Coffey Family Land in NC and IL (Revis)

Newton Henry Coffey

born

1773 Wilkes, North Carolina

married

1806 Columbia, Adair County, Kentucky

married

1848 Bond County, Illinois

died

1858 Montgomery County, Illinois

His last name has various spellings on census ledgers.

Coffey, Coffy, Coffee

The first 315 mile move from North Carolina to Kentucky would have been by foot or horse and wagon. Estimated 109 hours. At 20 miles a day, that would take about six days in good weather.

Newton's trip from Kentucky to Illinois was in the fall of 1817, so it would have still been on foot or by horse and wagon. Railways weren't common until the 1820s-1840s. The trip from Columbia KY to Hillsboro IL is 323 miles (112 hours of walking).

I found a history site that lists Newton Coffey and Harris Reavis as two of the original settlers in what is now Montgomery County, Illinois. Harris Reavis' son (John D. Revis) married the daughter (Martha M. Coffey) of Newton Coffey. Harris was a soldier in the American Revolution and his Tale is "Harris Revis Fought Lord Cornwallis".

Abraham Lincoln Slept Here?

Playing degrees of separation with old Abe . . .

Newton was the first to acquire this Hillsboro property in 1823.

He sold it to John Tillson in 1824.

Tillson sold the lot to John Hayward who built this house in 1848.

Hayward frequently entertained persons of prominence, including Abraham Lincoln.

In 1893, a southern Illinois newspaper declared that Newton was the richest man around when Montgomery county was being created. He was known to have had $50 . . . and land!

Newton was persuaded to donate 20 acres for the establishment of the Montgomery county seat (and so he is credited with founding Hillsboro, IL).

An earlier Chicago Tribune article from 1855 tells the story of Montgomery county's founding and mentions Newton as a generous benefactor.

The Hillsboro Democrat, June 11, 1873

By Henry Pyatt

Newton Coffey was born in North Carolina, probably in Wilkes County about the year 1776; he emigrated in 1806 to Adair County, Kentucky, emigrated to this county in 1818. He settled a farm now owned by his son S.C. Coffey, and occupied by Newton Coffey, a son of C.S.C.

Newton Coffey, Sr., has been dead many years. His well supplied corn crib and smoke house were a means of furnishing many of the early settlers who emigrated here with meat and bread.

He was one of the first justices of the peace in the county, and one of the first county commissioners. Sarah Coffey was his wife. They raised seven children, four boys and three girls.

Murry, their youngest child died when about grown. Patsy, wife of John Revis has been dead for many years. Colber has been dead for several years. Thomas went to California several years ago. Eliza, wife of William Revis, of Greenville, is living.

Nancy Wiley and Cleveland S. are living in our midst. He informs me that he will be 70 years old on the 24th of June - that he was born in North Carolina, Wilkes County, in the year 1803, 16 miles from Wilkesboro.

Newton's Final Plot of Land

Wright Cemetery, Van Burensburg, Montgomery Co., IL

39.05083, -89.29223

Hilllsboro Had a Speeding Problem

On June 28, 1858 it became illegal to drive a horse, mare, or mule on any Hillsboro street at a speed greater than six miles per hour.

The Montgomery County Herald reveals the backstory.

Newton's grandson William Revis is mentioned briefly in the Tale titled "Gold Mine!".

His great-grandson Harris Revis is mentioned in the "Frontier Folk" Tale.

His 2x great-grandson Ezra Revis is in "Growing Up in the 1940s".

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