George A. & Bernice Emily Matthews Coffey

George was the fifth child and only the second son born to James Perry and Sarah Margaret Griffin Coffey.  James Perry was born in KY in Jan., 1851 to Jesse Perry and Tabitha Slaughter Coffey.  Jesse and Tabitha left Casey Co., KY sometime after the 1850 census and was enumerated in the 1860 census of Collin Co., TX.  George was born there on 8 Sep. 1889.

Bernice E. Matthews

In 1907, George married Bernice Emily Matthews, born Dec, 1889 in Altoga, Collin Co. Unfortunately, they had but one child, a daughter, Evelyn Mae, born Oct. 30, 1911 in Dallas.

Evelyn was a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas and was a member of Delta Gamma sorority, president of the alumnae group and of the College Club.  She was the national treasurer of the Mortar Board honorary society, a member of Zeta Phi Delta and former president of Decima at SMU.

After graduation she married Dr. Bruce Alexander Knickerbocker of Dallas and relocated to University Park, outside of Dallas, a more-or-less exclusive area for the well-to-do.  Knickerbocker, a medical doctor and graduate of Vanderbilt School of Medicine, settled into private practice.  In the 1940 census he valued their home at $5,500. In 2016 dollars that would be nearly $100,000.  The doctor apparently had a booming medical practice.

By summer of 1945, the couple still did not have any children.  We don't know if that, or some other more personal reason caused the death of Evelyn.  However, on Aug. 21, 1945 she committed suicide by drowning herself in a private pond located on Devonshire Drive just south of the Northwest Highway in Dallas.  She was 33 years old.  Burial was in Hillcrest, now Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Mausoleum in Dallas.

Her mother died Jul. 3, 1955 and her father died Aug. 22, 1967 in Dallas,  Both are buried at Hillcrest.

Dr. Knickerbocker remarried in about 1950 to Anna Louise Bleibler and fathered at least four children with her.  He died on Oct. 21, 1969 in Dallas and was buried at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.

Finley Luckey Coffey

Finley Luckey Coffey was born on July 7, 1849 in Collin Co., TX to the union of Osborn Nightingale and Jane L. Bell Coffey.  He married his first cousin, Anna Belle Coffey, daughter of Jesse Perry and Tabitha Slaughter Coffey, in c1873.  Anna Belle was born February 10, 1855 in KY and died July 19, 1940 in Beaumont, Jefferson Co., TX.  Finley died in Beaumont on April 13, 1926.

Anna gave Finley at least 10 children, eight sons and two daughters.

Gertella "Gertie," born June 21, 1876 in Anna, Collin Co., died October 25, 1950 in Beaumont.  Gertie married Ernest C. Setliff c1896.  He was born on July 9, 1870 in Anna and died in Beaumont on May 20, 1946.  Both are buried in Beaumont at Magnolia Cemetery.  They had at least one son, Guy Clifton, born January 12, 1898 in Anna, died May 25, 1961 in Beaumont.  He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont.

Lewis Dennison, born March 7, 1878 in TX, died Mar. 21, 1942 in Fort Worth.  He married a lady named Maude M., c1906 and had at least one child, a daughter named Bessie M., born c1908.  Lewis is buried in Beaumont but I do not yet know which cemetery.

Robert Lee, born July 22, 1880, died December 4,1918 in Jefferson Co., and buried at Magnolia.

Jesse Sanders, born October 2, 1883 in TX, died June 19, 1975 in St. Joseph Hospital, Houston, Harris Co., TX.  He is buried at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.

Ernest Houston, born May 4, 1884, died Mar. 10, 1926 in Beaumont.  He is also buried at Magnolia Cemetery in that city.

Slaughter Belle, born Apr. 20, 1887 in Anna, married c1911 to Hazel Woods.  Died August 20, 1962 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont and was buried in Beaumont at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.  Hazel was born c1893 in TX.  I have no other info on her.  Their children were at least three:  Jesse Lee, Lewis G. and Erma.

Myrtle May, born August 17, 1889 in Anna, died February 15, 1976 in Beaumont.  She was married to a Mr. Epner or Ebner.  She is buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Beaumont.

Finley Luckey, Jr., born June 17, 1892 in Collin Co., died April 21, 1948 in Jefferson Co.  He married Elsie Ruth Clark in Jefferson Co. on January 5, 1918.  Elsie was born c1901 in KY.  Finley is buried at Forest Lawn in Beaumont.  Elsie's death date and burial place has not yet been found.  Their children, all born in Jefferson Co., were:  Audrey, born c1920, died October 11, 2012 in Jefferson Co.; Nancy (?) Bertha, born c1922; May (?) B., born c924; Ruth M., born c1926; Betty Jo., born c1928 and Mary B., born c1930.

Henry Stanley, born August 7, 1894 in Collin Co., died in Beaumont on April 2, 1926.  His wife was Gertrude Yancey, a daughter of Jessie B. and Alice Yancey, born in May, 1898, Jefferson Co.  Henry died of pneumonia aided by influenza and was buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Beaumont.  I have not yet found a second marriage for Gertrude.  In 1930 she was living with her sister Pearl Rivet in Beaumont and working at a dry goods store.  Her two children, Howard Stanley, born c1920, and Lester, born c1926, were living with her parents, Jessie and Alice Yancey at China in Jefferson Co.

