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From: <>
Subject: [RHEA-L] Re: RHEA-D Digest V99 #111
Date: Sun, 13 Jun 1999 05:45:44 EDT


I think it is highly probable that Pleasant Vincent U. J. H. G. Rhea was
related in some way to John and Sally Rhea of Lincoln Co., TN. There were
many men named Pleasant Vincent during this time period, some of whom were
named after a man named Pleasant Vincent and others who were named after
favorite male relatives. I have found more than 6 Pleasant Vincent Rheas in
my attempt to identify parents for my P. V Rhea (of Lincoln Co., TN and Hood
Co., TX). I found 3 different family groups using this name and have not
found any connection between the 3 yet.

I was told by one descendant of John and Sally Rhea that there were two
Pleasant Vincent Rheas in the family, one much younger than the other, but
she didn't have anymore information and died soon after our correspondence.
Several people have speculated that P. V. Rhea ( Hood Co., TX) was an
illegitimate son of John Rhea or perhaps of his son Pleasant Vincent (of
Arkansas). It is also possible that John and Sally Rhea had another son who
died after the birth of P. V. making P. V. a grandson of John and Sally Rhea.
I have no proof of any of that however.

In my family the story was that P. V. left Tennessee and really never
communicated with any of his Tennessee relatives because of some sort of
family disagreement.

This is what I have on Pleasant Vincent Rhea, son of John and Sally Rhea of
Lincoln Co., TN.
Pleasant Vincent Rhea

Birth:abt 1803, Lincoln Co., TN
Death:abt 1864, Washington, AR

moved in 1830 from Lincoln Co., TN to Arkansas (according to Goodspeed 1889)
as Brice M. G. Rhea was named as his agent in settlement in 1850

>From Goodspeed's 1889 History of Washington County/pg. 1009-1010:

Pleasant V. Rhea (deceased), one of the early settlers of this county, was
born in Lincoln County, Tenn., grew to manhood there, and there married Miss
Fannie B. White. They moved to Washington County, Arkansas in 1830 and here
Mr. Rhea followed the occupation of a blacksmith, and also taught school,
taking his pay in corn, pumpkins, etc. His family consisted of seven
children, three sons and four daughters. He was a member of the Baptist
Church and died at the age of 61 years. The mother is also a member of the
same church, and is now living at the advanced age of 88 years. Their eldest
son, William H., was born in Lincoln Co., TN in 1825, and came with his
parents to Washington County, Ark., where he learned the blacksmith trade.
At the age of 24 he opened a little grocery in Maysville, Benton Co., Ark,
and after running that a short time he came to Cincinnati, and bought a stock
of goods. Being a shrewd business man he gradually arose until at the time
of his death, he owned three stores, a mill and several farms, amounting in
all to about $75,000. He was a public-spirited man, and was ever ready to
contribute to worthy enterprises. He was a Democrat in his political views,
and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He married Miss Elizabeth C. Powell,
daughter of Dr. Samuel Powell, and a native of East Tennessee. This union
resulted in the birth of eight children, four sons and four daughters. He
died in 1884, but she is still living. Their fifth child, Robert J., is one
of the most extensive merchants of Cincinnati. He was born at Rhea's Mills
October 15, 1862, and was reared chiefly in the store. He had good
educational advantages and at the age of 14 he commenced clerking in his
father's store, and has handled goods ever since that time. After the death
of his father he purchased his present store, and has the largest stock of
goods in the county outside Fayetteville. In 1886 he married Miss Myrtie,
daughter of Charles McClellan, and a native of Washington County, Arkansas,
born NOvember 5, 1868. To this union one son, William H., has been born.
Mr. Rhea is devoted to his business and is accounted a wide-awake business
man. He is a Democrat in politics, is a member of the I.O.O.F., and his wife
is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

P. V. Rhea witnessed a deed record Benton Co., Arkansas, Book A page 262, 7
October 1842

had three sons and four daughters
Member of the Baptist Church

Old Burial Ground across from Rhea Cemetery, P. V. Rhea 1803-1864
First mayor of Fayetteville

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.

Research: Research:
1850 Census dwelling 21, Beatie township, Benton Co., AR
Will of John Rhea proven Mar 1839

Will of B. M. G. Rhea signed 5 July 1852, proven August Term 1852

Birth: Joanne Cullom Moore AR

Early Unpublished Court Records of Lincoln County,
Tennessee:
Guardian & Settlement Records, 1838-1853:
Settlements of Administration and Executors, 1847-1855:
Page 192- Jacob BROILES (sp?) executor of Sarah RHEA. W. B. RHEA.
Willed to Pleasant V. RHEA, Susan McLAUGHLIN and Francis E. SMITH as
ordered by W. B. RHEA guardian and agent. Paid for stone fence around
the graves of the family, B. M. G. RHEA his share, James ISON in right
ofhis wife, W. B. RHEA as guardian for Rufus SMITH, and Alfred SMITH in
right of his wife. Jun 1, 1850.

Guardian & Settlement Records, 1838-1853:
Settlements of Administration and Executors, 1847-1855:
Page 199-James BRIGHT executor of John RHEA. Paid William B. RHEA his
share and as guardian for Frances E. SMITH, a minor, also as guardian for
Rufus A. SMITH, a minor, Jacob BROYLES in right of his wife Sarah, B. M.
G. RHEA his share and as agent of Pleasant V. RHEA, Alfred SMITH in right
of his wife Mary B.'s share, Atamira ISHAM as trustee and James ISHAM her
husband in full share. Jul 29, 1850

Goodspeed's 1889 History of Washington County/Northwest Arkansas p. 1009, 1010

Spouse:Fannie Ballentine (Frances) White
Birth:abt 1801, NC
Death:28 Jan 1889, Cincinnati, Washington Co., AR
Marr:abt 1823, Lincoln Co., TN

Children:Elizabeth Ann (1824-1907)
William H. (1825-1884)
James Harris (1826-1896)
Mary Bolling (1832-)
Sarah A. (1833-)
John Gibbons (1838-1916)
Catherine (~1842-)

The marriage record for Pleasant Vincent U. J. H. G. Rhea shows that the
marriage took place in Bedford Co., TN in 1845. He and Mary (Fanning) are
shown on the 1850 Census living in Lincoln Co., TN. By 1860 they are shown on
the Johnson Co., TX census.

Denise Fischer

In a message dated 6/13/99 10:24:14 AM, writes:

>To:
>Message-ID: <>
>Subject: Re: [RHEA-L] John Rhea b. 1776
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
>
>Pleasant Vincent Uriah Jackson Glenn Rhea is my GG Grandfather as well.
> I have
>heard from several people on the net that Our PV is not the son of John.
> However
>I find it very hard to believe that there are TWO people with this same
>name.
>Our PV did die in Hood County and is buried there. PV was married to Mary
>Elizabeth Fannon on November 24, 1845 in Flat Creek Bedford Tenn. He owned
>and
>ran a black smith shop on what is now the Square. Can anyone out there
>prove
>that these two men were not the same. Is there proof that one was the
>son of
>John and one was not! I would like some proof if there is any. Can any
>one
>explain how such a unusual long name came about.
>
>Thanks,
>LaNelda Gordon

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