The Skaggs-Files

William Loransie Dowe(1) Coatney was purportedly born out of wedlock the 10th of November, 1850 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA(2) to Elizabeth Jane Coatney and an unknown significant other.(3) Elizabeth's parents raised him.

Elizabeth Jane Coatney was born in January, 1832 in Cedar County, Missouri, USA to George Washington Coatney and Margaret Ann Smith.(4) Her father was born about 1803 in Tennessee(5) or North Carolina.(6) He married Margaret about 1830 in Kentucky. She was born about 1808(7) in Kentucky. Family oral tradition is that she was a Cherokee Indian. George and Margaret had at least nine children. Nancy Ann was born about 1830 in Kentucky or Tennessee.(8) They then moved to Missouri where Elizabeth Jane was born in 1832, James Francis was born in 1834, and William Turentine was born in 1837. The family moved to Arkansas between February 1837 and 1838. George is listed on the 1839 Crawford County tax list.(9) Here the rest of the children were born: Mary E. about 1838, Melinda Catherine in 1841, Martha Smith about 1842, Lucinda Rogers in 1846, and Cynthia Emeline about 1848. (It is possible that William Loransie was born to George and Margaret in either 1850 or 1853 instead of being Elizabeth's child.) Margaret died the 12th of October, 1887 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. George died the 20th of June, 1888 in Rudy, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. They are both buried in Oliver Springs Cemetery, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. (10)

If William Loransie Dowe Coatney was born in 1850, he was two years old when, Elizabeth, married Mark H. Curry the 23rd of April, 1853 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. He was born in October 1820 in Orange County, Indiana, USA. They lived next door to George and Margaret in 1860.(11) Mark and Elizabeth had eight children: Manerva Ann in 1855, Mary E. in 1857, George W. in 1859, Susan Clementine in 1861, Abraham L. in 1862, Jesse M. about 1865, John S. in 1870, and Martha Margaret in 1876. Elizabeth died after the 20th of January, 1898 in Arkansas. Mark died the 27th of October, 1904 in Taney County, Missouri, USA.

William Loransie married 1) Lisa Jane Heaton about 1872 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA.(12) She was born about 1853 in Missouri or Arkansas. They had two daughters. Laura Melcenie Coatney was born the 6th of January, 1873 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. She married James William Blevins the 26th of October, 1891 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA and they had nine children. Laura died the 6th of March, 1959 and is buried in Ulan Cemetery, in Ulan, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, USA. Nothing is known about the second daughter, Mary Coatney. It may be that Lisa and the child died from birth complications.

William Loransie married 2) Julietta Dade Reynolds(13) the 1st of January, 1879 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA.(14) She was born the 21st of December, 1858 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA, the third child of Young E. Reynolds and Susan Arabella Shipley.(15) William Loransie and Julietta had ten children all born in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA: Arizona, Lucinda Arbella, Hattie, Dola Missouri, Delpha A., Iva Easter, Loransie Dow, Julie, Ky, and Robert Sy. On the 29th of February, 1892 William received 180 acres in Crawford County, which he had homesteaded.(16) He died the 30th of September, 1927 in Crawford County Arkansas(17) and was buried in Morrison Cemetery in Hobbtown, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA.(18) Julietta died the 15th of November, 1930 in Reeds Spring, Stone County, Missouri, USA and is also buried in Morrison Cemetery in Hobbtown, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA.(19)

 

Footnotes:

(1) Dowe is sometimes spelled Dow.

(2) Census, 1860, AR, Crawford County. Cedar Creek Township, page 755k Lorenzo D 10 AR.
There is controversy about his birth date and identification of his parents. The headstone has the 10th of November, 1853. If this is in fact his birth year, he would probably not be Elizabeth's son since she married in 1853 and he would be George and Margaret's son. From Tonia Holleman in an e-mail dated July 4, 1997: "William Dow was Elizabeth's son but George and Margaret took him. Grandma Cluck, Tommie, said he was her cousin. While family members may have difficulty in remembering the birth year it would seem that remembering the correct month and day would be easier. Therefore November 10 is used. Since the headstone information may be off by three years I will use 1850 as the year from the 1860 census information." Goodspeed's History of 1889 lists the nine children of George and Margaret but William Loransie is not among them.

