Jesse Perry Coffey

A recent e-mail question concerning a child of Jesse Perry Coffey rekindled my interest in this family, resulting in a re-check of existing data as well as any that I might have missed in the past.

Jesse was a son of Jesse Coffey and wife Tabitha Elizabeth "Betsy" Riffe. 

Betsy was the daughter of Gen. Christopher Riffe and his wife, Mary Agnes Spears.  Gen. Riffe has been recorded as being the first white male to settle in Casey County, KY.  He built a cabin in 1793 near the present town of Middleburg.[1][2]

Jesse and Tabitha were parents to at least 10 children, all born in Casey Co.  Jesse Perry was the ninth, born Mar. 17, 1823 and died in Collin Co., TX on Apr. 5, 1906.

McKinney, Tex., April 5.-Jesse Coffey, one of the most widely known citizens of Collin County, died suddenly at his home near Anna this morning.  He came to Texas in 1852 and settled on the farm where he has lived continuously since, and where he died.  He has been Justice of Precinct No. 3 nearly all the time for about forty years.  He was 85 years of age. [3]

A marriage record for Jesse and Tabitha has not been found.  They were probably married in KY c1843 because their first child, Matthew, was born there in Apr., 1844.  Jesse died on Apr. 5, 1906 in Collin Co., TX and was buried in Highland Cemetery at Melissa. Tabitha died on 26 Aug. 1909 in Collin Co. and was also buried at Melissa. A death certificate for them has not been found.

Their children were:

 - Matthew Slaughter Coffey, born Apr., 1844, died 1929 in Grayson Co., TX. He married Virginia Texana "Jennie" Butridge, daughter of Riley E. and Susan Watson Butridge on Nov. 7, 1871 in Van Alstyne, Grayson Co. Jennie was born in Sherman, Grayson Co. on Jul. 31, 1854 and died there on Sep. 27, 1949.  Both are buried at Van Alstyne cemetery.

Mrs. Virginia Texas Coffey, 95, Oldest Sherman Resident, Dies

Sherman, Texas, Sept. 28. - Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Van Alstyne First Christian Church for Mrs. Virginia Texas Butridge Coffey, 95.

She was the oldest resident of Sherman at the time of her death Tuesdau at the home of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Dick Coffey.

Mrs. Coffey was born July 31, 184 in a house which is now the site of the Texas Hotel. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Butridge.

She was married to M. S. Coffey at Van Alstyne on Nov. 7, 1871.  He died in 1921.  She then moved to Van Alstyne to live with her son, and after his death in 1945, she and her daughter-in-law returned to Sherman to live.

Mrs. Coffey was a member of the Christian Church, and the United Daughters of The Confederacy.  She had been active up until about six months ago.  Mrs. Coffey was one of the principals in the Sherman Centennial parade a year ago.  Two years ago she was awarded an orchid for being the oldest person in attendance at a Breakfast in Hollywood program at the municipal building.

She is survived by a son, E. G. Coffey of Van Alstyne; three daughters, Mrs. C. F. Jones of Dallas, Mrs. W. H. Miller of Pilot Point and Mrs. J. C. Coffey of Hedley; ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. [4]

Their children were: Gabriella, born 1872, died 1959 in Wichita Falls, TX; married Dr. John Cicero Coffey, a very distant cousin and son of William S. and Sarah Lucas Coffey.  Birdie M., born 1875, died 1863 in Houston, Harris Co., TX; thought to have married C. F. Jones.  Pearl B., born 1877, no other information.  Earl Greer, born 1877 in Van Alstyne, died 1968 in McKinney, Collin Co. He married Bird Strickland, born in MS in 1884, died 1962 in McKinney. Richard P., born 1880 in Grayson Co., died there in 1945.

 - George Alfred, born Nov. 6, 1846, died Jan. 2, 1918 in Melissa, Collin Co. His death certificate names Jesse as his father and Tabitha Moore as his mother. No other information found.

 -  Mary E., born Nov., 1848, died Oct. 9, 1929 at Anna in Collin Co.; buried at Highland Cemetery. Her death certificate names Jesse and Tabitha Slaughter Coffey as her parents.

McKinney, Texas, Oct. 12. - Miss Mary E. Coffey, age 80, died at her home in Anna after two weeks' illness.  She is survived by two sisters and three brothers - Mrs. F. L. Coffey of Beaumont, Miss C. M. Coffey of Anna, Mat Coffey of Farmington, J. Perry Coffey of McKinney and Will Coffey of Sulphur Springs.

