Willie Newton Coffey

There is no doubt that Willie Newton Coffey was a son of Mathew and Emily Troxell Coffey.

Willie was born in Kentucky in 1903, probably in Wayne Co.  He was in that county in 1910.  In 1920 he and his family lived in McCreary Co.  

Mathew, the father, was born to Henry Baker Coffey and Sarah Elizabeth Dobbs in June of 1875, married Emily, a daughter of Jacob and Salena Steel Troxell in about 1896.

Between Oct., 1896 and Jan., 1917 Emily and Mathew had at least six children. They were: Sarah Jane; William "Willie"; Salena, who is said to have married Lark Bell in about 1924; Sallie; Ed Lincoln, born 1911, married Edna Hatfield; and Goldman, born in 1917.

Willie is something of an enigma.  I write that with some misgivings because he may have been no puzzle at all over his lifetime* and did not try to hide from the law.

A newspaper article appeared in the Lexington  (KY) Herald in July, 1946 announcing the arrest of Willie Newton Coffey in Birmingham, AL for killing his father, Mathew Coffey, in Wayne County in 1928.  It was reported that "shortly before the elder Coffey was slain, his son had escaped from a Wayne county jail where he had been held on a "drunkenness charge."  

That was the first and last article that I have been able to find in any KY newspaper so it is not possible for me to tell you if he was tried, convicted and jailed, or if found innocent or not guilty of his father's death.

News Item, The Lexington Herald, Lexington, KY, Thu., Jul. 11, 1946, Page 9, Col. 4

Arrest Suspect in 1928 Patricide

Monticello, Ky., July 10 (AP) - County Judge S. E. Anderson announced today the arrest of Willie Newton Coffey, 44, wanted in Wayne county for the past 17 1/2 years in connection with the slaying of his father.

Judge Anderson said Coffey was picked up on a disorderly conduct charge at Tarrant, Ala., a Birmingham suburb.  He said Birmingham police notified Wayne county officials that Coffey admitted he fatally shot his father, Matthew Coffey, in 1928.

"Coffey hadn't been seen in Wayne county since then," declared the judge, adding that a murder indictment had been returned in March, 1929, against Coffey.

The judge said Sheriff J. J. Gibson would go to Frankfort, probably Thursday, to get a requisition for the extradition of Coffey from Alabama to Wayne county.

Judge Anderson said that shortly before the elder Coffey was slain, his son had escaped from jail where he had been held on a drunkenness charge.  The judge said Coffey had been quoted as saying he fired as his father was about to attack his mother.

What I do know is in 1930 a William Coffee [sic] appeared in the McDowell Co., WV census with Minnie Jane Carter Coffee.  He was 26 years-old; Minnie was also 26.  With them was Helen Blaylock, a five year-old step-daughter to Willie.  Willie was employed as a coal digger.

There is a 1938 marriage license in  McDowell Co. that tells us he and Minnie were married on Oct. 14 of that year.  The application tells us that he was born in Crossville, TN, and named his parents as George and Mary Coffey**.  Minnie named her parents as Ernest and India Carter.

The 1940 census for Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL includes William [sic] and Minnie as well as Gladus [sic], a daughter, age 8, born WV; Hershel, a son, age 7, born WV; and William J., a son aged eight months, born in AL.  The step-daughter Helen was no longer with the family.  

Gladys, born in Matewan, Mingo Co., WV, had at least three children:  Lynda Sue Coffey, born KY in 1950; Glynda Gaye, born 1955 in Birmingham and Viola Coffey, born 1965 in McCreary Co.  Glynda Faye died by drowning in 1970 at Birmingham where she had been taken by her grandfather, Willie Coffey to visit relatives.  The obituary reports she was survived by sisters Viola and Lynda as well as a half-brother, Robert Lee Pearson, all of Stearns, KY.

Willie died in Jan., 1973 in McCreary Co. and was buried at Sherd Dobbs Cemetery in Whitley City.