(3) Virginia Kimes Pierce Gedcom, April 1999. She got this information from 1) Juanita Coatney Gregory 2) Widow - Mrs. Edith Willard Warmack Coatney, Coatney, The Tuscaloosa News-Tuscaloosa-Northport, ALA. Memorial Obituary Sept.l1, 1973.

(4) All information on Elizabeth Jane Coatney and her parents and family is from 1) Cliff Bowlin, 2) Loretta Hilbert's gedcom dated July 2, 1997, 3) Mrs. Edith Willard Warmack Coatney, Coatney, The Tuscaloosa News-Tuscaloosa-Northport, ALA. Memorial Obituary Sept. 11, 1973, and 4) 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 Crawford County census records unless otherwise noted.

(5) Census records

(6) The Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1889 and reprinted by Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1978. From Page 1133 - Crawford County says: "George W. and Margaret Smith Coatney....The father passed his boyhood in North Carolina and when sixteen immigrated to Kentucky, traveling the long distance on foot. In that State he married and engaged in farming, but later learned the tanner's trade. After his marriage he lived several years in Missouri, and then immigrated to Crawford County, Ark. He also lived a short time in Washington County, but died here June 20, 1888, aged eighty-three. The mother was born and reared in Kentucky, and like her husband enjoyed no educational advantages. She bore nine children, six of whom are living: James F., Elizabeth J., William T., Melinda C.,, Lucinda R., and Emeline; Nancy A., Mary E. and Martha S. are deceased...."

(7) 1840 female between 30 and 40 giving a birthdate of between 1800 and 1810
1850 census records indicate she is 42 giving a birthdate of 1808
1860 census records indicate 48 giving a birthdate of 1802
1870 census records indicate 70 giving a birthdate of 1800

(8) Nancy A. was already married and listed with her spouse in the 1850 census, which makes me believe she was the first born child. This also would make her birth in Kentucky more likely. She is listed as 20, so I estimate her birth year to be 1830. Later census records have her younger and other researchers estimate her birth year as 1833.
1) 1850 census, Arkansas, Washington County, Cove Creek Township, page 361a, Dwl-Fam 32-32: Asbery Tune 24 KY; Nancy 20 KY; Margaret 3 Arkansas; John 6/12 Arkansas.
2) 1860 census, Arkansas, Washington County, Cove Creek Township, page 148, Dwl-Fam 964-998: Asbury Tune 38 KY; Nancy A. 27 Tennessee; Margaret A. 12 Arkansas; James W. 8 Arkansas; Phillip C. 6 Arkansas, Mary J. 2 Arkansas.
3) 1870 census, Arkansas, Washington County, West Fork Township, page 23, dated June 1870, Dwl 148: Tune, Asbery 46 Farmer KY; Nancy Ann 36 Tennessee; James W 17 Arkansas; Henry? (m) 14; Newton Jasper 10 (m) Jesse Valentine 5 (m); Asberry Turentine 5 (m) L Margaret? 2 (f). Initials hard to make out.

(9) Tax List, 1839, Arkansas, Crawford County, page 3. Coutney, G.W.

(10) 1850 census, Arkansas, Washington County, Cove Creek Township, dated 13 Nov 1850, pages 361 a & b, dwl/fam 33/33: Courtney, G.W. 47 Farmer Tennessee; Margaret 42 Tennessee; Elizabeth 18 Missouri; James 16 Missouri; William 14 Missouri; Mary 12 Arkansas; Malinda 10 Arkansas; Martha 8 Arkansas; Lucinda 4 Arkansas; Cynthia 2 Arkansas.

