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From: "Robert P. Rhea" <>
Subject: [RHEA] (#2 of 2) Eliz. RHEA, d. of James & Eliz. (Snapp), g-d of Rev. Joseph
Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2002 19:11:19 -0600


ELIZABETH RHEA, DAUGHTER of JAMES & ELIZABETH (SNAPP) RHEA, and
GRANDDAUGHTER of REV. JOSEPH RHEA
(Part 2 of 2)

Where did Tolbert RHEA spend his early years? The Knox County court
record cited above was addressed to Blount County, Tennessee, which is
located directly south of Knox County and extends to the N. Carolina
border. In the 1870 Census of Titus Co., Texas, all members of the John
SNEED family, including "Harry RHEA (friend)" were born in Tennessee. I
looked at Blount County marriage records on the Internet, and found that
a John SNEED married Mary SIMERLY on April 3rd, 1838. The census of
1870 gave his age as 53, and his oldest child, James, as 32. There is
no discrepancy in his wife's name, for "Polly" in the census record is,
as we know, another name for Mary. Although not positively proven that
the John and Mary SNEED of Blount County are the same John and
Mary/Polly SNEED of Titus County, it appears to be a good fit.

The Genealogy also reveals that Elizabeth later married a HENRY (given
name not known), having children Gus HENRY, and a daughter, "name
unknown." Mary Ellen has recently discovered a nearly illegible grave
marker adjacent to that of her great grandfather, H. Tolbert RHEA,
bearing the inscription, "Tommie HENRY. Son of G. A & A. S. HENRY - Born
Oct. 21, 1886 and died Dec. 12, 1889." Could G. A. HENRY have been
Tolbert's half brother, Gus, or a nephew? The proximity to his grave
makes one wonder. The cemetery has no other markers for HENRYs. The
"H" in H. Tolbert RHEA's name was recorded as Harry in the 1870 Census.
For whatever it might be worth, Harry is another name for Henry. There
were many families named HENRY in Blount County, but I could not find a
marriage of a HENRY to Elizabeth RHEA.

Another direct connection to Blount County is found in a deed recorded
in Blount Co. Deed Book 51, pages 523-525, July 29, 1899, wherein H. T.
RHEA and his wife, Sarah J. RHEA of Titus County, Texas, deeded a lot in
the town of Louisville, Blount County, to Leon RHEA [his son] of Titus
County. H. T. RHEA had purchased it from James TALLENT in 1874. James
TALLENT had purchased the lot from J. H. HENRY, whose heirs once owned
an adjoining lot to the north. I suspect that Tolbert's purchase of the
lot was somehow related to his connection with the HENRY family. Who was
J. H. HENRY and who were his heirs? And who was James TALLENT? Did he
marry into the HENRY family? An examination of Blount County marriage,
deed, and census records is a "must do." The lot immediately to the
south was owned and occupied by Elizabeth FRENCH. A photograph of
Tolbert RHEA has a notation on the back that reads, "Grandma Rhea's
father was John Sneed. John Sneed's grandmother was Elizabeth French of
Louisville, Tennessee." To further muddy the waters, Blount County
records show that on July 19, 1840, an Elizabeth RHEA married Thomas
FRENCH..There were other RHEAs living in Blount County

Knox County, Tennessee, was a special place to H. Tolbert RHEA, for he
named a son "Knox." Tolbert was probably born there, but whether he
lived there at a later time is not known.

H. Tolbert RHEA had an apparently successful life. He fathered seven
children: Learner T (Lonnie), Adria Tennessee, Jess Wilks, Thomas
Burnett (Tom), Leon (Lee), Lawrence, and Knox, Mary Ellen's grandfather.
He had 58 grandchildren and 245 great- and great-great grandchildren,
for a total of 310 descendants as of June 1979. The Genealogy adds the
following: "From the time of his arrival in Texas, his occupation was
that of a farmer. In addition to acquiring land and cattle he was known
for his generosity, and the Titus County records show that he gave land
for the erection of a school and a church near Center Point. He took an
active part in politics. He served as Titus county Judge and State
Representative. [In 1896 he] was invited by the state democratic caucus
to run for Governor of Texas, but declined the offer for personal
reasons." He died August 17, 1905.

As in most family histories, there are many loose ends. One problem
that may prove to be the most difficult to solve is the ancestry of H.
Tolbert RHEA's biological father. Just finding his name may be beyond
possibility. A thorough search of county court records- minute books,
etc. would be a good way to start.

Mary Ellen and her husband, Ray, plan of visiting Blount, Knox, and
Sullivan Counties, TN, in April in search of answers. She would
appreciate hearing from anyone with additional information about her
g-g-grandmother, Elizabeth RHEA- her marriage to a HENRY, their
children, the time and place of her death and burial, Sarah SNEED's
ancestry, plus anything on the identity of Tolbert's biological father.

A postscript: In September, I sent Mary Ellen two messages by email,
but received no reply for a little over a week. When she did respond,
she said that she had been in the hospital after having a mild stroke.
It weakened her right side, necessitating therapy. She is currently
making good progress. (End of Part 2 of 2)

Robert Perry Rhea


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