ANDREW COGGBURN 1866-1986 By Janice Looney

Volume 9, Number 6 - Winter 1987

ANDREW COGGBURN 1866-1986
By Janice Looney

Editor’s note: Andrew Coggburn is the man who appeared in the story about the bald knobbers in the last issue of the Quarterly, "Troubles in Taney County-1880’s by Douglas Mahnkey (the Quarterly, volume 9, number 5, Fall 1986, p3-6).

The story of Andrew Goggburn, as far back as I know it, begins in Washington County, Tennessee, when James Coggburn married Jane Mercer, 13 February 1828. James and Jane were the grandparents of Andrew Coggburn and my great, great, great grandparents.

James and Jane Coggburn were living in Roane County, Tennessee, in 1840. Soon after 1840, James and Jane along with Margret Mercer, mother of Jane, left Tennessee reaching Miller County, Missouri, about 1845. There they remained raising their family. Margret Mercer was not in the Miller County 1860 census, and I assume she died between 1850 and 1860.

James and Jane sold their land in Miller County, Missouri, in 1865 and came to Taney County, Missouri. Jane Coggburn was listed in the 1870 Taney County census as head of household and a widow. The death date of James Coggburn has never been determined. Miller County probate has nothing on him and the Taney County records were burned. I assume he died in Taney County. Jane Coggburn is buried with a marker at Vanzandt Cemetery. There is a grave next to hers marked by a huge field rock. I strongly suspect it to be the grave of James Coggburn.

James Coggburn, born circa 1806, Tennessee.

Jane Mercer Coggburn, born 8 June 1814, Tennessee, died 6 March 1878

Their children:

Andrew I. - b. 1831, Tenn.-d. 1859, Miller County, Mo.

John Shell - b. 23 Nov 1832-d. 6 Feb 1901-in. Elizabeth Ann Allen, 11 Nov 1851, Miller County, Mo.

James A. - b. 1835, Tenn.-d. 1879-in. Frances ______ Taney County, Mo.

Frances Manerva - b. 1837, Tenn.-m. Albert G. Webb, 2 Aug 1860, Miller County, Mo.

Margaret - b. 1840, Tenn.-in. Phillip L. Saunders, 1 Apr , Stoddard County

Sarah June - b. 1842, Tenn.-m. Wm. R. Pickering, 13 Feb 1870, Miller County, Mo.

Barbara E. - b. 1846, Mo.-m. Samuel Knox, circa 1868, Taney County, Mo.

Samuel G. - b. 1849, Mo.-m. Lrele Van Burskirk, Taney County, Mo.

Ruth A. - b. 1851, Mo.-in. John J. Stephens, Taney County, Mo.

Polly M. - b. 1854, Mo.

Except for Andrew who died and Margaret, all of the above children came to Taney County. James, son of James and Jane Coggburn and father of Andrew Coggburn, was listed in the 1870 census with his wife Frances and sons, James, Andrew J., and Patrick.

The Patriot Advertiser, Springfield, Missouri, carried the following story.

"1 May 1879: Just as we got to press we learn from M. Thomas Layton, circuit court of Taney County, that a bloody tragedy occuried in the county a day hense. A day hense a warrant issued by esquire

of the city against the parties who stole Fletcher ______ horses a few weeks ago was in the hands of J. Coggburn and J. W. Dawson, Deputy Marshalls of Taney County. (Several lines illegible.) Surrounded the house where thieves W. H. Pearson, Lockheart, and two Cokers were concealed. A fight ensued resulting in the deaths of Jas. Coggburn and Wm. Bates.

Lockheart and the two Cokers escaped. The sheriff is after them with a posse of very determined men." (I am told this happened on Bee Creek.)

The man killed was the father of Andrew Coggburn. The 1880 Taney County census finds Andrew living with his brother James and his family. Neither Serilda Coggburn, a sister of Andrew, nor their mother is in the Taney 1880 census. Serilda was born in 1879.

Andrew Coggburn was shot and killed by Captain Kinney at the Oak Grove school house in March, 1886.

The estate of Andrew Coggburn was entered into probate 5 March 1886, with John Shell Coggburn as administrator. John Shell Coggburn was an uncle of Andrew and my great, great grandfather.

Serilda Coggburn was listed as Andrew’s only living heir. In a span of seven years, a family of six had all died but one. Serilda later married Clarence McClary.

Andrew Coggburn’ meager belongings were inventoried and sold as follows:

"Sale Bill of the Personal property of Andrew Coggburn, deceased, made at Forsyth, May the 29th, 1886. (The names are of the people who bought the items.)

W. T. Smith	One Bay horse, 4 yrs. old	50.00
A. S. Prather	One halter	.55
W. C. Smith	One bridle	1.00
Sampson Barker	One man’s saddlle	6.75
James Ellison	One saddle blanket	.70
James Ellison	One saddle blanket	.70
William W. Wood	One revolver	1.05
William B. Burks	One pr saddle bags	.60
Samuel G. Goggburn	One bill wallet	.15
Richard W. Gline	One pocket and note book "Paid"	.10
W. T. Smith	One pocket knife	.25
Sampson Barker	One pocket compass	.25
		62.10

Andrew Coggburn is listed in the Boone County, Arkansas probate index. I have been unable to obtain copies of it. John Shell Goggburn, my great, great grandfather, remained in Taney County, Missouri, and is the only one of the children I have been able to trace. He raised a family of ten whose descendants form the roots of many Taney County families.

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