Samarah Thomas was born March 24, 1860 Jefferson Township, Newton County, Arkansas. She was the third child born to Vincent Thomas and Sarah Spivey Thomas, their first child born in Arkansas and their first daughter. Samarah was delivered by Betsey Thomas, her paternal grandmother.
At age nineteen Samarah married Elijah Coffee, born in Kentucky April 6, 1858. Elijah and Samarah were married December 28, 1879 in Newton County, Arkansas by Alex Dixon. They lived in Jefferson Township near her parents and other family members. Elijah Coffee and Samarah had three children. Samarah's mother and Aunt Patsey Thomas were with her when these three daughters were born.
Rhoda Coffee was born December 13, 1880 near Swain in Newton County. She married James Hurless, who was several years her senior. He served as Private USA Missouri Infantry during the Civil War. James Hurless died February 15, 1930 Swain, Newton County. Rhoda never remarried. She died March 13, 1972, James and her are buried Mossville Cemetery Newton County, Arkansas. They had no children.
Ruby Coffee was born June 20, 1882 Swain, Newton County, Arkansas. She was married to William Watson, November 20, 1895 by Kimber A. Thomas, in Newton County. Willie and Ruby had seven children, all delivered by Samarah, Ruby's mother: Daisy Belle, Sylvia Leigh, Flossie Alberta, Efton, Clay, Fred, and Lonnie Imogene. Wille died December 27, 1936. Ruby died November 6, 1965. Both are buried Mossville Cemetery Newton County, Arkansas.
Nancy Coffee was born December 4, 1885 at Swain. She married Arch Ober in Newton County, they had three children: Henry, Lizzie, and Viola. Nancy was near delivery of a fourth child when she died October 7, 1909. She is buried Mossville Cemetery Newton County.
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Elijah was only twenty seven years old when he died, December 19, 1885. Samarah was a young, twenty five year old widow with three very young daughters. Rhoda was five, Ruby was three and Nancy was only fifteen days old. Soon after Elijah's death, Samarah moved out near Cassville. On June 3, 1890, Samarah married Pleasant Lovell. A son born to them died a few days after birth. He was buried on Thomas Creek near other members of the Thomas family. Plez Lovell and Samarah were living near Swain when their daughter Effie, was born, October 20, 1892. Effie married Mart Stepp and raised a family near Hartman, Johnson County, Arkansas. Children of Effie and Mart: Myrtle, Darrell, Roy, Leo, Cecil, Mart, DeWayne, and Dwight. Effie died June 13, 1989 is buried Hayes Chapel Cemetery Johnson County, Arkansas.
Samarah's daughter Rhoda, was raped by Plez Lovell in the early part of 1893. Samarah's father pressed charges against Pleasant Lovell. Ples was taken to Tucker's Farm near Little Rock, Arkansas. He died while serving time there.
Samarah's third husband was William Curtis. They had no children. After Bill Curtis died, Samarah continued to live at Swain, never again to marry.
When Samarah was seventeen years old she helped her feeble and nearly blind grandmother, Betsey Thomas, deliver a baby. The baby was Mary Thomas, born February 12, 1877, the first child born to Sidney Thomas and Marth Staggs Thomas. Mary Thomas married John T. Watson and raised a family in Newton County. Throughout her adult life, Samarah was a midwife. She helped deliver many babies in the area of Newton County where she lived. Several of those that she delivered were her grandchildren and great grandchildren. My mother is one of four great grand daughters who were named Samarah.
Samarah faced many hardships in her lifetime, she survived them all in glory. She was always ready to lend a hand to those in need and was always ready to offer comfort to those who were suffering. Samarah greeted people with a warm smile and a big "Thomas Hug".
Samarah outlived three husbands. She died at ninety five years of age, September 22, 1955.
She is buried as Samarah Coffee near the grave of her first husband at Mossville Cemetery
Newton County, Arkansas. Her parents, her three oldest children, and many of her beloved
relatives and friends are also buried at Mossville.
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