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Subject: [RHEA] Bio of Albert Gallatin Rhea, Logan co, KY
Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 17:40:05 EDT

BIOGRAPHIES - RHEA, Albert Gallatin, Logan County, KentuckyFrom: Laura
Gill Date: 13 Jun 2001
HISTORY of KENTUCKYThe Blue Grass State322886VOLUME III
ILLUSTRATED THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANYCHICAGO - LOUISVILLE1928Pages
237, 238, 239

ALBERT GALLATIN RHEA
As a newspaper publisher and citizen, Albert Gallatin Rhea has made
substantial contribution toward the development of Russellville, his native
town, where he has creditably filled public offices of trust and honor. He
traces his ancestry to the colonial epoch in American history and through his
achievements has brought added luster to a name which for more than a century
has been an honored one in southern Kentucky. Mr. Rhea's forebears in the
paternal line emigrated from the north of Ireland to the new world, settling
in North Carolina when that region was largely a wilderness, and subsequently
crossed the Cumberland mountains on their journey to Tennessee. His
great-grandfather, Dr. Robert Rhea, was a successful physician and practiced
in Tennessee for many years. He was a soldier in the Continental army and his
father also served in the Revolutionary war. John Rhea, another son of the
latter, was elected to congress and for twenty years represented Tennessee in
the national halls of legislation. Charles Rhea, a son of Dr. Robert Rhea,
was born in 1790 near Knoxville, Tennessee, and in his youth moved to
Kentucky, becoming widely known as a journalist. In 1812, when twenty-two
years of age, he started the Russellville Messenger, of which he was editor
and publisher, and for many years this was the only newspaper west of
Louisville. It has been in continuous operation for one hundred and four
years and is now known as the News-Democrat, Albert G. Rhea being the present
owner. The constitution of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, adopted and
ratified by the Synod of Cumberland held at Suggs Creek, Tennessee, April 5,
1814, was printed and published in a book of one hundred and thirty-seven
pages in 1821 in the establishment of Charles Rhea, who had one of the best
plants of that period. He supported the whig party and was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, South: He was a victim of the cholera epidemic of
July, 1835, and died at the age of fortyfive years. He had married Clarissa
Roberts, who was born at Frankfort, Kentucky, in March, 1800, and passed away
at Russellville in 1863. Their son, Albert Gallatin Rhea, Sr., was born
February 3, 1822, and read law under the supervision of Judges Elijah Hise
and Ephraim Ewing, of Russellville, where he always made his home. He was a
man of high legal attainments and following the close of the Civil war was
circuit judge of the seventh judicial district, which position he filled with
distinction. He enjoyed a large practice of a most important character and
was local attorney for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company from the
time of its organization until his death, November 25, 1884. He was first a
whig and later supported the democratic party, was a member of the lower
house of the Kentucky assembly for two terms and afterward served as state
senator. He was a member of the Episcopal church, a Royal Arch Mason and a
man of exemplary character, honored and respected by all who were brought
within the sphere of his influence. His wife, Jane (Stockdale) Rhea, was also
a lifelong resident of Russellville. She was born May 24, 1828, and her
demise occurred on the 4th of May, 1899. She was a daughter of Thomas Ward
and Laurenda (Hise) Stockdale, the latter of whom was born in August, 1800,
in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and died at Russellville in June, 1884.
Thomas W. Stockdale was born in Durham, England, in 1790, and devoted his
attention to mercantile affairs. He was a Jacksonian democrat and a member of
the Episcopal church. He attained the age of forty-eight years, passing away
at New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1838. His parents, Thomas Ward and Minerva
(Ward) Stockdale, were also natives of England and always resided in that
country. His father was a shipbuilder and also engaged in merchandising. In
the family of Albert G. and Jane (Stockdale) Rhea were eight children:
Elizabeth, who was united in marriage to A. C. Brizendine, a traveling
salesman, and died at the age of thirty-eight; Martha J., who died in
infancy; John S., who served for eight years as county attorney of Logan
county, for a similar length of time as representative of the third
congressional district of Kentucky in congress, and for eight years was judge
of the seventh judicial district; Jennie, who passed away at Russellville,
when forty-six years of age; Albert Gallatin, Jr.; Charles, who became a
successful lawyer and died at Russellville at the age of forty-eight years;
Merrie; and Thomas S., who served as sheriff of Logan county, as state
treasurer and also as president of the Southern Deposit Bank of Russellville.
In 1913 three members of this prominent family, John S., Thomas S. and Albert
G., were residing with their sister in Russellville, at which time John S.
Rhea was circuit judge, Thomas S. Rhea was state treasurer and A. G. Rhea was
sheriff of Logan county. Albert G. Rhea, Jr., was born February 9, 1861, and
became a student at Bethel College, which he attended until he reached the
age of sixteen, when he entered the Bank of Russellville in the capacity of
errand boy. His diligence and fidelity to duty were rewarded by promotion to
the position of bookkeeper. He was later made teller and remained with the
bank until 1897, when he became editor of the Herald-Ledger of Russellville.
He was connected with the paper until 1905 and during that time was city
clerk for four years. From 1903 until 1905 inclusive Mr. Rhea was a member of
the state board of equalization under Governor Beckham and represented the
second appellate court district of Kentucky. In 1906 he was appointed tax
deputy sheriff, serving under his brother, Thomas S. Rhea, whom he succeeded
at the end of four years, and filled the office of sheriff for a similar
period. He was afterward tax deputy sheriff under Sheriffs Taylor and Stewart
and in 1911 became a director of the Bank of Russellville. He was elected its
president in 1919 and has since remained at the head of the institution,
which was founded in 1873 and for fifty-three years has been a vital element
in the upbuilding of this locality. Mr. Rhea's connection with political
affairs constitutes an important chapter in his life record. In July, 1886,
he was chosen a member of the democratic executive committee of Logan county,
on which he represented precinct No. 3 until July, 1913, when he moved to
precinct No. 4. He was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy in this voting
district, which is now known as precinct No. 5, and has since been retained
as its representative on the county executive committee, of which he was
secretary for six years and chairman for fifteen years. In 1897 he was
elected a member of the democratic state central committee by the third
congressional district and served until 1904. In 1908 he was chosen a member
of the democratic executive committee from the state at large and in 1912 was
reelected, serving until 1915. Mr. Rhea has been a member of the Russellville
board of education for a period of ten years and was recently reelected
without opposition for another term of four years. He is connected with the
Russellville Board of Trade and through the columns of his paper champions
every project destined to prove of benefit to his town and the surrounding
district. Since its organization in 1918 he has been chairman of the
executive committee of the Logan County Chapter of the Red Cross and holds a
life membership in that society. He was actively associated with the local
drives during the World war and for three years was a member of the Kentucky
National Guard. He is a Rotarian and for diversion turns to reading and
motoring. He is affiliated with the Episcopal church and his fraternal
connections were with the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias.
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Patricia L. Hall






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