Meredith Coffee, son of John and Rebecca Ragsdale Coffee

Very early in the settlement of McDonald County, Mo., two large related families came to White Rock Prairie: the Coffees and the Hoppers. Family records indicate that the Coffees came to McDonald Co., about 1835. JOHN COFFEE, a widow, brought with him to Missouri, a son MEREDITH whose mother was REBECCA RAGSDALE. Both father and son subsequently married HOPPER sisters, daughters of JOHN DAVID HOPPER. Both men had large families: JOHN COFFEE with his second wife, JANE HOPPER and MEREDITH COFFEE by his only wife, ELIZABETH "BETSY" HOPPER.

MEREDITH'S son, WILLIAM HARRISON COFFEE married the daughter of JACOB CAUDILL, early surveyor in McDonald County and resident of White Rock community. Another son, JOE COFFEE, married ELVA TENNESSEE CLARK. His brother, DAVID COFFEE, married her twin sister MIRIAH PARALEE CLARK. Meredith's daughter, MARY REBECCA COFFEE, married JAMES SMITH "WHISKEY JIM" DAVENPORT. DAVID COFFEE'S son, HICE FREDERICK, married NORA FORD. It is their descendants who are the most numerous "on White Rock" today. A daughter of DAVID COFFEE'S, NANCY ELIZABETH "LIZZIE" COFFEE married WYLIE ROSS RUSSELL; they also have many RUSSELL descendants "on White Rock" today.

The Coffee's were ambitious people....merchants, traders, trappers, bee keepers, and teachers as well as farmers. Some said they were very artistic doing wood carving, delicate rock work, and other highly skilled trades. TRUMAN COFFEE has a "White Rock Trading Post" in 1997. E.E. COFFEE served several terms as County Collector at Pineville, Mo. HARVEY NEAL COFFEE was County Clerk.

John and Jane Coffee lost two sons.....JOHN H. COFFEE and HENRY COFFEE to the Confederate cause during the Civil War. JOHN H. enlisted at Pineville, Mo., on Sept 2, 1861. He was captured in McDonald County, Mo., action on 2 May 1862, and taken to a military prison at Alton, Illinois, to be exchanged with Confederates at Vicksburg, Mississippi. He was not heard from again. HENRY COFFEE, 18 years old, enlisted at Pineville, Mo., as a Private in Co. K, 4 Regiment of Missouri Infantry on 2 Sept 1862. He was captured near Carthage, Mo., in Jasper County, on the 20th of May 1863. He was sent to St. Louis, Mo., and then to City Point, Virginia, for prisoner exchange. He was admitted to the Army of the Cumberland after exchange, and was killed in a skirmish near Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia. He died from an abdominal wound in the Army Hospital.

MEREDITH COFFEE is listed by Goodspeed as one of the McDonald County civilians bearing arms that was captured by Federal Forces. WAT CLARK, listed in Goodspeed as having been killed by Federal Scouts, was the father of Miriah Paralee Clark and Elva Tennessee Clark, wives of DAVID and JOE COFFEE.

JOHN DAVID HOPPER was born 3 July 1789 and MARY "POLLY" DAVENPORT HOPPER was born 24 Feb 1793. They were from Chattanooga, Tennessee, near Look Out Mountain.  They had the following Children: JANE b. 18 Aug 1812; SARAH b. 4 Jun 1814; ELIZABETH b. 23 Nov 1816; JAMES b. 24 Jan 1819; WILLIAM b. 27 Oct 1823; DAVID b. 12 Sept 1825; ROBERT b. 28 Oct 1833.

JANE HOPPER married JOHN COFFEE, who was also from Tennessee. JOHN COFFEE was born 8 Oct 1793 and JANE was born 18 Aug 1812. JOHN COFFEE had been married and widowed and had a grown son when he married JANE HOPPER. The son, MEREDITH COFFEE was born 6 Jan 1822. He later married ELIZABETH HOPPER, younger sister of his step-mother. She was known as Aunt Betsy and was a very good woman. JOHN COFFEE was the same age as his wife, JANE"S mother. JOHN and JANE had the following children:

JOHN b. 29 Jan 1841. He served in the Civil War and died far from home.

JAMES b. 30 Nov 1842. He was a very large man and the father of six children. His wife, MANDY CORDIAL (CORDELL) died when bitten by a black bottle spider leaving a family of small children. It was she that sang so clearly on her death bed "Bear Me Away On The Snowy White Wings".

HENRY b. 8 May 1845.   He also served in the Civil War and was never heard from again.

MARY JANE b. 24 Dec 1847. She married JOHN LEWIS PARISH and was the mother of eight children. Also raised a step-son. She died 28 Mar 1917. Her husband J.L. PARISH died 22 Oct 1935. (John's first wife was MALINDA STARNS.    had 2 children, JESS and CASPER. CASPER died very young. JESS was the father of EVERETT PARISH. EVERETT married WINNIE PRITCHARD, they had 2 children, JOHN and ANNA LEE PARISH. JESS married FRANCES REARRICK).

RICE COFFEE b. 15 Sept 1850. He was a good man, was the father of seven children. He married ANN DAVENPORT. She died leaving a baby seven months old. This was AMANDA COFFEE BROWN. MARY JANE COFFEE PARISH nursed her along with her son, WILLIAM. There was another daughter ELIZABETH. RICE later married and had five children.

SARAH b. 27 Nov 1853, she married JACK CALDWELL. They had no children of their own but raised three orphans, BILLIE CARNES, an orphan boy and ELIZABETH and AMANDA COFFEE, the children of Sarah's brother, RICE.

MYRIA b. 22 Aug 1856, she died at the age of 15.

The 1860 census shows JOHN DAVID HOPPER and ROBERT HOPPER as having been residents of White Rock Community. They had come to Missouri at the same time that JOHN COFFEE came, and the two families were connected by marriage.   The daughters of JOHN DAVID HOPPER both married COFFEES, and the daughter MALINDA HOPPER married WILLIAM HENRY BULLARD, another of the Civil War Veterans and a family that was well known in the history of White Rock.

NOTE ON WILLIAM HENRY BULLARD:    he was born 14 Dec 1842 in Dog Hollow, near Pineville, Mo. He lived there until he was 3 month old and then they moved to Benton Co., Ark. He lived there until the Civil War. He was converted and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church when he was 18 years old. He volunteered for service in the Confederate Army when the first call was made. His parents owned slaves and he often spoke of his love for his old negro nurse..Mammy.... He fought the 4 years of the war seeing service in the following battles: Helena, Ark; Pea Ridge, Ark; and Bunker Hill. He crossed the field in the famous Picket's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg. He would choke up and cry when he talked about this bloody siege. When the children would fail to obey the orders of their parents, he would refer to Picket's Charge and what happened there because others did not carry out the orders that had been given to them. He fought 4 years and was never wounded. (Letter of family member to B. Jeffers).

His first wife was SUSAN CAUDILL, daughter of JACOB CAUDILL mentioned in Goodspeed as the first surveyor of McDonald County. She was also the sister of HILLEAD OKLA CAUDILL COFFEE, wife of WILLIAM HARRISON COFFEE. SUSAN and W.H. BULLARD had 3 children: JACOB ALEXANDER, JAMES RUSSELL, and THOMAS JEREMIAH. MR. BULLARD'S second wife was ELIZA COFFEE PITTS, daughter of MEREDITH COFFEE, and no known children were born to them.

MR. BULLARD'S third wife was MALINDA ELLEN HOPPER.  They had seven children, two of whom lived in Pineville, Mo., for years. LILVIA ACENITH BULLARD married DR. WILLIAM HENRY HORTON, a practicing medical physician who was also affiliated with the Hall Drug Store in Pineville as a pharmacist. Another daughter, CARRIE EDYTH BULLARD, married JAMES ARTHUR "ARTIE" JOSLIN.

MALINDA HOPPER BULLARD'S grandmother was a DAVENPORT. Another of her great grandmothers was ELIZABETH GAMBLE, daughter of MARY RUSSELL.  The DAVENPORTS, COFFEES, BULLARDS and HOPPERS were all closely related. ELIZABETH RUSSELL, daughter of CARLISLE ROSS RUSSELL, married ROBERT HOPPER.

MEREDITH COFFEE (only child of John Coffee/Rebecca Ragsdale) b. 6 Jan 1822 at Grainger Co., Tenn; died 10 Feb 1892 at Jane, McDonald Co, Mo. buried at Jane Cemetery; married 1841in Tenn., to ELIZABETH (BETSY) HOPPER, b. 23 Nov 1817 Hamilton Co., Tenn., died 18 July 1899 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., buried at Jane Cemetery, daughter of JOHN DAVID HOPPER and MARY (POLLY) DAVENPORT.

MEREDITH and ELIZABETH (BETSY) HOPPER CHILDREN:

(1).ELIZA b. 1842 in Tenn; died 9 May 1880; married (1) PITTS 4 Oct 1875 White Rock Prairie, Mo (2) WILLIAM HENRY BULLARD.

(2).NAME UNKNOWN b. Tenn

(3).WILLAM HARRISON b. 24 Feb 1843; died 6 July 1921 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., buried Jane Cemetery; married HILLEAD OKLA CAUDILL on 22 Jan 1868 at McDonald Co., Mo.; she was born 26 Jan 1850 at Robinson County, Kentucky; died 6 Feb 1912 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., buried at the Jane Cemetery; daughter of JACOB CAUDILL (CAUDILLE) and MARY W. KIRBY (KIRBEY); both of Kentucky.

(4).JOSEPH (JOE) A. b. 18 Mar 1846, Hamilton Co, Tenn., died 5 May 1913 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., married ELVA TENNESEE CLARK on 26 Sept 1869 at McDonald Co., Mo., she was born Jan 1853 in Arkansas and died 16 Mar 1936 in Bentonville, Benton Co., Ark, at the home of their daughter, MRS. J. E. PIERCE at Bentonville, Ark., she is buried at the Jane Cemetery. She was the daughter of WAT CLARK and NANCY E. ?? (Also she was the twin sister of MIRIAH PARALEE CLARK).

(5).DAVID b. Jan 1850 died 1918 buried at Jane Cemetery, Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., married MIRIAH PARALEE CLARK (twin sister of Elva Tennessee Clark) on 25 July 1869 at McDonald Co., Mo. she was born Jan 1853 in Arkansas, and died July 1919 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., and buried at Jane, Cemetery; she was the daughter of WAT CLARK and NANCY E. ??

(6).MADISON b. 1851 in Tenn., died between 1860 - 1870

(7).MARY REBECCA COFFEE b. 26 Oct 1852; died 29 May 1914, is buried at Jane Cemetery; married JAMES SMITH DAVENPORT on 26 Aug 1869; he was the son of THOMAS GARRISON DAVENPORT and HELENA ANN RUSSELL.

(8).JAMES MILO b. July 1857; died May 1913, buried at Jane Cemetery; married HARRIET J. RUSSELL, she was the daughter of JAMES LARKEN RUSSELL and SUSAN CLARISSA.

CHILDREN OF WILLIAM HARRISON COFFEE and HILLEAD OKLA CAUDILLE (CAUDILL):
(1). JAMES "MILO" b. 9 July 1869 at Jane, McDonald Co. Mo.: died 23 Mar 1936 at Fairview, Newton Co., Mo. buried at Dicey Cemetery; married (1) SARAH HORNER (2) MARIANNE LEWIS.

(2). MARY ELIZA b. 8 Jan 1873 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo.,; died 22 April 1933 at Pineville, McDonald Co., Mo., married on 24 Oct 1889 to JAMES WILLIAM ROSS.

(3). EDWARD ENOCH b. 27 April 1874, at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died 27 May 1961 at Pineville, McDonald Co., Mo.,; married on 6 Sept 1903 to PEARL CLOE WHITESIDE.

(4). MINNIE ZERONIA b. 16 Oct 1875 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died 29 May 1943 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo.,; married on 26 Mar 1893 to (1) SAMUEL HEITT LARGENT; (2) GEORGE

(5). ALBIE RAVENDALE b. 27 Jan 1877 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo.,; died 11 Mar 1923 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., married (1) WILLIAM H. CARNES (2) E.E. PARSONS

(6). ALEX M. b. 8 June 1878 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died Aug 1879 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., buried at Jane Cemetery.

(7). ARTHUR E. b. 8 Oct 1879 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died 4 Feb 1938 at Sioux City, Woodbury Co., Iowa; married 26 Oct 1902 to NORA BELLE VICKREY

(8). JOHN FINIS b. 23 Jan 1881 at Jane, McDonald Co, Mo., died 2 Jan 1957 at Rogers, Benton Co., Ark.,; married in 1909 to CORA LEE ANGLIN, daughter of WILLIAM A. ANGLIN and IDA RAINS.

(9). MEREDITH b. 26 Feb 1884 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died May 1885 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., buried at Jane, Cemetery.

(10). ALBERT b. 26 May 1885 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died 1887 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo.

(11). PEARL C. b. 12 July ?? at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died at Elk Point, South Dakota; buried at Elk Point Cemetery; married to NOAH LANDERS.

(12). GRACE b. 20 Mar 1890 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died 5 Aug 1921 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., buried at Jane, Cemetery; married ART SLINKARD.

(13). OMA b. 13 June 1893 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died 7 Sept 1958; buried at Brush Creek Cemetery, south of Pineville, McDonald Co., Mo., married on May 1910 to LUTHER ALLEN WINTERS.

CHILDREN OF JOSEPH A. COFFEE and ELVA TENNESSEE CLARK

(1). FLORENCE BELL b. Sept 1870 in Missouri; died 1923; married in 1886 to WILLIAM HENRY BUNCH

(2). SARAH E. b. Dec 1872 in Missouri

(3). PRISSA L. b. June 1879

(NOTE: JOE and ELVA raised two grandsons and could have possibly adopted them because one grandson, Price Bunch, always went by Price Coffee. They are the children of FLORENCE BELL and WILLIAM HENRY BUNCH.)

(4). PRICE BUNCH b. Oct 1888

(5). MARTIN BUNCH b. Jan 1890

CHILDREN OF DAVID COFFEE and MIRIAH PARALEE CLARK

(1). NANCY ELIZABETH (LIZZIE) b. 1870 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died 1953 and is buried at Jane, Cemetery, married WYLIE ROSS RUSSELL, He was born in 1869 and died in 1942; he was the son of CARLISLE ROSS RUSSELL and ALVIRA CAROLINE (ALLIE C.) DAVENPORT. (NOTE: Carlisle was the son of ANDREW RUSSELL and SARAH ELIZABETH BIRDWELL and Andrew was the son of JAMES RUSSELL and ANNIE BRYANT).

(2). CHARLES L. b. Sept 1872 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo.; died 1953 is buried at Jane Cemetery; married to MYRTLE E. ANGLIN (1883-1966), daughter of WILLIAM A. ANGLIN and IDA RAINS

(3) ROSA married ?? RUSSELL

(4). PIERCE b. 31 Dec 1877 at Jane, McDonald County, Mo.,; died 4 Nov 1940 and is buried at Jane Cemetery; married May 1901 (1) SARAH LAMB (2) KATE KNISLEY.

(5). HICE FREDERICK b. 27 June 1883 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died 1953 and is buried at Jane, Cemetery; married in 1901 to NORA GERTRUDE FORD.

(6). THOMAS G. b. Sept 1886 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., married LILLIE B. ??

(7). HENRY b. Nov 1889 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo.

CHILDREN OF HICE FREDERICK COFFEE and NORA GERTRUDE FORD:

(1). LILLIE FERN b. 6 July 1903 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died 25 Dec 1925; married DUTCH HOBBS

(2). DELLA MAUD b. 9 July 1905 Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died 19 Dec 1973; married JOE BARKLEY

(3) ELLA VAUD b. 9 July 1905 at Jane, McDonald County, Mo., died 12 Dec 1977; married JOHN KAUFFMAN.

(4). FRED LEROY b. Jane, McDonald Co., Mo.,

(5). DELMER "LOYD" b. 1 Nov 1910 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died 1912.

(6). ORIAN "EARL" b. 23 April 1913 at Erie, Mo., died 26 June 1984 at Bentonville, Benton Co., Ark.; married LILLIAN SPARKLE YEARGAIN (BROWNIE).

(7).CLIFFORD "PRICE" b. 29 Sept 1916 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo.,; married WANITA SCHELL.

(8). CLEO "RALPH" b. 13 Feb 1918 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died 27 April 1992 at Lanagan, McDonald Co., Mo.; married on 12 Aug 1960 at Miami, Ottawa Co., Okla., to ANDREA SUE BREWER.

(9). HARVEY NEAL b. 27 July 1920 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo.,died 30 April 1966, buried at Jane Cemetery; married on 7 Dec 1941 to LULIMAY CARDEN

(10). NORA "VELMA" b. 14 Nov 1922 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., died 1995 and is buried at the Jane Cemetery; married GEORGE TOWNSEND.

(11). LETA "OLLIDEAN" b. 15 Feb 1925 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., married REECE EDWARDS.

(12). TRUMAN ELMER b. 7 Mar 1927 at Jane, McDonald Co., Mo., married CLEVA STEVENS