Sixth Generation

1612. Elijah L. Coffey was born on 20 August 1838 in Buffalo Creek, Wilkes Co., NC.¹⁵⁰⁹ Elijah enlisted in the in Co., E, 58th Regt., NC Troops on 5 July 1862 at Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC.⁵⁹⁵⁷ Elijah died on 6 October 1891 at the age of 53 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC and was buried at Harpers Chapel Cemetery in Patterson, Caldwell Co., NC.^{1509,5958,5959}

Obituary, unknown Caldwell Co. newspaper, October 1891

At his home in Caldwell Co., N.C., Oct. 6, 1891. Bro. Elijah Coffey, aged fifty-three years, one month, and sixteen days.

Bro. Coffey leaves in this sorrowing world a wife, three sons and two daughters, all of whom love the doctrine of the soon coming King and kingdom. The deceased was a deacon in the Advent church at Yadkin Grove since its organization; a zealous worker in the cause, a bright example of meekness, and much loved and respected even by those who refused to assent to the doctrines so dear to him. He will be greatly missed by the church, the Sunday School and society, as well as at home. In his farewell words he said, 'The parting will not be long.' Many attended the funeral. Address by the writer. G.D. Sherrill.

Obituary, Lenoir (NC) Topic, 1891

In Memory of Elijah Coffey.

To the Editor of the Lenoir Topic:

Many hearts were made sad by the announcement of the death of Elijah Coffey near Patterson, Caldwell county, N.C., October the 6th 1892 [sic], I have been waiting for some one of his many friends to write a more extensive sketch of his moral and Christian life, but perhaps a feeling of incompetency to do justice has deterred them as it has the present writer. I read my church and country papers in which I scarcely ever put my name, but I am unwilling that the friend and brother I loved so much should not have a more extended notice from the press. I lived a near neighbor to him for over fifteen years, was at his home frequently, was intimate with him both in moral and spiritual affairs of life, always finding him manifesting that grand and noble Christian character which becometh no other than the true follower of the blessed master.

He was an attentive bible reader and delighted to converse upon the subject of religion. Many times have I seen and heard him express himself in our class and prayer meetings as being ready for the summons of the master's call, and while we sorrow it is not as those that are without hope, for we are fully persuaded that his gentle spirit was borne by the holy angels to the paradise of God. He professed faith in Christ in early life, the date of which I am not prepared to give, joined the Baptist church, filling the place of deacon for many years with other important trusts of the same. He was loyal to our blessed Lord, living the greater part of his days a devout member of the Christian church. In later years he joined the Adventist church, but this changing relationship of churches did not mar nor lessen his faith in Christ which he plainly showed to the world. He carried his religion into the minute transactions of life, always leaning upon the strong arm of his God. Gentle and kind in all his dealings with his fellow man honest and upright in all things, letting his light shine out before the world which is the only true testimony of a Christian life. He erected a family altar in his home (God bless the family altar) around which he brought his wife and children consecrating themselves unto the Lord.

He married the eldest daughter of John and Elizabeth Nelson. The Lord blessed them with five children, three sons and two daughters, all of which survive him. He lived to see them all happily converted connecting themselves with the Church, save one little daughter; may that gentle hand of mercy soon lead her into the fold.

He served as a soldier through the late war, being in a number of engagements, Missionary ridge, Dalton and on down to Resaca, Ga. There on Sunday the 14th day of May, 1864, as many of our Caldwell soldiers will remember, after a long and sharp engagement, we were called to cross the works. He being one of the first to scale them received a serious wound in the right hand, the marks of which he carried to his grave. He was with his regiment to the last, being at Bentonville, last battle of the war.

But alas, I must close. His disease had been preying upon his system for more than two long years, gradually growing worse. At length seeing his dangerous condition, Dr. A. F. Houck, his family physician, was called in, attending on him with all the faithfulness and skill of a most noble and kind hearted doctor. His disease ran on until it was soon seen that his case was almost a hopeless one. But still he bore it with Christian fortitude almost without a murmur, till at length being fully apprised of his condition, feeling assured that he must soon go; it being about the hour of 4 a.m., while watching at his bedside, he turned his face toward me and said calmly and coolly, "Why all this suffering? Why not I go and be at rest?" I talked with him in as comforting words as I knew how. Then a gentle smile seemed to steal over his face, "If I fall asleep it will not be long until the master comes." How appropriate was this to him!

"Asleep in Jesus! blessed sleep,
From which none ever wake to weep."

Farewell, brother! How true is the saying of the wise man, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches; mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace."

W. R. Nelson

Elijah L. Coffey and Mary Ann Nelson were married on 20 June 1867 in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC.^5960,5961 They^5960,5961 appeared in the census on 20 July 1870 in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC.⁵⁹⁶² Mary Ann Nelson, daughter of John M. Nelson and Elizabeth Penley, was born on 23 February 1843 in Yadkin River Valley in Wilkes Co., later Caldwell Co., NC. She lived with her parents in Yadkin Dist., Caldwell Co., NC on 18 September 1850. She lived with her son Lee in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC on 8 June 1900. Mary Ann applied for the CW pension of her deceased spouse, Elijah Coffey in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC on 2 February 1905.⁵⁹⁶³ She signed a will on 12 June 1915 in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell Co., NC.¹⁵⁰⁹

NORTH CAROLINA
CALDWELL COUNTY

I, Mary Ann Coffey, of said county and state, being of sound mind and memory, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following:

Item first, It is my desire that all just debts which I may owe at the time of my decease shall be paid out of my estate by my executor.