The last child was John Fielden, born December 14, 1896 in TX, died December 27, 1975 in Vidor, Orange Co., TX and was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont.  His wife was named Ruby.  No further information.

Some census work for these families remains to be completed.  I continue to work on them as time permits.  Additions and/or corrections are welcomed.

Jesse & Elizabeth Riffe Coffey (Follow-up)

Jesse and Elizabeth are known to have had at least 10 children.  Of those, about half of them went west from Kentucky to settle north of Dallas in Collin Co., TX.  Some of them raised their families in Anna, Melissa, and Van Alstyne while some moved just up the road to Sherman in Grayson Co.

Those who ended up in TX:

Osborn Nightingale Coffey, born Feb. 4, 1807 in Casey Co., KY, death date and place unknown.  He married Jane Bell on Sep. 4, 1829 in Lincoln Co., KY.  At least one of their sons, Finley Luckey Coffey, born July 7, 1849, went west and settled in Beaumont, Jefferson Co., TX where he died on Apr. 13, 1926.  Osborn and Jane are not known to have gone to TX but, may have!

Mary Coffey, born Apr. 25, 1808 in Wayne Co., KY, died in Casey Co. on May 29, 1842.  She married Jeremiah Vardaman on Mar. 12, 1829 in Casey Co.  After Mary died, Jeremiah and five of his seven children went to Texas.

Mary Elizabeth, the eldest, born Aug. 1, 1832, died May 1, 1877 in Texas, exact place unknown right now.  Lucy, born Nov. 13, 1834 in Lincoln Co., died Feb. 22, 1901 in Grayson Co., TX.  Third Was Ephriam Pennington born Jan. 9, 1837 in KY, died Mar. 6, 1901 in Collin Co., TX.  Patsy Jane, born Jan. 29, 1838 in Lincoln Co. was next.  She married Richard Nightingale Portman on Jan. 4, 1858 in KY.  He died in Collin Co. in 1886; she on Oct. 18, 1926.  He is buried in the Highland Cemetery at Anna while she is buried at Throckmorton cemetery in Melissa.

Following Patsy Jane was Jesse Morgan Vardaman, born Feb. 3, 1839 in Lincoln Co., died May 17, 1903, I think in Collin Co.  He married Hannah, born c1834 in KY and their first child Mary was born there in 1853.  I know of three others, George, Patsy and Betsy - the last two likely twins, born c1859 - were born in TX.

I believe the last child born to Jeremiah and Mary Coffey Vardaman was Jeremiah, Jr., born Jan. 1840, died May, 1863 in TN during the Civil War.  I've seen another genealogy that credits Jeremiah, Sr. with fathering John in 1846, KY, but that was after Mary died and I have not found him married to anyone after he death.

Minerva Coffey was Jesse and Elizabeth's sixth child.  She was born Nov. 15, 1814 in Casey Co., and died in Collin Co. on Feb. 7, 1891.  Her spouse was James H. Slaughter, born Apr. 8, 1812 in Wayne Co., KY and died in Collin Co. on Apr. 17, 1895.  They apparently did not leave KY until 1851 or 52 because their second to last child was born in KY on Feb. 1, 1851 and the last on Ma.r 19, 1853 in Collin Co.  They had at least nine children and, six are known to have survived to marry and raise their own family.

Jesse Perry was the ninth child and he was born Mar. 17, 1823 in Casey Co., died in Collin Co. on Apr. 5, 1906.  He married Tabitha Slaughter - undoubtedly some relation to James, husband of Minerva - and they had at least eight children, the last four born in TX.  Tabitha was born Feb. 14, 1822 in KY and died Aug. 26, 1909 in Collin Co.

Their eldest son was Matthew Slaughter Coffey, born c1844 in KY, died c1929 in Grayson Co., TX.  He was married in Grayson Co. to Virginia Texana Butridge, a daughter of Riley E. and Susan Watson Butridge.  Virginia was born on Jul. 31, 1854 in Sherman and died there on Sep. 27, 1949.  They raised at least five children:  Gabriella, Birdie, twins Pearl and Earl and Richard "Dick."

Matthew's brother, James Perry, Jr., was born Jan. 18, 1851 in KY and died Jan. 16, 1931 in McKinney.  James married Sally Margaret Griffin, born Sep. 1, 1864, where not known, died Jan. 30, 1943 in Collin Co.  I know they had at least one child, Malcolm T. who lived less than two years, born Oct. 4, 1876, died Oct. 1, 1878 in Collin Co.

Anna Belle Coffey, married Finley Luckey Coffey.  You can read about this family here.

Child six was William G., born c1859; seven was Galen, born Sep. 2, 1862, died Dec. 4, 1889 in Collin Co; and last was Cynthia McKinney, born Oct. 8, 1865, died unmarried on Feb. 23, 1966 in McKinney.

Most of these families are buried in the cemeteries at Anna and Melissa in Collin Co.

Click on the title link to read and earlier blog about Jesse and Elizabeth.

Corrections and/or additions welcomed!





No. 989

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.