Sixth Generation

708. Salathial "Sail" Coffey^{3003,3004,3005,3006} was born on 20 April 1812 in Logan Co., KY.⁵⁵⁹ Salathial petitioned courts to be appointed guardians of orphans "Lentitia" and Mary Catherine Regan [sic], children of his deceased daughter Letitia Ellen Coffey and her husband, Thomas Jefferson Reagan. Court orders Letters of Guardianship to be issued and appoints John M. McKinney, Andrew Lewis and William S. Coffey as appraisers of the children's estate.³⁰⁰⁷

Estate of LENTITIA & MARY CATHERINE REGAN, Minors.
 
"This day Comes SAYLES COFFEY by Petition and also in person and Represents to the Court that LENTITIA and MARY CATHERINE REGAN are orphans and minors under the age of 14 years living in Collin County and that they have real and personal property Situated in Collin County and represents that he is grandfather and next of Kin to Said orphans and asks that he may be appointed Guardian of the Persons & Estates of Said Minor children. Appearing to the Court that due notice has been given and no person appearing to Court the Same or Show cause why said appointment should not be made, It is ordered by the Court that Said Prayer be granted and that Said SAYLES COFFEY be and are hereby appointed Guardian of LENTITIA & MARY CATHERINE REAGEN, minors under 14 years of age and upon his giving Bond and taking the oath as the law prescribed, Letters of Guardianship shall issue to him. And that JOHN M. McKINNEY,ANDREW LEWIS & WILLIAM S. COFFEY be and are hereby appointed appraisers to appraise Said Estate."
Salathial died on 29 May 1892 at the age of 80 in Collin Co., TX and was buried at Fitzhugh Cemetery in Forest Grove, Collin Co., TX.^3008,3009

Will of Salathiel Coffey, found in Book L, page 19, Probate Minutes, Collin Co., TX

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN: I, S. Coffey, a citizen of Collin County, Texas being of sound and disposing mind, but fully aware of the uncertainty of human life do make, publish and declare this as my last will and testament hereby revoking any and all wills by me at any heretofore made.

FIRST: It is my wish that my body be buried in a decent Christian manner suitable to fit my station in life.

SECOND: I direct that all my just debts be paid as soon as practicable after my death by my executors hereinafter named and in this connection it ... my will that my said executors shall purchase and place at, or upon my grave a suitable monument or tombstone.

THIRD: The property of which I am seized and possessed is community property between me and my beloved wife, Mary Ann Coffey, and I own one half of the same as both my said wife and myself have children by former marriages, each of us have this day made and executed wills bequeathing our property to our respective children. I therefore will devise and bequeath all my property of which I may die seized and possessed to the following persons who are my children and grandchildren and in the following proportions to-wit: One tenth to W.S. Coffey; One tenth to Mrs. Harriet Whisenant, wife of R. B. Whisenant; One tenth to Taylor Coffey; One tenth to Mrs. Nancy Jane Leggett, wife of Joseph Leggett; One tenth to Sterling Coffey; One tenth to Margaret Kirby, wife of John Kirby; One tenth to Josie Kirby, wife of George Kirby, all of whom reside in Collin County, Texas; and One tenth to W. M. Coffey who now lives in Indian Territory; one twentieth to Lettie Rexrode, wife of David Rexrode, and One Twentieth to Mary Catherine Thomas, these last two named are my grandchildren, their mother and my daughter, Lettie Regan being long since deceased. All of the above named Legatees except Sterling Coffey, Martha Kirby, and Josie Kirby are children by my first wife, Nancy Coffey, and who died in the state of Kentucky in 1852 and the three first above named are my children by my present wife, Mrs. Mary Ann Coffey.

It is my will that all of my property of every character and description and wheresoever situated and whether real personal mixed money notes accounts or chooses in action shall descend and vest in the above named persons in the proportions as hereinabove stated and in case any of the said legatees shall die before I do, then it is my wish that the child or children of such legate or legatees so dying if any and if no child or children then the legal heirs of such legatee or legatees devisee or devisee shall receive the proportion of my estate herein bequeathed to such devisee or devisee so dying as aforesaid.

FOURTH: I nominate, constitute and appoint John M. McKinney and W. F. Wolford as executors of this my last will and testament and direct that no bond or security be required of them discharging the trusts herein imposed upon them and the action be had in the Probate Court in reference to my estate except to probate this will and return an inventory of my estate, and if only one of said above named executors shall qualify, then he shall have the same powers rights and privileges and shall act under the same limitations and instructions as if both had qualified.

FIFTH: All interlineations and erasures in the above WILL were made prior to the signing of the same.

