both are buried at the Silverton Cemetery.  His FAG memorial is 6462997 and Mary's is 6463000.  The couple lived in Silverton all of their married life and had at least two children there:

Grace "Gracie," born Oct., 1867, died Aug. 6, 1934 in Hoquiam, Grays Harbor, WA.  She married the Welchman William Lloyd Jones, born Apr. 22, 1855 in Wales, United Kingdom and died on Jun. 21, 1933. Grace and William are buried at Fern Hill Cemetery in Aberdeen, Grays Harbor. William's FAG memorial is 106805040.  He and Grace had at least three children:  Bliss Blackerby Jones., a son, born Jul. 23, 1892; Marie Bristal (?), born Oct. 18, 1895 and Dora Frances, born Nov. 6, 1897.

The second known child was Pearl L., a son, born Feb., 1869 in OR, died Nov. 2, 1949 in Marion Co.  He married Stella Bolser³ and they had at least one child, Irele Elise, born Feb. 23, 1911, died Apr. 7, 2004 in CA.  She is buried at the San Francisco National Cemetery along with her husband, Col. James Edgar Henry, USAF (Ret'd).  Irene appeared in the 1940 Bakersfield, Kern Co., CA census as a boarder in the household of Caroline Harris.  Irene was then employed as a public school teacher, age 29 and, divorced!

Blackerby-Henry Marriage License

The 1930 and 1940 census reports, as well as her marriage license to James Edgar Henry tells us she was born in Nebraska.  The marriage license gives her age as 27 years, suggesting her birth year was closer to 1915.  The 1940 census also tells us that she had been married previous to her union with Mr. Henry.  She and James were married on Aug. 1, 1942 at Pomona in Los Angeles Co., CA.

Stella Bolser Blackerby was born c1875 in IN and died on May 19, 1961 in Marion Co., OR.  She is buried at the Silverton Cemetery.

The sixth and only other child I know of who grew to become and adult and marry was Dr. Arthur Franklin Blackerby.  In 1880 he was recorded as being a Tinsmith; in 1900 his census record reports him as being a dentist. He was married to Jennie Stanton, born Nov. 16, 1860 in Marion Co., died there on Jul. 9, 1883.  She is buried at Miller Cemetery in Silverton. According to his FAG memorial, Arthur married Sophia Gustavsen c1895.

  Jack

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Sources:

¹Stratton Nottingham, Compiler, The Marriage License Bonds of North Umberland County, Virginia, from 1783 to 1850 (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1976), Page 10.

²Dodd, Jordan. Illinois Marriages to 1850. Electronic transcription of marriage records held by the individual counties in Illinois.

³Stella Fisher, born 1875 in Indiana was a boarder in the household of Mary E. Allen Blackerby, widow of Thomas Richard Blackerby and mother of Pearl L. Blackerby who later married Stella.  If Stella Bolser and Stella Fisher are the same person then she apparently was married prior to union with Pearl but, I have not found a marriage record for Bolser to Fisher.  Pearl was also the precinct enumerator at the 1910 census. In 1880 Stella, age 5, and her widowed mother resided in Franklin Twp., Montgomery Co., IN with her maternal grandmother.

US Federal Census Records

Find-A-Grave

FamilySearch.Org

Library of Virginia

Arthur E. & Nora B. Vickery Coffee

Arthur was born Oct. 8, 1879 in McDonald Co., MO and died Feb. 4, 1938 in Sioux City, Woodbury, IA [unsourced dates].  He was a son of William Harrison and Hillead Oakley Caudille Coffee.  Readers can click on the blog title to read a bit more of this family from a 2007 blog.

We can find Arthur with his parents in White Rock, McDonald Co. from 1880 through 1900.  He married Nora B. Vickery on Oct. 26, 1902 in Pineville, McDonald Co.¹ They lived there and Nora gave birth to their children there.  Arthur registered in 1918 for the WW1 draft² in McDonald Co., and in 1920 the family was enumerated in that county's census.  By 1930 the family was in Fairview, Clay Co., SD.

The children were:

Violet E., born c1904 and was with her parents through the 1920 census in White Rock.

1945 SD State Census - Martin

Martin, born c1905, was with his parents through 1920 and in 1930 he was a boarder with the Henry Anderson family in Fairview, SD.  He also appeared unmarried in the 1945 state census at Elk Point in Union Co., SD.  He indicated then that he was a veteran of WWII but, I cannot find a record.

