Salathiel "Sales" & Eva Phylena Conner Coffey

Salathiel "Sales" Coffey & wife Eva Phylena Conner

"Sales" Coffee was born Dec. 13, 1876 in Collin Co., TX to William Stanley and Sarah Elizabeth Lucas Coffey.

While many others in this family often spelled their surname Coffee. Except for the photo below, he seems to have always been a Coffey.

His father, was a Kentuckian, born there on Jul. 9, 1842.  He rode to Texas with his father and the rest of their family in 1855.  They settled in the area around Allen, in Collin Co. William married Sarah Lucas, a sister to Gabe Lucas, a colonel in the CSA.  William fought with the CSA for the duration and was wounded three times.  

Like others of the time and place, William was a farmer.  However, when he was around 55 years old in 1897, he was elected sheriff of Collin Co. and maintained the peace in that county for the next three years. His wife having died around 1900 may have been the reason he didn't pursue being a lawman again.   In 1910 and 1920 he lived with Silas Walker in Collin county and died there on Jun. 23, 1922 of chronic heart disease. Silas' wife, Alwilda Davis Coffey was his sister.

It was this William Coffey and his brothers that I wrote about some time back, recognizing that he, brother Z. T. and Mint W. all died within 72-hours of each other.

Newsprint Photo

Sales was the seventh of 10 children born to William and Sarah Lucas Coffey and, in 1900, he married Eva Phylena Conner, a daughter of Julius Augustus and Mary Hinman Conner.  Eva was born Mar. 15, 1881 in Sulphur Springs, Hopkins Co., TX and died in Amarillo on Dec. 21, 1945. The above photo is believed to have been taken in 1937 at one of the annual Coffee Family reunions held in Texas unto today. The photo to the left accompanied his obituary.

Many of the ancestors of the Coffey/Coffee families that attend were natives of Logan and Russell counties in KY while many of their ancestors came from Wilkes Co. in North Carolina.

Most of those who attend the annual gathering in Texas are descendants of James Coffey and his wife, Elizabeth "Betsy" Coffey Coffey. James is thought to be descended from Joel and Martha Stepp Coffey, a son of the still mythical Chesley and Jane Cleveland Coffey. Elizabeth is thought to be a daughter of Nathan and Mary Saunders Coffey. Nathan is said to be a brother of Joel,

Sales descended from Chesley through his son Salathiel through Elias who married Mary Coffey, another daughter of Nathan and Mary Saunders. Their son, also named Salathiel, married Nancy Dunbar. and their son was William Stanley Coffey.

Sales had been a deputy sheriff in Cottle and in Briscoe counties in Texas. He had also been a police officer in Amarillo where he had been assigned to several jobs, including desk sergeant, a plain clothes officer and a "night scout car" officer. When he died on Dec. 27, 1944 he had been residing in Amarillo for 18 years. A news item announcing his death recorded that he had moved to Amarillo from Silverton, TX and had been in the insurance business for the four years preceding his death. Sales was also a veteran of the Spanish-American War.

He was survived by his wife and three daughters: Mrs. Walter L. Bain of Phillips, TX; Mrs. Fred Trees of Houston and Mrs. E. T. Gilkerson of Fresno, CA. Will, his only surviving son was serving in the US Navy at the time. Two other sons, Elmer and Amos had died as youngsters.

He was buried on Dec. 30 at the Llano Cemetery in Amarillo, just across the county line in Randall county. Eva followed him to the grave almost one year to the later, on Dec. 21, 1945. She was also buried at Llano.

Donna Douglas (1933-2015)

Donna Douglas was born Doris Smith in Pride, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA in Sept., 1933, to Emmett Ratcliff and Elma Robinson Smith.  If she ever had a middle name I was unaware of it.

Emmett was the son of Tullie Cornelius Smith and Amelia Etta Walker. Tullie was my great-uncle and brother to my maternal grandmother, Lillian Smith Roe.

The last time I saw her was in Sep., 2009 when we attended the wake of another cousin, Abiah Perkins "A.P." Smith, Jr. in Baton Rouge.

As a kid living in Baton Rouge, we often visited with Emmett and Elma, either at their home or ours near downtown Baton Rouge.  I remember her as a teenager and someone that "babysat" me on one or two occasions while our folks went out for some reason or another.

Source: The Baton Rouge Advocate
Date Unknown

The purpose of this blog is to outline her genealogy as I have researched it and, to publish it for my children and other cousins who have a desire to know about this amazingly talented woman.

Doris' father and my mother were first cousins, descendants of Angus McNeil and Mary Amelia McClendon Smith.  They were also distantly related through their common ancestry with Joseph Pullam and his wife Elizabeth Tickell.

Adeline, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Tickell Pullam married Andrew Jackson Walker and they were parents of Amelia Etta Walker. Another of Joseph and Elizabeth's daughters, Elizabeth Frances Pullam was my maternal great-great grandmother.

Angus was a son of John William Smith and his wife, Lenora E. Lee.

John William Smith was born in St. Helena Parish, LA on Aug. 2, 1832. He lived for a time with the James L. Belue family until his marriage to Lenora in Liberty, Amite Co., MS on Sep. 2, 1853. According to my grandmother, a grand-daughter of John, he was a life long blacksmith who passed on his talents at that trade to her father, Angus.

John and his family appeared in the 1860 census at Greensburg in St. Helena Parish.  There were two children in the household; Marzilla, a female, aged 11 and Angus, age 4.  I do not know who Marzilla was.  Lenora had been briefly married in 1851 to Thomas Morgan and Marzilla may have been their child.

When the Civil War began, John Smith enlisted in Co. H., 27th La. Reg., Captain John T. Spencer, Commanding. He was slightly wounded in a leg during Siege of Vicksburg. Smith, when applying for his CW pension replied that he was at Liberty, Mississippi on detail at the surrender. In response to another pension application question, he reported that he was at the surrender of Vicksburg, was paroled and released to his regiment. He said that he did not take the oath of allegiance to the US Government. When asked how many children, and what sex they were, Smith replied that he and his wife had one boy and four girls.

Though not found by me in the 1870 census, they are found in 1880, East Feliciana Parish.  In addition to John and Lenora, there was William, a son, age 17 and Perkins, another son, age 14.  Next door to them was the Angus Smith family with wife Mary and daughters Adda (Addie) and Mary. Angus and Mary married on Nov. 23, 1876 in East Feliciana Parish.

By 1900 John and Lenora were residents of East Baton Rouge.  In Nov., 1901 he applied for a Confederate pension in Clinton, East Feliciana Parish.  John died on Nov. 5, 1905 in Ponchatoula, Tangipahoa Parish and was buried at the Ponchatoula Cemetery. In Feb., 1906 Lenora applied for his pension and she died in 1908.

By 1900, Angus and Mary Amelia had nine children.  My maternal grandmother was their youngest, born on Aug. 6, 1900 in Baton Rouge.  She once told me that she had siblings born and died before her but did not give names.

Angus was born in Feb., 1857 in East Baton Rouge and died on May 10, 1935 at Pride.  His death certificate reports that he was buried at Bluff Creek Baptist Church cemetery in East Feliciana Parish but, a grave marker is not found.  The church has no records of earlier burials but I know that the cemetery is larger than the current fenced boundaries.  He may be outside in what is now wooded with no visible markers.  Mary died in Aug., 1925 at what was called Stoney Point, LA, near Pride and is said to be buried at a small cemetery at that place.  I have visited the cemetery but have not found a marker for her.

I know from growing up in the household with my maternal grandparents that my grandmother had several siblings that did not die until well after I was grown and married.  Her brother Tullie and his wife lived in Pride and we visited with them quite often.

Uncle Tullie and Aunt Amelia had three children, one of which was Emmett Ratcliff, born Apr. 27, 1907 and died Oct. 7, 1988 when he accidentally drowned while fishing in the Mississippi River near Port Allen in West Baton Rouge Parish.  He and Elma Robinson, a daughter of John R. and Mary A. Manning Robinson, were married c1929 in East Baton Rouge Parish.  Elma was born c1910 at Olive Branch in East Feliciana Parish and died on Dec. 31, 2003 at Zachary in East Baton Rouge.

