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Archiver > RHEA > 2001-01 > 0979018386


From: "Polly Dixon" <>
Subject: Re: [RHEA-L] Elijah Waldon Rhea
Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2001 23:33:06 -0600
References: <2b.f43152b.2785ccab@aol.com>


I have a partial answer to this query, but possibly Robert Perry Rhea may
have more information on Elijah Walden Rhea by now. Robert -- can you help?
As you may recall, we corresponded about this line in 1994.

The information in paragraphs 1-5 (below) came several years ago from a dear
friend who lives in Gresham, OR who has been a Ray/Rhea researcher for more
than half a century. We corresponded for several years, and I finally got
to meet her about a year ago at the nursing care facility where she was then
living. Unfortunately, she no longer had access to her records. She was 93
last year, but her memory was very clear. I haven't heard from her since
then. Her hearing and eyesight were failing and she had difficulty reading
and writing. She is not a descendant of Elijah Walden Rhea, but had some
records on him.

I do not have documentation for this information, but copied it here as my
friend gave it to me. She said she and her husband went to Heppner, Oregon
many years ago, and this information was given to them by the historian of
Heppner. There are some discrepancies between this information and that
which was given to me by a woman in California (see paragraphs 6-8).

1. "Elijah Walden Rhea family came to Oregon 1852 and settled in Powell
Valley, later moving to Eugene near the Forks of the Willamette River where
they took a donation land claim. In 1864, Elijah's son Columbus A. settled
on Rhea Creek which was named after Columbus A. because he was the first
settler there. In 1868, Elijah Walden Rhea followed his son, and settled on
Rhea Creek.

2. "Listed in 1860 census, Springfield Precinct, Eugene City P.O. Elijah
Walden, age 36 yrs, blacksmith, born Tenn. Columbus A., age 15 yrs born
Missouri., John Rhea, 13, born Missouri; Thomas 11, b. Missouri; Mary E. 9,
b. Missouri; James 5, born Oregon; and Sarah Frances age 3, b. Oregon.

3. "After several years Elijah sold the homestead and moved to Arlington,
OR where they owned and operated a hotel for a number of years. He died
there and is the only Rhea buried in Arlington. His wife later married
Samuel Donaldson, early resident of Heppner. (Note: I cannot locate
Arlington in my atlas.)

4. "Josie Jones, a granddaughter of Elijah, said that Elijah had 18
children. Catherine Milliorn was first wife and she and infant died in
childbirth, 1858. No 2 wife was Lucile Coffee Rhea and she died with
infant. (She had a son named Green Coffee). Elijah and families came to
Oregon and drove oxen. Columbus was 7 yrs old when they came to Oregon. In
Heppner, Morrow Co., Oregon, he had 7000 acres and raised cattle and sheep.
Then he founded the First National Bank at Heppner.

5. "From Oregon probate records: Estate of Elijah Walden Rhea, deceased 7
Apr 1883 in Wasco Co., Oregon: Mildred A. Rhea, widow; children Rhetta Rhea
age 5, Nellie Rhea age 8, Lillian age 11, and Ada age 14; also Huldah Yancy
age 16. All residing Alkali, Oregon. The following have been passed their
legacies: Eveline W. Cleary/Clark of Yambill (sp?) Co, OR; Eliza Eagin of
Yambill Co., OR; Francis Luper of
Junction, Lane Co., OR; James Rhea; Lizzie Morgan; Thomas A. Rhea, Columbus
Rhea. James, Lizzie, Thomas and Columbus were all of Heppner, Morrow(?)
Co., OR. Elijah's grandchildren (children of John Rhea dec'd): Dinah
(could this be Dora?) Rhea, Luetta (sp?) Rhea, Ollie Rhea, Robert Rhea, all
minors residing at Junction in Lane Co., OR." (End of quote from the lady
in Gresham, Oregon)

I have also corresponded briefly with a woman in California, whose husband
is a descendant of Elijah Walden Rhea.

NOTE: If the person who sent the original query about Elijah to RHEA-L will
e-mail me personally at , I will give you the address
of the lady in California. This person gave me the information in
paragraphs 6-8 below. She said she has a lot of information on Elijah
Walden Rhea and his descendants but doesn't know much about his parents.

6. She said that the parents of Elijah Walden Rhea were Robert and
Elizabeth Balch. Elizabeth Balch was b. in TN and died 1849 in Missouri.
Her husband Robert Rhea later moved to Oregon with his daughter, Emily Rhea,
and is said to have also been in California. Elijah W. Rhea was b. 27 Feb
1824 Green Co., TN; died 7 Apr 1883, Arlington, Morrow Co., OR; m. (first) 8
Jun 1844 Jackson Co., MO to Eliza Catherine Milliorn, b. 1827 in Virginia,
d. 13 June 1860, Lane Co., Oregon. Elijah m. 2nd 13 Jan. 1861, Lane Co., OR
Mrs. Lucille Jane (Baker) Coffey; m. 3rd 27 Sept 1866, Lane Co., OR.,
Mildred A. Withrow. He had 13 children.

7. One of Elijah's children was John Rhea b. 1849 in Jackson Co., MO; died
16 Jan. 1879, Lane Co., OR; m. 21 Dec 1870 Lane Co., OR to Ruby Leaura
Baker, who was b. abt 1855 in MO; d. 8 Feb 1910, Lane Co., OR. Her parents
were William A. Baker, b. 1825, Cumberland Co., VA and Eliza Hudson, who
were m. 1 May 1851, Pike Co., IL.

8. John and Ruby Leaura Baker Rhea had four children, one of whom was Dora
Belle Rhea, b. 29 Feb. 1872, near Heppner, Morrow Co., OR; d. 30 Sep 1970,
Lane Co., OR; m. 9 Jan 1877, Lane Co., OR. to George Hicks. (Note: Could
this be "Dinah" listed in paragraph 5 above?)

Hope this helps!

Polly Dixon in Houston

----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 6:55 AM
Subject: [RHEA-L] Elijah Waldon Rhea

> Does anyone know who this Elijah Rhea is?
> Post to the list.
>
> Oregon Genealogical Society: Oregon Pioneers, from Jackson Co. MO
> 2 Rhea, Elijah Waldon Milliorn, Elizabeth Cather 1852 Jackson Co, MO
> Lane Co. OR
>
> They arrived in Oregon in 1852 from Jackson Co. Mo. and settled in Lane
Co.
> OR (Eugene OR) created in 1851. Parent counties Linn and Benton.




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