Coomer, Margaret Elizabeth

Margaret Elizabeth Coomer was born June 25, 1845 in Lee County, Virginia. Her parents were Nancy Almeda Myers and Lee Coomer. Nancy A. Myers was born on April 22, 1827 in Wythe County, Virginia and Lee Coomer was born in Ropes County, North Carolina sometime during 1823.

Lee and Nancy Myers Coomer had nine children total. Their second daughter, Rachel Tolbert Coomer married John M. Kirby and their youngest daughter, Levina Coomer, married his brother, James William Kirby. But, it was their oldest daughter, Margaret Elizabeth Coomer, that married Benjamin Coy Kirby who was the father of John M. and James W. Kirby. This means that two of her brothers-in-law were sons of her husband.

Margaret Elizabeth "Aunt Margaret" Coomer came to Dallas County, Texas with her parents in 1859. Margaret was only fourteen years old when she made the trip, but could remember many details of their journey. Margaret first married Thomas Collins. It appears that Thomas died at a young age. Margaret then married Benjamin Coy Kirby on January 8, 1867. Benjamin Coy Kirby was born in Wayne County, Kentucky around 1820 and came to Pleasant Valley as a member of the 1854 wagon train from Monroe County, Kentucky.
Benjamin C. Kirby served as a Dallas County Justice of the Peace from 1858 until 1862.

Margaret and Benjamin Kirby had nine children total. The four children that survived Margaret at the time of her death were J. W.; G. E.; Thomas Tolbert, and Martha Mae Kirby who married J. Haywood Buhler. Haywood Buhler was the mayor of Rowlett for many years.

Benjamin Coy Kirby died March 3, 1911, at the age of sixty-eight years. According to a 1935 article in the Garland news, "Margaret continued living on the farm for a number of years after his death, but later bought a residence in Rowlett and moved to it, and this residence with all her household goods and many valuable relics and keepsakes were destroyed by fire, after which she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Buhler, for a number of years. She was an interesting talker and enjoyed telling of the many problems and hardships endured during the pioneer days."