They were the parents of only two children, Emmett, Jr., born c1930 and Doris.  She died nearly 11 years to the day following her mother's passing.

A brief description of her life in "show business" can be found at The Baton Rouge Advocate On-line.

Aurelius & Jessie Edna Bryant Coffey

Aurelius & Jesse Edna Bryant

Aurelius and Jessie were married in Wise Co., TX on Aug. 4, 1897.  He was a son of James Madison and Elizabeth Susan Caddell Coffey, born on Feb. 7, 1876 in Denton Co., TX.  She was a daughter of John W. and America Bryant, born in Texas in April, 1883.  He died on Jun. 27, 1959 in Denton Co. after having farmed his entire life in Wise and Haskell Counties.  He was buried at Bolivar Cemetery in Bolivar, Denton Co.   Jessie outlived Aurelius and passed away on Nov. 2, 1968 in Denton Co.  She too is buried at Bolivar.




Obituary, The Wise County Messenger, Decatur, TX, Thur., Nov. 7, 1968, Page 5

Coffey Rites Held Monday

Mrs. Jessie Edna (Bryant) Coffey, 86, who grew up in Slidell and lived most of her married life there, died Nov. 2 in Flow Hospital, Denton. She had been in ill health for several years. Her husband, Aurelius Coffey, died in 1959 and since that time she had lived around Denton and Slidell. She is survived by 12 children, four sons, J. W Coffey of Denton, W. R. Coffey of Crowley, Jessie A. Coffey of Dallas and Burnice Coffey of Reno, Nev.; eight daughters, Mrs. W L. Walker of Denton, Mrs. J. I Miller of Odessa, Mrs, Jess A. Hopkins of Slidell, Mrs. Real Pendleton of Oakland, Calif., Mrs. Tyson B. Hamilton of Castro Valley, Calif., Mrs. W. R McClendon of Lancaster, Calif., Mrs. Robert Onlott of Castro Valley, Calif., and Mrs. Robert Garrett of Rosebud, Ark., 27 grandchildren; 60 great­ grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Nov. 4 in Christian’ chapel with Jarru F. Scott officiating. Burial was in Bolivar Cemetery with Jim Coffey, Donald A. Coffey, Jess A. Coffey Jr., Joe Hopkins, Sid Coffey and Leon ? acting as pallbearers.

She and Aurelius were parents of 13 children and all survived her with the exception of the youngest, John Preston, born Apr. 13, 1923, died of Diphtheria at Decatur in Wise Co. on Mar. 28, 1928.  He was buried at Slidell Cemetery on Mar. 29.

I have not yet found any meaningful information on eight of the 12.  Those are America, born Dec., 1899; Jesse, born c1906; Nannie P., born c1910; Aurelia, born c1911; Elizabeth, born c1915; Bernice, born c1917; Gladys F., born c1919 and Lonell, born c1921.

The others are:

James Wendall "Doc," born Nov. 11, 1901, died Nov. 5, 1978 at Denton. His wife was Myrtle M., born Jan. 12, 1905, died May 24, 1983.  No marriage date yet found.  Both are buried at the Slidell Cemetery in Wise Co.  They had at least one son, James Vernon "Jim," born Mar. 1, 1936, died Sep. 25, 2007 at Denton and buried at Prairie Mound Cemetery at Argyl, Denton Co.

Katie Valera, born Oct. 20,1903 at Slidell, married Jud Leroy Milner (erroneously as J. I. Miller in Edna's obit) on Nov. 7, 1924.  He was born May 13, 1901 at Bibb in Comanche Co., TX and died Apr. 16, 1988 at Odessa in Ector Co., TX.  Katie died Nov. 17, 1992.  Both are buried at Resthaven Memorial Park in Midland, Midland Co., TX.

William Ross, born Jan. 24, 1908 in Slidell, died Sep. 19, 1973 in Dallas.  His wife was Clauda Mae Fortenberry, born Aug. 2, 1917, died Dec. 20, 1988.  She was buried at the Jackson Cemetery in Krum, Denton Co.  They were parents of at least two sons, Donald Lee, born May 1, 1935 in Decatur, died Oct. 17, 2012 at North Richland Hills, in Tarrant Co., TX, and Charles Wendall, born Apr. 9, 1939 in Wise Co., died Jul 19, 1959 in Grapevine, in Tarrant Co.  Both are buried at the Jackson Cemetery.

The last child for which I have some info was Ima Ruth, born Aug. 23, 1912 in TX, died Nov. 21, 1991 in Los Angeles Co., CA. She married Weldon Richard McClendon on Aug. 14, 1931 in Wise Co.  He was born on Dec. 8, 1906 and died Oct. 15, 1965 in Los Angeles. Both are buried at Joshua Memorial Park at Lancaster in Los Angeles Co.

Please contact me to add to or correct any of this information.

  Jack

Update 7/11/2014

It appears that America might have died young or, went through life under some other given name.

Jesse A. was born Sep. 18, 1905 in Wise Co., and died in Texas on Jun 14, 1990.  He married c1926 to Ruth Dobbs, born c 1909 in TX.  Children: Jesse A., Jr.; Patsy R. and Shirley.  May have been others after 1940 census.

Nannie Pearl, born Jul. 30, 1909 in Wise Co., died Mar. 25, 2002 in TX.  She married Jesse Allmon Hopkins, born Sep. 14, 1897 in OK, died Feb. 19,1975 in Decatur, Wise Co., TX.

Aurelia, born Oct. 19, 1910, died Dec. 12, 1971 in Alameda Co., CA, married Ray Pendleton, born Jan. 18, 1895 in Jefferson Co., KY to John R. and Lydia May Cogswell Pendleton, died Feb. 27, 1951 in Decatur.

Marvel Elizabeth, born c 1914, died Aug. 5, 1998 in Concord, Contra Costa Co., CA. (according to an Ancestry.com tree).  No additional info on who her spouse was.  Her spouse might have been the Robert Onlott mentioned in Edna's obituary but, that surname does not appear to exist.

Gladys Faye, born c 1919, married Tyson Brandon Hamilton, born Jul. 26, 1922 in Escambia Co., AL to Will P. and Eugenia H. Hamilton.  He died Apr. 8, 1999 in Contra Costa Co.  They were married to each other, perhaps three times.  I found only one marriage for them, and that was in Reno, Washoe Co., NV, dated Jan. 21, 1977.  I also found three divorce records, one dated March, 1973 at Monterey, CA; another in Nov., 1977 at Contra Costa the third on Apr. 2, 1980 at Contra Costa.

Alice Lonell, born Jun. 13, 1920, died May 31, 2004 in Rose Bud, White Co., AR.  She married Robert Lee Garrett, born Jun. 15, 1913, died Feb. 21, 1996, also in Rose Bud.

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Photo credit: Clarice Milner Baggett

William Stanley Coffey

William Stanley Coffey, a son of Salathial "Sail" Coffey and wife Nancy Dunbar, is thought to be a descendant of the mythical Chesley and said wife Jane Cleveland.  William was born in Russell Co., KY on Jul. 9, 1842 and died in McKinney, Collin Co., TX on Jun. 23, 1922.

William and Sarah Elizabeth Lucas were married on Feb. 27, 1866 in Collin Co., TX where most, if not all of their 10 children were born.  Sarah was the daughter of Peter and Mary E. Lucas.

Their children were:

+ Dr. John Cicero Coffey, born Jan. 6, 1867, died Apr. , 1954 in Wichita Co., TX.  His death was caused by chronic myocarditis at the Wichita Falls State Hospital.  I have not found his burial site.  He married Gabriella "Ella" Coffey in Grayson Co., TX on Oct. 28, 1895.  Gabriella was the daughter of Matthew Slaughter Coffey and his wife Virginia Texana "Jennie" Butridge.  Matthew and William Stanley were very distant cousins.  Matthew is a known descendant of Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.  Dr. Coffey and Ella were parents of one know child, a daughter named Ruth, born Aug. 5, 1897, died Jan., 1984 in Amarillo.  Ruth married Roy Raymond Hunter in Texas c1929.  He was born Apr. 11, 1894 in that state and died in Amarillo on Aug. 4, 1975.  Their children were Virginia, John C., Mary L. and Roy Raymond, Jr.