Item, second, It is my desire that my daughter, Mary E. Coffey, shall at my decease have in fee simple my one half interest in the home place where we now live situated on Ashe Street, Lenoir, N.C. adjoining the Presbyterian church lot and M.C. Triplett.

Item, third, It is my desire that all my personal property or the proceeds thereof shall after my decease be divided equally between my different children.

Item, fourth, I hereby constitute and appoint my son Lee T. Coffey of Minco, Oklahoma as my Executor to execute and carry out the aforesaid purposes of this my last will and testament, he to act as such without giving bond.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 12th day of June, A.D. 1915.

Mary Ann Coffey

Signed and sealed in the presence
of the undersigned witnesses the
day and date above mentioned.

J.L. Nelson, Jr
A.S. Nelson

Will filed Caldwell Co. Superior Court, 8 January 1929. Mary died of influenza on 6 January 1929 at the age of 85 at home in Lenoir, Caldwell Co., NC and was buried at Harpers Chapel Cemetery in Farmville, Caldwell Co., NC.^{5964,5965,5966}

Obituary, unidentified Lenoir, NC newspaper, January 1929

MRS. MARY COFFEY WAS BURIED TODAY

Mrs. Mary Ann Coffey died at her home here Sunday at 12:45 o'clock following an illness of about two weeks. She was first taken sick with "flu" which caused her death. She was in her 86th year. Funeral services were held this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the home on West Boundary St., Rev. S.E. Thurlow and Rev. R.L. Isbell conducting same. Interment was at Harper's Chapel, Patterson, ground in Yadkin Valley. The city schools closed at noon today out of courtesy to Miss Mary Coffey, a valued teacher in them.

The pallbearers were nephews: J.L. Nelson, Jr., A.S. and J.B. Nelson, Tom Moore, Carlisle Sagle and Dudley Nelson.

Mrs. Coffey, before marriage, was Miss Mary Ann Nelson, a daughter of John Nelson and Elizabeth Nelson, and a brother of our townsman, J.L. Nelson. She was born February 23, 1843, at the old Nelson home just above Patterson. In 1867 she was married to Elijah Coffey, and to them five children were born, all of whom are living. After their marriage they lived for many years in the Valley. On October 6, 1891, Mr. Coffey passed away, and then Mrs. Coffey came to Lenoir and made her home with her daughter, Miss Mary Coffey in 1905. For a number of years Mrs. Coffey has been in poor health, but it was only about two weeks ago that her condition became serious, resulting in death Sunday afternoon.

Early in life Mrs. Coffey joined the Baptist church at Patterson, but later connected herself with the Adventist church, of which church she was a member at death. Mrs. Coffey was a woman of Christian character, and was held in the highest esteem by her relatives and friends.

Deceased is survived by three sons and two daughters, John Coffey, Raleigh; George Coffey, Worcester, Ohio; Lee Coffey, Minco, Okla.; Mrs. J.A. Stewart, Enid, Okla., and Miss Mary Coffey, Lenoir. Also two sisters, Mrs. J.B. Moore, Elizabethton, Tenn., Mrs. Jane E. Gragg, Blowing Rock and one brother, J.L. Nelson, Lenoir.

With the exception of Mrs. Stewart, of Enid, Okla., all of the children were present when death came and attended the funeral services.

Elijah L. Coffey and Mary Ann Nelson had the following children:

+4978	i.	Harriet "Hattie" Coffey.
+4979	ii.	John William Coffey.
+4980	iii.	Lee Thomas Coffey.
+4981	iv.	George Nelson Coffey.
4982	v.	Mary Etta Coffey was born on 18 May 1880 in Patterson Twp., Caldwell Co., NC.5967,5968 Mary Etta died unmarried on 25 July 1971 at the age of 91 in Minco, Grady Co., OK and was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Minco, Grady Co., OK. Obituary, unidentified Enid, OK newspaper, 25 July 1971 MISS MARY COFFEY LAST RITES IN MINCO Miss Mary E. Coffey, 91, 1516 W. Broadway, died Sunday afternoon in a local rest home following an illness of several months. Born near Lenoir, N.C., she received her early education in Lenoir. She attended Davenport College and received her AB degree from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. She took graduate work at the University of Colorado and the University of Missouri. Miss Coffey had taught Latin and served as principal of Lenoir High School for a total of 25 years. Following the death of her mother in 1929, she made her home with her several brothers and her sister. At various times she returned to North Carolina to teach and she had done substitute teaching at Enid High School. During World Wars I and II she was active in Red Cross work, rolling bandages and knitting garments for servicemen. Since 1954, she had made her home with her niece, Mary Helen Stewart. She retained her membership in the Advent Christian Church, Lenoir, and while her health permitted she was an active affiliated member of the Central Christian Church and was a member of the business women's Sunday school class. Her survivors in addition to her niece of the home are four other nieces, two nephews and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Lee T. (Isis) Coffey, Minco.A funeral service will be held at 3:30 p.m., today in the chapel of the Henninger-Allen Funeral Home with Rev. Lloyd H. Lambert officiating. Following the Enid service, the body will be taken to Minco for a 10 a.m. service, Wednesday in the Reynolds Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Minco Cemetery. Contribution in her memory may be made to the Advent Christian Home for the Aged and Orphans, Live Oak, Fla. Henninger-Allen will act as custodians of the fund.