A New Bride, A Heart Attack, And A Contested Will

          On April 12, 1912, John H. Coffee of Kingston, Oklahoma, and Ina Hight of Denison, Texas, were married. A widower who had lost his wife Nancy (James) Coffee in 1895, this was John's second marriage. He was 60. It was the bride's third marriage. She was 40.


          I don't know where they were married, but the license was filed in Grayson County, Texas--just over the Oklahoma border.  Source: Texas, Select County Marriage Records, 1837-2015 (database) via Ancestry.com/


          Born Ina Marie Beasley, her second husband, James Robert Hight, had recently lost his wife, Ruth Ella (Beasley). Yes, Ruth was Ina's older sister.  James was left with the care of their six children. I imagine his concern as a father was a factor in his January 1, 1909 marriage to Ina Marie Greer. 


          It was not uncommon for siblings to marry widowed spouses of family. Ina brought with her the three young children from her first husband, Oscar Gilbert Greer.  One year after marrying, the 1910 Federal Census finds James and Ina living in Comanche County, Oklahoma with their combined ten children. See them on this census page:


MEANWHILE BACK IN LITTLE DIXIE: (Yes, southeast Oklahoma is called that)  The next I find Ina Hight is in 1912 Marshall County after marrying my 2xGreat-Gramps. John has a grocery, a restaurant, and a candy store in Kingston. His obit later indicated "Mrs. Iona Hight" was from Denison, Texas. If accurate, then Ina somehow moved from Comanche County, Oklahoma to northeastern Texas. Would love to know how she met John Coffee. 

          Here are two images from the 1913 Polk City Directory for Kingston, Oklahoma showing John's restaurant and grocery:



          Sadly, their new marriage was shortened, as my maternal 2xG-Grandfather suffered a heart attack in early November 1913. He died two weeks later. Ina notified John's two adult children: John, who lived in New Mexico, and Elizabeth in Gravois Mills, Missouri. John's obituary made the front page of The Kingston Messenger.  The WEEKLY paper, mind you!
 


Can't read it?  It says:   A PIONEER CITIZEN PASSES AWAY -- Death of J.H. Coffee After an Illness of a Short Time.
          Last Monday night, after an illness of about two weeks, Mr. J.H. COFFEE, one of our oldest citizens, laid down his        life's burdens and went to his last rest. He was well thought of by all our people, a man of honor, integrity and uprightness. He was loyal to the church of his faith, the Christian church. He was born in Mt. Sterling, Ky., March 9, 1850, going from there to Missouri in his early manhood, where he was married to Miss Nancy C. JAMES, Sept. 1, 1872. Two children were born to them, John COFFEE, now residing in New Mexico, and Mrs. Lizzie PAGE, now living in Missouri. His wife died at their Missouri home August 9, 1895, soon after which he came to this section and located near here. About eleven years ago he purchased property in town and opened up the business which he conducted to the time of his death. April 12, 1912 he was married to Mrs. Iona HIGHT of Denison, who survives him. He was buried Tuesday afternoon in the cemetery here. The funeral services were held in the new church of which he was so proud, Rev. J.H. LAWSON of Denison, conducting the services. Mr. John COFFEE, of New Mexico, and little daughter, and Mrs. Martha EDMON, his sister, and her daughter, Mrs. Ida THOMPSON, of Texarkana, Ark., Mr. Tom COFFEE and family of Madill, and Joe COFFEE, of Calera, nephews of deceased, were here to attend the funeral. 
__________________

         
          They came to Oklahoma for their dad's funeral. Upon learning of John's will leaving them $2 each, they promptly hired lawyers to contest the will. But after a few weeks, it ended well. John's children dismissed their claim. 

          Descendants may find these 19 pages interesting, as they are actual copies from the court's probate file. Woo hoo! Click on each page, and move the horizontal scroll bar to the right to see all 19. Errors and all! White Out wasn't yet invented.



          Meet the gentlemen in question:  John H. Coffee, born March 9, 1852, and died November 17, 1913


          I'm grateful to Aunt Nancy for sharing her worn copy of his obit long ago. It gave me the clues necessary to begin my search. And I so appreciate RaeJean for contacting me this summer. What a thrill it was to find a message from Ina's descendant! She helped knock down a genealogy "brick wall" of many years.