+ Robert Henry Coffey, born Oct. 8, 1868, died Apr. 13, 1950 in Collin Co., and was buried at Fitzhugh Cemetery in Forest Grove, Collin Co.  His wife was Minnie Mabel Biddy, a daughter of George and Edna McDonald Biddy.  She was born in TN on Jul. 2, 1873 and died in McKinney on Feb. 20, 1968.  They were married in McKinney on Dec. 18, 1892.  Their children were Clarence Milton, 1893-1949; Tressie A., 1896-1975; Hallie Elizabeth, 1899-1993; and Edgar Biddy, 1901-1967.  Minnie was buried at Fitzhugh along with Clarence and Tressie.  Hallie's burial site is yet unknown to me.  Edgar rests at Forest Grove.

+  Mary Frances "Molly" Coffey, 1869-?, married Samuel Lloyd Renfrow on Apr. 13, 1887 in Collin Co.  He was born c1876 in that county and died there on Apr. 3, 1907.  His "Report of Death" does not name his burial site.  Their children were Ethert Alford, 1887-1948; William Lloyd, 1890-?; Alberta, no dates; Edgar, 1891-?.

+ Denie Elzada Coffey, 1871-1948.  Her first husband was General Jackson Moss, no dates.  They were likely married in Collin Co. c1885±.  I know of at least two children: Sarah Leona Moss, 1889-1959 and Orlia Jackson Moss, 1891-1975.  Orlia married Ermyne Mitchell (1895-1974).  both are buried at Cottage Hill Cemetery at Celina, Collin Co.  Denie's second husband was William Dillon Goode, born 1866 in Roanoke, VA.  He died in Plano, TX in 1916; Denie at Wylie, Collin Co., in 1948.  I know of two children for them:  Clarice, born c1909 and Virginia, born c1910, both in TX.

+ Missouri B. Coffey, born 1873, died and was buried at Forest Grove.  Nothing else is know.

+ Laura Ellen Coffey, 1875-1966.  Laura married William John Ledbetter, born in TN in 1866, c1896.  He died at Paducah, Cottle Co., TX in 1932 and was buried there in the Garden of Memories Cemetery.  Laura Ellen also died in Paducah and was also buried in the Garden of Memories.  Their children were Horace Chilton, 1897-1971; Aaron, 1898-?; Roy Robert, 1902-?; Nila Erona, 1905-?; Ruth Ellen, 1909-? and Mary Elizabeth, 1911-?

+ Salathiel "Sales" Coffey, 1896-1944.  He married Eva Phylena Conner on Dec. 19, 1900 in Collin Co.  She was born in 1881 at Sulphur Springs in Hopkins Co., TX and died Dec. 21, 1945 in Amarillo.  Both are buried at Llano Cemetery in Amarillo.  Their children were Elmer, 1901-1906; Leona Meda, 1905-?; Laura Ella, 1908, married Arlie Colley Swint c1926.  He was born in TX in 1907 and died in Wichita Falls in 1980 and was buried at Rosemont Cemetery in Wichita Falls.  Laura's death date and place of burial is unknown to me.  Following Laura was Frances Lorene, 1915-?; Willis L., 1917-? and Amos B., 1920-1926.  He is also buried at Llano.

+ Alwilda Davis Coffey, born 1878, died 1968 in McKinney.  She married Silas Earl Walker on Dec. 5, 1899.  He was born in 1875 and died in 1926.  Both are buried at Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney.  Their children were Jessie Lois, 1901-?; Silas, Jr., 1905-? and Vernon Coffey, 1908-?.

+ Charles Milton Coffey, 1880 to 1918.  He is thought to have died unmarried and buried at Fitzhugh Cemetery.

+ Homer Lucas Coffey, born 1882, died 1958 at McKinney.  He married Lela Mae Holder in 1902.  She was born in TX in 1884 and died in McKinney in 1930.  In 1940 Homer married Mrs. Lizzie E. Short.  I have no other information on Lizzie.  There was at least one child born to Homer and Lela, a daughter named Sarah Elizabeth in 1906.  No other information.

Please e-mail additions and/or corrections to me at the address provided on the right.

Dr. Edmond Aurelius Coffey

Edmond Aurelius Coffey was a son of Lewis and Elizabeth Cleveland Coffey, born Mar. 3, 1810 in North Carolina, died Aug. 28, 1895 in Aubrey, Denton Co., TX.  He is buried at Belew Cemetery in Aubrey.*

He married Dianah Bagby c1830, probably in NC where she was born on Jan. 27, 1811 to Edmond and Nancy Ann Martin Bagby.  Dianah died in 1889 in Etowah Co., AL and was buried at Union No. 3 Baptist Church Cemetery at Ballplay, Etowah Co.

Many researchers believe the family first settled in Gwinnett Co., GA where their 12 children were born.  The 1840 census for that county does show an Edmon Coffee with 2 males under 5; 1 male, age 5 to 9; 1 male, 30-39; 1 female under 5; 2 females, age 5-9; and 1 female, age 20-29.  The census also counted 8 slaves at the residence.

Census records for 1850 and 1860 show the family residing in Cherokee Co., GA.  In 1870 they were in Etowah Co and, 1880 in Blount Co.  Sometime shortly after Dianah's death, Dr. Coffey relocated to Denton Co., TX, perhaps to join number seven son, Aurelius (1842-1918) who was in the Denton Co. census of 1880 and 1900 and who died there in 1918.

There were twelve children born to Edmond and Dianah:

Their first was Edmund Bagby, born Jan. 1, 1831, died before 1870 in AL.  He married Melissa Jane Sewell, born c1831 in GA.  Their marriage was between 1850 when Melissa was living with her widowed mother in Cherokee Co., AL, and 1854 when their first child Frances was born.  Their other children were:  Sarah Malinda, born 1856 in Cherokee Co., died Sep. 4, 1918 in Blount Co., AL; Lydia Jane, born 1858 in St. Claire Co., AL, died Jan. 8, 1926 in Etowah; and Rachel B., born c1859.  There may have been others; these are all I know of.

Second born was Elizabeth Ann on Aug. 27, 1832, died Aug. 8, 1877 in AL.  She married Elisha Trimble Walker c1854 and had at least seven children:  Nancy; Josephine, Benjamin; Webster; Aurelius; Martha and Elizabeth.

Next was Loany who married William Woodard. She was born 1835, died Jan. 12, 1894 in Chepultepec, Blount Co.   Her children were Dianah, born 1854; Jesse T., born c1857; Edmund, born c1859; and William M., Jr., born 1862, died 1930.

Benjamin L., born May 3, 1836, death date unknown. He married Lucy Shields, born c1852 in GA.  Their children were Elizabeth, Edmond John; Nancy Walker; and Asberry Aurelius.  Probably others that I have not yet located.  Asberry Aurelius died in Denton Co., TX in 1951.

Sarah Caroline followed c1838.  She married John W. Tidmore, born in AL c1846.

Webster Gilbert was born Jun. 20, 1840 and died in Etowah Co. in 1911.  He married Louise Evaline Tidmore, possibly brother to John, c1865.  She was born Jan. 22, 1845 in AL and died in Etowah Co. in 1935.  They were the parents of 12:  James Henry; John Adams; William Thomas; Anna Elizabeth; Webster Gernagin; Edmond Columbus; Buddy J. [who probably died an infant]; Minnie Luella; Martha Jane; Nancy Victoria; Jesse L.; Mary Evergreen; Grover Cleveland; and General.

Aurelius, born Mar. 9, 1842, died Jan. 7, 1918 in Denton Co., TX.  His wife was Grace Penelope Hodges, born Oct. 4, 1844 in AL, died shortly after her husband, on Jun. 1, 1918 in Aubrey.  Their children were:  Wm Riley; Edmund Harrison; James Madison; Francis; Kathryn; Bertha Maurine; Cora and Tommy.  The first four were born in AL, perhaps Etowah Co.; the last four in Denton Co., TX.