Winifred. born c1909, lived with his parents through 1920 in MO and was with them in Fairview in 1930.  He too appeared unmarried in the 1945 SD state census.  Both he and Martin were farmers.

Jesse, born c1916, lived with his parents through the 1930 census.  I have not found him after that date.

1935 SD State Census - Earl

Aaron and Earl were apparently twins, both born c1916.  They were both with their parents through 1930.  In 1935, Earl was enumerated in the SD state census at Elk Point, and in 1945 in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha Co., SD.  In the latter record he reported that he was married.³  No other information has been found.

1945 SD State Census -Earl

The last two children were daughters Viva, born c1918 and Myrtle, born c1922.  Viva was with her family through 1930 in Fairview.  Myrtle was apparently born just before the family relocated to SD.  She appears for the first time in the 1930 census.  I have found no further information on either of them.

I am seeking to document the birth and death dates for Arthur and Nora as well as spouses and other vital info for their children.

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¹Name: Arthur Coffee Marriage Date: 26 Oct 1902 Marriage Location: Mcdonald, Missouri Marriage County: Mcdonald Spouse Name: Nora Vickery.
 ²Arthur E. Coffee registered for the draft in McDonald Co., MO on Sep. 12, 1918. He was short and stout with blue eyes and light colored hair. He was 38 yrs. old, born Oct.8, 1876. He was a resident of Jane, McDonald Co., MO and resided there with his wife, Nora B. Coffee. He signed the registration card as Authar E. Coffee.
³The state census was recorded on what appears to be index cards; not the traditional forms used for Federal records.  Each person in a family had their own card, but none has yet been found for Earl's wife and possible children.  There is an E. E. Coffey, born 1916, buried at Tecumseh cemetery in Pottawatomie County, OK and a daughter, Judy Coffey McMahan who was born Feb. 4, 1957, in Longview, Wash., to E.E. and Oneta (Porter) Coffey.  This may be Earl, son of Arthur and Nora.

Stephen & Catherine Jane Coffey Porter

"Stephen Porter, born 24 June 1819 in MO, died 24 Aug 1890 in OR. He was the son of David and Nancy (Culton) Porter. David Porter, born 8 Mar 1780 in Rockbridge Co, VA, and died on 16 July 1849 on the Oregon Trail '"days journey beyond Fort Hall (Idaho) towards Soda Springs." David Porter married first Mary Elizabeth Hopkins in Davidson Co, TN about 1806. She died at the birth of their only child, a son named James, born 10 Aug 1807. He married second Nancy Culton, born Rockbridge Co, VA 8 Apr 1784, and died Pike Co, IL on 8 Jan 1867. The parents of Nancy Culton were Alexander Culton and Rebecca Woods, married 2 May 1782 in Rockbridge Co, VA. David Porter was the son of William and Mary (Bowen) Porter of Rockbridge Co, VA. I descend from William and Mary (Bowen) Porter through David's brother John.

"In 1811, David and Nancy Porter joined a closely knit group of relatives and neighbors from TN in migrating to Lincoln Co, MO. These included Sittons, Gibsons, Wilsons, and other families who intermarried with the Porters. All were pioneers on the MO frontier a few miles northwest of St. Louis, near St. Charles. By 1819, David Porter began buying land near Big Creek southwest of Troy, MO. He established his home there for a while. In late 1835, he became dissatisfied with the area and moved to Pike Co, IL. In the spring of 1849, when he was 69 years old, accompanied by his son-in-law Samuel Sitton, he joined a wagon train to Oregon, where several of his married children had gone the previous year. He died of a stroke enroute. His son-in-law returned to his family in Pike Co, IL. It is presumed that David Porter was buried beside the trail."*

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David and Nancy Culton Porter had at least six children:

Rebecca, born c1809 in TN, married Samuel G. Sitton, born c1802 in Lincoln Co., MO, died c1878 in Pike Co., IL.  Their children were at least four:  Eleanor, David W., William P., and Amanda.  In 1850 the family was residing in Pike Co. and Rebecca's mother, Nancy Culton Porter, age 66, was residing with them.  Nancy died in Pike Co. in 1867*

William, born Dec. 14, 1812 in MO, died Mar. 30, 1899 in Marion Co., OR.  He married Sarah Coffey, daughter of Nebuzaradan and Elizabeth Easley Coffey.  Sarah was born May 1, 1820 in Simpson Co., KY and died in Marion Co. on Nov. 20, 1848.  William died Mar. 30, 1899 in Marion Co.  Both are buried in the Oregon Pioneer Cemetery at Aumsville in Marion Co.  Their children were at least four: William German; Elizabeth Nancy; John Hancock; and Sidney Reese.

