Sixth Generation

1906. Mary Elizabeth Coffey was born on 14 August 1871 in Boone, Watauga Co., NC. Mary died of pneumonia on 28 August 1965 at the age of 94 at home in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC on 29 August 1965.^7131,7132

Mary Elizabeth Coffey and Judge William Ballard Councill^7133,7134 were married on 27 June 1894 in Boone, Watauga Co., NC.⁷¹³⁵ They^⁷¹³⁵ appeared in the census on 4 June 1900 in Watauga Co., NC.⁷¹³⁶ They^⁷¹³⁶ appeared in the census on 16 April 1910 in Catawba Co., NC.⁷¹³⁷ Mary and William^⁷¹³⁷ appeared in the census on 13 January 1920 in Catawba Co., NC.⁷¹³⁸ Judge William Ballard Councill⁷¹³⁹, son of William Bower Councill and Alice Margaret Bostwick, was born on 11 August 1858 in Sumpter Co., SC. Judge Councill died on 1 April 1940 at the age of 81 in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC on 2 April 1940.^{7140,7141,7142}

The Greensboro, N.C., Daily News, Tuesday, April 2, 1940, Page 5, Col. 4

Judge W. B. Councill Stricken at Hickory

Emergency Jurist Dies At Age of 81 - Funeral to Be Held This Morning
Hickory, Apri 1.--William Ballard Councill, 81, former Superior court judge and prominent local attorney, died at his home on Thirteenth avenue at 8 a.m. today.

Judge Councill, who was widely known throughout the state, had been in failing health for several years and had been inactive during the past year.
The funeral will be held at the residence at 10:30 o;clock Tuesday morning. Burial will follow in Oakwood cemetery.

Judge Councill was particularly active in the campaign for the educational qualification amendment to the constitution in North Carolina in 1900. The amendment requiring individuals to be able to read and write to be qualified to vote, became effective in 1908.

Judge Councill was one of three men appointed in 1913 as commissioners to secure a freight rate adjustment with the railroads of the state. He was instrumental in the working out of a compromise agreement which saved North Carolina shippers several millions of dollars annually.

At the time of his death, Judge Councill was an emergency Superior court judge, having been appointed six years ago.

A resident of Hickory for the last 50 years, Judge Councill was born in Sumter county, South Carolina, but his family had been identified with western North Carolina since pioneer times.

He was the son of the late Dr. William Bowers Councill, of Boone, and Mrs. Alice M. Bostwick Councill, of Sumter county, who at the time of her death in 1935 at the age of 102 was the oldest alumna of Salem college.

Judge Councill attended the Finley High academy at Lenoir, and later read law under his uncle, Col. George N. Folk, at Boone. He was licensed to practice in 1881 and for 18 years was engaged in the profession at Boone.
In 1895 he was elected to the state legislature from Watauga county, and in 1898 he was elected to the Superior Court.

While serving on the bench in 1899, Judge Councill moved to Hickory. After one term as Superior court judge, he declined further judicial responsibilities in order to devote his time to the private practice of law. In 1912 he was elected a member of the state senate, and served in the session of 1913.

Judge Councill was a member of the Church of the Ascension, Episcopal.

He is survived by his wife, the former Miss Elizabeth Coffey, daughter of Capt. Thomas J. Coffey, of Watauga county; and three sons and one daughter, as follows: Gordon Stuart Councill; William Thomas Councill; Siedman Coffey Councill and Miss Elizabeth Councill. Two other sons were killed in accidents: Alan Ballard Councill in 1923, and Howard Folk Councill in 1926. One sister, Mrs. Emma Taylor of Asheville survives and there are several grandchildren.

William Ballard Councill was an attorney in Boone, and later served in the North Carolina State Legislature. He was elected as a District Superior Court Judge in 1900 and served until 1910, and was elected to the North Carolina Senate in 1912.

Mary Elizabeth Coffey and Judge William Ballard Councill had the following children:

