Nancy Corel, called "Nannie" was the 12th of 14 children born to William and Rebecca Oney Corel in Tazewell Co., CA. Her birthdate appears in the family bible owned by the descendants of younger sister Olivia Gillespie Corel McGee as 27 March 1934. This is also the date shown as her birthday on her death certificate from Bent County, Colorado.

According to family story, the entire Corel family (with the exception of married daughter Rebecca Corel McGlothlin) left Tazewell County, Virginia headed west. They came by flatboat down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. "The boat foundered and they unloaded at Wyandotte and drove by schooner to Westport, MIssouri, using ox teams. They began a homestead on Little Blue."

The family appears on Kansas City, Missouri 1850 Census records.

CENSUS RECORDS

1850 Federal Census - Kaw Twp, Jackson oc., MO
Nancy Corel 16

1855 Kansas Territorial Census - Douglas County, KS
Nancy M. Corel minor

1860 Federal Census - Douglas County, Kansas, Kanawaka Twp,
Nancy Loha 25

1865 State Census - Douglas County, Kansas, Clinton Twp,
Nancy LaHay 30

1870 Federal Census - Douglas County, Kansas, Eudora Twp
Nannie Dobbins 36

1880 Federal Census - Bent County, Las Animas, CO
Nannie Dobbins 46

1900 Federal Census - Bent County, Las Animas, CO
Nannie Dobbins 66

1910 Federal Census - Jackson Co., Kansas City, Missouri 18 Apr 1910
Living with Olivia McGee
Dobbins, Nancy 76

DEATH

Her obituary states that after the death of her second husband, Nannie went to live with her sister, Olivia McGee in Kansas City, Missouri. She remained there until about 1914 when ill health caused her to return to Colorado and her own family.

STATE OF COLORADO BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS
CERTIFICATE OF DEATH - FILE #8221
Las Animas, Bent Co., CO
Nannie Dobbins
Female, White, widowed
Date of Birth: March 27, 1834
Date of Death: November 6, 1917
Age: 83 years 7 months, 10 days.
Housewife
No parent information recorded
Cause of death: Cerebral Softening - 1 year
Contributory: Senility
Signed J. D. Hardy, M.D. 11/8/1917 Las Animas
Place of Burial: Las Animas, Colorado
Date of Burial - 11/9/1917
Undertaker: G. W. Powell
Informant: Mrs. R. G. Dobbins, Las Animas.

Extract from Obituary
Las Animas Leader, November 14, 1917

MRS. NANNIE DOBBINS
Mrs. Nannie Dobbins, one of Bent County's pioneer citizens, passed away at the home of her son, R. G. Dobbins last Tuesday evening, after a gradual failing in health due to extreme age. The funeral service was held from the home on Seventh and Grove Avenue on Thursday afternoon, the Rev. Eugene B. Kuntz, D.D. officiating

Mrs. Dobbins was born in Virginia, March 27, 1834 and at an early age moved to Kansas, settling near Lawrence. Here she witnessed much of the border strife that made the history of that state. She was a witness of the sacking and burning of Lawrence in 1856 by Quantrell and his band, and many other atrocities and wrongs of those stirring times. In 1867 she was united in marriage with James S. Dobbins, to which union three children were born - Mary, who died in infancy; Robert G., cashier at the American Sugar plant here at Las Animas; and Scott W., who preceeded his mother to the grave but a few weeks.

They continued to live near Lawrence until 1875 when they came to Bent county and settled near Rule Creek, 14 miles east of Las Animas. With the coming of the railroad shortly after, the Santa Fe tracks were laid through their home and corrals, necessitating a removal. For several years they resided at Fort Lyon, then a big frontier post; afterwards they settled just east of the Purgatoire and engaged in the stock business. In 1904 Mr. Dobbins died, and Mrs. Dobbins then resided for several years with a sister, Mrs. Olive McGee at Kansas City, MO. Some three years ago, on account of rapidly failing health, she returned to live with her son, R. G. Dobbins and family in her declining years.

Passing away at the ripe age of 83 years and 7 months, with a residence in the west of nearly 70 years and in Colorado 42 years would classify Mrs. Dobbins as one of the pioneers of the Great West....

• Married: 19 DEC 1856 in Lawrence, Douglas Co., KS
• Note:

  MARRIAGE OF FRANCOIS "FRANK" LAHAY AND NANCY COREL
  
  Civil War Widow's Pension File #597571 (Widow of James S. Dobbins, 11th Kansas Cavalry)
  Claimant's Affidavit - U. S. Pension Office Sept. 24, 1904
  
  "...I was prior to my marriage to James S. Dobbins married to Frank E. Lahay on December 19, 1856 near Lawrence, Kansas. Mr. Frank E. Lahay died on February 13th 1861 and was buried on his father's place near Lawrence, Kansas. Frank E. Lahay did not serve in the Army or Navy..."

1. Oliver "Olla" LaHay b: JAN 1858 in Douglas County, KS
2. Ella LaHay b: SEP 1861 in Douglas County, KS

• Married: 21 FEB 1867 in Lawrence, Douglas Co., KS
• Note:

  LAWRENCE DAILY TRIBUNE
  SUNDAY, FEB. 24, 1867 P. 2
  
  MARRIED
  Dobbins - Lahay
  On the 21st inst. by Rv. J. S. Kline, at the residence of Mr. Jacob MGee, James S. Dobbins and Mrs. Nannie Lahay.

1. Mary Dobbins b: 20 AUG 1868 in Lawrence, Douglas County, KS
2. Robert Gaston Dobbins b: 28 FEB 1870 in Lawrence, Douglas County, KS
3. Walter Scott Dobbins b: 28 NOV 1873 in Lawrence, Douglas County, KS