Funeral services were conducted at Anna on Wednesday by the Rev. A. L. Clinkenbeard of Dallas.[5]

  - James Perry, born Jan. 18, 1851, died Jan. 16, 1931 in McKinney.  He married Sarah Margaret Griffin in Collin Co. on Dec. 7, 1875.  Sarah "Sally" was born to James and Margaret King Griffin on Sep. 1, 1854 in GA and died Jan. 30, 1943 in Collin Co.  Both are buried at Highland Cemetery. His death certificate names Jesse Coffey as his father and Martha Riffe as his mother.

Their children were Malcolm T., born 1876, died 1878.  Ella C., born c1880, married R. L. Johnsey. No further information (NFI). Jessie, born c 1882, married 1901 to J. R. Williams, NFI. Blanche, born Dec., 1886, died Mar., 1977, married A. W. Jernigan in 1906. NFI. George A., died 1889 in Westminster, Collin Co., died Aug. 22, 1967 in Dallas, TX. Married Bernice Emily Matthews in Collin Co., 1907. Bernice died Jul. 3, 1955 and both are buried at Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Mausoleum in Dallas.

 - Anna Belle, born Feb. 10, 1855, married first cousin, Finley Luckey Coffey, son of Osborn Nightingale and Jane L. Bell Coffey.  Jesse Perry and Osborn were brothers. They were parents of 10 children: Gertella, 1876-1950; Louis Dennison, 1878-1942; Robert Lee, 1880-1918; Jesse Sanders, 1883-1975; Houston Ernest, 1884-1926; Slaughter Belle, 1887-1962; Myrtle May, 1889-1976; Finley Luckey, Jr., 1892-1948; Henry Stanley, 1894-1926; and John Fielden, 1896-1975. More info on children is available.

 - William G., c1859. NFI

 - Galen, Sep. 2, 1862, died Dec. 4, 1889; NFI

 - Cynthia McKinney, born Oct. 8, 1865, died 23 Feb., 1966.

Additional information is available for the other nine children of Jesse and Tabitha Riffe Coffey.

Additions and corrections to the above family information is welcome.

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[1] W. M. Watkins, editor, The Men, Women, Events, Institutions & Lore of Casey County, Kentucky (Louisville, KY : 236 pgs: Standard Print Co., 1939), Page 35.
[2] Fred Jameson Riffe, Editor and Compiler, Reiff to Riffe Family in America: Ancestors and Descendants of Mennonite Reiff Brothers Hans, John, Jacob, and Abraham, 2 Volumes (Madison, WI: F. J. Riffe, 2002), Vol. 2.
[3] "The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Dallas Co., TX", http://bit.ly/1zWUqDA, Fri., Apr. 6, 1906, Page 9.
[4] "The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Dallas Co., TX", http://bit.ly/1bde578, Thu., Sep. 29, 1949, Section I, Page 9.
[5] "The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Dallas Co., TX", http://bit.ly/1EmiHis, Sun., Oct. 13, 1929, Page 6.

Finley Luckey and Anna Belle Coffey Coffey

Update: 3/22/2010: Some facts need re-checking. Use with caution!

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Finley Luckey Coffey was born in Missouri in Jul., 1849 to Osborn Nightingale and Jane L. Bell Coffey.  Osborn was a son of Jesse and Elizabeth Riffe Coffey.  Anna Belle was born Feb. 10, 1855 in McKinney, Collin Co., TX to Jesse P. and Tabitha Slaughter Coffey.  Jesse and Osborn were brothers.

Osborn was born in Casey Co., KY but was in Missouri by 1835 when he settled in Louisville, Lincoln Co. on property in TS51, R2W, S27.*  Jesse and his wife Tabitha, were in Collin Co. by at least 1855 when their daughter Anna Belle was born.  The family appeared there in the 1860 census.

Finley Luckey was in Texas at least by 1873 when he married Anna Belle.  The family moved around Texas a little:  they were in Collin Co. in 1880, Liberty Co. by 1900 and Jefferson Co. by 1910.

Their first child was Gertella "Gertie", born Jun. 21, 1876 in Anna, Collin Co., and died Oct. 25, 1950 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co., TX.  Gertie married Ernest C. Setliff c1896 in TX and had at least one child, Guy Clifton, born Jan. 12, 1898 in Anna and died May 25, 1961 in Beaumont.  Ernest and Gertie are buried in Magnolia Cemetery while Guy is in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.  Both cemeteries are in Beaumont.

