Eber Hillard Dobbins was born 25 March 1828, died 4 March 1911. He was born at Mt. Holley, New Jersey, son of Mary Ann Hillard and a Mr. Dobbins whose given name is not known. Just when Eber came to North Carolina is not known, but he married Minerva A. McCall, born 14 December 1932, daughter of J.F. and Elizabeth Shell McCall on 30 October 1852. Minerva died 19 April 1911.
The children of Eber and Minerva are: (1) Mary (27 August 1853 - 10 October 1934) who married William Rich; (2) Joseph Ridgeway (8 June 1856 - 10 January 1931), who never married. Joseph lived with his grandparents in Philadelphia from the time he was about ten years of age, eventually becoming president of the Philadelphia Light and Power Company. (3) Sarah Elizabeth (21 June 1859 - 25 July 1933), who married Jefferson Craig (27 February 1862 - 2 September 1929) on 9 October 1881; (4) Caroline Amanda (25 April 1862 - 12 November 1951) who married Elijah M. Coffey (28 September 1856 - 2 March 1933); (5) Eber Franklin (3 July 1866 - 21 December 1930) who married Gurley Magmelia Marshall (12 March 1872 - ?) on 3 February 1889. Frank moved to Chavis, Alabama about 1900 where he became postmaster.
Carolina Amanda Dobbins and Elijah M. Coffey, son of Wilkerson and Lindsay Robbins Coffey, were married on 3 November 1881. They made their home in Buffalo Cove where many of their descendants still live. Their children are: (1) John (1882-1957); (2) Sarah L. (1885-1890); (3) Anna J. (1888-1971); (4) James (1891-1965) who married Elizabeth "Bessie" Coffey; (5) twins Joseph (1894-1972), who married Nellie Robbins, and Margarat Elizabeth "Beth", (1894-1963) who married first Millard Campbell, second Robert Duncan, and third Cliff Heriot; (6) and Mary, called "Mayme."
Sources: Information collected by Madge Givan and Ida mae Davenport; Family Bible; Personal knowledge; Caldwell County Records
Dorothy C. Hawkins