TENTH ANNUAL COFFEY FAMILY
REUNION HELD IN M’KINNEY JULY 25
McKinney Courier Gazette July 29, 1937
(Daily Courier-Gazette)
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.
Surname Index
Recommended Citation:
"Coffey Reunion,
EARLY SETTLERS OF COLLIN COUNTY." Collin County, Texas History
and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004 ].
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