Child number 8 was Thomas Arvil, born Jun. 30, 1843, died Mar. 9, 1917 in Pontotoc Co., OK.  His wife was Hannah Henson, born in AL c1845, died Aug., 1914 in Pontotoc Co.  Their children were:  Nathan; Mary D., Thomas; Henry Gilbert; Mettie Ellen; James Martin; John Thomas; Aurelius; and Walter Curtis.

James Madison was next.  He was born Jun. 4, 1845, died in 1922, perhaps in TX.  His wife was Elizabeth Susan Caddell, born 1847 in AL.  They married in Etowah Co. in 1867.  Chidren:  Lewis Edmond; Lemuel A; Basil C; Amanda Evergreen; Aurelius; one unnamed son (1878-1879); Mallie Jane; Laura Valera; James R.; Barbara Elizabeth; and Dessie Victoria.

Eliza Jane, born 1847, died 1915.  She married John Boone McKinney on Sep. 19, 1868 in Etowah Co.  He was born c1847 and died c1884.  Children were:  John Thomas; Edmond James; William Webster; Benjamin Aurelius; Dinah Elizabeth; Samuel Washington; and Lorena Martha Creacy Evergreen [sic].

No. 11 was Martha, born 1850, died c1920.  Her husband was Perry E. Daily, born 1853 in AL.  They were married Aug. 4, 1872 in Blount Co., AL.  Children:  Edmond; Mary; Ellen, and William.

The last child born to Edmond and Dianah was Chaney Evergreen on Dec. 28, 1852.  No other info has been found and, she likely died in infancy.

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*Gloria B. Mayfield Project Mgr, "Cemeteries of Denton County Texas", database, Cemeteries of Texas, Cemeteries of Denton County Texas (http://www.cemeteries-of-tx.com/etx/denton/listdenton.html).

More information about this family and their descendants is available on the Edward Coffey Project DVD.

Salathiel (Sail or Sale) Coffey (1812KY - 1892TX)

Back on Feb. 6, 2006 I wrote a short blog on Salathiel. It was mostly information - a copy, really - about him from the Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas, Illustrated. Since that time, I have compiled much more information for his family than I have time to include here. Needless to say, Ill share the info with anyone who needs it.

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Salathiel was born Apr. 20, 1812 in Logan Co., KY and died on May 29, 1892 in Collin Co., TX.  He was buried at Forest Grove cemetery in Collin Co. His first wife was Nancy Dunbar of Russell Co., KY, born c1809, died May 29, 1892 in Collin Co.  I am not sure where Nancy is buried, but most likely she is also in Forest Grove.

[My understanding is the Forest Grove and Fitzhugh cemeteries are considered one cemetery now?  Anyone know for sure?]

With wife Nancy, Sail/Sale Coffey fathered at least seven children:

First - Lettitia, born Oct. 15, 1838 in Wayne Co., KY.  She married Thomas Jefferson Reagan who was born c1838 in Missouri.  Both Lettitia and Thomas died before August., 1869. To them were born three children:  Lettitia Ellen, born c1858, George Washington, born c1859 and Mary Catherine, dob unknown.  Lettitia and Mary were mentioned in a petition brought before the August 1869 term of a court in Collin Co., TX wherein "Sayles Coffey" sought to and become guardian of "Lentittia and Mary Catherine Regan", both "orphans and minors under the age of 14 years and living in Collin County..."  The two girls were found living with Martin Watson, relationship yet unknown, in McKinney, Collin Co., in the 1870 census.

Second - Mary Ann "Polly Ann", born Jun. 22, 1840, died Jan. 7, 1918 in McKinney.  Polly married Elder John Meyers McKinney, born Apr. 14, 1832 in MO, died Jan 1, 1918 in McKinney.  Both are buried in Forest Grove/Fitzhugh.  Their children were 1)J. D., born Oct. 5, 1859, died Aug. 8, 1925 in McKinney.  He is buried at Pecan Grove cemetery in McKinney; 2)Giles Lee, born Aug. 25, 1866, died Jun. 1, 1959 in McKinney.  Giles married Mary Mathews, born Jun., 1866 in Wood Co., TX.  Their children were Ettie, born 184; Cecil, born 1893 and Eustace, born 1898.  3)John S., born 1868, died 1954; and 4) Wiley Benton, born 1870, died 1954.  Wiley married Lula A. Klepper c1900 in McKinney and fathered Collin, born 1902, died 1918 and Juanita, born c1904.

Third - William Stanley, born 1842 in Russell Co., KY, died 1922 in McKinney.  He married Sarah Elisabeth Lucas on Feb. 27, 1866 in McKinney.  She was born Aug. 27, 1847 in TX and died Mar. 7, 1892.  They too are buried at Forest Grove/Fitzhugh.  William and Sarah had at least 10 children:

1 - Dr. John Cicero, born Jan. 6, 1867 in McKinney, died Apr. 7, 1954 in Wichita Co., TX.  Dr. John married Gabriella "Ella" Coffey, a daughter of Matthew Slaughter and Virginia Texana Butridge Coffey.  These two Coffey families were not related.  John descended from Edward while Matthew Slaughter descended from Peter.*  John and Ella had only one child, Ruth, born Aug. 5, 1897, married Roy Raymond Hunter of TX c1929.  They had a child, Virginia, born c1930 in Knox Co., TX.  Sarah Lucas Coffey is buried at Fitzhugh.  William's burial place has not been located but, he too is likely at Fitzhugh.

2 - Robert Henry, born Oct., 1868 in Collin Co. and died Apr. 13, 1950.  He married Minnie Mabel Biddy on Dec. 18, 1892 in McKinney.  She was born Sep., 1874 in TN and died Feb. 20, 1968 in Collin Co.  Robert is at Fitzhugh where Minnie is also likely to have been buried.  Their children were:  1) Clarence Milton, born Nov. 5, 1893, died Feb. 26, 1949 in Wylie, Collin Co.  He married Ola Ellen Leake on Aug. 3, 1913 in Collin Co.  She was born there on Nov. 24, 1893.  Clarence is buried at Forest Grove; Ora's death date and burial place is not yet known.  They are known to have had at least two children: Marcella Ann, born 1915 and Alma Christine, born 1919, both in Collin Co. 2) Tressie Alma, born Oct., 1896, died May 27, 1995 in Collin Co.  She married Virgil Robert Osborn Oct. 9, 1912.  His birth date is not yet known; he died May 29, 1997 in Collin Co.  They had at least two children:  Willis, born c1914 and Vernon, born c1916. 3) Hallie Elizabeth, born May, 1899, died Jun. 3, 1993 in Collin Co.  She married Roy Lee Biggs on Jan. 18, 1920 in Collin Co.  Their children were Elizabeth and Billie Jean.  4) Edgar Biddy, born Aug. 1901, died Jul. 31, 1967 in Collin Co.  His wife was Lucille.

3 - Mary Frances "Molly," born Dec. 16, 1869, died Jan. 2, 1892.  She married Samuel Lloyd Renfrow on Apr. 13, 1887 in Collin Co.  He was born there c1876 and died in McKinney on Apr. 3, 1907.  Their children were: Ethert Alford, born 1887; William Lloyd, born 1890; Alberta; and Edgar, born 1891.

4 - Denie Elzada, born Nov. 17, 1871 in Lucas, Collin Co., died Jun. 14, 1948 in Wylie.  She married first to General Jackson "Jack" Moss.  His birth and death dates are not yet known.  Their children were Sarah Leona, born Jun. 27, 1889, died Nov. 11, 1959 in Wylie, and Orlia Jackson, born Nov. 27, 1891 in Lucas, died Mar. 20, 1975 in Lubbock.  Denie's second husband was William Dillon Goode with whom she had at least two more daughters, Clarice Lora, born 1908 and Virginia Belle, born 1910.

5 - Missouri B., born Aug. 14, 1873, died Mar. 7, 1875.

