Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Cora Roberts ‘Cody’ Collins


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Cora Roberts ‘Cody’ Collins and seven of her descendants down to the fifth generation.


First Generation
1. Cora Roberts ‘Cody’ Collins,1 born 13 October 1906 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota (parents not determined);1, 2, 3, 4, 5 died 21 May 1989 in Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina.2, 3 Cody married, first, 18 April 1929 in Okeechobee, Okeechobee County, Florida, John Peirce Gazlay4, 5, 12 (born 23 May 1904 in Bellevue, Huron County, Ohio, the son of John Arvin Gazlay, Jr. and Maude Irene Peirce;4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 John died 12 February 1996 in Dade County, Florida6, 7, 11). Their marriage ended in divorce on 21 June 1945 in Dade County, Florida.10, 13 Cody married, second, James A. Baker (born ____, parents not determined).

As a teenager, John moved with his family in 1919 from Ohio to Miami. He graduated from Miami Senior High School and worked with his father raising training and show horses. John entered horse competitions and exhibitions as documented in numerous newspaper articles. He was also trained at the Chicago Art Institute and he painted many oil portraits of horses.11


Child of Cora Roberts ‘Cody’ Collins and John Peirce Gazlay:

+2i. Col. John Collins Gazlay, born 2 March 1930 in Miami, Dade County, Florida; died 22 June 2011 in Salinas, Monterey County, California. Married Carolyn Hoge ‘Petey’ Meyer.

  1. Email from Mary Fetter to Lee Gazlay, various dates in April and June 2013. The emails include as attachments 18 pages of hand-written family history notes containing the names, birth, marriage and death dates and places, primarily centered around the ancestors and descendants of Carl Adolph Hildebrand (1886-1965) and his wife Maria Elizabeth Gazlay (1883-1973). The pages include surnames Gazlay, Hildebrand, Rhoades, Morgan, Zehner, and Fetter, among many other surnames. The information in these pages matches the same information found in other (primarily public) records, so is considered highly reliable.
  2. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Baker, Cody C.; no. 262-03-4364.
  3. North Carolina Death Collection 1908-2004; Ancestry (website). Cody Collins Baker, age 82, died 21 May 1989, Ashville, Buncombe County, North Carolina; born 13 October 1906, Minnesota.
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, Florida, Dade County, South Miami, Enumeration District 13-105, Sheet No. 2A, family of John Gazley (48, Ohio, salesman, real estate, 21 at first marriage), wife Maude Gazley (49, Ohio, 22 at first marriage), son John Gazley Jr. (25, Ohio, farmer, 23 at first marriage), daughter-in-law Cora F. Gazley (23, Ohio, 21 at first marriage), grandson John Gazley 3 (11/12, FL), son Harold Gazley (19, Ohio, guard, prison).
  5. Florida State Census, 1935, Dade County, Precinct No. 63, Page 4, family of John Gazley (54, Ohio, salesman), wife Maude P. Gazley (54, Ohio), son John P. Gazley (30, Ohio, salesman), son Harold Gazley (24, Ohio, salesman), wife’s mother Olive G. Pierce (85, VT), wife Cody C. Gazley (26, Minn., cashier), son John C. Gazley Jr. (5, Fla).
  6. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Gazlay, John P.; no. 267-07-4874.
  7. Florida Death Index 1877-1998; available at Ancestry.com and familysearch.org, Gazlay, John P., born 23 May 1904; died 12 Feb 1996, Dade County, FL, age 91.
  8. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Ohio, Sandusky County, Bellevue, Enumeration District 134, Sheet No. 1A, family of John Gazlay Jr. (28, Ohio, traveling salesman, packing house), wife of 7 years Maud (29, Ohio, 1 child, 1 living), son John Gazlay (5, Ohio).
  9. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, Florida, Dade County, Miami, Enumeration District 33, Sheet No. 11A, family of John A. Gazlay (38, Ohio, salesman, automobiles), wife Maude I Gazlay (39, Ohio), son John Gazlay Jr. (15, Ohio), son Harold J. Gazlay (9, Ohio).
  10. Gazlay Family Notes, undated and unpublished. This photocopy of five pages of hand-written notes start with what is believed to be the same 1852 interview of Sayrs Gazlay by his brother Theodore that is transcribed elsewhere. The remaining pages focus on the branch of the family that includes John Arvin Gazlay (1846-1911). Some dates in this photocopy differ from other sources. Transcription available at Gazlay Family History (website).
  11. Obituary, Miami Herald, Miami, Florida, John P. Gazlay, 18 February 1996, died 12 February 1996.
  12. Florida Marriages, 1837-1974, available at familysearch.org. John Pierce Gazlay and Cora Collins, 18 April 1929, Okeechobee, FL.
  13. Florida Divorce Index 1927-2001. Available at Ancestry.com and familysearch.org, John P. Gazlay and Cora C. Gazlay, 1945, Dade County FL.
Second Generation
2. Col. John Collins Gazlay2 (Cora ‘Cody’1), born 2 March 1930 in Miami, Dade County, Florida;1, 2, 3, 4 died 22 June 2011 in Salinas, Monterey County, California.1 John married, 26 June 1954, Carolyn Hoge ‘Petey’ Meyer6, 8 (born 15 March 1932 in Crafton, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Eugene Montgomery Meyer and Martha Matilda Hoge;4, 5, 6, 7 Petey died 26 January 2019 in Salinas, Monterey County, California5). John and Petey are buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia.1, 5