Minnie died Feb. 7, 1986 at Somerset in Pulaski Co., KY.  She was 84 years-old.  Her obituary reports that she was the daughter of Lee and India Carter.  Her husband, William "Willie" Coffey preceded her in death in 1972.  A daughter, Helen Thompson, granddaughter Glynda Coffey, two brothers, Robert and Walter Carter and one sister, Gertrude Sloan also preceded her in death.  She was survived by children Herschel Coffey and Elsie Reynolds of Birmingham, AL; William, Jr. of Wayne Co., KY; Gladys Coffey and Lynda Dobbs of Sterns and a brother, Ray of WV.

Minnie is also buried at Sherd Dobbs.

Comments, corrections and additions welcomed.

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*Apparently, the law was not actively searching for Willie from 1928 until 1946 for killing his father.  It was only after he was arrested near Birmingham for "disorderly conduct" in 1946 and perhaps volunteering information about killing his father that he was returned to Wayne County to face the law.  Certainly, with all of the people who went back and forth between KY and WV to work in the coal mines, someone would have known and reported the whereabouts of Willie to the KY authorities.

**Well, he may have tried somewhat to misdirect any leads to his birthplace and involvement in the death of his father.

James Madison & Lydia Ann Wolfe Coffey

James was a son of Ausburn (var.) and Matilda "Tildy" Dalton Coffey.  Lydia "Liddy" was the daughter of Adam and Jemima McCoy Wolfe.  James, born in 1834, Tennessee, married Liddy in Grainger Co., TN in 1857.[1]  She was born in Grainger Co. in 1836.[2]

By 1860 the couple was residing in Rockcastle Co., KY where they remained for the rest of their lives.[3]

Between 1858 and 1882 James and Liddy had at least 12 children; three sons, the remainder were daughters.  There was one unnamed child that was born and died in Feb., 1882, sex also unknown.

First child born was Thomas Jefferson in 1858, Grainger Co., died 1934 in Jessamine Co., KY.  Thomas married Mary Alice McGuire in 1883, Rockcastle Co.   She was born in KY in 1865 and died in Madison Co., KY in 1940.  Their children were: Beulah, Martha, Lydia, Minnie and Willie, all daughters.  Thomas' burial place is not known to me.  Mary Alice is buried at the Richmond Cemetery in Richmond, Madison Co.

John Henry, born in May, 1861 at Rockcastle Co., married Eliza Margaret Langford in 1891, Rockcastle Co.  She was born in that county i 1856 and died in Mercer Co., KY in 1931.  John Henry died at Mt. Vernon, KY in 1951.  Their children were Minnie L., James Madison and Jessie.  Both John and Eliza are buried at the Maret Cemetery in Wildie, Rockcastle Co., KY.

The first daughter born to James and Liddy was Margaret Angeline on Aug. 16, 1863 in Rockcastle Co.  She died there in Oct., 1863 and was buried at Maret.

Glathia Jane, born Oct., 1865, married Joseph Love Ramsey in 1898, Rockcastle Co.  Joseph was born in KY in 1842 and died in Rockcastle Co. in 1901.  Glathia Jane died in Madison Co. in 1939.  Joseph's first wife was Martha Jane Bryant, born 1843, died 1895.  They had at least two children; Ella, c1866 and Gatie, 1881 in Renfro Valley, Rockcastle Co.  Gatie married Arthur A. Coffey in 1897, Rockcastle Co.  He was the son of Lee and Isabelle "Belle" Hiatt Coffey.  Lee and Glathia Jane were first cousins.  Glathia is buried at the Berea Cemetery while Joseph was buried at the Hiatt Cemetery in Renfro Valley.

Gemima "Mimmia" follower Glathia in Dec., 1866 at Rockcastle Co.  She never married and died at Rockcastle Co. in 1967.  She is also buried at Maret.

Matilda was next, born in 1868 at Wildie.  She married John R. Dotson on Oct. 5, 1893 at Rockcastle Co.  He was born in TN in Jun., 1872 and died in Dayton, Montgomery Co., OH in 1965.  Matilda, whose middle name was either Addison or Aderson - nicknamed Addie - died in Preble Co., OH in 1953.  They had Orla, Ila, Dewey, Margaret, Earnest, Honest John [sic] and Argie.  Orla married Walker Blanton, born c1884, died 1962.  Orla died in 1981.  Both are buried at Berea.  Honest John was born in 1903 and died in 1914 at Wildie.  He was buried at Rockcastle Co., but cenetery is not given on his death certificate.

