Rev. Newton Coffey, died on the train, after traveling a distance of ten miles on his way to Iowa, January 14, 1890.

It has been related down the generations that the engineer put the train in reverse & backed all the way to Stonington.

Rev. Newton Coffey is buried beside his daughter in law Lucy Barbre Coffey, 1st wife of son Benjamin Coe Coffey. Benjamin later married Lucy's sister Anna. His brother William married another Barbre sister, Malcena Barbre

New widow Martha Vermillion Coffey and her brother William Vermillion continued on to Iowa with many other of the family including son Benjamin Coe Coffey. Martha and her brother share a headstone and grave at Green Bay.

Son of Eli Coffey 1775 – 1833 and Mary Coffey 1785 – 1872

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From the Coffey Family History by Fred Coffey

Newton was the son of Eli Coffey and Mary Coffey. "Coffey" was also Mary's maiden name – she and Eli were believed to be first cousins. They had 12 children, and Newton was number 10. Because of the early death of Eli, Newton's brother Willis (who was 19 when Newton was born) is very important to his life, and also to the lives of Newton's younger siblings, Mary Ann and Reuben.

Martha's parents were Robert Vermillion and Nancy (McGlasson) Vermillion. Also mentioned in Russell County records is her grandfather, Birch Vermillion.

Newton's Siblings: Mariah Coffey 1802 – 1855 Franklin Coffey 1803 – 1862 Willis Coffey 1804 – 1893 Elizabeth Coffey 1807 – 1891 Nancy COFFEY 1809 – Salathiel Coffey 1812 – 1892 Sirena Cerena Polly Coffey 1814 – 1868 Mary A Coffey 1815 – 1856 Nathaniel Jackson Coffey 1817 – 1899 Stanton P COFFEY 1819 – 1899 William S COFFEY 1821 – Mary Ann Coffey – 1869

Spouse: Martha Louise Vermillion 1827 – 1904

Children: Polly Coffey 1843 – 1844,Benjamin Coe Coffey 1845 – 1927, William Coffey 1848 – 1896, Birch Coffey 1850 – 1895, Jackson Coffey 1852 – 1852, Mathew COFFEY 1855 – 1855, Xamthus COFFEY 1857 – 1857, Nancy J. Coffey 1859 – 1922, Robert Eli Coffey 1862 –1942 , Kiziah Coffey 1866 – , Cleveland Laurance Coffey 1868 – 1918.

NEWTON COFFEY'S OBITUARY:

"Reverend N. Coffey, one of the pioneer Baptist ministers of the Rehoboth Association, was born in Barton County (I don't believe this is correct), Ky., May 2, 1823 and died Jan. 13, 1890, aged 67 years, 8 months, 11 days. He unitied with the Baptist Church at the age of 15 years and lived a very devoted and Christian life.

He was licensed early in his Christian life to preach, and for the last 34 years has been an ordained minister. He has been an efficient worker and wise counsel.

He moved to Illinois in 1846, has had his home in Sangamon, Shelby and Christian Counties. He lived near Stonington, in Christian County at the time of his death.

About the year 1841, Newton Coffey and Martha L. Vermillion were married. They had eleven children.

Rev. Newton Coffey worked for Peter Cartwright, the great Methodist backwoods preacher for many years, but finally he moved to Shelby County, Illinois. There he preached on Sundays and farmed on week days."