RHEA-L Archives

From: "Frank Myers" <>
Subject: [RHEA-L] Stray Rheas in Scott County, Iowa
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 23:28:19 -0600

Many years ago I asked the late Roy Roba, a friend, skilled
genealogist and one-time president of the Iowa Genealogical
Society, to see what he could find out about William J. McCullough
of Davenport, Scott County, Iowa. McCullough, whose wife, Josephine
Mitchell, was a Rhea descendant, collaborated on Rhea family
research during the early 1900s with Frank Hiett Rhea, whose name
pops up occasionally in this forum.

While doing that, Roy happened upon a few other Rhea items,
which he forwarded to me.

My favorite is an entry on page 417 of the 1898-89 edition of
"Stone's Davenport City Directory" which reads as follows:

"Rhea, Mamie Mme, clairvoyant, 327 1/2 W 2d."

I've often wondered if she could have helped us with some of our
Rhea puzzles.

Another item was a brief notice published on page 2 of The
Davenport Democrat on Friday, 29 October 1880, which reads
as follows:

"Graham R. Rhea, son of Rev. Dr. J.H. Rhea, died at the home
of his parents this forenoon. His age was 34 years. His disease
was consumption, with which he had been afflicted for a long
time. The funeral will take place Sunday afternoon at half-past
one o'clock, from the family residence."

The obituary of Graham R. Rhea's father, J.H. Rhea, was published
in the Davenport Weekly Democrat of 28 May 1896, as follows:

"OBITUARY

"RHEA

"At Clinton (Iowa), Wednesday occurred the death of Rev. J.H.
Rhea, formerly, at one time, pastor of the First Methodist church,
of this city. Dr. Rhea came to this vicinity first at about the close
of the war, when he was stationed at Rock Island. He was
afterward transferred to this conference, and was located at
Dubuque, Waterloo, and various other places where there were
large congregations, for he was one of the most sought after of
the pulpit orators of the Methodist church in this conference.
His pastorate here commenced nearly fifteen years ago, and
continued for three years, the full limit of time allowed by the rules
of the church at the time, and he greatly endeared himself to
the people of his flock during that time, as well as gained the
respect of citizens generally. His going was greatly regretted
by the members of the church, and they have never ceased
their interest in him and in his work elsewhere. He was a man of
commanding presence, being tall and portly, but genial, and
of the most kindly disposition. Some time ago Dr. Rhea
had an attack of nervous prostration, and at his advanced age
recovery was slow, for he was in the neighborhood of 70, but
he has been able to preach a few times, and a Davenporter
who was at Clinton about two weeks ago and inquired about
his condition, was told that he was gradually but surely
recovering. The particulars as to his death have not been
received but is thought that it must have been more or less
unexpected. Several children are left with his wife to mourn
his loss. There (are) two sons and a daughter by his present
wife, and one son by a former wife, P.B. Rhea, the former well
known agent of the America Express company in this city,
now of Cedar Rapids (Iowa)."

Three Rhea burials are listed on page 421 of the WPA
tombstone compilation for Scott county:

Rhea, Graham R., 1856 to 10-29-1880; Oakdale Cem., Lot 75, Davenport
Rhea, J.H. (Rev.), 1826-5-27-1896, res. Clinton, Ia. (Civil War veteran), buried Clinton, Ia. (sic)
Rhea, Ribert (sic), no daes, Oakdale Cem., Lot 10, Add. 19, Davenport

Frank D. Myers

This thread:

• [RHEA-L] Stray Rheas in Scott County, Iowa by "Frank Myers" <>