Hulda was one of two daughters of James and Liddy that married a Ketron.  Her husband was George Nelson, born 1867 in KY to Allen and Bettie Hatfield Ketron.  He and Hulda married in 1897, Rockcastle Co and had children William Allen; James B.; John C.; Freeman D.; Lydia Loretta; and George Conley.  George was their only child not born in KY.  He was born in Indiana, and probably in Randolph Co.  Hulda died in Eaton, OH in 1951; George in Winchester, Randolph Co., IN in 1945.  Hulda is buried at Fountain Park Cemetery in Winchester.  George's resting place in unknown to me but likely also at Fountain Park.

William Ausbon was the last known son born to James and Liddy.  He was born in Rockcastle Co. in 1873 and died there in 1964.  He married Cordelia T. Reynolds in 1895.  She was born to Tandy and Sarah Parsons Reynolds in KY in 1871 and died in Rockcastle Co. in 1913.  The name given on her death certificate as well as her headstone is Cordelia Tea Coffey.  Both she and William are buried at Maret.  Their children were Casper; Della J.; Grace; Vesta; John Clay; Unnamed male; William R.; and James Jefferson "Jepp."

Eliza Brannaman, born 1875 in Rockcastle Co., died in 1971 and was buried at Maret.  She never married.

MarionVictoria Ketron Reese

Cordelia "Delia" was the other daughter of James and Liddy to marry a Ketron.  He husband was Freeman, brother to Hulda's husband, George Ketron.  They were married in Rockcastle Co. in 1897.  Freeman was born in KY in 1875; Delia in 1878, Rockcastle Co.  He died there in 1928; she in Berea in 1952.  Both are buried at Scaffold Cane Cemetery in Round Stone, Rockcastle Co.  Their children were:  Johnny Love; Benton, Allen A; Daisy B.; Hagie  (?) M.; Thurman H.; Floy T.; and Marion Victoria.  Floy married Brandley Powell in 1937.  Marion Victoria married Leonard Reese.

The last named child of James and Liddy was Sallie, born c1879.  No other information.  An unnamed child was born Feb. 1, 1882,  It died that same month in Wildie and was buried at Maret.

More details are available in the Edward Coffey Project.  Corrections and additions are welcomed.

 Jack

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[1]David B. Trimble, Wolfe and Hickman of East Tennessee (Microfilmed by Brigham Young University: David B. Trimble, 2506 Hartford Rd., Austin, TX 78703, 2006), Page 189.
[2] 1900 Rockcastle Co., KY census, Round Stone Pct., ED 65, Sheet 13A
[3] 1860 thru 1930 census records for Rockcastle Co.

Katherine Grace "Katy" Coffee

Katherine Grace Coffee

A recent tragedy in New Castle, Weston Co., WY is the yet unsolved murder of a young woman by the name of Katherine Grace "Katy" Coffee, and which spurred a search for her ancestry.

Katy was born on Jan. 12, 1976 in Kerrville, Kerr Co., TX to Harold Alan and Bobbie Stoebe Coffee.  She was murdered on Jun. 3, 2011 in New Castle where she had been newly hired as a district conservationist in Newcastle.

Katy's father was a son of Walter Cleve and Irene Elizabeth Gutschow Coffee. Walter was a son of Clyde M. and Abbie E. Griff Coffee. Up to now, few if any researchers knew who Clyde had married. I discovered her in the Texas birth records for their children, Walter Cleve and Tom Franklin Coffee.

This family goes back to the mythical Chesley. Beginning with Clyde, whose parents were Cleaveland C. and Mattie Leonora Swagerty Coffey. Cleaveland was a son of Mansel Matthews and Georgiana Frances Reynolds Coffee. Mansel was the son of Logan McMillon and Mary Elizabeth Ragland Coffee. Logan was the son of James and Elizabeth Coffey Coffey. James appears to be the son of Joel and Martha Stepp Coffey while Elizabeth was the daughter of Nathan and Mary Saunders Coffey. Both Nathan and Joel are currently thought to be sons of mythical Chesley and Jane Cleveland Coffey.