6 - Laura Ellen, born Mar. 7, 1875, died Feb. 12, 1966 in Paducah, Cottle Co., TX.  Laura married William Johnson Ledbetter c1896.  He was born Jul. 3, 1866 in TN, died Feb. 17, 1932 in Paducah.  Their children were: Horace, Aaron, Roy Robert; Nila Erona; Ruth Ellen; and Mary Elizabeth.

7 - Salathiel "Sales", born Dec. 13, 1876 in Collin Co., died Dec. 17, 2944 in Amarillo, Potter Co., TX.  Sales married Eva Phylena Conner, a daughter of Julius and Mary Hinman Conner on Dec. 19, 1900.  She was born Mar. 15, 1880 in Hopkins Co., TX and died Dec. 21, 1945 in Amarillo.  Their children were: Leona, born 1905; Laura Ella, born 1908; Frances Lorene, born 1915 and Willis, born 1917.  Laura married Arlie Collie Swint c1926 and had children: J. Ronald, born 1928 and Irma Glyn, born 1931.

8 - Alwilda Davis, born Jul. 31, 1878 in Collin Co., died in McKinney on Jan. 11, 1968.  She married Silas Earl Walker on Dec. 5, 1899.  He was born Sep. 6, 1875 to J. F. and Martha Williams Walker and died Apr. 3, 1926 in McKinney.  Their children were Jessie Lois, born 1901; Silas Earl, Jr., born 1905; and Vernon Coffey, born 1908.

9 - Charles Milton, born Aug. 18, 1880, died Oct. 6, 1918 in McKinney.

10 - Homer Lucas, born Aug. 14, 1882, died Feb. 11, 1958 in McKinney.  He married Lela Mae Holder, daughter of W. A. and Elizabeth Johnson Holder in Nov., 1902.  She was born Feb. 1884 in TX and died Feb. 15, 1939 in McKinney.  They had at least one child, Sarah Elizabeth, born Jul. 16, 1906.  Homer and Lela are buried at Johnson Cemetery in Collin Co.

More later!



*We know through DNA testing that Edward and Peter were some kin to one another but so far back in their ancestry that the kinship was extremely diluted.




No. 992

Elisha "Lish" and Anna Harmon Moody Coffey

I touched a bit on Elisha and Anna Coffey in the Aldridge & Coffey blog of May 1.  Elisha was a son of Joseph and Isabella Lindsay Coffey and was born c1814 and almost certainly in North Carolina.

Anna was a daughter of Edward and Frances Carter Moody and was born c1814 in NC.  She died before 1880 and probably in Watauga Co.  Elisha appeared in that county's 1880 census as a widower.

There are at least two other sons of Lish and Anna for whom I have very little information.  They were all born early enough to have been strong candidates for service during the Civil War and, may have been killed.  Those sons were Jacob, born c1838 and, DeKalb, born c1839.  Some genealogies that I have seen also names another Levi, born c1844 as their son.

I think the Elisha Coffee [sic] and wife Hannah in the 1850 Watauga Co. census is this couple.  In addition to the parents, there was Levi, age 16; De Calb [sic], age 11 and Mary Cannon, age 7.  I am not certain who Mary Cannon was, but there is at least one Cannon female (not Mary) who married into a Coffey family in Burke Co., NC.

In 1860 Watauga co., Jacob, age 21 appeared with the family.  Another child, May A. Harmon [sic] age 2, was enumerated with the family. Although named as a child of Elisha, it isn't clear to me yet that he was.

The 1870 Watauga co. census shows that May Harmon was then Mary Harmon, age 13.  Except for a black male, age 14, named John Adges [?], the only others in the household were Elisha and Ann.

As mentioned earlier, Elisha appeared as a widower in the 1880 census for Watauga Co.

Levi Lafayette, who appears to be the eldest child of Elisha's, was born May 30, 1833 in Burke Co., and died Feb. 11, 1925 in Watauga Co.  He married "Tempie" Calloway, a daughter of James and Nicey Gragg Calloway, c1859 in Watauga Co.

To them were born at least seven children:

1 - Caroline Lavinia Coffey, born Mar. 6, 1860, died Feb. 13, 1923.  Caroline married her cousin David Nathaniel Coffey c1886.  David and Caroline are mentioned in several blogs.  If you are interested in more about them, search the blog archives [use search window in upper left corner and surround search term with quotes; e.g., "David Nathaniel Coffey."]  You can view a photo of David and read a bit of info about him in this blog.

2 - Joseph DeCalb Coffey, born Jan. 24, 1863 at Shulls Mill in Watauga Co., and died there on Dec. 30, 1930.  He married Lutittia [sic] F. Walters, a daughter of Johnathan and Emeline Long Walters, on Apr. 9, 1899 in Watauga Co.  Both are buried at the Byrd Cemetery in Foscoe, Watauga Co.

3 - Judith Coffey, born c1866 - no further information.

4 - Emma Coffey, born Oct. 19, 1869 in Watauga, died Jan. 3, 1938 in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC.  Emma also married a cousin, William M. Coffey c1896.  William was a son of Smith W. and his wife Charity Elizabeth Redmond.

Laurence Coffey gives this name as Elizabeth Baker Redmond, indicating to me that she was probably married previous to her marriage to Smith.  However, in an e-mail to me dated Aug. 23, 2007, Carolyn Curtis wrote this:

"Elizabeth was born 6/25/1836 and died 5/20/1912. She was not married prior to her marriage to Smith Coffey on June 25, 1854 (that was her 18th Birthday). According to the Caldwell County Court of Pleas and Quarter Session, Volume II – January Term 1848, Elizabeth, an orphan child of 11 years of age, was bound to Lucinda Baker (that is where the Baker name originated) until age 18, at which time she was give her freedom, $6.00, a new suit of clothes, a bible and she was to be taught to read and write."


I seem to recall some speculation that Elizabeth was full or part Indian and the Redmond might have something to do with that part of her heritage.  But, that is something that I have not pursued.

Both Charity and Smith are said to be buried in a Coffey Cemetery at Shulls Mill.

5 - James Wesley Coffey, born May 2, 1873 in Watauga Co., died in Boone on Dec. 6, 1960.  He married Donnie Brewer c1906.  A subsequent spouse was Callie Ward, born Mar. 30, 1898, daughter of James Ward and Mary Hicks.  Callie died Aug. 25, 1975 in Boone.  They are also said to be buried in the Coffey Cemetery at Shulls Mill.

6 - Archie E. Coffey, born Mar 23, 1876, died Apr. 11, 1903.  He married Virginia Frances Brown on Sep. 30, 1900.  "Jennie" was a daughter of Samuel Walker and Nancy Jane Joyce Brown.  See the other Levi Lafayette Coffey blog for more.

7 - Oscar Lee Coffey, born Sep. 7, 1878, died Jul. 1, 1977 in Davidson Co., NC.  Oscar married Ollie Belle Calloway, born Mar. 10, 1886 in Watauga Co., died Apr. 23, 1943 in Boone.  She was the daughter of William Henderson Calloway and his wife Almirah M. "Myra" Johnson.  Ollie is buried at Foscoe in the Community Cemetery.  I have not located Oscar's burial site.

I would really love to know if the Coffey Cemetery at Shulls Mill is actually known locally by that name and where it is located.

James Coffey, son of Annister

Fred Coffey is the Coffey Cousins' DNA "guru."  Today he submitted the following with permission to publish here.  For back issues of the Coffey Cousins' newsletter, contact editor Bonnie Culley..

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DNA PROJECT: THE "SAMUEL" CONECTION


By Fred Coffey

An article by Bonnie Culley in the last CCC Newsletter, "Currents in the Stream", indicated that we were trying to use DNA to determine the paternal ancestry of James Coffey (born about 1735 in Virginia). James is the base born son of Annister, daughter of Edward. And now we know his father was probably "James Samuel"!

After earlier tries, DNA again became a promising tool after we were pointed to a Virginia court order book dated 20 Feb 1738/9 with a record "It is ordered that the Churchwardens of St. Ann's Parish do bind James Coffy a bastard child to James Samuel as the law directs".

The "James Samuel" referenced would be a man born 14 Jun 1690, died 16 May 1759, married Sarah Boulware on 5 Apr 1714. He was born, lived, married, and died in St. Ann's Parish, Essex County, VA – the same location as the above court record.

