This shot was taken by & borrowed from Donald G. Coatney. It shows the name of Michael Courtney, Revolutionary War Veteran, placed in the Jennings County Indiana courthouse. The name can be seen six down on the left. Michael was the father of Archibald Coatney. James Michael Courtney is also one of my maternal fifth great grandfathers. James Michael Courtney was born in Fauquier County Virginia & after the War migrated to Tennessee & then Indiana. On 28 January 1779, also in Fauquier County he married Sarah Rutherford. Together this couple would have eight children. What's interesting to me about this plaque is that two names down from Michael Courtney's name is that of John Grinstead. John is one of my own 4th great paternal uncles. Michael Courtney's 4th great granddaughter would marry & have children with John Grinstead's 3rd great nephew. Yet none of my immediate family ever lived in Indiana. The fact that these two men lived in such close proximity to one another & more than likely never met, yet their descendants met & married some eight hundred miles & one entire century later, is a real mind blower for me.

Archibald Coatney was the first of eight children born to James Michael Courtney & his wife Sarah Rutherford Coatney. Around 1807 in Kentucky he married Mary McIntosh. With her he would have eight children, the third of whom was my 3rd great maternal grandfather, John Samuel Coatney. In January 1833 Archibald married Madilla McIntosh & had six more children. On 21 October 1849 in Jefferson County Indiana Archibald married Catherine Ann Selgue. Together they would have four children. So, all together Archibald had eighteen children. Shown above is a copy of a debtors mark. It was written on 10 August 1858, & shows that Arbibald Coatney was not able to read as this was "his mark". It's also the first tangible place we see the surname recorded as "COATNEY", not Courtney. Donald Gordon Coatney, is in possession of this original document.

It has been suggested this is an image of John Samuel Coatney. I would love for that to be so, but do not believe it is. John Samuel Coatney is one of my third great maternal grandfathers. On 14 February 1840, in Scott County Indiana he married Elizabeth Jane Phillips. Together they had four children, the youngest of whom was my 2nd great maternal grandfather, William Henry Coatney. John Samuel Coatney died in Jefferson Coutny Indiana on 07 October 1849. Tin type photographs came into popular being around the time of the War of the Rebellion, or Civil War. (Nothing whatsoever civil about a War, folks) My Coatney's were honest, hardworking, but poor farmers. They did not I believe have access to this kind of technology as early as this photo suggests. This young man looks to be in his mid 20s. John Samuel Coatney died at 31 years of age in 1849, almost 11 years before common folks had acccess to photographers.

Above we can see the marriage license for, John Samuel Coatney, and his bride, Eliza Jane Phillips. Later she'd marry, James Alfred Wells. James was an uncle to the wife of, William Henry Coatney, child of John and Eliza [PHILLIPS] Coatney. This license copy was given to me by my cousin, Linda Vaughn, in Texas. Thannk you so much Linda.

Above is the BIRTHS page, from a Bible page, belonging to, Eliza Jane [PHILLIPS] Coatney, Wells. This page was given to me by my cousin, Linda Vaughn, in Texas.

Above is the MARRIAGES page, from a Bible page, belonging to, Eliza Jane [PHILLIPS] Coatney, Wells. This page was given to me by my cousin, Linda Vaughn, in Texas.

Above is the DEATHS page, from a Bible page, belonging to, Eliza Jane [PHILLIPS] Coatney, Wells. This page was given to me by my cousin, Linda Vaughn, in Texas.

Veteran of the 20th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Also second husband to my 3rd great, maternal grandmother: Eliza Jane [PHILLIPS] Coatney, Wells.

Married to, Eliza Jane [PHILLIPS] Coatney, Wells

Joined in 1862, as a 37 year old Private. The man was a very, VERY bad dude.

James survived the War, and returned home to finish rearing his own children, along with his sepson, my own great great grandfather, William Henry Coatney.

