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Obediah Willhite was born in Virginia in December 1799 and died in Henry County KY on 13 Aug 1879. [link] He married Elizabeth Neale in Henry County on 4 Nov in either 1823 or 1825, depending on which source you favor. The earlier date is in an online database at Ancestry.com. The latter date is in a transcribed book of Henry County marriage bonds. We tend to favor the earlier date.
Elizabeth Neale Willhite was born in Kentucky on 14 Mar 1803 and died in Henry County on 24 Nov 1872. [link]
In the three census records we have for Obediah and Elizabeth we can identify eight children born to them.
1850 Federal Census: Kentucky, Campbell County, District 2, pages 141A-B
household 1011/1011
Obadiah Wilhite - 50 M, farmer, born VA
Eliza Wilhite - 48 F, born KY
James Wilhite - 18 M, laborer, born KY
Elizabeth Wilhite - 20 F, born KY
Walker Wilhite - 15 M, born KY
Susan Wilhite - 12 F, born KY
Catherine Wilhite - 9 F, born KY
Alfred T. Wilhite - 6 M, born KY
Oliver Wilhite - 25 M, laborer, born KY
Jane Wilhite - 18 F, born KY
Obadiah Wilhite - 7/12 M, born KY
1860 Federal Census: Kentucky, Henry County, Division 1, page 132
household 933/933
Obediah Wilhoit - 60 M, farmer, born VA
Eliza Wilhoit - 58 F, born KY
Alfred Wilhoit - 18 M, born KY
John L. Revel - 6 M, born KY
Eliza Neal - 13 F, born KY
1870 Federal Census: Kentucky, Henry County, Bethlehem, page 250B
household 1062/1191
Willhite, Obediah - 70 M W, farmer, born VA
Willhite, Eliza - 68 F W, keeping house, born KY
Revel, John - 17 M W, farm laborer, born KY
Clark, Emily - 22 F W, domestic servant, born KY
This chart identifies this second generation, together with their known spouses
1 Obediah Willhite
+ Elizabeth Neale
2 Sarah Willhite
+ David Cofer
2 John Oliver Willhite
+ Nancy J. Hall
2 Elizabeth Willhite
+ John Revel
2 James Willhite
2 Elza Waller Willhite
+ Amanda Miles
2 Susan M. Willhite
+ James Russell
2 Alfred Thomas Willhite
+ Martha Washington Sewell
2 Catherine Willhite
We will discuss each of these, and their lines, in the order they are listed above.
Sarah Willhite and David Cofer were married sometime before 1848, perhaps in Campbell County KY where we find them in the 1850 census with their son James.
1850 Federal Census: Kentucky, Campbell County, District 2, pages 142B-143A
household 1030/1030
David Cofer - 35 M, farmer, born KY
Sally Cofer - 26 F, born KY
James Cofer - 1 M, born KY
Nancy Neal - 68 F, born VA
Wm Lindle - 25 M, laborer, born KY
They continued to live in Campbell County in the 1860 census. By this time, David and Sarah had three children: James, Elizabeth, and Alvin.
1860 Federal Census: Kentucky, Campbell County, Brooklyn, Newport PO, page 28
household 215/225
David Cofer - 40 M, farmer, born KY
Sarah Cofer - 30 F, born KY
James Cofer - 12 M, born KY
Elizabeth Cofer - 8 F, born KY
Alvin Cofer - 5 M, born KY
Henry Wheeler - 20 M, farmer, born KY
Mary Grover - 25 F, born KY
Sometime in the next decade, Sarah died. The 1870 census record shows David alone with his children.
1870 Federal Census: Kentucky, Campbell County, Highland, Newport PO, page 6
household 42/41
Cofer, David - 52 M W, farmer, born KY
Cofer, James - 21 M W, at home, born KY
Cofer, Elizabeth - 17 F W, at home, born KY
Cofer, Alvin - 12 M W, at home, born KY
Jennings, Israel - 60 M W, laborer, born KY
In the decade that followed David moved to Adams County, Ohio where he appeared in the 1880 census. Another child is listed in the family, Harry W. Cofer, age 6. Since David had not remarried, we are uncertain of the parents of this child.
1880 Federal Census: Ohio, Adams County, Jefferson, page 60B
household 230/248
Cofer, David - W M 58, head, farmer, born KY, parents born KY
Cofer, Elisabeth - W F 26, daughter, keeping house, born KY, parents born KY
Cofer, Alvin - W M 24, son, born KY, parents born KY
Cofer, Harry W. - W M 6, son, born KY, parents born KY
We are uncertain when David Cofer died, but it was before the 1900 census.
David and Sarah's first son, James Cofer was born 4 Feb 1848 (likely Campbell County, Kentucky) and died 23 May 1916 in Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio.
James married Alice Gunnell about 1877 and, according to the 1900 census, they had seven children. We can identify six of them from that census record.
1900 Federal Census: Ohio, Scioto County, Portsmouth Ward 6, page 140A
household 138/147 - 232 Twelth Street
Cofer, James E. - head, W M 51, born Feb 1848 in KY, married 23 years, parents born KY, teamster
Cofer, Alice - wife, F W 45, born Oct 1854 in KY, 7 children/6 living, parents born KY
Cofer, Georgie B. - daughter, F W 21, born Nov 1878 in OH, single, shoe worker
Cofer, Fannie L. - daughter, F W 19, born Oct 1880 in OH, single, shoe worker
Cofer, Edward V. - son, M W 17, born Apr 1883 in OH, single, shoe worker
Cofer, Effie F. - daughter, F W 15, born Jan 1885 in OH
Cofer, Frank F. - son, M W 13, born Jan 1887 in OH, shoe worker
Cofer, Bessie P. - daughter, F W 10, born Jul 1889 in OH, at school
Here they are, listed with known spouses:
3 James E. Cofer
+ Alice Gunnell
4 Georgia B. Cofer
+ Robert L. Sikes
4 Fannie L. Cofer
+ John Y. Morgan
4 Edward V. Cofer
+ Clara Malloy
4 Effie F. Cofer
4 Frank F. Cofer
4 Bessie P. Cofer
+ Walter V. Scott
Georgia B. Cofer married Robert L. Sikes on 12 Jul 1905 in Scioto County, Ohio.
Robert died in 1908, and Georgia was back home with her parents in the 1910 census.
1910 Federal Census: Ohio, Scioto, Portsmouth Ward 3, page 136A
household 7/8
Coffer, James E. - head, M W 59, married once for 22 years, born KY, parents born KY, laborer on streets
Coffer, Alice - wife, F W 54, 7 children/5 living, born KY, parents born KY
Coffer, Georgia B. - daughter, F W 32, widow, 1 child/0 living, born OH, hospital nurse
Coffer, Effie F. - daughter, F W 25, single, born OH, dept store dressmaker
Coffer, Frank F. - son, M W 23, single, born OH, railroad blacksmith
Coffer, Bessie P. - daughter, F W 21, single, born OH, kindegarten teacher
Fannie L. Cofer married John Y. Morgan on 20 Mar 1901 in Scioto County.
Edward V. Cofer married a lady named Clara A. Mallory in West Virginia,
He died on 11 Oct 1936 in Portsmouth. He is buried next to his parents in the Greenlawn Cemetery.
Bess and Frank Cofer continued living at home with their mother through the 1920 and 1930 censuses. Georgia was there in 1920 but not 1930. We don't know what became of Effie Cofer.
1920 Federal Census: Ohio, Scioto County, Portsmouth Ward 4, page 193B
household 508/502 - 1645 Trant Street
Cofer, Alice - head, F W 66, widow, born KY, parents born KY, no occupation
Cofer, Bess - daughter, F W 30, single, born OH, parents born KY, clerk in steel plant
Cofer, Frank - son, M W 33, single, born OH, parents born KY, blacksmith in steel plant
Sikes, Georgia - daughter, F W 40, widow, born OH, parents born KY, private family nurse
1930 Federal Census: Ohio, Scioto County, Portsmouth, page 99A
household 151/157 - 1402 Lincoln Street
Coffer, Alice - head, F W 76, married at 25, born KY, parents born KY, no occupation
Coffer, Frank - son, M W 39, single, born OH, parents born KY, steel worker
Coffer, Bess - daughter, F W 36, single, born OH, parents born KY, bookkeeper for ice cream company
Alice Jane Cofer's life ended on 17 Jun 1931 in Portsmouth. She had been born on 25 Oct 1854 in Kenton County KY.
According the cemetery records, Georgia Cofer Sikes died in 1974. It appears that Bess Cofer married Walter V. Scott. They are buried together in the Greenlawn cemetery. Her dates are 1889-1951; his are 1886-1962.
David and Sarah's next child was a daughter, Elizabeth Cofer who was born 23 May 1852 in Campbell County KY and died 15 Apr 1921 in Kenton County KY.
She married Asbury K. Millson about 1871-2 and they had seven children, six of whom we can identify from the 1900 census.
1900 Federal Census: Kentucky, Kenton County, Bromley, page 119B
household 172/178
Millson, Elizabeth - head, W F 48, born May 1852 in KY, married 28 years, 7 children, parents born KY, farmer
Millson, Harry D. - son, W M 27, born Oct 1872 in KY, single, father born OH, mother born KY, farmer
Millson, William A. - son, W M 21, born Sep 1878 in OH, single, father born OH, mother born KY, farm laborer
Millson, Charles S. - son, W M 18, born Nov 1881 in KY, single, father born OH, mother born KY, farm laborer
Millson, Clara C. C. - daughter, W F 14, born Feb 1886 in KY, father born OH, mother born KY, at school
Millson, Mary F. - daughter, W F 11, born Feb 1889 in KY, father born OH, mother born KY, at school
Millson, Joseph - son, W M 8, born Dec 1891 in KY, father born OH, mother born KY, at school
Here they are, listed with known spouses, and descendants:
3 Elizabeth Cofer
+ Asbury K. Millson
4 Harry David Millson
4 William A. Millson
4 Charles E. Millson
4 Clara C. Millson
+ Sylvester E. Murphy
5 Forrest M. Murphy
5 Paul C. Murphy
5 Margaret L. Murphy
5 Catherine C. Murphy
5 Charles W. Murphy
4 Mary F. Millson
4 Joseph Millson
We do not know where Asbury Millson was at the time of the 1900 census, but he is back home in 1910.
1910 Federal Census: Kentucky, Kenton, Rushes, page 111A
household 215/219
Millson, Asbury K. - head, M W 68, married once for 37 years, born OH, father born England, mother born Ireland
Millson, Elizabeth - wife, F W 58, 7 children/all living, born KY, parents born KY
Millson, William - son, M W 30, single, born OH, odd jobs laborer
Millson, Charles - son, M W 26, single, born KY, odd jobs laborer
Millson, Joseph - son, M W 19, single, born KY, odd jobs laborer
According to his death certificate, Asbury Millson was born 22 Aug 1854 in Cincinnati. He died 27 Feb 1933 in Covington KY.
Their first child was Harry David Millson who was born 6 Oct 1873 and died 16 Mar 1951 in Butler County, Ohio.
Next was William A. Millson who was born in September 1878 according to the 1900 census. Following him was Charles E. Millson who was born 12 Jan 1883 in Dayton, Kentucky. Charles died 17 Oct 1953 in Covington. He never married.
Their first daughter, Clara Millson was born in February 1886 and married Sylvester E. Murphy. They are found in the 1920 census.
1920 Federal Census: Kentucky, Lewis County, Concord, page 138A
household 188/192
Murphy, Sylvester E. - head, M W 33 md, born KY, parents born KY, foreman coal docks
Murphy, Clara C. - wife, F W 33 md, born KY, parents born KY
Murphy, Forrest M. - son, M W 13, born KY
Murphy, Paul C. - son, M W 10, born KY
Murphy, Margaret L. - daughter, F W 7, born KY
Murphy, Catherine C. - daughter, F W 4 0/12, born KY
Murphy, Charles W. - son, M W 3 8/12, born KY
We have not learned anything more about the two children, Mary and Joseph Millson other than what is in the census records above.
David and Sarah Cofer's last son, Alvin Cofer was born 22 Dec 1854 in Campbell County KY according to birth records. He married Emily Alice Willis and they had at least five children as shown in the 1900 and 1910 census records.
1900 Federal Census: Kentucky, Henry County, Bethlehem, page 199A
household 151/154
Cofer, Alvan - head, W M 42, born Mar 1858 in KY, married 11 years, parents born KY, farmer
Cofer, Emily - wife, W F 29, born Sep 1870 in KY, 4 children/3 living, parents born KY
Cofer, David W. - son, W M 10, born Dec 1889 in KY, at school
Cofer, Any B. - daughter, W F 7, born Aug 1892 in KY, at school
Cofer, Perry L. - son, W M 1, born Apr 1899 in KY
1910 Federal Census: Kentucky, Campbell County, Bellevue Ward 2, page 80B
household 20/21
Stewart, Parker - head, M W 52, married 22 years, born Iowa, father born WV, mother born Iowa, fireman
Stewart, Jennie - wife, F W 52, 1 child/none living, born VA, father born England, mother born PA
Cofer, Alice - servant, F W 38, married 20 years, widow, 6 children/4 living, born KY, parents born KY, washer woman
Cofer, Pearl - daughter, F W 7, born KY, parents born KY
Cofer, Charles W. - son, M W 2, born KY, parents born KY
Here they are in a chart:
3 Alvin Cofer
+ Emily Alice Willis
4 David Willis Cofer
4 Any B. Cofer
4 Perry L. Cofer
4 Pearl Cofer
4 Charles W. Cofer
Alvin Cofer died sometime prior to the 1910 census taking. His wife, Alice died on 5 Sep 1911 in Campbell County of tuberculosis. She was born 17 Sep 1870 to Valentine T. Willis and his first wife, Frances Bell Wallace.
Their son, David Willis Cofer, was born 29 Dec 1891 in Shelby Co KY, and died 14 Feb 1915 in Kenton Co KY, also of tuberculosis.
Then their daughter, Pearl Cofer, who was born 17 Sep 1902, died 21 Oct 1916 in Henry Co KY, also of tuberculosis.
We are uncertain what became of the children Any and Perry, but Charles Cofer is found in the 1920 census, living with his Aunt Ida, who was Alice's half-sister.
1920 Federal Census: Kentucky, Lewis County, Tollesboro, page 299A
household 196/196
Means, Hendrick M. - head, M W 47 md, born KY, parents born KY, farmer
Means, Ida W. - wife, F W 37 md, born KY, parents born KY, trained nurse (private family)
Cofer, Charles - nephew, M W 12, born KY, parents born KY
Effort has been made to eliminate errors, but their absence is not guaranteed. This document is copyright 2018 by Charles Hartley. Permission is hereby granted to individuals seeking family history information to copy the contents of this document for their personal use. It may not be sold, either separately or as part of a collection, without the written permission of the copyright holder; nor may it be placed at any other location on the internet without said written permission.