The Coffee spelling is thought to go back to Logan and Mary when they lived in Jackson Co., AL. The family, I believe (based on an obituary) thought incorrectly that they were descended from Gen. John Coffee of that state. Part of the obituary for Mansel (1839-1891) reads:

"His family is intimately connected with the history of this country as far back as Gen'l Coffee who, was second in command at the Battle of New Orleans in 1816."

That part was lined out by someone else by the time I received a copy.

The following appeared in a news article found at Trib.com, a website for the Wyoming Star-Tribune:

On the morning of June 3, 2011, the body of Katherine Grace Coffee, age 35, was discovered in her home in Newcastle, WY, the victim of an apparent homicide. The death is being investigated by the Newcastle Police Department and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Anyone that has information about the crime or has knowledge of Coffee's whereabouts on the evening and night time hours of Thursday, June 2, 2011 are asked to call the Newcastle Police Department at (307)746-4486. Coffee's family has offered a $25,000 reward to anyone that can provide information that leads to the arrest and conviction or the person/s involved in this crime.

Cleaveland and Mattie Lenora Swagerty Coffee

Cleaveland C. Coffee

Cleaveland [sic] was a son of Mansel and Georgiana Reynolds Coffee.  He was born Oct. 26 1867 in Texas and died in Reserve, Caltron Co., NM on Aug. 4, 1929.  In this photo he looks a lot like his brother Woodson.

Mattie Lenora Swagerty

He married Mattie Lenora Swagerty on Dec. 31, 1890. She was the daughter of W. T. and Lucy King Swagerty and was born Dec. 15, 1871 in Hunt Co., TX, died Jul. 21, 1959 in Amarillo.


Mattie and Cleaveland were parents of nine children:

First was Clyde M., born Oct. 5, 1892 in Hall Co., TX, died Jul. 8, 1930 in Roberts Co., TX and is buried there in the Miami cemetery.

Norman Coffee

Norman, born Feb. 28, 1894 in Memphis, Hall Co., death date not known.  When he registered for the draft in WW1, Norman was unmarried and farming in Miami.  He was a graduate of the military school, Amarillo Academy.

Floyd Thomas, born Dec. 12, 1895, died Dec. 26, 1971 in Pampa, Gray Co., TX.  Floyd married Cora Lee Orr on Feb. 2, 1921.  She was born Aug. 9, 1895 and died Mar. 24, 1982, also in Gray.  Both are buried at the Miami cemetery.

A daughter, Effie Lelia was born to Cleaveland and Mattie, but nothing else is known.

Bessie Lucy Coffee

Hattie G., born Jun., 1899 married J. B. McCarley.

Bessie Lucy, born c1903, died Jul. 11, 1977 in Randall Co., TX.  She married a Mr. Beair.

Ada, born c1905, married Ellis Buchanan, born Feb. 28, 2006 at Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., IA, married 1932 at Liberal, Seward Co., KS.  He died Mar. 2, 2008 in Amarillo

The last two children were William J. "Bill" and Mattie Lenonra, born Mar. 27, 1907 in Texas, died Jul. 4, 1937 in Amarillo.  She is buried at the Miami Cemetery in Roberts Co., TX.  William was born c1909 in TX.  Nothing else is known of either child.

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Photos are courtesy of Kathy Coffee Simmons and used with permission.




No. 999

Mansel Matthews & Georgiana Frances Reynolds Coffee

Amended first Sep. 7, 2010, second Apr. 24, 2011.

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This Coffee family descends from the so-far mythical Chesley Coffey who is said to have married Jane Cleveland.  For the most part, this family's surname has been spelled Coffee since at least the early 1800's.

