My dads family came from around Ft. Smith, Arkansas. My grandmother, Laura Osburn married Isaiah Bert Coffee. She was one half indian and she felt like their children would have a better chance in this country. That's why they came here. All the children got their allotments on Horse Creek near Blue, North of Durant. This was way back before statehood. Their address was Fulsom, Indian Territory. There is still an old church house and a store there.
Isaiah1 and Laura had three children: Edwin (my father), his twin Edith (died young), Ada and Ruby.
Edwin2 married Esther Horne. They got their marriage license here in Durant. Then, that afternoon the whole marriage group went out to the Chuckwa Bridge over the Chuckwa River, and they were married on that bridge. That bridge has since been torn down to make way for a Hiway Bypass. Edwin and Esther had 4 children: Edith, I.B., Jim & Joanne (Twins). The twins died as infants, and Edith passed away at age six.
Ada married Jim Shipman at Fulsom, Indian Territory. They had two children: Murle and Nina.
Ruby married Jap McElroy and had one child: Bonnie.
The Coffee's were farmers and ranchers.
My mother's parents were Joanne Smith and E. J. Horne. They came from Greenville, Texas by wagon and bought up land in Blue Bottom in Indian Territory near Fulsom. This was long before statehood. They had ten children: Jim, Stidham, Isey (a girl), Commie (girl), Jo Ellen, Esther, Cora, Opal, Edward, Edity (died young.) The Hornes were farmers.
I worked for Peabody-Gallion for 18 years and retired. I was a welder. I was born at Wapanucka. Mom had gone to my grandmothers to have me because the doctor wouldn't have been able to come to the house because the roads were so bad.
My mother was the Postmaster at Kenefic for about 12 years and one time they hept finding holes in the plate glass window of the front. They finally figured out I was shooting an air gun into a target on a paper box. It was going clear through and hitting the window. I really got a licking for that one.
My family tells of a time when my mother kept losing silverware. They couldn't figure out what was happening to it. Then, one day my dad found them. I had found a hole in the floor and after every meal I was stashing the silverware there. I don't remember this of course, I was too small.
by I.B. Coffee
1 21 Apr 1910 US Federal Census, Johnston Co, Myrick Twp., OK, ED128, Sheet No. 3B, dwelling/family 52, Coffee, Robert <sic> B., head, male, white, age 54 married once for 24 years, born GA, parents born GA, farmer; Laura, wife, female, Indian, age 42, married once for 24 yrs., mother of 6, 3 living, born MS, parents born MS
2 21 Apr 1910 US Federal Census, Johnston Co, Myrick Twp., OK, ED128, Sheet No. 3B, dwelling/family 50, Coffee, Edwin H., head, male, white, age 22, married once, not yet for one year, born OK, father born US, mother born OK, farmer; Coffee, Esther, wife, female, white, age 19, married once, not yet for one year, mother of none, born TX, father born MS, mother born TX
There is also a Joel W. Coffee, age 35, enumerated in the Johnston Co., OK census for 1910, but no known connection to Robert <sic> and Edwin.
Edwin is also enumerated in the 1920 Myrick, Johnston Co., OK census. There is also a Dan, Herbert and Iley B. in the county that year.
In 1930 the only Coffee in Johnston Co. is Rebecca B., born about 1867 in Arkansas