SIXTH: In testimony whereof, I, the said S. Coffey, have hereto set my had this 15th day of March, 1889, in the presence of H.A. Finch and W.H. Garrett, who have hereto signed their names as witnesses at my request in my presence and in the presence of each other, both of said witnesses being over the age of fourteen years.

S. Coffey

Attest as witnesses:
Henry A. Finch
M. H. Garrett Filed June 6, 1892, M. W. Keen, Co. Clerk

A History of Collin County, Texas

"Salathial Coffey, the fifth child of Eli and Mary Coffey, was born in Kentucky on April 20, 1812. He was married twice. Children by his first wife, Nancy Dunbar Coffey, were: William Stanley, Z. T., Mint W., Mrs. Joe Liggett, and Mrs. Alonzo Richards. His second wife, Mrs. Mary A. Ballew, had six children by a previous marriage to Houston Ballew. There were: Mrs. John Horton, Mrs. John Whisenant, Mrs. G. W. Bigler, J. W. Ballew, and two children who died young. Salathiel and his second wife, Mary A., and their children came to Texas in 1855 from Russell County, Kentucky, and in 1857 settled near Allen. The trip to Texas, which required six weeks, was made in one ox-team wagon, three horse-drawn wagons, and one buggy.

"Salathial and Mary A. Coffey were the parents of three children, Sterling P., Mrs. John C. Kerby, and Mrs. George Kerby. Will A. Kerby, who was sheriff of Collin County from 1924 to 1928, was a son of Mrs. John C. Kerby. In addition to their own children, Salathial Coffey and his wife reared several orphans and materially assisted W. F. Wolford, a son and his sister. Wolford later practiced medicine in Allen for many years.

"Salathial Coffey served as county commissioner of Collin County from 1862 to 1864. He died in 1892 and his wife died on December 15, 1900."

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Collin County, Texas History

Salathiel Coffey was born in Russell county, Kentucky, April 20, 1812. His father, Eli, was born in North Carolina, May 8, 1775, moved to Kentucky when a young man and there died July 18, 1833. He was a boot and shoe maker by trade and spent most of his early life in the shoe shop, but after going to Kentucky turned his attention to farming and distilling. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Coffey. She was born in North Carolina, September 7, 1782, and died in Kentucky about 1873. She born him twelve children, the fifth of whom, Salathiel, was reared in Kentucky on the home farm and in his father's distillery. In 1855 Salathiel came to Texas and in 1857 settled on the farm where he now resides. He is an extensive farmer and a large land-owner; although he came to Texas poor and has dug what he has out of the ground. August 20, 1835, he married Miss Nancy Danbar [sic] of Kentucky. She bore him nine children - Willis S., Jesse P., Lettie, Mary A., William S., Harriet, Milton, Zachariah T. and Nancy J. Mrs. Coffey died November 14, 1853, and May 10, 1854 Mr. Coffey married Mrs. Mary A. (Ballew) McFarlan [sic] of Kentucky. To this union have been born three children - Margaret E., Josie C., and Sterling P. The family are members of the Baptist church.

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TENTH ANNUAL COFFEY FAMILY REUNION HELD IN M’KINNEY JULY 25
McKinney Daily Courier Gazette July 29, 1937

"Delightful Day Spent in Feasting and social Intermingling of Relatives Who Gathered From Widely Scattered Homes—Former county Commissioner Homer L. Coffey Retiring President and Earl Walker His Successor For Ensuing Year.

"An enjoyable reuniting of the many branches of the long established Coffey family of Collin County was held at Finch Park Sunday when more than 150 members with several friends, gathered for the tenth annual reunion.

"Descendants of Salathial Coffey and wife, who founded this brand of the Coffey family in this county, more than eighty-two years ago, were present from Texas and Oklahoma for the occasion.

"At noon, a bounteous table luncheon, consisting of quantities of excellent food was spread under the beautiful pecan trees of Finch Park and all those who could be present gathered once more to break bread together.

"Members of the family ranging from S. P. Coffey of McKinney, son of Salathial Coffey, down to little four-months old Robert Frank Barry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Barry and great-great-grandson of Salathial Coffey were present.

"Following the luncheon those present arranged themselves in a family semi-circle for a short, informal yet interesting program presided over by Homer L. Coffey of McKinney, Chairman of the Reunion group this year.

"Miss Leona Richards of Allen, Secretary, read the minutes.

"Short talks were made by many of those present and officers for next year elected. Earl Walker, young McKinney business man, was elected General Chairman and M. P. Coffey of Ardmore, Okla., Out-of-Town Chairman for members residing outside McKinney and Collin County. Mrs. Frank Orr was elected Secretary for next year.

