Lee Thomas Coffey - Update

Lee Thomas Coffey

Lee was a son of Elijah and Mary Ann Nelson Coffey.  He was born Jun. 24, 1871 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC and died in Minco, Grady Co., OK on Apr. 15, 1952.  He is buried there in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Click on the title link to read an earlier blog about Lee.

His photograph, obituary and biography was provided by John W. Coffey of Raleigh, NC:

Obituary:

Lee T. Coffey was born near Lenoir, North Carolina, June 24, 1871, and passed away April 15, 1952. He was the son of Elijah and Mary Ann Nelson Coffey. Mr. Coffey was educated in the public schools of his native state. After the death of his father in 1891 he took over the management of his father's farm for several years.

In 1906 he came to Minco,Oklahoma and joined his brother-in-law, J.A. Stewart, in the hardware and implement business. After Mr. Stewart's retirement in 1921 he became the sole owner of the business, and operated it until 1943.

Early in life he was converted and became a member of the Advent Christian church near his home. His life was a living testimony of his faith in the saving power of Christ.

On June 29th, 1916, Mr. Coffey was married to Isis Winfree. To this union was born one daughter, Elizabeth, now Mrs. Bill Roby, of Oswego,Illinois.

In addition to his wife and daughter he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. J.A. Stewart of Enid, Oklahoma, and Miss Mary Coffey of Lenoir, North Carolina; also two brothers, John W. Coffey of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Dr. George N. Coffey, of Wooster, Ohio[Typescript of obituary.  Coffey Family Archives.]

Biography:

Lee Thomas Coffey was born in Patterson, Caldwell Co., NC on June 24, 1871, a son of Elijah and Mary Ann Nelson Coffey. After the death of his father, Lee managed the family farm in Happy Valley. He appeared in the 1900 Census in Patterson as head of a household that included his widowed mother. In 1906 he came to Minco, Grady Co., OK, and joined his brother-in-law, James Alexander Stewart, in the hardware and implement business, Stewart & Coffey. After Mr. Stewart's retirement in 1921 Lee became the sole owner of the business, and operated it until 1943. Lee appeared in the 1910 Census in Grady Co., OK listed as a single man in the household with his brother-in-law and older sister Harriet Coffey Stewart. He next appeared in the 1920 Census in Grady Co., with wife Isis and two-year old daughter Elizabeth. Lee died on April 15, 1952 in Minco, Grady Co., OK and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Minco. A typescript obituary records that “Early in life he was converted and became a member of the Advent Christian church near his home. His life was a living testimony of his faith in the saving power of Christ.”

Lee Thomas Coffey and Isis Orpha Winfree were married June 29,1916. They appeared in the 1930 Census in Minco. Isis, the daughter of James M. Winfree and Emma M. (LNU) was born in Beaucoup, Washington Co., IL on May 30, 1890. She appeared in the 1900 Census in Nashville Twp., Washington Co., IL in the household with her parents. At the 1910 Census in St. Louis, MO she was listed as a single woman residing in a boarding house and working in St. Louis. She died on March 10, 1976 in Minco, Grady Co., OK,6 and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Minco.

Lee and Isis had the following child:

i. Elizabeth Mae COFFEY was born in Minco, June 21, 1917.

Elijah and Mary Ann Nelson Coffey

I have just received these photographs from John W. Coffey in Raleigh, NC. He wrote that the beard seen here on Elijah was added to the photo after Elijah died. John also said that he had been told that the beard was lifted from a photo of Lincoln, but he has not been able to verify that.

Elijah was a son of William Coffey, Jr., and his wife Margaret Robbins. William and Margaret married in Caldwell Co., NC in 1829. In addition to Elijah (second born), their other children were: Elbert, Larkin, Bartlett, Cornelius, Elizabeth, Thomas, Mary, Sarah, William and Margaret.

Elijah and Mary Ann were married on June 20, 1867 in Caldwell Co. Mary Ann was born Feb. 23, 1843, a daughter of John M. and Elizabeth Penley Nelson. She died Jan. 6, 1929 in Lenoir, Caldwell Co.

Elijah was born on Buffalo Creek in Wilkes Co., NC on Aug. 20, 1838 and died in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co. on Oct. 6, 1891.

Their children were:

Harriet "Hattie", born May 15, 1868, died Nov. 16, 1954. She married James Alexander Stewart on Dec. 22, 1896 at Harpers Chapel, Patterson Twp.

John William, born Jun. 18, 1869 in Patterson Twp., died Jun. 11, 1960 in Raleigh, Wake Co., NC. He married Frances Elizabeth "Fannie" Little on Dec. 14, 1898 in Raleigh.

