Coffey Books Available

Author Betty White Martin grew up in Morristown and White Pine, TN, the only child of Lonnie White.  She has Coffey ancestry that extends all the way back to Edward and Ann Powell Coffey.

Her grandfather was John McHenry White, a son of Susan Isabelle Dalton White.  Susan was the daughter of of Carter and Nancy Whitsett Dalton.  Carter Dalton was a son of Matilda Coffey, wife of Tandy Witcher Dalton.  Matilda was a daughter of George and Margaret Rucker Coffey. 

Nancy Whitsett Dalton was the daughter of Elizabeth Coffey, wife of Nathan Whitsett and later, wife of George W. Hayes.  Elizabeth Coffey was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Rucker Coffey.

Betty has authored at least three books containing photos and some history of these families.  I have also documented them rather extensively in The Edward Coffey Project.

Our Coffey and Dalton Families In Photos, which begins with descendants of Cleveland Coffey and his wife, Susan Hayes.


Ramblings From the North Side of Clinch Mountain A pictorial history of the early families of Thorn Hill, Grainger Co., TN.

A Woman of Vim and Vigor which is based loosely on the life of Nancy Whitsett Dalton Cozart.  She was the daughter of Elizabeth Coffey and Nathan P. Whitsett.  Nancy married twice; beginning in 1854* to Carter Coffey Dalton with whom she had at least five children: Susan who married Thomas Jefferson White; James Tandy, married Mary Emeline Jackson; Betty; Tennessee, who married Perry Singleton and, Pleasant.  There may have been others because it was seven or more years between Tennessee, born 1867 and Pleasant, born c1874.  

Carter and Nancy apparently divorced because they were married a second time in 1860**.  When Carter died in 1877 Nancy had an affair with his uncle, Anderson Dalton and had two more children, Matilda, born c1877 and Milton, born in 1880.  Nancy seems to have also had an affair with her former father-in-law, Tandy Witcher Dalton, a brother to Anderson and had another child, Charles S.  

Tandy did not die until 1909 so they likely divorced as well for on Oct. 13, 1888 she married James Wiley Cozart.  No children are known from that union. 

These books are very reasonably priced and available on Amazon.com.  They can be reviewed and purchased by clicking on the title of each book. E-mail me if you would like to discuss these books with the author.

*https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8YC-1LX
** https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8Y8-7VH

Eli Coffey (1825-1899)

This Eli was a son of James M. & Frances Lane Coffey.  He was born Oct. 6, 1825 in Gallatin Co., IL and died in Hamilton Co., that state, on Oct. 7, 1899.  I believe that in his 74 years, Eli was married at least three times.

The first wife that I am aware of was Nancy Russell, born c1827 in TN to James and Margaret McCarter Russell.  She and Eli are thought to have married on Jun. 17, 1852 in Hamilton Co.  They were there for the 1860 census of that county.  Eli was 32, Nancy 23 and their children were Frances M., age 7, Malvina J., age 5, Louisa E., age 3 and James A., age 5 months.  Another child credited to them was Thomas R., born in 1863 and died in 1864.

Melvina Jane was born Jan. 15, 1856 and died Apr. 20, 1932 in Hamilton Co.  She married Alexander Franklin "Frank" Laswell, born Oct., 1857 in IL, died in Hamilton Co. in 1905.  Their children were James Frank; William A.; Dalton; and Walter.  Frank, Melvina and son James Frank are known to be buried at the Rector Cemetery in Walpole, Hamilton Co., IL

James A. was born c Jan 1860 in IL and died Mar. 3, 1929 in Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO.  I believe he was twice married, his first wife's name unknown.  The 1900 census finds James and then wife Henry Etta [sic] in Benton Twp., Fulton Co., AR.  He and Henrietta had been married for only six years yet the oldest child in the home was Saloma [sic], age 13.  Children who I believe were born to James and Henrietta were: Ora, c1898; Rosa D., Feb., 1900 and Lora A, c1903.  James' death certificate gives his full name as James A. Chiless Coffey, born Oct. 6, 1855.  However, we see from the 1900 census that he was born in Oct., 1859.  I choose to believe the census record to be more correct.  Henrietta's death certificate named her parents as Jack Thomason and E. Blackshire.  She died Mar. 14, 1929 in Kansas City, MO, 11 days following the death of James.  Both are buried at Maple Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, Wyandotte Co., KS.

In the 1870 record for Hamilton Co., Eli was enumerated with a wife (apparently) named Melbonia [sic], age 40.  Children were Louisa and James A., from his first marriage, and Mary E., age 4; Samuel, age 2; and Nancy, age 11 mos., all seemingly from this second wife.  The only child that I have any info about is Mary.  She is said to have married James William Holland in IL c1889 and given birth to at least four:  John, Henry, Ella J. and Nellie.

Eli's third wife was Nancy Ellen Foster to whom he was married on Oct. 10, 1872 in Hamilton Co.  Nancy was born Nov. 10, 1845 in IL and died in Hamilton Co. on Apr. 15, 1879.  Their children known to me were: Modesty Ann, Sarah, and John Eli.

Modesty was born in Oct.,1874 and married c1899 to Thomas Warren McKay, born Jan.,1860 in IL.  Their children were:  Anna Beulah, Dora E., Melvina, Sarah E., James, William E., and Louis Elton.

Sarah, born Feb., 1876, married  Samuel Lloyd Holland, born c1861 in IL and very likely to be close kin to James William who married Sarah's half-sister, Mary E.  Their children were:  Riley, Jessie, Samuel, Charlie, James, and Sarah.

John Eli was born Jan. 25, 1878 in IL and died in Hamilton Co. on Mar. 22, 1952.  He married Sarah E. Shaptaw on Oct. 21, 1900 in Hamilton Co.  Sarah was the daughter of Valentine and Lucinda Whitsett Shaptaw and was born in June, 1883, died 1953 in Hamilton Co.  Both are buried at the Rector Cemetery.  Their children were: Lucinda, John Elvis, Janie Evelyn, Mamie Ellen, Alvin Floyd, Resia [sic] Ethel; Newman Arthur; Othel Leman, and Roy Lee.  The only on that I have additional info about is Alvin.  He married a lady named Hazel c1927 n IL and they had Grace, born c. Nov., 1927.

Hopefully, I have the wives and children sorted correctly.  Please e-mail any corrections and/or additions.  I would especially like to know who "Mebonia" was.

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The Rector Cemetery appears to be about 2.5 miles due east of Walpole at coordinates 37.93385, -88.59622. Cut and paste into Google Maps for exact location. Or, visit Find A Grave to see burials.

Milton Carter Dalton Family

Milton Carter Dalton was a son of Carter and Nancy Elizabeth Whitsett Dalton. Carter was a son of Tandy Witcher and Matilda Coffey Dalton while Nancy Elizabeth was a daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth Coffey Whitsett.

Matilda and Elizabeth were double first cousins, descendants of Benjamin Coffey and Mary Hayes as well as Colby Rucker and Sarah Roberts.

Milton was the seventh of at least eight children born to Carter and Nancy. He was born Dec. 20, 1879 in Tazewell, Claiborne Co., TN. I believe that he married Elizabeth Jane Owens, born Aug. 4, 1876 and died Nov., 1941.

According to the 1920 census [not yet found in 1900 or 1910], their children were Cassie, born c1904; James C., born c1906; Andrew, born c1907; and Fred, born c1914.

The photograph - source unknown - is said to be one of Nancy Elizabeth Whitsett Dalton, Cassie, Milton Carter and Elizabeth Jane with James C. on her lap.

Please contact me if you are the source of the photograph, or can add to or correct any of the family information.