"An Executive Committee composed of F. S. (Tine) Kerby of Farmersville and Mrs. J. Woot Mallow of McKinney was elected and a Program Committee of Miss Hallie Coffey, Mrs. Walker Holland, and Mrs. Earl Walker all of McKinney elected to arrange the program for next year’s meeting.

"Gabe Kerby of McKinney dismissed the group with prayer. The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. A. H. Snider.

"The Secretary was instructed to write a letter to Mrs. Nancy Jane Liggett of Vashti, one of the two surviving children of Salathial Coffey, who was unable to attend because of illness.

"The gathering was one of the most enjoyable family reunions ever held in this county and because of the widespread careers of the various members of the family, it was most enjoyable from a social standpoint, for many of the members had not been able to greet each other since the 1936 gathering or longer.

***

Coffey Family Reunion Notes.

Among the names associated with the descendants of Salathial Coffey is that of Dungan, which has long been a respected family group of McKinney. Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Dungan, who reside on Route 3, McKinney, in the New Hope community are the parents of several fine sons, who have earned themselves excellent reputations and are well established young men. Mrs. Dungan was a daughter of Taylor Coffey, a son of Salathial Coffey. There are five sons and one daughter including: E. H. Dungan of McKinney, connected with the Leonard’s Department Store: A. L. Dungan, who is associated with the J. P. Dowell big hardware establishment, where he has been for twelve years: Willie T. Dungan, Allis-Chalmers Farm machinery representative for the McKinney District: Clarence Dungan of the Ne Hope community; Mrs. Mary Ruth Atterbury, wife of Prof. J. W. Atterbury of McKinney, and Joe at home. Most of the W. A. Dungan family were present for the reunion.

***
P. A. (Pat) Kerby, an official in the State Department of Health, at Austin, a brother of Gabe Kerby of McKinney and a grandson of Salathial Coffey was present for the occasion. Pat is an excellent speaker and made a short address concerning the Coffey family and its mutual bond of relations that was greatly appreciated. He was accompanied here for the reunion by his wife.

***
Sales Coffey, a grandson of Salathial Coffey, who is a member of the city detectives, at Amarillo, Texas, where he has been for a number of years was present with his family. He is a son of former Sheriff Will Coffey and is a brother of Mrs. S. E. Walker of McKinney; Mrs. W. W. Goode of Plano; Homer L. Coffey of McKinney; R. H. Coffey, of Lucan, and Dr. John Coffey of Benjamin, Texas., He was accompanied here by his wife and son, Billy.

***
An interested family member at the reunion was Dr. F. E. Richards of Bonham. He was accompanied here by his wife and son, Forrest Richards. He is a grandson of Salathial Coffey and a son of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Richards of Allen. He is practicing veterinary at Bonham.

***
Among those called on to make talks were Postmaster Water B. Wilson, a member of the family group by adoption and not by blood, nor marriage. He has attended all ten of these annual family affairs. The first one was held in 1928. All have been held in Finch Park except one, about three years ago, which on account of rain, was adjourned to the McKinney City Coliseum where dinner was spread and a program rendered. Mr. Wilson alluded to the fact that it has been eighty-two years since his numerous branch of the Coffey family had been transplanted from Russell County, Kentucky, to Collin County, Texas, by Salathial Coffey and wife. This rugged pioneer couple made the long journey to Texas by wagon and carriage They had a large family of children and became the parents of several others after settling here in Texas, one of them being S. P. Coffey, prominent McKinney business man and banker. He is the only child of Salathial Coffey and wife living in this county at the present time. The only other living child is Mrs. Nancy Jane Liggett of Vashti, Clay County, older than Mr. Coffey and unable to attend this year’s celebration. A letter of regrets has been written to her by the Secretary of the organization by direction of a rising vote of those present. Salathial Coffey was born in1812, and died in 1892, being eighty years old at the time of his death. Besides rearing a large family of children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Coffey also reared six or eight orphans. Their children were all prominent in their respective communities and in turn have reared fine families of children, many of whom have been honored with public office and with other forms of leadership. Mr. Wilson reminded the children and younger generation of the family that they had been bequeathed a high and precious heritage from their forbears and he bespoke the maintenance of their family good name by those coming on of the younger generation.

***
Many expressed regret at the absence of Mrs. S. P. Coffey of this city whose feeble health prevented her attending. She has been one of the most faithful of the group, having been present al all the previous reunions. She is universally loved and esteemed by our entire people, regardless of kinship or other relation.