(11) 1) 1860 census, Arkansas, Crawford County, Cedar Creek Township, Van Buren PO, dated 25 July 1860, HH 1001-976: Mark H. Curry 39 Farmer IN; Elizabeth J 27 Missouri; Wm E 17 Missouri; Andrew J 14 Missouri; Sarah E 10 Missouri; Benjamin J 8 Missouri; Manerva A 6 Arkansas; Mary E 3 Arkansas; George S 1 Arkansas.
2) 1860 census, Arkansas, Crawford County, Cedar Creek Township, Van Buren PO, dated 25 July 1860, page 755, dwl/fam 968/1002: Courtney, GW 50 Farmer Tennessee; Margaret 48 KY; Martha S 16 Arkansas; Lucinda 13 Arkansas; Cynthia 11 Arkansas; Lorenzo D 10 Arkansas.

(12) 1870 Washington County, Arkansas, USA census.

(13) Name is spelled different ways, Jullette Dade Reynolds/Runnels.

(14) Compiled by Oma Cole and Hazel Brown. Records of Crawford County, Arkansas, USA: Marriage book A, 1877-1880: Alma, Ark., O. Cole, c1977. Page 22 Coatney, William L., age 27 and Julia Reynolds, age 19, 1 Jan. 1870 by E. Y. Lamb.

(15) Census, 1860, AR, Crawford County. Lees Creek Twp. page 127, 855-827: Juletta 2 AR.

(16) William L. Coatney: Section 26, Township 11N, Range 31W, in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA under the homestead act of the 20th May, 1862.

(17) Death Certificate of William Loransie Dow Coatney.

(18) There is a headstone at Morrison Cemetery. However, the death certificate indicates burial at Mt. McCurry Cemetery. An e-mail from Kathleen O'Kelley, dated 17 Jul 1997 indicates the following: No proof of Dow Coatney's place of burial, but Cleo had told Elsie that he attended the funeral at Morrison. Juanita Coatney Teague Gregory attended the funeral at Morrison. Eva Brammer Cluck attended the funeral at Morrison. Albert and Julia Bowen O'Kelley told me it was at Morrison. The headstones are at Morrison (the old ones and the new ones). The death certificate does say Mt. McCurry. Perhaps that is all his son L.D. could think of at the time. They lived close to both cemeteries. There are no records of a Mt. McCurry burial.

(19) Headstone in Morrison Cemetery, Rudy, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA.

 

 

All the following information is from Virginia (Kimes) Pierce:
"William Loransie Dow Coatney and Julietta Dade Reynolds are the parents of Loransie Dow Coatney, husband of Sylvine Kimes, daughter of Joseph Leander Kimes and Elizabeth Lewis.

There is some confusion as to his correct name. Juanita, his granddaughter, told me (Virginia Pierce) his name was Joseph William Dow Coatney. Other researchers say it is William Loransie Dow Coatney.
A copy of the death certificate sent me by one of the researchers, Vontrece Miller, shows different data than that given me by Juanita and Elsie. It gives the name of the deceased as W.( then there is an L written over another initial, which I cannot make out). Also, it shows the date of death as September 30, 1927, instead of what we have as 30 Sept. 1930. Also it says he was buried in Mt. McCurry Cemetery on 10-1-27, instead of the Morrison Cemetery. It gives his wife's name as Julia, which is what we have. It gives his age as 77, which is what we have. It gives the name of the undertaker as Alma Hdw.Co., Alma, Arkansas, File #348, Registrar Mrs. T.N.McAlister.
I am sending the copy of the death certificate to Elsie and Juanita Coatney. Maybe Elsie and Juanita can straighten this out.

In a letter received from Cliff Bowlin, who is researching the Coatney lines, he said:
"As of now I have Elizabeth Jane Coatney and an unknown significant other as the parents of William Loransie Dow Coatney. This from Loretta Hilbert's gedcom dated July 2, 1997: Lisa Evans family history says William Loransie Dow Coatney is Elizabeth's son, but he was taken and raised by his grandparents, George Washington Coatney and Margaret Ann Smith. He is not listed as a child of G.W. and Margaret in Goodspeed's Biography. This from Tonia Holleman in an e-mail dated July 4, 1997: William Dow was Elizabeth's son but George and Margaret took him. Grandma Cluck, Tommie, said he was her cousin. Also William had two daughters by his first marriage... we found that in our notes. William L. received 180 acres, in Section 26, Township 11N. Range 31W, in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA on 29 Feb. 1892, under the act of 20 May 1862, Homestead Entry Orig."

