Seventh Generation

2816. Benjamin Coe "Ben" Coffey was born on 24 November 1845 in Russell Co., KY.¹⁰¹⁶⁹ In 1846 Ben moved with his parents to Springfield, Sangamon Co., IL, and in 1857 he moved with them to Shelby Co., IL. Benjamin enlisted in the Co. C, 3rd Ill Cavalry on 2 March 1865 at Shelby Co., IL.¹⁰¹⁷⁰ Ben died on 16 May 1927 at the age of 81 in Bixby, Tulsa Co., OK and was buried at Green Bay Cemetery in Humeston, Wayne Co., IA.¹⁰¹⁷¹

Obituary, Humeston New Era, May 1927

DEATH OF B.C. COFFEY

"Uncle Ben" Coffey, who had spent the winter in Oklahoma, died there near Bixby last Friday; the body was brought back here for burial accompanied by Rea Coffey of Bixby, Ellis of Mounds and John of Stone Bluff, arriving Saturday afternoon. Funeral services were held at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon at Unity church, with Rev. Corts preaching the sermon, and burial was made in Green Bay cemetery.

B.C. Coffey was born A.D. 1846, Nov. 24th in Russell County, Kentucky; he departed this life May 20, 1927 at the home of his son Ellis E. in Oklahoma. He was the eldest son of Newton and Martha L Coffey, the eldest son of a family of thirteen children.

His parents moved to Illinois in October 1846, settled sixteen miles west of Springfield, lived there until September 1857, then moved to Shelby County, lived there with his parents until March 2, 1865, when he enlisted in the Third Illinois Cavalry Co. C. On returning home he moved to Christian county, Illinois. On Feb 23, 1871 he was united in marriage to Lucy Barbre of Sullivan Co. Indiana; to this union were born three children, two sons and a daughter; Ellis E, Cleveland C. and Lena L. They moved to Indiana March 1, 1873, lived there unitl Sept. 19, 1885, moved back to Christian Co., Ill.

This beloved wife and mother was called from this world of sorrow and pain in her home above Dec. 30, 1887. He then was united in marriage to Miss Annie M Barbre, Nov. 28, 1888. They moved to Wayne County, Iowa Sept 16, 1890. To this union was born one son John July 20, 1894.

He leaves to mourn his loss, a wife, four children, twenty grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, one brother, one sister, besides a host of other relatives and friends. He claimed Christ as his Savior, Dec. 27, 1870, united with the Providence Baptist Church of Christian County Illinois, in May 1871, was baptized by Rev. H Kelley. After moving to Iowa, united with the Unity Baptist Church by letter Feb. 1891. After moving near Cambria he united with the Cambria Baptist Church by letter and remained until called away by death."

E-Mail from Loren Jenkins (lorenjenkins@aol.com), Jun. 14, 2005 to Jack Coffee:

When you were here we talked about the children of Benjamin & Anna Maria. I think I recall that you had three children, while I only have one. We finally got to the library and checked the 1900 census for Benton Township,Wayne County, Iowa and we found the following: Coffey, Benjamin C Head; Ann M, Wife; John, Son; Cleavland, Son by Lucy Barbre; Stella M., Daughter-in-law; Hazel M. Grand daughter; James B., Grand son; Coffey, Tom, Nephew.

I have a copy of this page of the census and I would be happy to send one to you if you would like to have it. Just let me know.

E-Mail from Jack Coffee to Loren Jenkins, Jun. 23, 2005:

Who was the father of Tom? I cannot find in the info that you gave me any of Benjamin Coe's brothers with a son named Tom or Thomas.

E-Mail from Loren Jenkins to Jack Coffee, Jun. 24, 2005:

Birch Coffey & Melissa Slater are the Parents of Charles Thomas Coffey.
The Children are: 1. Walter 2. Lila A. 3. Birch 4. Lucy 5. Clara Coffey 6. Charles Thomas 7. William 8. Nathaniel 9. John 10. Fredrick 11. Sarah 12. Doris Ernestine 13. James Kenneth

E-Mail from Jack Coffee to Loren Jenkins, Jun. 25, 2005:

In 1900 Malissa was enumerated as a widow in the household with her son, Walter. Also in the household are children Nathaniel, John, Frederick and Sarah. Malissa reported that she was the mother of 8 children, and 8 were still living in 1900.

You show that she had 13 children, and I have nine as follows:

Walter (born Mar 1874), Lila A. (born 1876), Birch, Jr. (born Dec. 1876), Lucy (born 1879), Clara (born 1880), Nathaniel (born Feb. 1887), John (born Nov. 1888), Frederick (born Feb. 1891), Sarah (born Oct. 1892)

Which information is correct?

E-Mail from Loren Jenkins to Jack Coffee Jun.. 26, 2005:

The Children, which I have for Birch and Melissa are:

1. Walter, b 1874 in IL. 2. Lila A., b 1876 in IL 3. Birch, b Dec. 1876 in IL. His birth date was found in the 1900 census soundex 4. Lucy, b 1879 in IL 5. Clara , b 1880 in IL 6. Charles Thomas, b Aug 28, 1881 in IL. He married Maude Abel, Jan 23, 1901 in Wayne County, IA' b Oct 17, 1883 in Wayne County, IA, died Aug 1970 in Wayne County, IA 7. William, b Jul 6, 1883 Christian County, IL 8. Nathaniel, b Feb 1887 in IL 9. John, b Nov 1888 in IL 10. Fredrick, b Feb 1891 in IL 11. Sarah, b Oct 1891 in IL 12. Doris Ernestine, b Feb 26, 1912 in Wayne County IA; died Apr 4 1937. Doris married an Adams. Death records in Taylorville do not give husband's given name. 13. James Kenneth, b Jan 21, 1915 in Wayne County IA; died Jan 11, 1997 There are a number of years between Sarah's birth and Doris & James. it certainly raises a question about these two.

E-Mail from Jack Coffee to Loren Jenkins, Jun. 26, 2005: [comments in bold in this e-mail reply are mine]

Thanks for the info. Check my comments, and let me know what you think.

Jack

At 09:12 PM 6/26/2005, Lorenrjenkins@aol.com wrote:

The Children, which I have for Birch and Melissa are: 1. Walter, b 1874 in IL. 2. Lila A., b 1876 in IL 3. Birch, b Dec. 1876 in IL. His birth date was found in the 1900 census soundex. All of above found in 1900 census! 4. Lucy, b 1879 in IL [Was not enumerated in the 1880 census] 5. Clara , b 1880 in IL 6. Charles Thomas, b Aug 28, 1881 in IL. He married Maude Abel, Jan 23, 1901 in Wayne County, IA' b Oct 17, 1883 in Wayne County, IA, died Aug 1970 in Wayne County, IA [Could have been a son; can't check 1890 census! Where was he in 1900?!] 7. William, b Jul 6, 1883 Christian County, IL [Would have been 17 in 1900, and perhaps already married!?] 8. Nathaniel, b Feb 1887 in IL 9. John, b Nov 1888 in IL 10. Fredrick, b Feb 1891 in IL 11. Sarah, b Oct 1891 in IL

All of above found in 1900 census

12. Doris Ernestine, b Feb 26, 1912 in Wayne County IA; died Apr 4 1937. Doris married an Adams. Death records in Taylorville do not give husband's given name.
13. James Kenneth, b Jan 21, 1915 in Wayne County IA; died Jan 11, 1997

There are a number of years between Sarah's birth and Doris & James. it certainly raises a question about these two.

Loren

I agree with your comment re: question about Doris and James. Malissa was a widow in 1900 census. She was 44 that year, and would have been at least 55 when Ernestine was born, and 58 when James was born. I find that a bit unlikely.

E-Mail from Loren Jenkins to Jack Coffee Jun. 28, 2005:

I did some checking yesterday and found a couple of items. Charles Thomas is the Tom Coffey we found in the 1900 census listed with Benjamin and Anna Maria. He was listed as a nephew and Birch was the only brother I found with a "Tom" in the family.

Doris Ernestine, I found in the 1920 Census, Christian County, Illinois to be a daughter of Walter, the first child of Birch and Melissa.

I will do some checking with a friend in Iowa and see if he can tell me anything about James Kenneth, also, I will try to fill in something on Lucy.

We may get this narrowed down some time, I feel that where it said that Birch & Mellissa had 8 children, possibly meant that there were 8 at home when the census was taken. So many facts just raises more questions.

