RHEA-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: John H. Rhea
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997 18:00:10 -0400 (EDT)

Hi,
The info on John H. RHEA I got from "Bulletin Series" Washington County
Historical Society, Fayetteville, Ar. Bulletin #3 titled "Thirty Years in
Arkansaw" by Rev. J.H. RHEA, 1896.
The Introductory reads:
"Thirty Years in Arkansaw" was originally one of a series of lectures
given by the Rev. J.H. Rhea in Iowa and Illinois in the old lyceum-chautaugua
days. It was published in book form in 1896 by the Republican Printing Co. of
Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A copy of this rare volume was made available to the
Washington County Historical Society by Mr.<sic> J.H. McIlroy of
Fayetteville, who is a niece of the author.
The Rheas came to Washington County, Ark., in the fall of 1829, a year
after the organization of the county. The clan was headed by Pleasant V.
RHEA, a native of Lincoln Co., Tennessee, and his wife Fannie White Rhea.
They were the parents of three sons and four daughters. Their two eldest
sons, Wm. H. and John H., were born in Tennessee - W.H. in 1825 and J.H. in
1827. They were brought to Arkansas by their parents in 1829. W.H. Rhea later
achieved prominence and wealth. He married Elizabeth C. Powell, daughter of
Dr. Samuel Powell. His brother, J.H., became a schoolteacher. He taught for a
time in old Arkansas College, Fayetteville. He then became a Methodist
minister . He was a Union sympathizer when war came, and took his family
north. He spent the rest of his days in Illinois and Iowa, where he attained
considerable fame as a preacher and lecturer. One of his most popular
lectures was "Thirty Years in Arkansaw", which he was induced to put into
book form shortly before his death in 1896."
signed W.J. Lemke, editor 1953.

PS - The Mrs. J.H. McIlroy of Fayetteville, mentioned in above article, was
the d/o Wm. H. RHEA and Elizabeth Cornelia POWELL. Her name was Sarah Ann
(Sallie) RHEA, b. 20 Sep 1868 in Washington Co. AR. She married James H.
McIlroy of Fayetteville, Washington Co., AR on 5 June 1889 in Washington
County.
.....Kathryn in OK .....

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