Joseph Woods, born c1815 in MO, married Elizabeth Ann Howey on Aug. 14, 1838 in Pike Co., IL**  In 1850 the family was still in Pike Co. with children: James; Nancy A., Amanda, and Stephen W.

Stephen Porter

Stephen, born Jun. 24, 1819 in Troy, Lincoln Co., MO, died Aug. 24, 1890 at Downs Station, Marion Co., OR.  He married twice, first to Catherine Jane Coffey, middle daughter of Nebuzaradan and Elizabeth, on Sep. 1, 1844 in Pike Co.  Their children were Nancy Louisa, David A., and John Thomas.  Catherine died on Feb. 13, 1850 in Marion Co.  Stephen's second wife was Susan Gibson who he married on Aug. 15, 1851 in Marion Co.  Stephen and Susan are buried at the Miller Cemetery in Silverton in Marion Co.

Nancy, born Feb. 14, 1822, died Mar. 9, 1904 in Salem, Marion Co., married Horatio Nelson Viscount Holmes on Sep. 27, 1838 in Pike Co.*  He was born Jul. 24, 1813 in Wythe Co., VA and died in Salem on Mar. 26, 1885.

John, born Apr. 8, 1824 in Lincoln Co., MO, died May 27, 1895 in Pike Co., IL.  He married Eliza Emeline Coffey on Nov. 28, 1850 in Pike Co.  Eliza was a daughter of Nathaniel "Nathan" and Sarah "Sally" Meredith Coffey.  Nathan was a brother to Nebuzaradan.  Eliza and John were parents of Emma, Sarah, Jane and John David as well as one infant daughter who died at or shortly after birth in 1851, Pike Co.

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Oregon Trail

These families were early pioneers who reached Oregon over the Oregon Trail.  This Trail site may also be of interest to readers.

 

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*Mary E. Porter, Author/Compiler, A Family History: William Porter, Jr. of Rockbridge County, Virginia (1740-1804) and Five Generations of his Descendants (N.p.: M. E. Porter, 7 September 2007), Page 63.


**Illinois Marriages, 1763-1900. Family Tree Legends Records Collection (Online Database). Pearl Street Software, 2004-2005, Marriage Register, Vol. I, Page 46.

Jesse Calton & Julia Elizabeth Hollifield Coffey

Jesse Calton was born Mar. 27, 1867 at Coffey's Gap in Watauga Co., NC to George Washington "Wash" and Matilda "Tilda" Coffey Coffey.  Wash was the son of William Clayton and Sarah Greene Coffey while Tilda was the daughter of Jesse Calton and Nancy A. Raines Coffey.  William was uncle to Jesse, their common ancestor being Jesse and Margaret Edmisten Coffey.

Julia Hollifield was born Mar. 31, 1873 in Watauga Co. and died Jul. 11, 1957 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co.  She and Jesse were married May 7, 1892 in Watauga Co.  Her parents were Wiley and Mary Ann "Annie" Reid Hollifield.  Another daughter, Flora Ellen Hollifield married Reuben Finley Coffey on Dec. 14, 1893 in Caldwell Co.

Jesse and Julia were parents of at least nine children:

George Wiley, born Mar. 20, 1890, died Jan. 25, 1948 in Wilkes Co.  He married Ida Belle Norman on Apr. 11, 1912 and they were parents of at least nine children.  Ida was born in 1886 in Lenoir and died there in 1974.

Charles Alexander "Charlie" was born Jul. 2, 1894 in Caldwell Co., and died May 17, 1966 in Lenoir.  He married Julia Evelyn Knight on Sep. 4, 1915 in Watauga Co.  Julia was born Sep. 13, 1896 and died Jan. 21, 1981.  They were also parents of at least nine children.

Annie, born Feb. 16, 1896, died Jul. 4, 1976. No other information.

Thomas Leroy "Tom", born Oct. 13, 1898, died Feb. 11, 1974 in Blowing Rock, Watauga Co.  Tom married Alice Sanders on Jul 19, 1919 in Watauga Co.  She was the daughter of Eve and Emma Sumlin Sanders of Caldwell Co.  Alice died Feb. 24, 1962 in Blowing Rock.  They were also parents of at least nine children.

Ella, born Feb. 22, 1901, died Jul. 15, 1983 in Morganton, Burke Co., NC.  Ella married a Mr. Smith.  No other information.

Rev. Harley Clint, born Jul. 11, 1903 in Upton, Caldwell Co., died Mar. 5, 1972 in Winston-Salem, Forsyth Co., NC.  He married twice, first to Dovie "Texie" Bolick on May 8, 1927 in Watauga Co., and second to Myrtle Thelma Andrews on Nov. 20, 1930 in Winston-Salem.  I know of only one child, a daughter Claudine, born to his union with Myrtle.  Texie died of dysentery after a little over a year of marriage, on Jun. 16, 1928.  Myrtle, a daughter of William M. and Manarky Victoria Shook Andrews died Nov. 13, 1979 in Valdese, Burke Co., NC.

Pearl Nevada, born Feb. 8, 1906, died Feb. 25, 1993.  She married first James Samuel Day on Apr. 22, 1923 in Watauga Co.  James, a son of James Mordichi and Annie Marie Reid Day, was born Aug. 5, 1899 in Watauga Co. and died there on Mar. 13, 1956.  She later married James' brother Spencer who died in Caldwell Co. in 1965.  Pearl died Feb. 25, 1993.

William Glenn, born Apr. 11, 1909, died Feb. 24, 1977 in Alexander Co., NC.  He married Annie Rivers "Nannie" Coffey, a daughter of Jesse Cleveland and Eliza Loudermelt Coffey.  Nannie was born Jan. 1, 1910 in Avery Co., NC and died Apr. 15, 1952 in Boone, Watauga Co.  I know of one child, Jerry Guy Coffey, born Sep. 12, 1933, died Jan. 25, 1998.  Jesse Cleveland and Jesse Calton were first cousins.

Bertha Vienna, born Sep. 2, 1912, died Jan. 14, 1970 in Blowing Rock.  She was the second wife of Adren Reece Moody, born Dec. 6, 1909 in Watauga Co., died Sep. 12, 1968 in Blowing Rock.  Adren was the son of Arthur C. and Rota Marticia Estes Moody.  He and Bertha were the parents of at least two children:  Teresa Geraldine, born May 7, 1932, died Jan. 8, 1994 and Catherine Elizabeth, born May 7, 1935, died Jan. 23, 1993.  Adren's first wife was Edna Porter with whom he had at least one child, Louise born Nov. 15, 1928.

Please contact me to add to or correct any of this information.

Nathan Coffey (1788 KY - 1834 IL)

Nathan or, perhaps, Nathaniel Coffey was a son of Joel and Martha Stepp [var] Coffey. He was born Jan. 10, 1788 in Kentucky, and married Sarah (Sally) Meredith on Nov. 11, 1806 in Adair Co., KY. Sarah was the daughter of David and Hannah Cook Meredith.

Twelve of their 13 children were born in KY, the last there in Feb., 1829. Their last was born in IL in Jan., 1831. These dates indicate that the family left Adair Co. in about 1830 for IL, and arrived there before Jan., 1831. Nathan died in Pike Co., IL on Sep. 19, 1834. Sarah died there on Dec. 26, 1853.

Their children were:

Martha Bagby, born Jan. 8, 1808, and married Charles M. Benbook in Eadsville, Wayne Co., KY on Mar. 18, 1826.

Woodson Rickets, born Oct. 1, 1809.

Elizabeth Graham, born Apr. 27, 1811.

Meredith Washington, born Mar. 3, 1813, married Eliza Hutchinson on Jul. 24, 1836 in Pike Co., IL. They appeared in the 1840 census in Pike Co.

Joel Woodson, born Mar. 5, 1815.

Daniel Franklin, born Apr. 18, 1817, died Sep. 22, 1867. He married Elizabeth Conner, born c1820 in KY, on Aug. 6,1842 in Pike Co., IL. Daniel died Sep. 22, 1867 in Griggsville, Pike Co., IL. Their children were: Sarah E., born c1843; Nathan F., born c1845; J. Hardin, born c1847; Tabitha (Delitha?) M., born c1849; Daniel Franklin, Jr., born c1851, married Nancy M. [LNU] c1876 in IL. their children were Russell J., born c1877 and Burton B., born Feb. 1880. Burton B., born c1853; Thomas M., born Apr. 2, 1855, married Lillian May Hathaway on Jul, 5, 1883 in Pike Co., IL; Lillian was born c1862 in Griggsville, Pike Co.; Mary J., born c1857; Grace L., born c1861, died May 19, 1914 in Kaw, Jackson Co., MO. The family appears in the 1850 and 1860 in Griggsville, Pike Co. census.

Hannah Jane, born Mar. 19, 1819, married William Wells Apr. 12, 1835 in Pike Co. William was born c1815 in KY and apparently died before 1860. He was not present for the census that year. However, two of the children born to Hannah Jane were born after 1860, making it possible that William was away at war, returned before 1863 and died before the 1870 census. Their children were Haster M., born c1837; William, born c1843; John, born c1845; Hardin, born c1849; Jane, born c1851; Frances, born c1854; George, born c1863, and Nelly, born c1865. William is with the family in the 1850 Griggsville, Pike Co. census, but was absent in 1860 and 1870.

Kizia Catherine, born Jan. 9, 1821, married Archibald Campbell Mar. 9, 1840 in Pike Co. Archibald was born c1817 in KY. Their known children were as son, J. W., born c1843 and E. E., a daughter, born c1846. She and Archibald were in the 1850 Pike Co. census.

Thomas Chelton, born Dec. 18, 1822, married Rebecca J. Daigh, Jun. 11, 1848 in Pike Co. Rebecca was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Daigh. Thomas later married Helen L. Brower. They were in the 1850 Pike Co. census in the household with Rebecca's parents.

Eliza Emeline, born Mar. 10, 1825 in Simpson Co., KY, died Dec. 9, 1901 in Pike Co., IL. She married John Porter Nov. 28, 1850 in Pike Co. He died May 27, 1895 in Pike Co., and Eliza died there on Dec. 9, 1901. Their known children were: Emma, born Jan. 8, 1852; Sarah, born Oct. 6, 1856; Jane, born c1858; and John D., born Sep. 23, 1860. They appeared in the 1860 through 1880 Newburg Twp., Pike Co., IL census.

James Cleveland, born May 31, 1827.

Sarah Ann, born Feb. 4, 1829, married Charles Tomlinson Nov. 14, 1863 in Pike Co. Charles was born c1831 in New Jersey. They appeared in the 1870 Macon Co., MO census and in 1880 in Warrensburg, Johnson Co., MO. They had no known children.

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

Sophia Suttenfield Porter (1815-1897)

Sophia Porter, North Texas pioneer, was born on December 3, 1815, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the second child of William and Laura (Taylor) Suttenfield (or Suttonfield). Little is known of her childhood, but many stories exist about her adult life and her four marriages. In 1833 she married Jesse Augustine Aughinbaugh (or Auginbaugh), a druggist and teacher. In 1835 the couple arrived in Nacogdoches, where she said Aughinbaugh deserted her. As a participant in the Runaway Scrape, Sophia claimed to have arrived at the battle of San Jacinto and to have nursed Sam Houston there. Holland Coffee, a member of the House of Representatives and an Indian trader, successfully lobbied the Texas Congress to pass a bill granting Sophia Aughinbaugh a divorce from her missing husband, and on January 19, 1839, she and Coffee were married at Independence in Washington County. From there the couple traveled over 600 miles to Coffee's Station on the Red River in Grayson County. There they developed Glen Eden Plantation and the town of Preston until Coffee was killed in 1846. In December 1847 Sophia married Maj. George N. Butt (or Butts), who helped her run Glen Eden until he was killed in 1863. Butt reportedly was ambushed by a member of William C. Quantrill's gang. The sobriquet "Confederate Paul Revere" was given Sophia during the Civil War, when she is said to have ridden her mount across the Red River to warn Col. James G. Bourland and his men that Union troops were at her plantation. The story continues that Mrs. Butt supplied the enemy with enough wine that they remained unaware of her departure. One account claims she locked the inebriated men in her wine cellar while she rode off. Other variants say either that Bourland escaped the Unionists or that he came to Glen Eden and captured them. On August 2, 1865, Sophia Butt married Judge James Porter, and they lived together at Glen Eden until his death in 1886. Sophia joined the Methodist church in Sherman in 1869. She had no children, but she raised two of Holland Coffee's nieces. She died on August 27, 1897, and was buried near Glen Eden. When the area was to be inundated to form Lake Texoma, her home was dismantled with the intention that it be reassembled as a museum of Grayson County history, but the wood was mistakenly burned.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Holland Coffee Papers, Sherman Public Library, Sherman, Texas. Mary Daggett Lake, "Glen Eden, Red River Valley Landmark," Southern Home and Garden, March 1936. Graham Landrum and Allen Smith, Grayson County (Fort Worth, 1960; 2d ed., Fort Worth: Historical Publishers, 1967). Sherrie McLeRoy, Mistress of Glen Eden: The Life and Times of Texas Pioneer Sophia Porter (Sherman, Texas: White Stone, 1990). Audy J. and Glenna P. Middlebrooks, "Holland Coffee of Red River," Southwestern Historical Quarterly 69 (October 1965). Glenna Parker Middlebrooks, "Sophia Coffee, History's Firefly," True West, October 1973. Sophia Porter Papers, Sherman Public Library, Sherman, Texas.

