Jesse James Bullens

I have received some really nice photographs of some of the descendants of Joseph Milton and Nancy Ellen Coffey Bullen(s). The photos are courtesy of Jessie James Bullens III via Judy Malone.


This photograph is one of Jesse and Flora Bullens. Jesse was born Dec. 15, 1891 in Rockcastle Co., KY and died in Dayton, Montgomery Co., OH on Apr. 20, 1988. Flora, the daughter of William Caleb and Sarah Issis Sims Viars, was born Aug. 5, 1896 in Rockcastle Co., and died Jan. 27, 1944 in Richmond, Madison Co., KY.



This is a photo of the seven children of Jesse and Flora. From L-R is: Mabel, Junior, Beulah, Thursa, Boyd Jennings, Violet and Harold. They are not standing in birth order.

Mabel Ruth was born Jul. 13, 1913 in Fairland, Douglas Co., IL. She married William Howard on Jan. 2, 1931 and, died Nov. 1, 1999. She and William had four children: Wilma, William, Joan and Harold.

Beulah Bell was born Dec. 9, 1914 in Berea, Madison Co., KY, married Chris Lee Clem on Apr. 30, 1932 and died May 23, 2003 in Troy, Miami Co., OH. She and Chris had three children: Willowdeen, Chris, and Patricia. Chris Lee was born Jan. 13, 1910 in Danville, Casey Co., KY and died Feb. 5, 2003 in Troy.

Thursa Franklin was born Aug. 1, 1916 in Berea. She married Roy Hacker and had at least one child, a son named Paul. Thursa died Dec. 2, 1982 in Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN.

Rose Violet was born Jun. 11, 1916 in Tipp City, Miami Co., OH. She married Joseph Wright on Dec. 29, 1936 and died May 22, 1998 in Troy. Joseph was born Jun. 11, 1916 in Tipp City and, died May 22, 1998 in Troy. They had two children: Peggy Jo, and Linda Mae.

Harold Clay, born Nov. 29, 1920 in Rockcastle Co., married Iva Maye Jackson on Nov. 29, 1940. She was born Jan. 28, 1924 and died Jan. 16, 1995 in Troy. Their children are Harriet Jackson and Harold Clay, Jr.

Jesse James, Jr., born Nov. 19, 1923 in Mt. Vernon, Rockcastle Co., and married Regina Kelly on Jun. 1, 1946. Regina was born Nov. 26, 1926 in Indianapolis and died there on Mar. 16, 1999. Their children are: Jesse James III, John Orvil, Richard Mark and Ted Lee.

Boyd Jennings, born Jul. 17, 1928 in Berea and died Apr. 29, 1977 in Dayton, OH. He married Barbara Walker and, their children are Jamie Lee, Steven Kenneth, Christine, Patricia and Boyd Jennings, Jr.

Judy wrote that "Boyd Jennings was a Merchant Marine during WWII. He was finally given full military recognition just a few years ago."

Please send additions and/or corrections to me at the e-mail address below:

Nancy Ellen Coffey (1857-1929)

Nancy Ellen was the fourth child and first daughter born to Elias Henry and Hannah Bullen Coffey. She was born Oct. 2, 1857 in Grainger Co., TN and died Jun. 9, 1929 in Rockcastle Co., KY. She married Joseph Milton Bullen in Rockcastle Co. on Oct. 28, 1877. He was born Jan. 3, 1859 in Grainger Co., and died there on Sep. 10, 1939. Both are buried in the Scaffold Cane Cemetery in Rockcastle Co.

Children born to Joseph and Nancy are:

Henry Eli, born Jun. 7, 1880

John Wesley, born Mar. 27, 1883

Ausbon, born 1887

Jesse, born Dec. 15, 1891

Bertha, born Jun. 24, 1896. A descendant of Bertha recently wrote to me that Bertha married Ora Oscar Viars on Feb. 11, 1914 in Rockcastle Co. He was born Oct. 18, 1894 in that county, and died Feb. 19, 1969 in Aberdeen, Monroe Co., MS. She died in Aberdeen on May 7, 1967. The family moved to MS sometime after the 1920 census. Their children were: Joseph, born c1915; Melba, born c1917; Alice, born c1919; Bertha, born c1921; Cora, born c1924 and Sarah, born c1926. All of the children were born in KY with the exception of Cora and Sarah who were born in MS.

Oscar registered for the WW1 draft on Jun. 5, 1917 while still living in Rockcastle Co. The registration shows that he was a resident of Disputant in that county but, worked in Dayton, OH for the Gem City Stove Co. He was described as being tall with medium build, with blue eyes and brown hair.

The family appears in the 1920 Rockcastle Co., KY and the 1930 Monroe Co., MS census records.1

Chalton and Tommie - no information

There may be others that I have yet to find.

Please contact me at the e-mail address below to add to or correct any of this information.

1 1920 Rockcastle Co., Conway, ED239, Sheet 2B, dwelling 33, family 34, Viars, Ora, head, male, white, age 25, married, born KY, father born KY, mother born IN, farmer; Bertha, wife, female, white, age 22, married, born KY, father born TN, mother born KY; Joseph, son, male, white, age 4 yrs., 11 mos., born KY, parents born KY; Melba M?, dau., female, white, age 3 yrs., 2 mos., born KY, parents born KY; Alice, dau., female, white, age 8 mos., born KY, parents born KY; Bullen, Jesse, bro-in-law, male, white, age 27, married, born KY, father born TN, mother born KY; Flora, sister [in law?], female, white, age 24, married, born KY, father born KY, mother born IN; Mable, neice, female, white, age 6, born KY; Bulah, neice, female, white, age 5, born KY; Thursa, neice, female, white, age 3 mos., 8 mos., born KY; Rosa Violet, neice, female, white, age 2 yrs., 1 mo., born KY

1930 Monroe Co., Beat 4, ED23, Sheet 39A, dwelling 826, family 873, Viars, Ora, head, male, white, age 34, married at age 20, born KY, parents born KY, farmer; Burtha [sic], wife, female, white, age 32, married at age 18, born KY, father born TN, mother born KY; Joseph, son, male, white, age 14, single, born KY, parents born KY; Melba, dau., female, white, age 12, single, born KY, parents born KY; Alice, dau., female, white, age 11, single, born KY, parents born KY; Burtha, dau., female, white, age 9, single, born KY, parents born KY; Cora, dau., female, white, age 6, born MS, parents born KY; Sarah, dau., female, white, age 4 yrs., 3 mos., born MS, parents born KY