RHEA-L Archives
Archiver > RHEA > 1999-12 > 0945066428
From: "Frank Myers" <>
Subject: [RHEA-L] Frank H. Rhea to Elizabeth Rachel (Rhea) Clair, 16 April 1916
Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 00:27:08 -0600
What follows is the first of three letters written by genealogist Frank H.
Rhea to his cousin, Elizabeth Rachel Rhea) Clair, during 1916. Frank (25 Jan
1871-18 April 1926) was a grandson of William and Susan (Foutch) Rhea.
Elizabeth Rachel (27 Feb 1837-1 Jan 1922) was a daughter of Richard and
Elizabeth (Rhea) Rhea. William and Richard Rhea both were sons of James and
Rachel (Jolliff) Rhea. Richard's wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of Thomas
and Mary "Polly" (Rhea) Rhea.
Frank H. Rhea's consuming passion was genealogy and he planned to write the
definitive Rhea genealogy. He wrote hundreds of letters in search of
information, and received hundreds of replies. The fate of his collection
should be a lesson to all of us: Following his unexpected death in middle
age, a sister destroyed all
but a few of his records. His principal legacy are letters such as these,
retained by families across the country because of the wealth of information
they contained.
Keep in mind, when using information contained in the letters, that (a)
Frank Rhea apparently did not examine Kentucky and Virginia records
extensively, if at all, so some of his conclusions may have been countered
by later research; and (b) we can only guess at the replies to his questions
of the people he corresponded with, so it is unwise to place too much
reliance upon material contained in his questions.
The original of this letter was in the possession of a granddaughter of
Elizabeth Rachel (Rhea) Clair, the late Florence Elveretta (Mills) Pratt, as
late as 1976. It's current whereabouts are unknown. Although this is the
least informative of the three letters, it is the useful place to begin. I,
Frank D. Myers, am a great-great-grandson of Elizabeth Rachel (Rhea) Clair.
Springfield, Ill., April 16, 1916
Mrs.. James Clair
Alton, Kansas
Dear Cousin: I will first explain how we are cousins and then state the
purpose of this letter. I am the grandson of William Rhea of Sangamon
County, Ill., and Susan Foutch, his wife. Grandfather had a brother Richard.
Richard Rhea married his cousin Eliza Rhea and they had at least three
children, a son James, and two daughters, Elizabeth (yourself) and Mary.
James so far as I can learn never married. Elizabeth (yourself) married
James Clair, and Mary married Joseph R. Dunn. Richard Rhea died and his
widow married a Mr. Thomas or William Etheridge and with him moved to Iowa
with her children. Eliza Rhea had by her second husband at least three
children, whose names were Robert, Dempsey and Lucinda Etheridge.
The second husband died, and Eliza married a third time to Edwin (sic)
Sargent. Eliza Rhea moved to Iowa years ago and it seems that the relatives
in Iowa lost track of one another. According to the information I have given
you, my father, Thomas Rhea II, and yourself are first-cousins. For a number
of years I have been collecting material for a history of the Rhea family
and their descendants and now have the births, marriages and death records
of nearly a thousand kin folk. But the record would of course not be
complete without an account of the descendants of Richard Rhea and Eliza
Rhea, and so I am writing to you for information on your branch of the
family.
I tried for months to get the addresses of some of (great) Uncle Richard's
family, children of grandchildren, and at last secured your address through
Amos Hixon of Lucas County, Iowa. Amos married Lucinda Etheridge. The family
history when completed will be something all relatives will like to have
when published.
I am keeping a list of all addresses in case any relative may want a copy.
Please do not refuse to answer my letter, but help me out all you can with
your branch of the family. The best way to get at the matter I think will be
to ask questions. I will be glad to answer any question you may want to ask.
If you cannot answer all my
questions, please answer as many as you can.
(1) Where was your grandfather Thomas Rhea born (father of Eliza)?
(2) When (day, month, year) was your grandfather Thomas Rhea born?
(3) When (day, month, year) died your grandfather Thomas Rhea die? Where?
(4) So far as I can learn, Thomas Rhea, your grandfather, lived in Kentucky;
can you tell me just where in Kentucky he lived?
(5) What was the last name or maiden name of your grandmother Rhea? She
married a second time a man called James Hickman, and died in Iowa I think.
(6) Have you any record of the birth and death and marriages of your
grandmother Rhea?
(7) Did Richard Rhea have by Eliza more than three children?
(8) When (day, month, year) where the children born?
(9) Did James Rhea, your brother, son of Richard and Eliza, every marry?
(10) Is Mary Rhea (Mrs. Dunn) still living, and if so what is her address?
(11) When did you married James Clair (day, month, year)? Where?
(12) What are the names living and dead of your children?
(13) When (day, month, year) was your husband born?
(14) When (day, month, year) were your children born? Where?
(15) Whom did your children marry?
(16) What are the names of your grandchildren?
(17) Did you ever hear your mother speak of an Uncle John Rhea, a brother
of Thomas Rhea, your grandfather?
(18) Did you ever hear your mother speak of an Aunt Nancy, a sister of
Thomas Rhea, your grandfather?
(19) Did you ever hear your mother tell the name of her grandfather and of
course your great-grandfather? The record says his name was James, but there
is some doubt as to this. This man would be my great-great-grandfather.
There are many more questions I would like to ask, but doubtless you will
think I have asked enough for this time.
Please give me the fullest information you can. I will be glad to give you
any information I can on the relatives here. Please let me hear from you at
your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Your cousin,
Frank H. Rhea
1222 S. 8th St.
Springfield, Ill.
I suggest you number your answers to correspond to my questions.
Submitted 12 December 1999 by Frank D. Myers, Mason City, IA
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