Children of Col. John Collins Gazlay and Carolyn Hoge ‘Petey’ Meyer:

+3i. Gretchen Knox Gazlay, born 9 September 1956 in Frankfurt, Germany. Married Randall Edward Biery.
 4ii. Kristin Collins Gazlay, born 23 September 1958 in Frankfurt, Germany.4, 6

  1. Find a Grave (website). Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, John Collins Gazlay, born 2 March 1930, Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida; died 22 June 2011, Salinas, Monterey County, California. (from record, which includes a biographical sketch of John, and names his wife, children and grandchildren).
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, Florida, Dade County, South Miami, Enumeration District 13-105, Sheet No. 2A, family of John Gazley (48, Ohio, salesman, real estate, 21 at first marriage), wife Maude Gazley (49, Ohio, 22 at first marriage), son John Gazley Jr. (25, Ohio, farmer, 23 at first marriage), daughter-in-law Cora F. Gazley (23, Ohio, 21 at first marriage), grandson John Gazley 3 (11/12, FL), son Harold Gazley (19, Ohio, guard, prison).
  3. Florida State Census, 1935, Dade County, Precinct No. 63, Page 4, family of John Gazley (54, Ohio, salesman), wife Maude P. Gazley (54, Ohio), son John P. Gazley (30, Ohio, salesman), son Harold Gazley (24, Ohio, salesman), wife’s mother Olive G. Pierce (85, VT), wife Cody C. Gazley (26, Minn., cashier), son John C. Gazley Jr. (5, Fla).
  4. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.
  5. Find a Grave (website). Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, Carolyn “Petey” Knox Gazlay, born: 15 March 1932 in Crafton, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; died: 26 January 2019 in Salinas, Monterey County, California [from record, which include her obituary giving vital and biographical details, and the names of her surviving relatives; and the name and link for her spouse].
  6. Email from Mary Fetter to Lee Gazlay, various dates in April and June 2013. The emails include as attachments 18 pages of hand-written family history notes containing the names, birth, marriage and death dates and places, primarily centered around the ancestors and descendants of Carl Adolph Hildebrand (1886-1965) and his wife Maria Elizabeth Gazlay (1883-1973). The pages include surnames Gazlay, Hildebrand, Rhoades, Morgan, Zehner, and Fetter, among many other surnames. The information in these pages matches the same information found in other (primarily public) records, so is considered highly reliable.
  7. Obituary, everhere.com, Carolyn Gazlay, died 26 January 2019. The article provides vital and biographical details and the names of her children, son-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchild.
  8. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 27 August 1953. Engagement announcement: Carolyn Hoge Meyer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Carns Knox, to John Collins Gazlay, son of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Baker.
Third Generation
3. Gretchen Knox Gazlay3 (John,2 Cora ‘Cody’1), born 9 September 1956 in Frankfurt, Germany.1, 2 Gretchen married, 4 June 1983 in Dallas, Texas, Randall Edward Biery3 (born 4 October 1956, parents not determined2).

Children of Gretchen Knox Gazlay and Randall Edward Biery:

+5i. Kristin Kessig Biery, born 2 December 1986 in Dallas, Texas. Married Joshua Eugene Snively.
 6ii. David John Biery, born 21 December 1988 in Lubbock County, Texas;4 died 22 December 1988 in Lubbock County, Texas.5
 7iii. Carolyn Baker Biery, born 7 November 1990 in Dallas, Texas.6

  1. Email from Mary Fetter to Lee Gazlay, various dates in April and June 2013. The emails include as attachments 18 pages of hand-written family history notes containing the names, birth, marriage and death dates and places, primarily centered around the ancestors and descendants of Carl Adolph Hildebrand (1886-1965) and his wife Maria Elizabeth Gazlay (1883-1973). The pages include surnames Gazlay, Hildebrand, Rhoades, Morgan, Zehner, and Fetter, among many other surnames. The information in these pages matches the same information found in other (primarily public) records, so is considered highly reliable.
  2. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.
  3. Texas Marriage Collection 1814-1909 and 1966-2002, available at Ancestry.com, marriage of Randall E. Biery and Gretchen K. Gazlay, 4 June 1983, Dallas, Texas.
  4. Texas Birth Index 1903-1997, Biery, David John, born 21 Dec 1988 in Lubbock County, Texas.
  5. Texas Death Index, 1903-2000, available at ancestry.com.
  6. Texas Birth Index 1903-1997, Biery, Carolyn Baker, born 7 Nov 1990 in Dallas County, Texas.
Fourth and Fifth Generations
5. Kristin Kessig Biery4 (Gretchen,3 John,2 Cora ‘Cody’1), born 2 December 1986 in Dallas, Texas.1 Kristin married, 19 October 2013 in Dallas, Texas, Joshua Eugene Snively2 (born ____, parents not determined).

Child of Kristin Kessig Biery and Joshua Eugene Snively:

 8i. Camden Collins Snively, born xxxx.

  1. Texas Birth Index 1903-1997, Biery, Kristin Kesig, born 2 Dec 1986.
  2. Email between Carolyn “Petey” Gazlay and Lee Gazlay, 21-22 January 2014.