***
F. S. (Tine) Kerby, wife and daughters of Farmersville attended the Coffey family reunion held in Finch Park, Sunday. Mr. Key is a prominent grocery merchant of Farmersville. For several years he has been one of the councilmen in the city Government there. He is a grandson of Salathial Coffey. His wife is the former Miss Lillie Martin of McKinney, who is a cousin and namesake of Mrs. Lillie Emerson of McKinney, one of our county’s most widely-esteemed and beloved women for her leadership in club, church and benevolent circles. Mrs. Emerson was their guest at the reunion.

***
Buddy Garrett, wife and two pretty little daughters, Patsy Ruth and Myra Jean of Dallas, attended the reunion. The young husband and father is a son of Mr. and Mrs. L. T. Garrett of this city. He is a great-grandson of Salathial Coffey and wife.

***
Former County Tax Assessor Orlia J. Moss, wife and children, of College Station for the last three or four years, mingled with the many other descendants of Salathial Coffey and wife at the tenth annual Coffey Family Reunion this year. Mr. Moss, who is a grandson of the late Sheriff W. S. Coffey and a great-grandson of the founder of this branch of the Coffey family in Collin County 82 years ago, was the first president of the family group reunion held in Finch Park in 1928. He always contributes materially to the success of these annual reunions of his relatives. He is adapted to such by his natural born leadership and faculty of initiating things and carrying along helpful programs. Of course Mr. Moss and his good wife still claim Collin County as their home, although residing at College Station during the time that he is holding the responsible position with the state in administering the farm program of the New Deal. His work carried him extensively over the state much of his time, but he finds it more convenient to keep his family at the College Station headquarters.

***
Kerby Garrett of Chicago, was one of the relatives attending this year’s Coffey family tenth annual reunion in Finch Park, this city. Kerby is a great-grandson of the original Salathial Coffey and wife. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. L. T. Garrett and a brother of Miss Vira Garrett, bookkeeper of Perkins Bros, big dry goods establishment in this city. Kerby was born and reared in McKinney, is a handsome specimen of stalwart young manhood. For several years he has traveled extensively over the United States representing a big wire fence manufacturing concern. At the present time, he represents his form in twelve states in that capacity with Chicago as headquarters. In coming to McKinney for the reunion, Kerby stopped at Tulsa, Okla. Where he visited friends. From the latter place he was accompanied to McKinney by Miss Faye Clark and Mr. And Mr. H. K. Lloyd, the latter couple residing at 1322 South Denver Street, Tulsa.

***
Mrs. John Phillip Barbee and fine little two-and-a-half year old son, John Phillip, Jr. of Marshall Texas, are visiting their parents and grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. J. Woot. Mallow in McKinney where the young mother was born and reared. Mrs. Barbee attended the Coffey Family Reunion Sunday at Finch Park, she being a great-granddaughter of Salathial Coffey and wife, who came from Russell County, Kentucky in 1855, and founded the Coffey family of this section of our county and state. Marcella, as she is best known to her numerous home relatives and friends is a graduate of the McKinney High School and of the Texas State College for Women (C. I. A.) at Denton.

***
One of the relatives attending the Coffey family reunion here, Sunday, who came from a distance for the purpose was Mrs. Clarence Kerby and five-months-old baby, Patricia, of St. Louis. Mr. Kerby’s husband, who is a son of former County Commissioner Frank Kerby, has been located with headquarters at St. Louis for some time as district manager of Penney Company store in five or six different states. Mr. Kerby was not able to comedown himself. Mrs. Clarence Kerby is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Malone of Frisco, whom she is also visiting. Her father is in very feeble health.

