Reavis, John Newton

Summary

Father: Mark Reavis
Mother: Lucy Bradley

Birth: 21 Oct 1817, Warren County, Kentucky
Birth Source: Son's Bio

Death: 30 Sep 1910, Missouri
Death Source: Obituary

Spouse1: Elizabeth Preston, m. 19 Oct 1840, Boone County, Missouri

Narrative

Children of John Newton Reavis and Elizabeth Preston:

1. Lucy J. Reavis, b. c1841
2. James Bradly Reavis, b. c1845
3. Alexander Reavis, b. c1847
4. Mary E. Reavis, b. c1849
5. Ann Eliza Reavis, b. c1851
6. Alice Reavis, b. c1853
7. William Reavis, b. c1857

Mention of him is found in a biography on his son the Hon. James Bradly Reavis:

Their family consisted of six sons and four daughters, and of the former was John Newton Reavis, our subject's father. His birth occurred in Warren county, Kentucky, on the 21st of October, 1817, but he later removed with his father to Missouri. He there married Elizabeth Preston, a native of Clark county, Kentucky, and a daughter of John Preston, a prominent and early settler of that state. Mr. Reavis has long been a prominent stock farmer and is now a resident of Monroe county, Missouri, in his eighty-fifth year. His good wife died in 1889. aged seventy-three years. They were always devoted members of the Christian church.

Sweet Springs Herald, 7 Oct 1910
Death of a Grand Old Man.
John Newton Reavis, Monroe county's "grand old man," died at the home of his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Aleck Reavis, last Friday and the remains were buried at Pleasant Grove Saturday, with funeral by Rev. Allen.
Deceased was born at Bowling Green, Ky., in 1817 and when 3 years old came with his father’s family to Saline county, this state, locating near Sweet Springs, but moving a year later to Boone county near Rockport. He united with the Christian church in 1839 and a year later was married to Margaret Preston, who preceded him to the grave 17 years. To this union were born 9 children, 4 sons and 5 daughters, four of whom survive him — Judge J. B. Reavis of the state of Washington, Mrs Mary Vandeventer, Mrs. Anna Davis and Mrs. Alice Lewellen. Uncle John moved to Monroe county with his family in 1847 and from that day until his death was one uf its most notable figures. Big of body and brain, subtlely refined in nature, kind, broad, tolerant, he perfect type of citizen and gentleman, the finest product of his race and ths splendid standards which two generations ago were set up for the making of men. In John Newton Reavis, last of his kind, was no flaw and no weakness. Perennial in soul and in the vigorous intellect that was his, the man never grew old or out of sympathy with the life about him. Eternal youth was in his heart. He was richly endowed and no man in the state knew more of its early history and traditions than he or understood more thoroughly the significance of tho great movements of the first half of the century. All the beauty, color and poetry connected with the making of an empire sprang to life as he told the story. Coupled with his gentleness was a stocism that enabled him to face without flinching the pain, suffering and loneliness which old age brought to him. "The friend of God and the friend of man" is the phrasing of a tribute paid to him, and it is as applicable as it is beautiful. Men like him come seldom into the world and their departure ever and always occasions grief.
— Paris (Mo.) Appeal.
Judge Reavis is an uncle of Mrs. T. E. Ray and Messrs, W. H. and T. D. Reavis of this city. He formerly resided in this vicinity.

Research Notes

Sources

Marriage1:  FamilySearch - Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991
Death:        Obituary, Sweet Springs Herald, 7 Oct 1910

1850 Census:  Monroe Township, Monroe County, Missouri
1860 Census:  Jefferson Township, Monroe County, Missouri
1870 Census:  Jefferson Township, Monroe County, Missouri
1880 Census:  Jefferson Township, Monroe County, Missouri
1900 Census:  Jefferson Township, Monroe County, Missouri
1910 Census:  Jefferson Township, Monroe County, Missouri

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