Lee Thomas, born Jun. 24, 1871 in Patterson Twp., died Apr. 15, 1952 in Minco, Grady Co., OK. He married Isis Orpha Winfree (Hmmm!) on Jun. 29, 1916. Isis was born May 30, 1890 in Beaucoup, Washington Co., IL and died in Minco on Mar. 10, 1976.

George Nelson, born Jan. 17, 1875 in Patterson Twp., died in Wooster, Wayne Co., OH on Oct. 4, 1967. He married Clara Estella Kean on Apr. 22, 1914 in Wooster. She was born Jan. 29, 1889 in Wooster and died there on Jan. 26, 1926.

The last child I have found is Mary Etta, born May 18, 1880, died Jul. 25, 1971. I have no descendants for her.

John wrote that this photograph was taken of Elijah's widow and children in the front yard of their home. We can see a lot of detail in the home. It must have been a beautiful place when seen in its full color and environment.

I can be reached at the above e-mail address if corrections or additions are needed.

Lee Thomas and Isis Orpha Winfree Coffey

Lee Thomas Coffey was born in North Carolina on Jun 24, 1871, a son of Elijah and Mary Ann Nelson Coffey. He appeared in the census on Jun. 8, 1900 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC as head of a household that included his widowed mother.1 He also appeared in the census on Apr 16, 1910 in Grady Co., OK enumerated as a single man in the household with his brother-in-law, James Alexander Stewart, who had married Harriet Coffey, Lee's older sister. Lee next appeared in the census on Jan. 7, 1920 in Grady Co., OK with Isis and two-year old daughter, Elizabeth.2 Lee died on Apr 15, 1952 in Grady Co., OK and was buried in the Everegreen Cemetery, Minco, Grady Co., OK.3

Lee Thomas and Isis Orpha Winfree were married about 1916. They appeared in the census on Apr 24, 1930 in Minco, Grady Co., OK.4 Isis, the daughter of James M. Winfree and Emma M. (LNU) was born in Illinois on May 30, 1890. She appeared in the census on Jun 11, 1900 in Washington, Nashville Twp., IL in the household with her parents. At the census on Apr 16, 1910 in St. Louis, MO she was enumeraed as a lodger and single woman residing in a boarding house and working in St. Louis.5 She died on Mar 10, 1976 in Minco, Grady Co., OK,6 and was buried in the Everegreen Cemetery, Minco, Grady Co., OK.7

Lee was in the retail hardware business in Minco, and Isis was his bookkeeper.

Lee and Isis had the following children:

i. Elizabeth COFFEY was born in Oklahoma about Jun 1917.


Sources:
1 United States Federal Census for years indicated. 1900 Caldwell Co., Patterson Twp., ED31, Sheet 4B, dwelling/family 78, Coffey, Lee T., head, white male, born June 1871, age 28, single, born NC, parents born NC, farmer; Mary A., mother, white female, born Feb. 1843, age 57, widow, mother of 2, 2 living, born NC, parents born NC; Mary, sister, white female, born May 1880, age 20, single, born NC, parents born NC. [The family of James Nelson, age 25, was a neighbor].
2 Ibid., 1920 Grady Co., Minco town, Union Twp., ED180, Sheet 3A, dwelling 53, family 57, Coffee [sic], Lee T., head, male, white, age 48, married, born NC, parents born NC, hardware merchant; Isis, wife, female, white, age 27, married, born IL, parents born IL; Elizabeth, dau., female, white, age 2 yrs., 7 mos., born OK, father born NC, mother born IL.
3 Rootsweb. [http://www.rootsweb.com/~okcemete/grady/evergreen/c/c2evergreen.htm].
4 United States Federal Census. 1930 Grady Co., Union Twp., Minco town, ED20, Sheet 8B, Second St., dwelling 152, family 171, Coffee [sic], Lee T., head, male, white, age 59, married at age 45, born NC, parents born NC, hardware dealer; Isis O., wife, female, white, age 40, married at age 27, born IL, parents born IL, store bookkeeper; Elizabeth, dau., female, white, age 12, born OK, father born NC, mother born IL.
5 Ibid., 1910 St. Louis city, ED71, Sheet 2B, 1814 Washington St., dwelling 39, family 53, Winfree, Isis O., lodger, female, white, age 20, single, born IL, parents born IL, milliner,.
6 Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc. Name: Isis Coffey SSN: 445-42-8810 Last Residence: 73059 Minco, Grady, Oklahoma, United States Born: 30 May 1890 Died: Mar 1976 State (Year) SSN issued: Oklahoma (1959-1960 ).
7 Rootsweb. [http://www.rootsweb.com/~okcemete/grady/evergreen/c/c2evergreen.htm].

Please contact me at the e-mail address below with additions and/or corrections.

Thanks to Donald M. Coffey of Yorktown, VA for additional information and corrections.