***
Among those present at the reunion and registered were:
S. P. Coffey, McKinney; S. Coffey, Eva Coffey; A. W. Richards, Allen; Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Dungan, Joe D. Dungan, McKinney; Willie Dickens, Fred S. Coffey and wife and twin daughters, Dorthy and Dottie Coffey, McKinney; Bill Coffey, Isaac Coffey, Joyce Crouch; Mr. and Mrs. Orila J. Moss, Nancy, Ermyne Lee and Jack Moss, Bryan, Texas; Mr. and Mrs. L. T. Garrett and Vira Garrett, McKinney; Kerby Garrett, McKinney; Faye Clark, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Garrett, Dallas; Mr. and Mrs. H. K. Lloyd, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Patsy Ruth and Myra Jean Garrett, Dallas; H. C. Kerby, Dallas; J. C. Smith and wife and Joseph Smith; Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Kerby, McKinney; Ada Catherine Coleman, McKinney; Eustance Dungan, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Dungan and family and Rev. A. H. Snider, McKinney; Mr. J. W. Atterbury, Jr., and Allen Arnetta and Jackie Joe, McKinney; Dr. and Mrs. F. E. Richards and son, Forrest, Bonham; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Mallow, McKinney; Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Barbee and Phillip, Jr., Marshall; Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Kerby, Austin; Mr. and Mrs. G. F. Kerby and Jack, McKinney; Mrs. Florence Kerby and Patricia, St. Louis; Gabe Kerby, McKinney; J. R. Bowman, Milt Scott; Mary Lou Durrett, Lancaster; Mary Lois Ballew, James A. Barrett, Hallie Coffey, McKinney; Homer Coffey, McKinney; Mrs. Denia Goode, Plano; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Holland, Walter Dillon and Carolyn Holland, McKinney; Mrs. Homer Coffey, McKinney; Edwin Collins , Wylie; Miss Lucille Parr, Wylie; Mrs. Wood Herndon, Ardmore, Oklahoma; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Walker, Mrs. S. E. Walker, McKinney; Mrs. J. C. Parr, Wylie; Jack M. Parr, Wylie; J. C. Parr, Jr. And wife and Edwin, Houston and Jerry Janet Parr, Dallas; Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Hedgcoxe, and Mrs. Frank Emerson, McKinney Fred Dickinson, Daily Courier-Gazette and the Weekly Democrat-Gazette, McKinney; Mrs. Roy Biggs, Elizabeth Biggs, Crystene Coffey, Mrs. C. M. Coffey, Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Goforth, Mr. and Mrs. F. S. (Tine) Kerby, Mary Ann and Joe Cahterine Kerby, Farmersville; Mr. and Mrs. Gabe Kerby, Margaret Lou Alice Kerby, Martha Kerby, McKinney; M. P. Coffey, Ardmore, Oklahoma, Mr. and Mrs. A. V. Richards, Dallas.

Salathial "Sail" Coffey and Nancy Dunbar were married on 20 August 1835 in Russell Co., KY.^3010,3011 They^3010,3011 appeared in the census on 4 August 1850 in Russell Co., KY.³⁰¹² Nancy Dunbar was born in 1809 in Kentucky. Nancy died in Kentucky on 14 November 1853 and was buried at Kentucky in November 1853 in an unknown place.

Salathial "Sail" Coffey and Nancy Dunbar had the following children:

Salathial "Sail" Coffey and Mary Ann McFarland³⁰¹⁴ were married on 10 May 1854 in Russell Co., KY.^3015,3016 They^3015,3016 appeared in the census on 25 June 1860 in Collin Co., TX.³⁰¹⁷ They³⁰¹⁷ appeared in the census on 3 October 1870 in Collin Co., TX.³⁰¹⁸ Sail and Mary³⁰¹⁸ appeared in the census on 16 June 1880 in Collin Co., TX.³⁰¹⁹ The Sales Coffey family held a reunion on 12 September 1928 at Finch Park in McKinney, Collin Co., TX. Mary Ann McFarland⁵⁵⁹ was born on 11 June 1822 in Kentucky. She lived with her daughter, Sarah Whorton in Collin Co., TX on 18 June 1900. Mary died on 15 December 1900 at the age of 78 in Collin Co., TX and was buried at Fitzhugh Cemetery in Forest Grove, Collin Co., TX.³⁰²⁰

Mrs. Ballew had the following children born to the union between her and Mr. Ballew:

Sidney, born Apr. 10, 1839, died Jul 24, 1865
Sarah Ellen, born May 2, 1842, married John Horton
Malisa, born Jul 27, 1845, died Apr. 16, 1862
Cansada [sic], born Dec. 16, 1847, married John Whisenant
Octavia, born Nov. 10, 1850, married G. W. Bigler
John H., born Jul. 25, 1853

At the time of the 1880 census, the child Octavia had married Mr. Nash Bigley, and was residing next door to her mother and step-father. The Jane McFarland who had been living with the Coffey family in previous census years, was in the Bigley household in 1880.

The following from A History of Collin County, Texas, J. Lee Stambaugh and Lillian J. Stambaugh, 1958, p154:

Mary A. Ballew, second wife of Salathial Coffey, had six children by a previous marriage to Houston Ballew. These were: Mrs. John Horton, Mrs. John Whisenant, Mrs. G.W. Bigler, J.W. Ballew and two children who died young. Salathiel Coffey and Mary Ann Ballew Coffey came to Texas in 1855 from Russell County, Kentucky. The trip was made to Texas...6 weeks...one ox-team wagon, 3 horse drawn wagons and one buggy. Coffey died in 1892 and Mary A.B. Coffey died December 15, 1900.

Salathial "Sail" Coffey and Mary Ann McFarland had the following children: