By his own hand, Alfred wrote that he and Julia were married in 1857. He would have been about 26 years old at the time, having been born in Wilkes Co., NC in 1831. and, according to his autobiography, had lived a very adventurous life up to then.
Julia was the daughter of John and Mary Wheeler Dawkins, born in GA in Feb., 1838 and was about 20 years old when she married Alfred. The Dawkins lived "in Habersham County [GA], 4 miles south of Tallulah Falls on Panther Creek."
The Coffey family appeared in the 1860 census at Rabun Co., GA with one child, a son, Newton Walter Coffey, born in July, 1858. He and Julia had another child, Mary Angie, born in Sep., 1860. By 1861 Alfred was off on another adventure, this time as a soldier in the 52d Georgia Infantry[1]. He survived the war and from about 1862 through 1882 they added another eight children to their family.
The family moved around a bit during those years. In 1870 they were in Rock Spring, Walker Co., TN. In 1880 and 1900 they were in Hamilton Co., TN. Julia died in Mar., 1906 and by 1910 Alfred was an aged gentleman who sought shelter with his son Starlin [sic] in Marion Co., TN. Alfred died in Dec., 1915 and was buried near Julia at Forest Hills Cemetery in Chattanooga.
All of their children were born in GA, and probably Rabun Co. specifically.
Their son Newton died in Rabun Co. in 1860 but, his burial site is unknown.
Mary Angie or, Angie as she was known, married Judson Buchanan of Monroe Co., IN in 1883 in Hamilton Co., TN. He was a Coffey descendant as well. His father was John Hamilton Buchanan and his mother was Miriam Coffey, the daughter of Rev. Reuben A. and Martha "Polly" Dowell Coffey.
Alfred A., probably Jr., was born c1862 but nothing else is know.
Starlin Pinkston was the fourth child, born in Apr., 1864. He married Emma Raulston, 1879-1945, daughter of Robert and Anne Beene Raulston in Hamilton Co., c1898. Children, all born in Marion Co., TN, were Earl Leonard, Vesta V., Stella, Ethel Mae (died at age 2), Willie May (died at age 11) and Charles. Starlin died in Marion Co. in 1941. Emma died in 1945 and both are buried at the Bean-Raulston graveyard in South Pittsburg, Marion Co.
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| Jackson Lafayette Coffey |
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| Ellie Horton |
Elizabeth Adeline "Addie" was born in 1867 and died in Chattanooga in Jan., 1941. She married William Henry Waldron in TN in 1887. He was a native of Virginia, born there in 1858. He died just a few days before Addie, in Jan., 1941. Both are buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Chattanooga. I know of two children: Mae Virginia, born c1890 in AL, married Conrad Fred Stier of GA in 1908, Jefferson Co., AL; and a son, Carroll, born Oct., 1892.
Sylvester A., born 1870, married Minerva "Minnie" Richards c1892 in GA. Minerva was born in GA in 1874. They had at least 10 children: Charles, Mary J. (Eunice?), William Armstrong; Aldred A., Ross, Cathleen, Donald, James and an infant that was born in Feb., 1917 and died in June of that year. Sylvester died in 1930 and is buried at Chattanooga Memorial Park. I have not found Minnie's death record.
Talullah Virginia "Lula," born 1874, married William Norval Taggart on Hamilton Co., in 1899. William was a native of Missouri, born there in about 1874. They had at least two children, Julia, born c1895 and Norvell, a son, born c1897. William died in 1958, Lula in 1958. Both are buried at Greenwood in Chattanooga.
David Lee, born 1876, married Martha Hyatt, date unknown but probably close to 1900. She was a native of NC, born there in 1883. They had at least one child, Robert Lee, born 1903, died 1977. All are buried at Greenwood.
Last but not least is Effie Thelma, born 1882. She married George Thomas Ogburn c1902 in TN. They had at least two children, a daughter Merita, born c1904 and a son, Junior, born c1907. Nothing more is known.
More detailed information is available on the CD and DVD.
Corrections and additions welcomed!
[1] "Georgia Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865"