Second child, first son, was Lewis Dennison, born Mar. 7, 1878 in Texas, and died Mar. 21, 1942 in Fort Worth, Tarrant Co.  I do not have any information on Lewis's family.  His death certificate reports that he was removed from that city to Beaumont.  He is likely buried in either Forest Lawn or Magnolia.

Robert Lee was next born on Jul. 22, 1880 in Texas.  He died on Dec. 4, 1918 in Port Arthur, Jefferson Co., TX.  Cause of death:  Influenza!  He is buried at Magnolia.

Jesse Sanders was next, born Oct. 2, 1883 in Texas.  He died Jun. 19, 1975 in Houston, Harris Co., TX and is buried at Forest Park - Lawndale cemetery in Houston.

Houston Ernest was number five.  He was born May 8, 1994 in TX and died from influenza on Mar. 10, 1926 in Beaumont.  He too is buried at Magnolia.

Slaughter Bell, a son, was born Apr. 10. 1887 in Anna, Collin Co., and died Aug. 20, 1962 in Beaumont.  Slaughter married Hazel and they had at least three children:  Jesse Lee, Lorris and Erma.  Slaughter is at Forest Lawn in Beaumont and Hazel is likely there as well.

Myrtle May, the only other daughter born to Finley and Anna, came along on Aug. 17, 1889 in Anna.  She died Feb. 15, 1976 and was buried at Magnolia.  Myrtle married a Mr. Ebner.

Finley Luckey, Jr. was born Jun. 17, 1892 in Collin Co., and died Apr. 21, 1948 in Jefferson Co., TX.  He is also buried at Forest Lawn.

Henry Stanley, born Aug. 7, 1894 in Collin Co., died of influenza on Apr. 2, 1926.  He is also buried at Magnolia.

The last, number 10, was John Fielden, born Dec. 14, 1896, died Dec. 27, 1795 in Vidor, Orange Co., TX.  He is buried at Forest Lawn.  In the 1920 census he was newly married to Ruby and had no children.

I have the death certificates for most of the children of Finley, Sr. and Anna.  In many cases they do not agree with the birth order that the children appeared at the various census years.  As with most records of that sort (death certificates) I think I can depend on the death date as reported, but not the birth date without additional sources.  I checked the WW1 draft records for the sons and used those birthdates instead of the ones recorded on the death certificates.

Please send me a note at the above e-mail address to add to or to correct any of this information.
























*History of Lincoln County, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1888), Page 66.

Jesse and Elizabeth Riffe Coffey

Jesse Coffey, born May 26, 1784 to Osborn and Mary (Polly) Nightingale Coffey, married Elizabeth Riffe Feb. 16, 1805 in Pulaski Co., KY. He died Jul., 1850 in Casey Co., KY. Elizabeth, who some researchers have named Tabitha, was born Jul. 3, 1758 in Lincoln Co., KY, and died Sep. 29, 1842 in Casey Co.

Jesse is also said to have fathered a daughter named Sally, and two sons, C.R., and Jesse, Jr. Their mother is unknown to me.

Jesse was a Colonel in the War of 1812, a state senator in 1834, and a member of the delegation that wrote the Kentucky state constitution in June 1850, a month before he died .

"Probably the most prominent of the early settlers was Colonel Jesse Coffey, a soldier of the War of 1812, who fought in the Battle of Thames in Canada, in which the famous Indian chieftain, Tecumseh, was slain, as was also the noted pioneer Kentuckian, Colonel William Whitley, who founded Whitley's Station near Crab Orchard."

"Colonel Coffey owned a large boundary of good land in and around Middleburg and it was he who built the old watermill, so long a landmark in the little town, on the site occupied by the modern water-power mill now owned and operated by Mr. L. F. Young. Colonel Coffey's mansion, built at about the same time as the old water-mill, stood on the hill just behind the home now owned by Mr. J. W. Short, and was the scene of the famous wedding of Polly Coffey as related in Peter B. Riffe's History of Casey County."

Jesse and Elizabeth's first child was Osborn N. Coffey, born Feb. 4, 1807 in Casey Co. He married Jane L. Bell on Sep. 4, 1829 in Lincoln Co. They were parents of at least seven children:

William, born KY c1832
Grizzell (Grace?), born KY c1834, married John F.
Gillum
Jane, born MO c1837
Jesse, born MO, c1839
Bettie Lee, born
MO, Apr. 30, 1841, died MO Aug. 15, 1911
Ann Robb, born MO, c1846
Finley
L., born MO, c1849

One source had this information about Osborn:

Osborn N. COFFEY, an old and respected citizen and an early settler of Lincoln County, Mo., was born in Casey County, Ky., February 4, 1807, and is the son of Jessee and Elizabeth (RIFFLE) [sic] COFFEY, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. Their ancestors were from Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was an extensive dealer in hogs, which he used to drive to Richmond, Va., a distance of about five hundred miles. He was a colonel in the War of 1812, was for two terms a member in the State Legislature, and a member of the Constitutional Convention of Kentucky. Both were members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and lived to a good old age. They reared a large family of children, of whom Osborn N., is the second. While growing up, he had very poor opportunities for schooling, though he aided himself very much in that direction after attaining his growth. At the age of eighteen he began for himself, and soon after engaged as clerk in a store, where he remained two years. In 1829 he married Miss Jane L. BELL, a native of Lincoln County, Ky., and in their family were seven children who lived to be grown. One of the sons served in the Confederate Army and was twice severely wounded. In 1831 Mr. COFFEY moved to Missouri, and three years later to Lincoln County, where he opened a store in Louisville. At the same time he dealt in hogs and tobacco, but failing in this he purchased the place where he now lives, which consists of 363 acres of land. Both he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and for many years he was a magistrate. He has done quite well, financially, though he has had many reverses and losses.




Sources:

W. M. Watkins, editor, The Men, Women, Events, Institutions & Lore of Casey County, Kentucky (Louisville, KY : 236 pgs: Standard Print Co., 1939)

History of Lincoln County, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1888)

Osborn and Mary (Polly) Nightingale Coffey

I've found reports on the internet by researchers who claim that many of the children of Osborn and Mary were born in Casey Co., KY. If birthdates found are accurate, all nine of their children were born between 1764 and 1796. Casey Co. was not formed until 1806, and then from Lincoln Co.

According to Kentucky historical marker, the county was named "For Colonel William Casey, early Ky. pioneer and great-grandfather of Samuel L. Clemens, "Mark Twain." Casey born in Va. Came to Ky. in 1779. Built Casey's Station on the Dix River in 1791. Member of Convention, 1799, to frame second Ky. Constitution. Trustee, town of Columbia, 1802. 1813, Presidential elector. Lived Adair Co., died, 1816. County formed from Lincoln."

Elizabeth, Osborn's (variously spelled) daughter was born c1764 and married Christopher Riffe in what was to be Casey Co. on May 9, 1806.

Another state historical marker provides this:

"Christopher Riffe accompanied Col. William Casey (Great-Grandfather of Mark Twain) to Kentucky in 1784. Riffe lived at Bryan's Station, Boonesborough, Logan's Station and Carpenter's Station. He bought 800 acres of land from the Grandfather of Abraham Lincoln. Riffe became the first white settler of Casey County in 1793. He was the first State Representative from Casey County, served seven terms. He fought in the Battle of the Thames (in which Tecumseh was killed) in the Kentucky Sixth Regiment. He was Lieutenant-General of the Kentucky State Militia."

Some Christopher and Elizabeth researchers believe that their children were Peter Bim Riffe and Lehannah Riffe.

Biography of Osborn N. Coffey

Osborn N. COFFEY, an old and respected citizen and an early settler of Lincoln County, Mo., was born in Casey County, Ky., February 4, 1807, and is the son of Jessee and Elizabeth (RIFFLE) COFFEY, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. Their ancestors were from Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was an extensive dealer in hogs, which he used to drive to Richmond, Va., a distance of about five hundred miles. He was a colonel in the War of 1812, was for two terms a member in the State Legislature, and a member of the Constitutional Convention of Kentucky. Both were members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and lived to a good old age. They reared a large family of children, of whom Osborn N., is the second. While growing up, he had very poor opportunities for schooling, though he aided himself very much in that direction after attaining his growth. At the age of eighteen he began for himself, and soon after engaged as clerk in a store, where he remained two years. In 1829 he married Miss Jane L. BELL, a native of Lincoln County, Ky., and in their family were seven children who lived to be grown. One of the sons served in the Confederate Army and was twice severely wounded. In 1831 Mr. COFFEY moved to Missouri, and three years later to Lincoln County, where he opened a store in Louisville. At the same time he dealt in hogs and tobacco, but failing in this he purchased the place where he now lives, which consists of 363 acres of land. Both he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and for many years he was a magistrate. He has done quite well, financially, though he has had many reverses and losses.

Source: Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Lincoln County, Missouri, pub: Chicago, 1888

Osborn N. Coffey was a son of Osborn Coffey and Mary "Polly" Nightingale. Osborn was a grandson of John Coffey and Jane (Jean) Graves through the marriage of their son William to Elizabeth Osborne.