RHEA-L Archives

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Subject: 3rd page
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 1997 22:31:52 -0400 (EDT)

Then came the clearing of the land and the building of a log house, into
which the family moved, as the trouble subsided. Clearing the forests,
tilling his fertile fields, and building a house, Samuel Rhea became in time
prosperous farmer, and his property became know as the "Rea Mansion."

Dr. Henry McCook said, "In these humble log huts began the work of home
building in which the wife was a chief factor. The husband, indeed, must feud
and fight for wife and means, for steading and glebe; he must school some,
chop down trees, clear up fields and plant grains." The pioneer had only such
furniture as could be carried on a packhorse through the wilderness,
supplemented by the furniture he made.

An extract from an old Journal says, "Two rough boxes, one on the other,
served as table; two kegs for seats. and so we spread our bed on the floor
and slept soundly till morning. The next day, a neighbor coming to our
assistance, we made a table and stool and in a little time had everything
comfortable about us.

Sometimes we had no bread for weeks, but we had plenty of pumpkins and
potatoes, ald all the necessities of fe."

Dr. John McMillan, the famous pioneer preacher, said, "Such luxuries wer not
much concerned about. We enjoyed health, the Gospel and its ordinances, and
pious friends. We were in the place where we thought God would have us to be,
and did not doubt that he would provide everything necessary."

Children were added to this pioneer home, for by this time by this first
wife, Eleanor Snodgrass, Samuel Rhea had the following children:--
Ann, born March 2, 1751.
John, born January 17, 1755
William, born August 1, 1757
Sarah, born October 27, 1759
Samuel, born December 27, 1761
Hannah, born January 19, 1766
James, born May 8, 1768.

Apparently about this time or shortly after, Samuel changed the spelling of
his name to "Rea." The reason for this is not known, but we find documents
signed by him prior to 1800, using the "Rea" spelling. His oldest son,
General John Rea, always spelled the name "Rea", but others ometimes spit
"Rhea" or "Ray".

Eleanor Snodgrass Rea died April 15, 1783, worn out with the struggle in the
New World and the toil of bearing and rearing a family in such surroundings.
Her descendants should honor her memory. She was interred in Rocky Spring
Churchyard. Samuel and Eleanor Rhea were true Christians and stalwart
Presbyterians.

By faith in him , who is invisable, they came to the Land of promise and saw
their dreams come true, as the close of the Revolution before Eleanor's death
brought the freedom of conscience and the liberty for which they longed. They
were members of the famous Rocky Spring Presbyterian Church, and Pew No. 49
still bears the Rhea name. Samuel Rhea had for his second wife a widow named
Mrs. Rosanna English, and after her death he married Mrs. Martha Grier
Wallace, who survived him. He died August 15, 1811, in his 86th year at the
Rea Mansion and was buried in Rocky Spring Chruchyard in the same grave as
his first wife and the mother of his children. The following interesting
letter was written by John Rea to his brother, Samuel, in Erie County,
Pennsylvania, communicating the death of their father Samuel Rhea:

More tomorrow, Its beginning to storm.

pat

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