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Note: Batch #: 7806990, Sheet #: 43, Source Call #: 1126248 Batch #: 7806990, Sheet #: 44, Source Call #: 1126248
GRANDPA TOM WAS KNOWN AS "FIGHTIN TOM" BECAUSE WHEN HE WAS A TEEN HE AND HIS BROTHERS WERE ALWAYS FIGHTING, BUT NOT WITH EACH OTHER. ACCORDING TO DOCK O'DELL, TOM'S FIRST COUSIN, THE O'DELL BOYS WERE ALWAYS TAKING ON GANGS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRYSIDE. THEY USUALLY MET AT THE LOCAL CHURCH WHICH HAD BEEN STARTED BY THEIR GRANDFATHER, JEREMIAH O'DELL. THEY O'DELL BOYS ALWAYS WON THE FIGHTS AND GAINED A LOT OF RESPECT. MANY OF THE MEN THEY BEAT BECAME LIFELONG FRIENDS AND COHORTS. THIS UNDERSTOOD RESPECT LATER COST COFFMAN HIS LIFE.
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