RHEA-L Archives

From: Bob Richardson <>
Subject: [RHEA-L] Samuel Franklin Rhea
Date: Sun, 7 Jun 1998 00:54:12 -0400 (EDT)

Hello,Fellow Listers!
I posted to this list many months ago...with no result. The list has grown
so much since then,I'm hoping this will sound familiar to some long lost
relative.
My name is Carla Rhea. My father was Samuel Franklin Rhea. He was born Nov
24,1915 in Tampa or Ft.Myers,Fl. I do not know my grandparents names (other
than Rhea). My grandparents died under mysterious circumstances,both at the
same time...either murdered or in an accident.I've heard it both ways,so
don't know for sure. I've been told they died around 1920.
My father's parents were both married before they married each other. There
were a large number of children;his,hers,and theirs. My father,his
brother;William A. Rhea and a sister named Estelle (she supposedly moved to
California)fall into the last group. There was another sister named Mary(?)
who lived in Ft. Myers area.
After my grandparents died,my father was adopted by friends of the family
named James and Charlotte Mecannon. They later lived in Kansas City,Missouri.
There is some connection between the Mecannons and the Peabody Hotel in
Memphis,unsure what,but my father worked there when he was young.
My father's first wife was named Virginia. They had one child,unsure of gender.
My mother was his second wife. Her name is Helga. I have an older
brother,William Arnold Rhea.
My father was,apparently,something of a rogue. He was married many
times;eleven or thirteen. We are not exactly sure as eleven and thirteen
were the same woman and we don't know if he was ever legally married to
number twelve. In fact we don't really know if he was legally married to
most of the wives. He was in the Army for a number of years and served in
Europe (where he met my mother) and Korea. He also had a reputation as a
heavy drinker.
My father died in Nov. 1969. I understand that my Uncle Bill is now deceased
as well. With the exception of my Uncle and his family,my mother has always
wished to disassociate herself from this phase of her life. Therefore there
has been little family history recounted over the years. I understand my
mothers' feelings...none-the-less,I would like to know more of my ancestry.
If any of this sounds familiar to anyone who subscribes to the list,would
you please contact me. I would love to be able to show my daughter that we
come from a line that is rich in history,instead of not having anything to
tell her about her ancestry.
Thanx,
Carla

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• [RHEA-L] Samuel Franklin Rhea by Bob Richardson <>