The immediate ancestor of Mansel was Logan McMillon Coffee, born Dec. 7, 1809 in Adair Co., KY, died Jun. 20, 1865 in TX, "the circumstances fraught with suspicions, possibly murder by his companions from the same neighborhood."*  In about 1837, while passing through Alabama heading to Texas, Logan married Mary Elizabeth Ragland.  She was born Jan. 15, 1815 and died in Lavaca Co., TX on Jan. 15, 1879.

From all indications, Logan's family name began as Coffey but left Alabama as Coffee.  My theory is that once they settled (for awhile) in Alabama and began to make records, their family was perhaps thought to be part of the family of General John Coffee, most notably famous for his role at the Battle of New Orleans.  General Coffee, and his Georgia counterpart - also named John - were first cousins, descendants of Peter Coffee.  A recent DNA discovery proves a connection between Peter and Edward, but very distant and well before either came to America.

Mansel M. Coffee

Mansel was the first child of Logan and Mary.  He was born Sep. 12, 1839 in Jackson Co., AL and died on June 5, 1891 in Throckmorton Co., TX.  His unattributed obituary made the claim that "his family was intimately connected with the history of this country as far back as Gen'l Coffee, who was second in command at the Battle of New Orleans in 1816."  Well before the obituary came into my hands, someone over struck that line, knowing as many of us do that it was inaccurate.  This is likely to be the reason why the family surname is spelled Coffee instead of Coffey.

According to that obituary, Mansel was thrown from his horse after it "dashed with great force against a wire fence..." tossing him into the air.  Upon falling to the ground, he struck the back part of his head causing him to fall into a coma from which he never recovered.

Georgiana Frances Reynolds

Mansel's wife was the beautiful Georgiana Frances Reynolds, a daughter of B. F. and Virginia Mayers Reynolds of Mississippi.  Georgiana was born in Rankin Co., MS in Jan., 1845.  She and Mansel were married in Lavaca Co. on Jun. 4, 1861.  Georgiana's younger sister, Emma Gaines Reynolds married Mansel's brother, Robert Marion Coffee.

Georgiana gave birth to at least nine children; seven boys and two girls.  There was, between some of the children sufficient time for her to have borne others, but perhaps they died young or, she was fortunate and did not become pregnant.

Woodson, born Mar 1, 1862 in Gonzales Co., TX, died June. 12, 1953 in Amarillo, Potter Co., TX.  Woodson married Ollie Pickens Stribling on Aug. 14, 1890 in Throckmorton, the daughter of Judge Cornelius Kinchelo and Ruth B. Greenwood Nancy Caroline Stribling Nancy Caroline was a cousin of Judge Kinchelo whom he met during the Civil War.  His first wife had died in 1860 with no children produced.  Ruth Bradley Greenwood was Judge Kinchelo's mother.  She and Woodson had at least nine children: Ruth, Benjamin, Grace, Woodson, Jr., Oran, Roy Coburn, Frank (died young), Ollie and Jack Kinchelow.  Ollie died of influenza on Jan. 23, 1930 in San Antonio.  She and Woodson are buried at the Llano Cemetery in Amarillo.

The second child was Logan Alonzo, born Mar. 5, 1865 in TX, died Feb. 19, 1945 in Miami, Roberts Co., TX.  He married Mary Mildred Harrah, a daughter of J. W. and Emogina Fitch Harrah of Wheeler Co., TX.  Mildred was born there on Nov. 16, 1880 and died in Wichita, Sedgwick Co., KS on Jul. 26, 1922.  Both she and Logan are buried at the Miami Cemetery.  They were parents of at least six sons:  Joseph Logan, Harry M., Tom Leonard, Tas, Marion Clarence, and Dana.

Update Oct. 15, 2011:  After Dana came Lona, a daughter born Apr. 22, 1912; Merle R., a son, born May 14, 1913 and David, born Nov. 20, 1918, all in Miami, Roberts Co., TX.  There remains some confusion on my part about the child Merle.  Some genealogies name him Mansel.  However, I have found two documents, both relating to births on May 14, 1913:  One reports only on the birth of an unnamed male child on that date.  The second document was created on Mar. 10,1951 as a correction to the original birth certificate.  This document reports the birth of Merle R. Coffee on May 14, 1913 to Logan and Mildred.  The document was sworn to by Logan before the Roberts Co. clerk of court on Mar. 10, 1941.  So, was the first document for the unnamed child for one named Mansel that died at birth and the one for Merle as a surviving twin?

