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Showing posts with label Thomson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thomson. Show all posts

January 16, 2020

James Andrew and Mary (Mollie) Coffey Brownlee


Of the six children born to Stanton P. and Mary C. Saufley Coffey, two of them died tragically.  

Stanton's middle name is sometimes found at Preston but is listed as Presley on his Find-A-Grave memorial site.

Their oldest child and first son was Robert Crockett Brownlee, born 21 Jul 1889 in KY.  He married Elmora "Ellen" Irene Garvey on 12 May 1913 in Texline, Dallam Co., TX and died in Texline on 20 Aug 1914 while attempting to stop a robbery.

His obituary, as it appears on his Find-A-Grave memorial site reads:

From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Thursday, August 20, 1914, p. 1:

"Burglars Kill Fort Worth Man

"Crockett Brownlee Shot to Death at Texline.

"Crockett Brownlee, 25, of 1325 Alston avenue, was shot in a running pistol duel with two burglars at Texline on Wednesday and died a few hours later on a train which was rushing him to a hospital in Dalhart.

"The burglars were in a store. Details received here are meager, but it is said Brownlee tried to capture them single-handed. Several shots were exchanged.

"The fight was in the dark. The burglars jumped on their horses and escaped into Oklahoma.
Officers have crossed the Oklahoma line on horseback and are in hot pursuit. Their capture is expected.

"Brownlee lay on the ground bleeding from a fatal wound as the bandits rode off.

"The fight occurred after midnight. Brownlee was put on a Fort Worth & Denver train for Dalhart, but he breathed his last as the train passed Matlock.

"Brownlee's body was taken to the home of Mrs. J. E. Stack, a relative, at Dalhart. Accompanied by his young wife and infant baby, the body will be placed on a Fort Worth & Denver train tonight and will arrive in Fort Worth at 6:45 o'clock tomorrow morning. Funeral arrangements have not been made.

"Brownlee was a clerk in the Fort Worth & Denver freight office. He retired from a place as express messenger on that road about six months ago to settle down at home with his family here. More than a year ago he was married to a Texline girl.

"The Brownlee family left Fort Worth last Friday to visit in Texline. It was Brownlee's vacation and he expected to spend two weeks there.

"A reward has been offered for the capture of the men who killed Brownlee. Posses are said to be in pursuit in addition to Texas and Oklahoma officers.

"Brownlee is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Brownlee, 506 West Magnolia avenue, two brothers, John and James Brownlee, and four sisters, Misses Flora, Mary and Ruth Brownlee, and Mrs. Schaeffer, all of Fort Worth."
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Mary "Mollie" Coffey was their fourth child and second daughter. She married Carl Ennis Thomson date unknown, (Thompson on Find-A-Grave headstone photo) Mollie died by gunshot wound at age 21 on 25 Apr 1921, while stepping down from a street car.  She was shot and killed by her husband who is said to have then committed suicide.  He suspected Mollie of having an affair. Carl is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Fort Worth while Mary was buried at Greenwood Memorial Park.

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Other children of James and Mollie were:

James William (1890-1944); Flora Mabel (1893-1974); Ruth S. (1900-1993) and John R. (1904-1940)