From Jenny Garner's gedcom: William was born out of wedlock, no one knows who his father was.

Note: Elizabeth Jane Coatney is a daughter of George Washington Coatney and Margaret Smith.

Following is an email received from Cliff Bowlin dated July 27, 1997:
"Yes, Elizabeth Jane was the oldest of the children of George Washington and Margaret Smith Coatney.
William Loransie Dow Coatney was born on 10 November 1850 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. There are differences in the birthdate. Until a better source is found the use of the 1860 census seems the best choice.
The 1850 year of birth also makes more sense than 1853. If he ws born 10 Nov. 1853, after his mother's marriage to Mark Curry (23 April 1853) it would seem probable that he would have remained with Elizabeth and Mark, rather than being raised by his grandparents. While family members may have difficulty in remembering the birth year it would seem that remembering the correct month and day would be easier. Therefore, November 10 is used. Since the headstone information is off by three years in death, it appears that the birth year of 1853 was used to "force" the dates to agree with the 77 years listed on the death certificate. Based on the 10 Nov. 1850 birthdate and the death date of 30 Sep 1927, the age at death was 76 years 10 months and 20 days, very close to 77 years. He died on 30 Sep 1927 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. Death certificate in possession of Vontrece Miller shows death 30 Sep. 1927. He was buried on 1 Oct. 1927 in Morrison Cemetery, Hobbtown, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. There is a headstone at Morrison Cemetery. However the death certificate indicates burial at Mt. McCurry Cemetery.

William Loransie Dow Coatney was first married to Lisa Jane Heaton about 1872 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA.
Lisa Jane Heaton was born about 1853 in Arkansas. Information found in 1870 Washington County, Arkansas, USA census.
William Loransie Dow Coatney and Lisa Jane Heaton had the following children:
Laura Melcenie Coatney
Mary Coatney was born about 1874 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA.

He was married to Julietta Dade Reynolds (daughter of Young E. Reynolds and Susan Arbella Shipley) on 1 Jan. 1879 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. Julietta Dade Reynolds was born on 21 Dec. 1858 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. She died on 5 Nov. 1830 in Reeds Springs, Stone, Missouri. She was buried in Morrison Cemetery, Hobbtown, Crawford, AR. William Loransie Dow Coatney and Julietta Dade Reynolds had the following children:
Arizona Coatney
Lucinda Arbella Coatney
Delpha A. Coatney
Iva Easter Coatney
Loransie Dow Coatney
Julie Coatney was born in 1897 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. She died about 1909 in Crawford County, Arkansas, USA. She is buried in Morrison Cemetery, Hobbtown, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA
Ky Coatney
Robert Sy Coatney

Census, 1860, AR, Crawford County. Cedar Creek Township, page 755k Lorenzo D 10 AR.
There is controversy about his birth date. The headstone has the 10th of November, 1853. If this is in fact the date, he could not be Elizabeth’s son and would then be George and Margaret’s son. There are those who favor this scenario. From Tonia Holleman in an e-mail dated July 4, 1997: William Dow was Elizabeth’s son but George and Margaret took him. Grandma Cluck, Tommie, said he was her cousin. While family members may have difficulty in remembering the birth year it would seem that remembering the correct month and day would be easier. Therefore November 10 is used. Since the headstone information may be off by three years I will use 1850 as the year from the 1860 census information.

There is a headstone at Morrison Cemetery. However, the death certificate indicates burial at Mt. McCurry Cemetery. An e-mail from Kathleen O’Kelley, dated 17 Jul 1997 indicates the following: No proof of Dow Coatney’s place of burial, but Cleo had told Elsie that he attended the funeral at Morrison. Juanita Coatney Teague Gregory attended the funeral at Morrison. Eva Brammer Cluck attended the funeral at Morrison. Albert and Julia Bowen O’Kelley told me it was at Morrison. The headstones are at Morrison (the old ones and the new ones). The death certificate does say Mt. McCurry. Perhaps that is all his son L.D. could think of at the time. They lived close to both cemeteries. There are no records of a Mt. McCurry burial."