William Henry Coatney was the youngest of four children born to John Samuel Coatney & his wife Elizabeth Jane Phillips. William's father died when he was four & his mother married James Alfred Wells. James was also an uncle to Nancy Elizabeth Wells, whom William Henry married on 07 March 1871 in Endicott, Jefferson County Nebraska. Together they had six children, shown above. This Coatney Family Portrait was taken in 1900. Most of the family moved to Oklahoma for the last of the free land rushes. (Only their son Edward would stay in Nebraska) Shown above from left to right are, back row: Edward, Norris; middle row: Jennie, Bertha, Nettie; bottom row: Arthur, Nancy & William Coatney. This photograph was given to me by Lorene Coatney. I am in possession of an original copy.

William Henry Coatney moved his family to a farm in Nowata Oklahoma in 1895. I'm not exactly sure when this picture was taken. It is the old Coatney house on the farm in Nowata. It was sent to me by Lorene Coatney.

She was the wife of William Henry Coatney, neice to James Alfred Wells, & mother to Arthur Eugene, Jennie Elizabeth, Edward Ernest, Bertha Jean, Norris & Nettie Alene Coatney.

Shown above is the obituary printed for, Nancy Elizabeth [Wells] Coatney

Shown above is the death certificate issued for, Nancy Elizabeth [Wells] Coatney

Shown above is the gravestone for Nancy Coatney. She's buried in Nowata Memorial Cemetery, Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma. This picture was taken from Findagrave.com.

Shown above is the death certificate issued for William Henry Coatney

Cemetery where William Henry Coatney & his wife Nancy Elizabeth Wells Coatney are buried.

Shown left to right are: Norris, Jennie, Bertha, Nettie, Edward & Arthur Coatney.

Arthur Eugene Coatney was the eldest child of 6 born to, William Henry Coatney & his wife, Nancy Elizabeth [WELLS] Coatney. He was born in, Endicott, Jefferson, NE on 30 December 1871. he died in Nowata, Nowata, OK, on 25 Jun 1944, & is buried in Nowata Memorial Cemetery, Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma. This picture was taken from Findagrave.com.

Jennie was the second of six children born to William Henry Coatney & his wife Nancy Elizabeth Wells Coatney. Jennie married Fred Chrisman & together they had one child. Later she married William Atkins. Their union bore no known children to this author. This picture was given to me by Lorene Coatney of Nowata Oklahoma.

Jennie was the 2nd child of six & the eldest daughter born to, William Henry Coatney & his wife, Nancy Elizabeth [WELLS] Coatney. She was born in, Endicott, Jefferson, NE on 01 November 1874. On 01 November 1891 she married, Fred Christman, and with Fred she would share one child; a son. Fred died ca 1895 & in 1900 she married, William Leo Atkisson. William & Jennie would share three children together. Jennie Elizabeth [COATNEY] Christman, Atkisson died in Nowata, Nowata, OK, in 1955, and is buried in Nowata Memorial Cemetery, Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma. This picture was taken from Findagrave.com.

Mildred Elizabeth Atkisson was the eldest of three children born to, William Leo Atkisson & his wife, Jennie Elizabeth [COATNEY] Christman, Atkisson. She was born in, Nowata, Nowata, OK in 1901. She died in 1943 and is buried in Nowata Memorial Cemetery, Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma. This picture was taken from Findagrave.com.

Edward Ernest Coatney was the 3rd child of six born to William Henry Coatney & his wife Nancy Elizabeth Phillips Coatney. On 20 June 1900, in Washington, Washington County Kansas, he married Ida Virginia Banner. Together this couple would have four children. Ed, as he was known, was a plumber by trade and the Edward Coatney family made their home in Falls City, Richardson County Nebraska. Shown above is their wedding photograph. It was given to me by Iola Coatney, wife of my grandfather & son to this couple, William Edward Coatney. I am in possession of the original photograph.

Ida Virginia Banner was the eldest of six children born to Stephen Gose Banner & his wife Martha Jane Long Banner. On 20 June 1900 in Washington Kansas, she married Edward Ernest Coatney. These fine people are a set of my maternal great grandparents. Ida was a remarkable woman, who lived to be 108 years of age. She was quite lucid at least until she was 105. I remember as a small boy going to visit her in the nursing home in Lincoln. She would try & tell me stories of her childhood & how she came to Nebraska in a covered wagon. I was too young & too bored to listen. What I wouldn't give for ten minutes of her time now.

Shown above is a picture of the Ed Coatney Family, around 1915. Shown left to right top row: Wilma Lucille & George Robert. Shown sitting are: Edward Ernest, Ida Virginia Banner, Ethel Elizabeth. The youngest little toddler shown is my maternal grandfather; William Edward Coatney.

Shown above is the Ed Coatney Family around 1930. Shown left to right are: Ed, George Robert, Ida Virginia, Ethel Elizabeth & William Edward Coatney.

Shown left to right are: William Edward, Edward Ernest & John Almond Amsler. John was Ed's son inlaw, as he married Wilma Lucille.

This shot was taken in Nowata Oklahoma around 1950, & shows Edward with his brother Norris. This picture was given to me by Lorene Coatney.

Shown above is the obituary printed in the Falls City newspaper for Edward Ernest Coatney

Shown above is the death certificate issued for Edward Ernest Coatney

Edward Ernest Coatney died in Falls City, Richardson County Nebraska on 13 November 1957. This is a picture of me at his gravestone. He is buried in Steele Cemetery, Falls City Nebraska.

A close up shot of his stone in Steele Cemetery.

Above we see mention of Ida Virginia [Banner] Coatney's 103rd birthday. This article was printed in the Lincoln Newspaper.

Shown above is the obituary printed for Ida Virginia [Banner] Coatney

Shown above is the death certificate issued for Ida Virginia [Banner] Coatney

Ida is buried in Lincoln Memorial Park, Lincoln, Lancaster County Nebraska. I was a pallbearer at her funeral.

Wilma Lucille Coatney was the second child of four born to Edward Ernest Coatney & his wife Ida Virginia Banner. On 29 December 1925 in Falls City, Richardson County Nebraska, she married John Almond Amsler. Both she & my uncle John are buried in Lincoln Memorial Park, Lincoln, Lancaster County Nebraska.

What a character. I drive by this house every single time I go to Lincoln. Falls City is on the way & the house has been restored & looks fabulous. One day I'll stop.

William Edward Coatney was the youngest of four children born to Edward Ernest Coatney & his wife Ida Virginia Banner. On 16 September 1935 in Lincoln, Lancaster County Nebraska he married Vivian Hazel Portsche. Together this couple had three children.

The sapling behind him is now a huge tree. I had no idea it was so old.

One last shot of my grandfather as a young boy. He was something. He's been dead 15 years and I still quote him at least once a week.

I was never told whether or not my grandfather bought this car, had it given to him or whether or not he actually made it. I know from family stories that as a young man, my maternal grandfather raced cars, motorcycles and the like.

School Picture

Highschool Graduation

Above is the wedding announcement printed in the Falls City Nebraska newspaper for, William Edward Coatney and his bride, Vivian Hazel [Portsche] Coatney

This is the Edward Ernest Coatney house as it appeared in 1996.

Another view of the house. In 2008, it was painted grey, with a double car garage on the property.

This is a shot of the Coatney family, around 1945. The two children shown are my uncle & my mother.

This is a picture of the gravestone of my grandfather. He was terribly simple, decent & good. I loved him very much. His grave is in Lincoln Memorial Park, Lincoln, Lancaster County Nebraska. I was proud to be a pallbearer at his funeral, as well.

Zerna was the first of three children born to William Edward Coatney & his wife Vivian Hazel Portsche Coatney. She's buried in Steele Cemetery, Falls City, Richardson County Nebraska.

Sarajane is the eldest of two children born to, William Edward Coatney & his wife, Vivian Hazel [Portsche] Coatney. This is obviously her wedding picture, taken prior to her marriage to, Richard Lee Mann, of Lincoln.

This cemetery is located in Whittier, Los Angeles, CA, and is where Bertha [COATNEY] Capps is buried, along with her daughter, Nellie Dodd and her son inlaw, Howard Dodd.

Bertha Jean Marincia Coatney was the 4th child, & the 2nd daughter born to, William Henry Coatney & his wife, Nancy Elizabeth [WELLS] Coatney. She was born in Endicott, Jefferson, NE on 20 February 1881. In 1899 she married, Charles Elihu Seabolt, & together this couple would share three children. Charles died in 1905 & she then married, William Henry Capps. There were no known children born to this couple that we're aware of. Bertha Marincia Capps died in Bell Garden, Los Angeles, CA on 20 January 1968, & is buried in Rose Hills Cemetery, Whittier, Los Angeles, CA. This photograph comes to us courtesy of, Kay Flemming.

Charles Elihu Seabolt was the eldest of three known children born to, William Seabolt & his wife on 18 March 1876 in Barnard, Nodaway, MO. In 1899, in Nowata, Nowata, OK, he married, Bertha Jean Marincia Coatney. Together this couple would share three known children. Charles died in Nowata, Nowata, OK, on 08 November 1905, and is buried in Nowata Memorial Cemetery, Nowata, Nowata, OK.

George was the eldest of three children born to, Charles Elihu Seabolt & his wife, Bertha Jean Marincia [COATNEY] Seabolt, on 21 March 1903 in Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma. On 01 May 1924 in Nowata, he married, Molly J. Schaffer, and together this couple would share two known children. George died in Nowata, Nowata, OK, on 27 October 1980 and is buried in Nowata Memorial Cemetery, Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma. This picture was taken from Findagrave.com.

Nellie was one of three known children born to, Charles Elihu Seabolt and his wife, Bertha Jean Marincia [COATNEY] Seabolt, on 19 August 1906, in Nowata, Nowata, OK. She married, Howard Richard Dodd, and shared at least one child with him. Nellie is buried in Rose Hills Cemetery, Whittier California. This photograph comes to us courtesy of, Kay Flemming.

Howard Richard Dodd was born, 18 March 1903. He married, Nellie A. Seabolt, and together shared at least one child. Howard is buried next to his wife in Rose Hills Cemetery, Whittier, California. This photograph comes to us courtesy of, Kay Flemming.

Norris was the 5th child of six & the 3rd son born to, William Henry Coatney & his wife, Nancy Elizabeth [WELLS] Coatney. He was born in, Endicott, Jefferson, NE on 15 September 1883. In 1907, in Nowata, Nowata, OK, he married, Annie M. Wigger. Together this couple would share 5 children. he died in, Nowata, Nowata, OK, on 03 september 1963, & is buried in Nowata Memorial Cemetery, Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma. This picture was taken from Findagrave.com.

Annie M. Wigger was born to, George Albert Wigger and his wife, Sarah Jane [JARVIS] Wigger, in Missouri on 21 February 1891. In 1907 she married, Norris Coatney, and together this couple would share five children. She died in Nowata County, Oklahoma on 16 April 1968, and is buried in Nowata Memorial Cemetery, Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma. This picture was taken from Findagrave.com.

Roy Wayne Coatney was the eldest of five children born to, Norris Coatney & his wife, Annie M. [WIGGER] Coatney. He was born in, Nowata, Nowata, OK, on 06 July 1910. On 26 May 1934, in Nowata, Nowata, OK, he married, Lorene Helen Hollingsworth, and together this couple would share three children. Roy Wayne Coatney died in Nowata, Nowata OK, on 11 February 1995 and is buried in Nowata Memorial Cemetery, Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma. This picture was taken from Findagrave.com.

Ella Marie Cowan was born to, Ralph Fletcher Cowan & his wife, Elvah Jane [ACUFF] Cowan, on 30 June 1920, in Nowata, Nowata, OK. On 31 August 1935, in Nowata, Nowata, OK, she married, Ray Dick Coatney. He was the 3nd child of five & the 2nd son born to, Norris Coatney & his wife, Annie M. [WIGGER] Coatney. He was born in, Nowata, Nowata, OK, on 25 October 1915. Together this couple would share two known children. Ella Marie [COWAN] Coatney died on 21 February 2003 & is buried in Nowata Memorial Cemetery, Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma. This picture was taken from Findagrave.com.

This little girl was the youngest of five children born to, Norris Coatney & his wife, Annie M. [WIGGER] Coatney, in 1927. She died that same year and is buried in Nowata Memorial Cemetery, Nowata, Nowata County, Oklahoma. This picture was taken from Findagrave.com.

Nettie Alene Coatney was the sixth child of six to be born to William Henry Coatney & his wife Nancy Elizabeth Wells Coatney. About 1908 she married Frank Warren Vallie. Together this couple would have four children. This photograph was given to me by Lorene Coatney.

George Washington Coatney was the seventh of eight children born to Archibald Coatney & his wife Mary McIntosh. On 08 February 1857 in Austin, Scott County Indiana he married Arminda Spurgeon. Together this couple would have four children. This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

Thomas Jefferson Coatney was the eldest of four children born to George Washington Coatney & his wife Arminda Spurgeon. To my knowledge, this man never married nor had any children. This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

Thomas Jefferson Coatney, along with his brother had a bear act. They had the act for years until the bears had to be put down. This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

George Combe Coatney was the second of four children born to George Washington Coatney & his wife Arminda Spurgeon. On 25 May 1886 in Indiana, he married Eliza Ellen McClellen. Together this couple would have two children. This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

Bertha Mae Coatney was the eldest child of two born to George Combe Coatney & his wife Eliza Ella McClellen. On 26 December 1906, Bertha married Earl A. Wells. Together this couple would have four children. I do not know when this woman died, nor where. This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

Grace Ethel Coatney was the youngest of two daughters born to George Combe Coatney & his wife Eliza Ella McClellen. Grace died at an early age, having no issue. This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

Benjamin Harrison Coatney was the third of four children born to George Washington Coatney & his wife Arminda Bernard Spurgeon. On 24 December 1884 in Scottsburg Indiana, he married Hattie Magnolia Morgan. This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

Hattie Magnolia Morgan was born to William Morgan & his wife, Mary Townsend Morgan. She married Benjamin Harrison Coatney, & together this couple had four children. This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

William Curtis Coatney was the eldest of four children born to Benjamin Harrison Coatney & his wife, Hattie Magnolia Morgan Coatney. On 02 November 1918 in Indianapolis, Marion County Indiana, he married Lena C. Wendelboe. This couple had no children. This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

Charles Augustus Coatney was the second of four children born to Benjamin Harrison Coatney & his wife, Hattie Magnolia Morgan Coatney. To my knowledge, he did not marry, nor did he have any issue. This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

George Francis Coatney was the third child of four born to Benjamin Harrison Coatney & his wife, Hattie Magnolia Morgan Coatney. To my knowledge, this man never married, nor did he have any issue. This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

Albert Edison Coatney was the youngest of four children born to Benjamin Harrison Coatney & his wife, Hattie Magnolia Morgan Coatney. On 08 February 1941 Albert married Juanita Irene Kent. Together this couple would have three children. This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

Charles Edward Coatney was the youngest of four children born to George Washington Coatney & his wife, Arminda Spurgeon Coatney. To my knowledge, this man never married nor had any issue. This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

Henry Nashville Coatney was fourth child of six born to Arhibald Coatney & his wife, Madilla McIntosh Coatney. I know very little of this man, save his name & this picture. I believe he was kileld in the War of the Rebellion, but do not actually know. This photograph was sent to me by Donald G. Coatney. He is in possession of the original.

Margaret Jane Coatney was the fifth of six children born to Archibald Coatney & his wife, Madilla McIntosh Coatney. On 26 January 1859 in Scott County Indiana she married Nicholas Skeel Belch. Together this couple would have four children. This photograph was sent to me by Donald Donna Forney Clark. She is in possession of the original.

Nicholas Skeel Belch was born to Harmon Belch & his wife, Martha Skeel. He married Margaret Jane Coatney on 26 January 1859 & together had four children. This photograph was sent to me by Donald Donna Forney Clark. She is in possession of the original.

This photograph was sent to me by Donald Donna Forney Clark. She is in possession of the original.

This photograph was sent to me by Donald Donna Forney Clark. She is in possession of the original.

This picture was taken in December of 2006. Donna Forney Clark is in possession of the original. Donna is a 2nd great granddaughter to Margaret Jane [Coatney] Belch. Dave & Donna have their own wonderful genealogy site, complete with stories, pictures & recorded lineages. It can be found here:

http://forneyclarkgenealogy.com/