Holland Coffey (1807-1846)

Holland Coffee, Red River trader, the son of Ambrose and Mildred (Moore) Coffee, was born on August 15, 1807, probably in Kentucky. He was orphaned at age eleven and grew up in McMinnville, Tennessee, with an uncle, Jesse Coffee. In 1829 he arrived in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with Silas Cheek Colville, James Mayberry Randolph, and several others. There he established Coffee, Colville, and Company. He supplied local settlers, Indians, and trapping expeditions, and made contact with Sam Houston, who was living at the time among the removed Cherokees. In 1833 Coffee conducted a trapping expedition to the upper Red River. Afterward, he established a trading post at the old Pawnee village, probably the old north-bank village of the Taovayas near the site of present Petersburg, Oklahoma. He was a major link in completing the Camp Holmes treaty of August 24, 1835, the first treaty to authorize the relocation of eastern Indians to lands west of the Mississippi.

Coffee moved west to the mouth of Cache Creek, near Taylor, Oklahoma, in early 1836. He was respected by the Indians, became knowledgeable in Indian languages and customs, and ransomed many Indian captives. In April 1837 he was on Walnut Bayou, near Burneyville, Oklahoma, and by September he had moved across the river to Washita (Preston) Bend. Coffee was accused of aiding Indian depredations through trade-specifically by giving the Indians guns and whiskey in exchange for stolen cattle and horses-and was investigated by the Texas Congress. In the winter of 1837 he visited Houston, where he made satisfactory explanations to the government. On November 16, 1837, President Houston appointed him Indian agent, and on September 2, 1838, Coffee enacted a treaty between the Republic of Texas and the Kichai, Tawakoni, Waco, and Tawehash Indians at the Shawnee village, near the site of modern Denison. Coffee was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from Fannin County for the 1838-39 session. He married Sophia Suttenfield Aughinbaugh (see PORTER, SOPHIA) on January 19, 1839. Thereafter, he dissolved his partnership with Colville and turned to the development of Glen Eden Plantation in Grayson County. He furnished supplies for the Military Road expedition of William G. Cooke in the winter of 1840-41 and participated in framing the Texas Indian treaty of August 24, 1842. He developed the town of Preston near his trading post in 1845 and provided the supplies given to the Indians in the Comanche treaty of 1846.

On October 1, 1846, Coffee became offended over a remark about his wife and attacked Charles Ashton Galloway, a trader from Fort Washita, who stabbed him to death. Coffee had no children. He was entombed in a brick aboveground crypt at Glen Eden; his grave was removed to Preston Cemetery at the time of the impounding of Lake Texoma.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY: Grant Foreman, Pioneer Days in the Early Southwest (Cleveland: Clark, 1926). Graham Landrum and Allen Smith, Grayson County (Fort Worth, 1960; 2d ed., Fort Worth: Historical Publishers, 1967). Audy J. and Glenna P. Middlebrooks, Holland Coffee of Red River, Southwestern Historical Quarterly 69 (October 1965)