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Archiver > RHEA > 1998-01 > 0884373268


From: PHHGENE <>
Subject: Robert Rhea of Preble co. OH. First Part
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 14:14:28 EST


This is from the article that Robert Perry Rhea wrote for the Preble County
Historical Society in 1992.

The Rheas of Preble County descended from two second cousins, Robert Rhea of
Augusta and Rockbridge Counties, Virginia, and Barren Co. Ky., who settled in
Washington Township about 1810-1812, and Jehu Stephens Rhea, coming in
1813-1816 from eastern Tennessee. For Jehu's family, see an accompany article
by Clemence (Rhea)Baker, a descendant. An article on their ancestors by this
author entitled "The Rhea, Reah, Reagh, Reaugh, Reach, Reaoh, Family" is in
The Bicentennial History of Bath County, Virginia, the Bath County Historical
Society, Heritage Press Publishing House, Marceline, Missouri, 1991.

Robert was born in 1776. In 1796, he moved with his father William and
stepmother Elizabeth (Brownlee) from Rockbridge County, Virginia, to Green
(later Barren) County, Kentucky. On Christmas 1798, he married Elizabeth Rhea,
a first cousin.

Four children, born in Kentucky, married Preble County spouses:
Nancy, 1799-Feb. 24, 1881, married John Gray, son of Major William and Ann
(Thornberry) Gray; James, 1800-1862, married John's sister, Mary/Polly;
Robert, Jr., about 1803 -January 15, 1835, married Catherine Hornbaker,
daughter of Harmonious and Leah (?) Hornbaker; Margaret, about 1810-after
1848, married Matthew Taylor, Alexander, born in Preble County January 14,
1813, died December 16, 1880, married Sarah A. Conger, duaghter of Rev. Josiah
and Catherine (Runyon) Conger.

In 1835, Robert married Elizabeth Hornbaker, sister to his son's widow
Catherine. An only child, Almyra Ann, married Joseph Siders. Afer serving for
a , number of years as a justice of the peace, Robert moved to Jay County,
Indiana, where in 1841, he married Hannah Peterson. A daughter, jane Sample,
1842, married patrick Bolen and another, Sarah, 1844, married Samuel
Broughman. Robert died testate May 5, 1850.

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