5616	i.	Howard Folk Councill was born in May 1895 in North Carolina. Howard died in Tisbury, Dukes Co., MA on 31 July 1926 in an airplane crash and was buriedd at Oakwood Cemetery in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC on 5 August 1926 .⁷¹⁴³ Winston-Salem Journal, Winston-Salem, NC, Fri., Aug. 6, 1926 Last Rites Are Held for Flier Body of Lieutenant Councill, Naval Aviator, is Buried at Hickory Killed In Crash Service Comrades Attend the Funeral Hickory, M. C., Aug. 5.--Funeral rites for Lieutenant Howard Folk Councill, naval aviator, who lost his life late Saturday afternoon in a plane accident off Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts Harbor, were held this afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Church of the Ascension, Episcopal. Utmost simplicity marked the services, the only military air being furnished by an honorary escort provided by the Hickory post of the American Legion, which marched beside the casket at it was borne by eight boyhood friends of the dead aviator. Interment was made in Oakwood Cemetery. The body of Lieutenant Councill arrived in Hickory at midnight Wednesday, accompanied by Lieutenant-Commander A. C. Davis. This morning two Dehaviland planes, bearing Lieutenant J. W. Sheehan, Lieutenant William Curtin, Lieutenant Hershey Conant and Aviation Machinist Mate Roberts, reached Hickory. Representatives from the naval department at Washington marched behind the body of their former comrade as it was taken to the cemetery. A severe electrical storm broke shortly before the funeral hour and a heavy rain continued for an hour or more, interfering with the plans of the aviators to fly over the cemetery and drop flowers upon the casket as it was lowered into the grave. The planes left Hickory field this afternoon for Lenoir, going from there to Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, to spend the night before returning to Washington tomorrow. Admiral Moffett, chief of naval aeronautics, made a special stop here last night to pay his respects to the bereaved family of Lieutenant Councill. Admiral Moffett had been spending some time at Blowing Rock and had contemplated bringing Lieutenant Councill with him, but for some reason the plans did not work out and Councill took the fatal trip to Vineyard Harbor instead of coming to Hickory. Lieutenant Councill was the oldest son of Judge and Mrs. W. B. Councill and besides his parents is burvived by three brothers, Gordon Councill, of Rosemary; W. T. Councill of Roanoke Rapids, Stedman Councill of Hickory, and one sister, Miss Elizabeth Councill, of Hickory.
5617	ii.	Gordon Stuart Councill was born in October 1896 in North Carolina. Gordon Stuart was injured injured by moving train on 21 August 1910 in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC.⁷¹⁴⁴ The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC, Mon., Aug. 22, 1910, Page 10 Knocked down by Engine Gordon Councill, 13-Year-Old Son of Judge Councill Has Remarkable Escape at Hickory Grade Crossing - Concussion of Brain Feared Hickory, Aug. 21 - Gordon Councill, the 13-year-old son of Judge W. B. Councill of this city, one of the ablest of the State's superior court judges and one who has sat in not a few railroad accident cases, was knocked down and seriously bruised by the shifting engine yesterday afternoon. The engine pushed the lad off the track and he was picked up by a few horrified men who expected to find him dead. He got up and tried to walk, but said he could not see, and staggered. He was quickly sent home and medical aid summoned. Gordon is a manly little fellow of beautiful manners and loved by every one who knows him. He was on his way to Mr. A. A. Shuford's residence on a errand. As he started to cross the railroad at Fifteenth street where there are four tracks, he saw a freight approaching. He stood on one track waiting for it to pass. Meantime, the shifter approached from a different direction, but fortunately moving slowly. Gordon never saw it and was knocked down and shoved off the track by it. He has one knot on his head the size of a man's fist and other bumps and cuts. No bones were broken. There is some fear that there is a concussion of the brain. The boy has no memory whatever of the accident and his memory of the day's events preceding is vague. He is resting comfortably and there is great hope that he will soon be all right. There are three grade crossings in Hickory which are quite dangerous. Only a few days ago Judge Connor of the Supreme Court was passing through the city and expressed a wonder why gates had not been placed at the crossing at the depot in accordance, he said, with an order which he said he remembered the court's making. It is probable that this accident will result in putting gates at the Fifteenth street depot and the Hotel Huffry crossings. With ten passenger trains a day and countless freights, Hickory's need of gates at these crossings is imperative. Gordon died at Mountain Home Hospital in Johnson City, Washington Co., TN on 5 March 1953 and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC on 6 March 1953 .^7145,7146 Obituary, The Greensboro, Daily News, Greensboro, NC, Fri., Mar. 6, 1952, Page 22 Gordon C. Councill Hickory, March 5--Gordon C. [sic] [S.] Councill, 55, of Hickory, died early today in Mountain Home Hospital at Johnson City, Tenn. The funeral will be held here at the home of his mother, Mrs. W. B. Councill, at 4 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. A native of Watauga County, he was a graduate of the University of North Carolina and Brown University. Councill was a member of the American Legion, having served in World War I. Surviving with his mother, are one sister, one brother and two daughters.
5618	iii.	William Thomas Councill was born on 14 September 1898 in North Carolina. He registered for the WWI draft on 12 September 1918 in Catawba Co., NC.⁷¹⁴⁷ William died in Catawba Co., NC on 15 April 1947 and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC on 17 April 1947 .^7148,7149 Obituary, The Greensboro Daily News, Greensboro, NC, Thu., Apr. 17, 1947, Page 10 William Council [sic] Dies At Hickory Hickory, April 16--William Thomas Councill, 48, Hickory business man and a former state legislator died last night of a cerebral hemorrhage. Funeral will be held at Episcopal Church of the Ascension Thursday at 3 p.m. He was a son of Mrs. W. B. Councill and the late Judge Council. Besides his mother, he is survived by his wife, the former Doris Hutton, a son W. T. Councill, Jr., and two daughters, Miss Mary Councill and Mrs. Doris Councill Yoder of the home, two brothers and a sister. Councill served under Governor Cherry as first lieutenant in a machine gun company formed at Gastonia at the outbreak of World War I. He represented Catawba County in the legislature about 20 years ago.
+5619	iv.	Stedman Cilley Councill.
5620	v.	Alan Ballard Councill was born on 28 April 1904 in North Carolina. Alan died in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC on 12 September 1923 in a motorcycle-automobile collision and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC on 14 September 1923 .^{7150,7151,7152,7153} The Winston-Salem Journal, Winston-Salem, NC, Thu., Sep. 13, 1923, Page 1 Alwin [sic] [Alan] B. Councill Dies When Motorcycle Strokes Automobile Near Hickory Son of Former Judge W. B. Councill, of Boone, Is Killed Instantly Crash Occurred On Sharp Bend In Road Survivors of Wreck Declare Councill Was Gazing Backward Hickory, Sept. 12.--Alwin [sic] [Alan] B. Councill, 20, son of former Judge W. B. Councill, of Boone, was almost instantly killed near here at 5 o'clock this afternoon when the motorcycle which he was riding collided with an automobile owned by B. P. Osborne, of Raleigh and driven by Miss Inez Yoder, of Newton. As the machines collided, Councill was capitulated [sic] over the handlebars of his motorcycle and thrown through the windshield of the automobile, his death resulting about ten minutes later. Prentiff [sic]George, son of John J. George, of Cherryville, N. C., who was riding on the motorcycle with Councill was thrown several feet into the air by the impact and in addition to a broken leg, he suffers other injuries which are considered serious. He was rushed to a hospital in this city soon after the accident where it is reported tonight that his injuries will not prove fatal. Occurred on Curve The accident occurred at a curve in the Central highway about two miles east of this city, and according to persons witnessing the collision, no blame is attached to the driver of the automobile. Sheriff officers who investigated the death are quoted as saying that George and the occupants of the automobile declare that Councill was gazing backward at another motorcycle following in his wake when the wreck occurred. Failing to see the approaching automobile, the driver of the automobile, the driver of the motorcycle is declared to have plunged head-first into the car while going at a rapid rate of speed. Failed to Regain Consciousness As Council was thrown through the windshield, Miss Yoder is quoted as saying she brought the automobile to a stop as quickly as possible and with the aid of Mr. Osbourne, owner of the car, attempts were made to revive Councill. However, the injured man failed to regain consciousness and died ten minuted later which being rushed to a hospital here. Miss Yoder, as well as Mr. Osborne, were crushed by the fatality. After questioning by sheriff's officers, they were permitted to return to Newton. Councill's body was brought here and taken to an undertaking establishment where it will be until claimed by relatives who were informed of the death by long distance telephone. From his bed in the hospital tonight Prentiff George verified the story of the accident as told by Miss Yoder and Mr. Osborne. He is also authority for the statement that Councill was a sophmore at the University of North Carolina and was to have returned to resume his studies early next week.
5621	vi.	Elisabeth Agnes Councill was born on 28 April 1906 in North Carolina. Elisabeth died at Abernethy Center in Newton, Catawba Co., NC on 11 August 1998 and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Hickory, Catawba Co., NC in August 1998 .⁷¹⁵⁴ Obituary, The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC, Thu., Aug. 13, 1998 Elisabeth Agnes Councill, 92, died Tuesday, August 11, 1998, at Abernethy Center in Newton after a period of declining health. A lifelong resident of Hickory, she was the last surviving child of Judge W.B. and Bettie Coffey Councill. In addition to her parents, Miss Councill was preceded in death by five brothers, Alan, Howard, Gordon, Stedman and William T. Councill. She was the oldest member of the congregation of Hickory's Episcopal Church of Ascension, where she was active for more than 70 years. Until her retirement in the mid-1960s, Miss Councill was employed by the Hickory Public Schools. She taught English to several generations of students at Hickory High School, and later in her career served as City School Librarian, overseeing the libraries at all of Hickory's schools. Her many activities over the years included membership in the Altrusa Club, the Do-As-You-Please Club, and the Council for the Arts. She attended Fassifern Academy and graduated from Sweet Briar College in Lynchburg, Virginia. She received her Master's degree in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Until recent years, Miss Councill remained involved in civic affairs, traveled, and visited with numerous Hickory residents on the front porch of the Councill house, which was built by her family in 1902 at the corner of Highway 127 and Third Avenue N.E. Miss Councill is survived by four nieces, Doris Councill Patton of Hickory, Mrs. Alan Barnes of Owensboro, Kentucky, Mrs. Leonard Perkins of Lemon Grove, California, JoAnn DuPre of Covington, Louisiana; and a number of great-nieces and nephews including Jean C. Yoder of Hickory. A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, August 14, 1998, at Oakwood Cemetery, Hickory. The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday at Bass-Smith Funeral Home, Hickory. Rev. John Southern will officiate. Memorials may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 726 First Ave., N.W., Hickory, NC 28601. Bass-Smith Funeral Home is in charge. [NEED TO DEFINE SENTENCE:Misc.]