George Washington Coley was twenty-four and Mary Jane Van Dyke was sixteen when they married on September 18, 1856 in Coatsburg, Adams County, Illinois.

The 1860 census September 16, revealed George was a Machinist and their personal property value was $100. They lived in Honey Creek, Adams County, Illinois and their post office was in Coatsburg. Household members: George W. Caley (27), Mary (20) and Martha (1).

The 1880 census June 9, revealed George was a farmer and they lived in Prairie, Jackson County, Missouri. Household members: George Coley (48), Mary (39), Martha (21), William (19), Richard (17), Lou (14), Charles12), Wallace (10), Samuel (8) and Elizabeth (2).

The 1900 census June 8, revealed George was a Carpenter on his own account and they lived in Prairie, Jackson County, Missouri. George was born in September 1832 and Mary was born in June 1840. George and his parents were born in North Carolina. Mary and her parents were born Tennessee. They had been married forty-two years, had eight children and eight were still living. Household members: George Coley (67), Mary J. (59), Lizzie (21) and a female house helper, Artie McCormick (16).

Their known children:

Martha Ellen Coley (Holloway)(b.1858 d.1931)
William Coley (b.1860 d.1918)
Richard Wilson Coley (b.1862 d.1936)
Lucinda Catherine Coley (Wheat) b.(1864 d.1948)
Charles William Coley (b.1867 d.1956)
Benjamin Wallace Coley (b.1869 d.1927)
Samuel Lee Coley b.(1870 d.1934)
Mary Elizabeth Coley (Nichols) (b.1878 d.1956)

They had been married forty-nine years when George died in 1906 AT AGE 73.

The 1910 census April 16, revealed Mary was a widow and lived with her daughter and husband in Elizabeth, Jo Daviess County, Illinois. Household members: Mary Jane Coley (69), Osteopath Physician on his own account, Asa Nichols (31) and Mary E. Nichols (30).

Mary lived to age 76.