We now have in hand y-DNA tests on two descendants of James Coffey, and on one descendant of the brother of the above James Samuel. And this, combined with the court record, proves "beyond a reasonable doubt" that the father of James Coffey was someone from this "Samuel" family.

This is in many ways like the famous "Thomas Jefferson/Sally Heming" case, where DNA proves that some male from the Jefferson family fathered at least one of slave Sally Heming's children. It could have been any male "Jefferson", but the overwhelming "circumstantial evidence" suspect is Thomas himself.

Likewise, the father of James Coffey could be any "Samuel" male, such as a son or brother of the named James Samuel. But James Samuel himself must definitely be the most likely suspect?

I have been "chasing" James Coffey for quite some time, and have a lot more information on him than can be covered here, including more detailed discussion of the DNA. You're invited to visit at

www.coffey.ws/FamilyTree/FamilyNotes/JamesCoffee.htm

A FOOTNOTE:

Serendipity is the effect by which one accidentally stumbles upon something fortunate, especially while looking for something entirely unrelated. (Wikipedia)

When looking for my "Walker Family" ancestry, I accidentally discovered records for "James Coffee" in Surry County, NC. I asked questions, and Bonnie Culley told me this James was likely the base born son of Annister Coffey, who later married a Chenault. And then two men who believed they descended from this James joined our DNA project. This suggested there might be "Chenault" DNA matches. We found Chenault tests, but no match. However this led me to start exchanging notes with Reverend John Chenault, a genealogist who had information on Annister, and who was Annister's descendant by her later marriage. Then John pointed out that he had seen the above court record connecting James Coffey with one James Samuel. This led to looking for and discovering the Samuel DNA match. This in turn opened communication with the Samuel family, who turned out to also have connections with the Powell family – the same family that Edward Coffey had married into. And thus a new path of information exchanges is opened – see Bonnie's notes from the last newsletter.

Oh, the Samuel exchange included a 1754 reference to one "Robert Taliaferro", which shows the Coffey/Samuel/Powell/Taliaferro families were all interacting no later than 1754. And that ties to another DNA article in the last newsletter tying a Taliaferro to the line of Jordan Coffey, born 1790.

And finally, midway through all this, a "Walker" genealogist did a Google search, and discovered postings I had made about James Coffee, wherein I mentioned my Walker search. And this led to more information exchanges and to a Walker DNA test. And that led to new sources of info on the origins of my "Walker" family!

So what will we stumble across tomorrow?

Sign up for our DNA Project, and maybe in addition to helping with your "Coffey" research, our note exchanges may turn up unexpected sources? Visit us at:

www.coffey.ws/FamilyTree/DNA

Thomas Coffey and Sarah Stokes

Marvin Coffey included Thomas and Sarah in his work on James Bluefield Coffey as a possible child of Reuben and Sarah "Sally" Scott Coffey.  He recognized that there was not complete agreement among Edward Coffey researchers that the children of Reuben and Sallly as listed in his work was accurate.

Recently, Sue Ikerd wrote to me that Thomas who married Sarah Stokes was actually Thomas Caffey, a descendant of Michael and Margaret Flowers Caffey.  Her contention was backed up with the following reasoning:

• Thomas's parents were born father Maryland, mother North Carolina, name usually spelled Caffey; named son Michael.
• Michael was born in Maryland; name usually spelled Caffey.
• Thomas's wife's mother was a Chilcuitt from Maryland.
• Hooper Caffey, grandson of Michael, married a Chilcuitt.
• John Stokes who married Jane Guerrin, was a brother of Sarah Stokes, wife of Thomas Caffey.
• Hooper Caffey was Bondsman for John Stokes and Jane Gerrin 1814.
• Thomas incurred debt to James Walker 1817 in Rockingham Co. NC (I have an original paper with this info and dates). Old family letter states family came to
• Tennessee in 1824 from North Carolina.
• Thomas lived in Guildford Co. North Carolina in 1821; appointed Brother-in-law James to recover the inheritance from deceased mother of Rockingham Co. NC.
• Stokes, Caffey's, McElroy's, Flacks, Patricks, Averetts, all lived in the same general area in Guilford Co. NC and are all connected by marriage. The June 23, 1804 will of Michael Caffey, probated Nov. 1810 in Rockingham Co.
• NC, lists wife Margaret, sons Michael, Robert, Thomas, John, and daughters Sophia, Mary, and Margaret.
• Executors were Wife Margaret and son John Witnesses were W. Payne, Waiter Good, and Charity Payne.

This information will not be updated in the on-line version of the Edward Coffey Project for reasons cited in previous blogs.  However, I will include this information in my master file and will be available on the Edward Coffey Project CD.  It has also been forwarded to Bonnie Culley for inclusion in her quarterly Coffey Cousins' Newsletter.

Newton and Adelia Gertrude Robinson

Newton Coffey was born Sep. 23, 1875 in Terre Haute, Vigo Co., IN to William and Malcena Barbre Coffey.  He married Adelia Gertrude (Gertie) Robinson on Mar. 10, 1892 in Wayne Co., IA.  Adelia was born Sep. 12, 1878 in Wayne Co., and died Jan. 16, 1973 in Leon, Decatur Co., IA.  Newton died on May 26, 1969 in Leon.




Their first child was Carl Edward, born Sep. 17, 1897 in IA and died Sep. 22, 1987.  He first married Mary Hoffman on Jun. 6, 1920 with whom he had several children.  His second wife was Alice Ella Hacker, born Nov. 19, 1900 in Decatur Co., and died Feb. 1979 in Leon, Decatur Co.

This photo of Carl was taken c1930.

Born second was William Moody on Aug. 14, 1899.  William married Lucy Pearl (Lucille) Patterson.  She was born Sep. 11, 1902 in Fayetteville, Washington Co., AR and died in Carmichael, Sacramento Co., CA on Feb. 28, 1994.

This photo of William was also taken c1930.

Third born was Leo Newton on Jul. 22, 1901 in Iowa.  He married Elsie Maureen Walker who was born Nov. 20, 1903 near Van Wert in Decatur Co., IA.  She died on Mar. 12, 1983 in Leon; Leo died Oct. 26, 1998 in Lamoni, Decatur Co.

This photo of Leo was taken c1975.

This photo of Elsie was also taken c1975.










Fourth born was Opal Leota, born Jan. 27, 1903, died Jan. 21, 1964.  Opal was a career US Army nurse, having entered the service on Aug. 8, 1941 and retired on Jan. 1, 1963.   Opal died on Jan. 21, 1964 at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX and was buried there in the National Cemetery.  Opal never married.





Other children born to Newton and Adelia were:

Mildred V., born c1904; Carol C., born c1906; Velma, born c1908; Emma, born c1911; Raymond Donald, born Aug. 23, 1913, died Mar. 16, 1997; and Dorothy, born c1918.

More information on this family can be found by clicking on the title link.


Photos and other information courtesy of Fred Coffey

William Fine Coffey (1830-1864)

Update Jan. 17, 2015. Some changes are highlighted, others are not.

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William was born Jan. 28, 1830 to the union of Calvin and Elizabeth Fine Coffey. Calvin was a son of Nathan and Elizabeth Gilbreath Coffey. Nathan is in the Chesley Coffey, Jr. line.

Priscilla Howard, born 1826 in Mount Pleasant, Maury Co., TN, married William Fine on Dec. 24, 1850* in Maury Co. William died Aug. 24, 1864 in Mount Pleasant, and Priscilla on Aug. 17, 1899 in Farmersville, Collin Co., TX. William is said to have been the victim of an ambush before leaving Tennessee**. He is buried in the Howard Cemetery in Maury Co. Priscilla is thought to be buried in the IOOF cemetery in Farmersville.

Photo Courtesy of Melonie Masih

She and William were the parents of at least six children:

Calvin Jefferson, born in Maury Co. on Aug. 27, 1851, died Dec. 19, 1906 in Farmersville and was buried at the IOOF in Farmersville.  His wife was Frances Hinton.  They were married c1876.  They had two children but, only one survived to the 1900 census.  She was Sallie Bell, born in Oct., 1881 at Maury Co.