Loren

E-Mail from Loren Jenkins to Jack Coffee, 29 Jun. 2005:

Got the 1880 census for Stonington Twsp, Christian County, IL., and found that Lucy was enumerated there, also, her younger sister, Clara, who was born in 1880.

Charles Thomas, this is the Tom, the Nephew who was living with Benjamin C & Anna Maria in the 1900 Census for Wayne County, Iowa.

William, I did not find him on the census, he may, as you say, have been married or he might have died.

Now for the one which is up for grabs: As I told you, I found Doris as the daughter of Walter, 7 years of age. Today, I found in the 1930 census, Doris E. as the daughter of Thomas C. 17 years of age, what a coincidence. Also the James Kenneth, which was the 13th child of Birch, turns out to be the son of Thomas C. Both Doris and James were born in Iowa.

The 1920 census listed the following Coffey, Walter 47, Katherine 39, Elmer 19, Cecilia 17, Alberta 15, Thelma 12, Ester 10, Doris 7, Alllen 1, That is about all I know to do, if you have and questions or comments, let me know.

Loren

Benjamin Coffey and Lucy Barbre were married on 23 February 1871 in Sullivan Co., IN.¹⁰¹⁷² They¹⁰¹⁷² appeared in the census on 12 June 1880 in Jackson Twp., Sullivan Co., IN.¹⁰¹⁷³ Lucy Barbre, daughter of Jesse Barbre and Susan Weeks, was born on 5 May 1846 in Sullivan Co., IN. Lucy died in Stonington, Christian Co., IL on 30 December 1887 and was buried at Ponting Cemetery in Stonington, Christian Co., IL in December 1887 .¹⁰¹⁷⁴

Benjamin Coe "Ben" Coffey and Lucy Barbre had the following children:

After Lucy's death, Benjamin Coffey and Anna Barbre¹⁰¹⁷⁵ married on 29 November 1888 Christian Co., IL.^10176,10177 Benjamin and Anna^10176,10177 appeared in the census on 27 June 1900 and again on¹⁰¹⁷⁸ 10 April 1910 in Wayne Co., IA.¹⁰¹⁷⁹ In 1920 Benjamin and Anna¹⁰¹⁷⁹ lived in Wayne Co., IA with their son Cleveland. Anna Maria Barbre, daughter of Jesse Barbre and Susan Weeks, was born on 22 May 1859 in Farmersburg, Sullivan Co., IN. She lived with her brother-in-law Milton Stark in Jackson Twp., Sullivan Co., IN on 12 June 1880. Anna Maria died on 21 July 1927 at the age of 68 in Mounds, Creek Co., OK and was buried at Green Bay Cemetery in Humeston, Wayne Co., IA.¹⁰¹⁸⁰

Obituary, Humeston New Era, Wednesday July 27, 1927

Mrs. B.C. Coffey

Annie M Barbre was born March 22, 1859, near Farmersburg, Vigo Co. Indiana, and departed this life at the home of E. E. Coffey, at Mounds, Okla. July 21, 1927, aged 68 years, 4 months and 29 days.

She was the daughter of Jesse and Susan Barbre, the youngest child of a family of seven children. Her parents died when she was a small girl, after this she made her home with her sister Almeda Stark.

She claimed Christ as her Savior at the age of eleven years. Whenever health permitted she was always about her Lord's work.

She was united in marriage to B.C. Coffey Nov. 28, 1888 in Christian County, Illinois. To this union was born one son, John of Stone Bluff, Oklahoma.

She always strived to raise his (B.C.'s) children in the right as much as he did her own. She was always trying to find something to do for others. Never thinking of herself. She was anxious to leave this world and was only spared about two months after the death of her husband.

She leaves to mourn her loss John, of Stone Bluff, Okla.; E.E. of Mounds, Okla.; Ophey and Mrs. Lena Robinson both of Humeston; twenty grand children, sixteen great grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was laid to rest in the Green Bay Cemetery beside her husband. Four grandsons and two nephews acted as pall bearers. The song, "Shall We Meet Beyond the River" was sung by the granddaughters at the open grave, the same as for her husband, which was his request.

Benjamin Coe "Ben" Coffey and Anna Maria Barbre had the following children: