Debbi, Thanks for the tip on the obits in Alton papers. I'm afraid that any link to Coffees in Missouri would be very far back, but almost anything is possible. Anyway, here's what I know: 1. William Joel COFFEE (b. 15 Apr 1826 in Ala, d. 13 Sep 1885 in Dexter, TX) married Elizabeth Ann MOORE (b. 16 Apr 1833 in Nashville, TN, d. 13 Dec 1907 in Province, OK) There's much conjecture as to William's ancestry; at least one researcher with whom my mother corresponds is convinced that he is a grandson of Cleveland COFFEE (1780 - 1843) who came from a long line in Virginia. Without sources, I'm withholding judgment. Family legend was that he came directly from Ireland and landed in Virginia but he listed his birthplace as Alabama on the 1850 census. I never heard any names of brothers or sisters he might have had, when my aunts & uncles old enough to have remembered hearing such things were still alive. He did serve in the Confederate Army (12th Ala Infantry Regt) and told stories of his long walk home (probably from Virginia since that unit was in Lee's army) after the war. Some time after the war he left for Texas to find a homestead. About 1884 the rest of the family moved to Texas, and by 1892 all but one son had moved into Indian Territory. William's sons were: John Jeams COFFEE (my great-grandfather) Joel William COFFEE Daniel Webster COFFY Joseph A. COFFEE Harrison COFFEE Charles COFFEE Robert Richard COFFEE Leonard COFFEE John's sons were: Joel William Leonard COFFEE John Denson COFFEE James Arthur COFFEE (my grandfather) Oscar Otto COFFEE (never married) Rufus Moore COFFEE If any of these names sound vaguely familiar, then this may be of help to you. Otherwise, I hope I haven't bored you with details interesting only to me. Thanks again for helping me out with information in Alton. John Coffee