Equilla Howard, born Oct. 2, 1856 in Maury Co., died Jul. 30, 1920 in Farmersville. He married Margaret (Maggie) Elizabeth Scott - date unknown - who was born Jul. 27, 1857 in Mount Pleasant, Maury Co., TN, daughter of William Scott and a Miss Walker. Maggie died in McKinney, Collin Co. on Mar. 16, 1937. The only census record that I can find for them is dated Jan. 22, 1920, just a few months before Equilla died. Equilla is buried in the IOOF Cemetery in Farmersville; Maggie is also buried there, Collin Co.   They had at least three children:  Tennee, female, born c1877; Hattie D., born c1879 and Herchel Alexander, born 1888.

Isaac Fountain, born Aug. 10, 1857 in Maury Co., TN and died Nov. 26, 1927 in Farmersville. He married Martha Asia Wilcoxson on Jan. 8, 1880 in Collin Co. Martha was born Jan. 27, 1858 in Tennessee and died Apr. 2, 1947 in Collin Co. Together they had at least five children: Ada, born Apr. 1881; Will T., born May, 1883; Dessie, born May, 1887; Emer, born Sep., 1889; and Emmet, born c1894. Emmet married Eva Carver, and had at least one child, a son named Gordon Phillips Coffey, born c1923. Isaac and Martha are buried in the IOOF cemetery at Farmersville.

William Daniel, born May 8, 1860 in Mount Pleasant, married Mary Alice Wilcoxson, likely a sister to Martha who married Isaac, on Aug. 20, 1882 in Farmersville, Collin Co. Mary Alice was born Jul. 15, 1865 in Farmersville, and died Apr. 3, 1954 in Victoria, Victoria Co., TX. They were the parents of nine children:

Webb Granville., born May. 28, 1883, died Apr. 19, 1929 in an automobile accident in Wharton, Wharton Co., TX. Webb's death certificate indicates that he was married at the time of death. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Victoria.*

Lottie Viola, born Jun. 22, 1886 in Farmersville, died Oct. 8, 1966 in Victoria Co.. Lottie married Dave Byrd Yeary on Jan. 16, 1907 in Collin Co. Lottie died of acute myocardial failure and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Victoria.

Clara Gertrude, born Feb. 6, 1888, died of sarcomatosis on Jul. 24, 1950 in Victoria Co. She married Herbert Edgar Evans on Jun. 2, 1906 in Farmersville. Clara is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Victoria.

Pearl Drusilla, born Oct. 26, 1892 in Farmersville, and died there on Nov. 26,1893

Stella Eudora, born Jun. 29, 1896 at Farmersville, died Jun. 28, 1994 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino Co., CA.  She was returned to Victoria, TX for burial in the Evergreen Cemetery.  She was married to a Mr. Skinner but I have found no information for him.

Thadius Elmo, born Apr. 19, 1900, married Ruth Crawford and had at least one child, a daughter named Eleanor, born c1922.  Thadius died in MS in Mar., 1967 and was returned to Mission Valley in Victoria Co., TX for burial in the Mission Valley Community cemetery.  Nothing is yet know of Ruth.  They had at least three children:; Thad, Jr., Eleanor and William Stark.

Mary Prucilla or Pricilla, born Jul. 19, 1903, died May 20, 1998 at Goliad in Goliad Co., TX and buried at Memory Gardens in Victoria, Victoria Co.  She married a Mr. Jacobs but nothing yet known of him.

Jack Daniel, born Oct. 17, 1906 in Collin Co.  He married Dorothy Heinke c1929. Dorothy was the daughter of Arthur and Maggie Wilden Heinke. She was born Sep. 7, 1908 in Victoria, and died of Uremia on Sep 19, 1953. She is buried in Catholic Cemetery No. 3 in Victoria along with Jack who died in Oct., 1984.  They were parents of at least three:  Jack Arthur, 1931-2005; Carolyne Sue, 1935-?; and James Ross, born 1936.  Jack Arthur married Patricia Ann Everton and they had at least three children: Deborah Sue, Daniel Ross and Michael Harold.

Franklin Penn, born Feb., 1862, married Mollie Brewer in 1884 in Farmersville. Mollie was born in Apr., 1866 in Alabama. They had at least six children: Clovie, born Mar., 1886; Roy F., born Jan., 1888, married Mary Jones; Mamie, born Feb., 1891; Raymond, born Mar., 1896; William H., born c1903; and Mary Frances, born c April, 1910.  Frank died in 1956 in Fort Worth and was buried at Vernon in Wilbarger Co., TX.  Mollie died in 1945 in Vernon.  Both she and Frank are buried at Eastview cemetery in Vernon.

Please send additions and/or corrections welcomed.

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Update Mar. 14, 2012

According to his death certificate, Webb Granville Coffey's given name was Webb.  I have seen other genealogies that report his call name was "Wibb" or "Wibbie."

His wife, Katherine Agnes Hartsell was the daughter of James Joseph and Henrietta Whitmarsh Hartsell, already married emigrants from England in 1871.  The couple seems to have first settled in MS because I find them in 1880 living in Yalobusha Co., MS.  Four of their six known [to me] children were born in MS; the last two in TX.  In addition to Katherine, there was W. J., born c1875; Charlotte H., born May 1878; Lily, born Feb., 1891.  Texas born children were John Joseph, born Jan., 1893 and Walter J., born Aug., 1894.

Katherine's death certificate reports she was born Oct. 25, 1885 in Jackson, Hinds Co., MS and, died May 13, 1964 in Victoria.  She is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Victoria.  Until Apr. 11, 1930 Katherine was still a widow residing in Victoria.  Sometime after that she married a Mr. Holland who also preceded her in death.  I hope to find out who Mr. Holland was from the soon-to-be-released 1940 census.

James Joseph Hartsell died in Victoria, Victoria Co., TX on Aug. 22, 1941 and is buried at Farmersville in Collin Co., TX.  I have not found a death record or burial site for Henrietta.  According to his death certificate, James was born in London on Nov. 24, 1849 and was a retired horticulturist at the time of death.

Katherine's son, Lawrence Granville Coffey, born Nov. 19, 1905, was married to Issetta [sic] Marie Hadley and were the parents of at least three children:  Beverly, Sandra and Robert Lawrence.  I have not found any information pertaining to her daughter, Ruth Agnes Coffey.

William Daniel and Mary Alice Wilcoxson Coffey had at least two additional children: James Ross, born Dec. 11, 1894 in Collin Co., died unmarried on Oct. 16, 1970 in Travis Co., TX. and Edith, born c1904 in Collin Co.

Thadius Elmo and wife Ruth Crawford had at least two additional children:  Thad, Jr., born 1921 and William Start, born 1929.

This family are descendants of the mythical Chesley Coffey.

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* Update May 5, 2015: The informant on his death certificate was his brother Thadius, who apparently gave the name Webb to authorities.  Of course, dialect could have been at play here.  The news item announcing his death names him "Webb."  His headstone reads "Wibb,"  Melonie Williams-Masihm whose grandmother was Webb/Wibb's sister, writes today that the family Bible names him Wibb and that his daughter Ruth, told others at a Coffey family reunion "a number of years ago" that his name was Wibb.

This would be a good time to find a birth certificate.

---

*Elmer C. Gilbreath, compiler, Coffee - Gilbreath - Turnbow Families (Oklahoma City, OK: (Reprint) Gene Brewington from microfilm in LDS Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Orig. Pub. 1958)

[This source gives bride's name as Driscilla Homan. It is likely incorrect. William is known to have had only one wife, Priscilla Howard]

**Howard Cemetery, Enterprise, Maury County Tennessee, online [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~maury/cemetery/HowardCem/Coffey01.htm],

COFFEY, William F., 28 Jan 1830 - Killed 24 Aug 1864. " by Major Howell and Sam Morrow two "local self styled Federals", Mason. (Co. B, 48th Term., C. S. A., married Priscilla Howard on 24 Dec 1850, She was the daughter of Willoughby & Frances [Cochran] Howard). Pricilla removed with her family of six or so children to Collin County, Texas where she lived there with her family until her death in 1899. Photo & info by Wayne Austin 4/10/04.