Next came Cleaveland C. (probably Charles), born in TX on Oct. 26, 1867.  He married Mattie Lenora Swagerty, daughter of W. T. and Lucy King Swagerty, on Dec. 31, 1890.  She was a native of Hunt Co., TX, having been born there on Dec. 15, 1871.  She died Jul. 21, 1959 in Amarillo and was buried at Miami.  Cleaveland is probably there as well; I just haven't located him yet.  Their children were nine:  Clyde M., Norman, Floyd Thomas, Effie Lelia, Hattie G., Bessie Lucy, Ada, Mattie Lenora and William J. "Bill."

Children of Mansel and Georgiana Reynolds Coffee

Fourth was Henry Coleman, born Nov. 7, 1869 in TX, died Jul. 4, 1956 in Pampa, Gray Co., TX.  He married Mary Eppie Thomas, born in TX in Aug., 1871, died in Ochiltree Co., TX on Jun. 21, 1904.  Henry was buried at Miami while Mary rests in an unmarked grave at Ochiltree Cemetery, Perryton, Ochiltree Co., TX.  Their children were Vida, Frances, Albert Mansel, Eugene L. and Raymond Oliver.  Raymond was a musician and died in an automobile accident near Amarillo in 1922.  According to cemetery records, Eppie is buried next to Raymond.  There is an open area next to him, but no marker to indicate anyone is buried there.

Fifth, and first daughter, was Hattie C., born Apr. 15, 1874, died in 1887.  Nothing else is known and she is thought to have died young.

James Volney was sixth.  He was born Aug. 15, 1875 in Lavaca Co. died Oct. 26, 1957. He married Alice Gertrude Tidwell, daughter of Will and Josephine Kendrick Tidwell.  Alice was born in TX on May 7, 1878 and died in Potter Co. on May 10, 1931.  Alice is buried at Miami; I'm still looking for James' final resting place.  Their children were:  William Cleveland, Joe F., Guy T., Volney Lanius, and Allene G.

Glenn L. was number seven, born in Dec., 1878.  He married a lady by the name of Mary Gentry, born c1883 in TX. but nothing more is yet known of this couple. Their children were Georgia Lee, Glenn F. and Katheryn Jean.

Mansel Reynolds was next.  He was born in Throckmorton on Oct. 28, 1885 and died in Perryton on Jun. 26, 1948.  His wife was Lillian Lee Long, born Nov. 28, 1889 in TX, and died at Perryton on Jun. 25, 1959.  Both are buried there in the Ochiltree Cemetery.  Their children were Doris Lorene, Mansel Reynolds, Jr., Mary Margaret and Georgia Nell.

Mary Virginia Coffee Locke

Mary Virginia was the last child.  She was born Feb. 28, 1888 in Throckmorton and died in Big Spring, Howard Co., TX on Oct. 26, 1965.  She was buried there in Trinity Memorial Park.  She married Claude B. Locke, a son of Judge Newton F. and Dora Barton Locke of Roberts Co.  Their children were Winnie, born c1907, Claude, Jr., born c1909 and Dorothy F., born c1912.  One of the daughters married Adolph Swartz and was the informant on her mother's death certificate.

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My opinion:  There appears to be somewhat of a very tiny element of veracity to the Chesley Coffey/Jane Cleveland theory.  They are said to have had a son named Jesse Cleveland.  Joel, also thought to be Chesley's son, named a son Cleveland.  Joel's son James named a son Cleveland.  Logan, brother to that Cleveland named one of his sons Cleveland, and Mansel, son of Logan named one of his sons Cleaveland [sic].  Interesting to note however, is that none of the descendants name a son Chesley.

All photos belong to Kathy Coffee Simmons and used with her permission

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*"On the Headwaters of the Lavaca and Navidad, Paul Boethel,Von Boeckmann - Jones, Austin, Texas c. 1967





No. 996