William Rea (1772 - 1846)

Born 23 Jun 1772 in Cumberland County, PA

Husband of Eliza Swendal — married about 1821 in Worthington, Richland County, Ohio

Died 2 Oct 1846 at age 74 in Richland, Ohio, United States

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Biography

WILLIAM REA was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1772; he subsequently removed to Bedford County, Pennsylvania, and about 1816, came to Richland County, Ohio, and entered the north half of the southeast quarter of Section 35, in Monroe Township; he came to the county in company with Jacob Williams, Joseph Friend and William Fergueson; Mr. Williams entered the south half of the same half-section, Mr. Fergueson entered the south half of Section 34, in the same township; Mr. Friend entered the farm now owned by Alexander Freeman, on the eastern boundary of Worthington Township, near the present site of the town of Newville. Mr. Rea, upon his arrival in this Western wild, went to work at once and cleared a small tract and erected a cabin on his farm ; he kept bachelor's hall for a few years, when he rented his cabin to one William Wilson, a son-in-law of Jacob Williams; Mr. Wilson lived here a few years, assisting Mr. Rea in clearing and cultivating his farm.

About 1821, Mr. Rea was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Swendal; they were married in the residence of John Kinton, in Worthington Township, by Rev. William Johnson, of Mansfield; Mrs. Rea was born in the County of Down, Ireland, about twenty miles from Belfast, December 25, 1792; her father's name was Richard Swendal; her mother's maiden name was Susan Fox; Mrs. Rea came to the United States when about 25 years old; she had a brother living in this country, but she did not know where to find him; she, without money or friends, set about seeking employment at once, which she soon was able to find: she worked for some time in the city of New York, and in various other places; in a few years, by the assistance of s friend, she was enabled to find her brother; when she did find him, however, she did not recognize him, and it was with no little difficulty that he was enabled to convince her of his identity: she subsequently came with her brother to Richland County and got married as before stated. Mr. Rea took his wife immediately with him to his cabin and went to housekeeping in the primitive style of those days; they were the parents of four daughters-

Martha Ann Rea, born August 9, 1826 and died March 23, 1842; buried at the Pine Run Cemetery.

Mary Jane Rea Darling, born September 18, 1828 and died November 13, 1917; buried at St. John's Cemetery. (Married to John Darling)

Eliza Rea, born December 10, 1830 and died March 20, 1840; buried at the Pine Run Cemetery.

Sarah Rea, born January 2, 1832 and died in the spring of 1839; buried at the Pine Run Cemetery.

Mr. Rea united with the United Presbyterian Church early in life, and was an active and consistent member thereof as long as he lived; he was very strict in the observance of the ordinances of religion; Mrs. Rea united with the same church some years before her marriage and still retains her membership therein. William Rea died October 2, 1846, and was buried in Pine Run graveyard. Mrs. Rea has resided with her daughter, Mrs. Darling, for several years; she is now 87 years old; though somewhat enfeebled by age, she still retains full possession of her mental faculties. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ History of Richland County, Ohio by A.A. Graham (1880), page 848. Available on Wikisource here.

• Find A Grave Memorial #97216117