Bertha Etta (Cookie) Coffey

Leah Meadows
Bertha Etta (Cookie) Coffey was the daughter of James Lawson and Leah Meadows Coffey. She was born Feb. 24, 1883 in Alanthus Grove, Gentry Co., MO and died in 1937.

Other children born to James and Leah were:

Zenfauts, no other information.

James Emerson (Emer), born Oct. 14, 1872, died Jul. 28, 1959

Charles Elmer, born Jun. 3, 1876, died Apr. 22, 1934

Nettie Elizabeth, born Jan. 25, 1880, died Jul. 26, 1962.

Jesse Edward, born Mar. 18, 1885, died Sep. 30, 1960. Jesse married Martha J. Anderson c1904 and had children: James W., born c1906; Bonnie Viola, born Sep. 17, 1913, died Feb. 15, 1919; and Velma.

Unnamed infant daughter, born Feb. 7, 1887, no other information

Lulu Ethel, born Jun. 25, 1880. Lula married Otis Bateman

"Cookie" married Elza Ackert Walker, born Aug. 21, 1884 in Alanthus Grove, died Nov., 1949 in Buchanan Co., MO. Their children were Melvin James, born Nov. 21, 1904, died Aug. 25, 1932; and Martin Edgar, born c1909, died 1976.

Elza was the son of Martin Perry Walker and Mary Frances Coffey. Mary was the daughter of Lawson H. Coffey and Eliza Ann Campbell. James Lawson was a nephew of Lawson, and Lawson was a son of Joel Benjamin and Exea Saphronia Stapp Coffey. James Lawson was a son of Jesse H. Buchanan Coffey and Lucinda Burpo. Jesse was also a son of Joel Benjamin and Exea Stapp Coffey.

Mary Frances Coffey was married twice more after the death of her Walker spouse. She married second to David B. Boatwright on Sep. 6, 1889, probably in MO. Mr. Boatwright had been previously married to Lutushia Wright on Dec. 25, 1873. There was at least one child born to Mary and Mr. Boatwright: Bertha M. Boatwright, born Jun. 12, 1890 and who married Manly Judd. Mary's third marriage was to John Barton.

This family is being researched by Sandy Warde who provided the lineage and the photograph. Sandy wrote:

"I have been researching my line from Lawson H. and James L. Coffey's line who intermingled into my Walker family. They have been an elusive bunch. I do have Mary Francis Coffey's death certificate. She was the daughter of Lawson and Eliza Campbell Coffey. She had three husbands, Abner Walker, David Boatwright, and ( John) Henry C. Barton. She was buried in Stanberry, Missouri under her Walker married name with our Walker family. I also have Eliza Campbell Coffey's death certificate..."

Who did Adolphus Penley Marry?

Adolphus Penley was born Feb., 1864 in Watauga Co., NC, the son of Adolphus W. and Elizabeth Triplett Penley. Adolphus W. was born c1821 in NC and Elizabeth was born there c1835.

Adolphus the younger was found unmarried and living with his parents in the 1870, 1880,1900, and 1910 census record for Blue Ridge Twp., Watauga Co. His mother, Elizabeth Triplett Penley was still living and in the household with Adolphus in 1910. He obviously married sometime between 1910 and 1920 because the 1920 census records him as a widower with two children in the household: Velma Triplett, a daughter, age 18, and Jowe [?] Triplett, a son, age 15.

I presume - always dangerous, of course - that the Triplett name was an error, or he actually gave both children the Triplett name to honor his mother's family. In any event, I have not found a marriage for Adolphus.

His daughter Velma married Milton Leroy Coffey, born Jul. 10, 1900 in Watauga Co. He was the 12th of 13 children born to James C. and Mary Louise Coffey Coffey. James was a son of Jesse Calton and Nancy Raines Coffey while Mary Louise was the daughter of James Asbury and Chainey Gragg Coffey.

Milton and Velma - referred to as Velma Penley in some birth records, and Velma Triplett in others, had at least 13 children:

Ronard Leroy, born Jul. 4, 1921, died Oct. 10, 1999. He married Nina C. Turnmire and produced at least two children: Richard Michael, born 1955 and Marie Marherine, born 1957.

Toss Lee, born Nov. 30, 1922. He did not appear with the family in the 1930 census.

Flocy [sic] Mae, born Nov. 30,1922, died Jul. 22, 1923.

Winnie Lee, born Jun. 12, 1924, married Carol Rhymer Hartley Oct. 16, 1943.

Romy Triplett, born Sep. 11, 1927, died Nov. 18, 1927.

James Adolphus, born Sep. 24, 1928, died May 22, 1961, married Gertrude Green Jun. 30,1951.

Ward Stanley, born Nov. 13, 1930. died Jul. 10,2003.  Married Dorothy Elizabeth Griffith.

Junie Juanita, born Oct. 21, 1933, died Jul. 4, 1974.  Married Tom Howard Walker Sep. 30, 1952.

Reba Julia, born Apr. 9, 1936, died Nov. 4, 2007.  Married Raymond Sylvester Price Mar. 29, 1954.

Sanuel Odous, born Aug. 21, 1938

Mozelle Etta, born Aug. 11, 1940

Mary Wylmouth [sic] [Wilma], born Feb. 16, 1943, died Mar. 17, 2011.  Married 1) Albert Price in 1970; m2 Richard T. Horn

Jeanette Emma, born Sep. 9. 1946

Please contact me if you know who Adolphus married, or wish to add to or correct any of this information.

George Nathan & Lillie Belle (Coffey) Walker

The following is a continuation of the Families of Kimble County [Texas] blog.

George Nathan & Lillie Bell (Coffey) Walker
by Lilburn Walker

George Nathan "Nath" Walker, son of Seth B. Walker & Sarah H. Harrell, was born Jan. 27, 1877 in Erath Co. TX. He was the youngest of 9 children, 5 boys and 4 girls. His father, Seth B. Walker, served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War with Co. F, 11 Regt, TVI [TN Vol. Inf.?].

On Oct. 24, 1899 in Noxville, TX, George Nathan married Lillie Belle Coffey, daughter of John Wright & Mary Adeline (Brown) Coffey. Lillie Belle was born Jul. 15, 1861 in Concho Co., TX. Nath & Lillie had 12 children b. in Kimble Co., TX except Wm. & Susie, b. Menard Co.

Clabe [Claiborne?] Wright, b. Oct. 26, 1900, d. Mar 19, 1981, Kimble Co., TX, m.1) Pearl Seal, m. 2) Cleora Aridia Dodd.

Iva Maude, b. Jul 25, 1903, m. William Oilver "Bill" McKinney.

Simon, b. Jul. 15, 1905 m. Ruth Johnson.

Arthur Holland, b. Oct. 31, 1907, m. 1) Nettie Schmidt, 2) Ollie Davis.

Walter Edd, b. Dec. 21, 1909, m. Jessie Cowsert [Cowert?].

Ola, b. Jan. 26, 1912, m. Paul Foster.

William Henry, b. May 19, 1914, m. 1) Evelyn Nochols, 2) Murdell Rowlett

Susie, b. Dec. 21, 1916, m. 1) George Ivy, 2) Colman Solursh [Solrush?].

Earl, b. Oct. 29, 1919 m. Margie Harper.

Verda Fannie, b. Feb. 21, 1921, m. Phillip Braden.

Myrtle, b. May 13, 1924, married John Lewis Weaver.

Lillie John, b. Apr. 2, 1927 m. Edward Wm. Brown.

Nath and Lillie spent most of their married life on a ranch in Kimble Co. near Noxville, then lived for a few years in Harper. Nath died July 10, 1951 in Harper. Lillie died Dec. 28, 1965 in Menard. Both are buried in Noxville Cemetery.


[Note: In all three of the Families of Kimble County blogs, remarks contained in [brackets] are mine. The authors of the articles were not consistent in grammar, punctuation and syntax. I have added some corrections [not in brackets] to improve the flow.]