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Archiver > RHEA > 2001-01 > 0979073766


From: "Polly Dixon" <>
Subject: Re: [RHEA-L] Elijah Walden Rhea
Date: Tue, 9 Jan 2001 14:56:06 -0600


In my earlier message I made an error (at least one that I noticed after it
was already sent!)

In paragraph #6, I said Elijah Walden Rhea's parents were Robert and
Elizabeth Balch. Of course, that should have read ROBERT RHEA AND ELIZABETH
BALCH.

Sorry about this.

Polly in Houston

----- Original Message -----
From: Polly Dixon <>
To: Rhea-L <>
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 11:33 PM
Subject: Re: [RHEA-L] Elijah Waldon Rhea

> 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

(NOTE 9 Jan 2000: This should be Robert RHEA)

> 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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