My Genealogy Hound

William R. Rea was born in Bedford County, Penn., June 13, 1842, one of five children born to Thomas and Elizabeth (Ramsey) Rea, who were also natives of the Keystone State. The former was born near Carlisle in 1814, and the latter in Juniata County in 1817. Thomas Rea was a blacksmith and farmer, and in 1847 removed with his family to McLean County, Ill., and located in the village of Bloomington. He worked at his trade and farmed in that and Champaign County until the breaking out of the war. In 1863 he enlisted and served one year, and then returned home and spent the remainder of his days with his children. He was a Democrat and died in June, 1881. His wife died three years earlier. They came to Humboldt, Tenn., in 1874, and here spent the remainder of their lives. Our subject resided in Pennsylvania until five years old, then grew to manhood in McLean County, Ill. He attended the common schools, and in 1862 engaged as clerk in a sutler’s store at Columbus, Ky., and later in a bakery and confectionery in the same capacity. He was also engaged in the boot and shoe business, and at the close of the war removed his store to Gibson County, Tenn., in 1866, and located at Milan. He was joined by his brother, Lemuel, and they added a stock of dry goods. They dissolved partnership, however, in the spring of 1867, and William R. came to Humboldt, where he kept a grocery until 1874. He then abandoned mercantile life and began growing the different fruits, being one of the first to engage in this enterprise. His fruit farm contains 35 acres, on which he raises peach, plum, apple and pear trees, raspberries and strawberries. He ships his fruits to Chicago, Cincinnati and other Northern cities, and in 1885 organized a company of fruit growers and built a cold storage house at Humboldt, by means of which, in connection with refrigerator cars, he has successfully shipped berries to New York and Boston. He is president and manager of the Fruit Grower’s Shipping Association at Humboldt, and by his energy is pushing that business to the front in his vicinity. He is a Democrat and Mason, and a member of the K. of the G. R. September 24, 1868, he married, at Champaign, Ill., Louise Littler, born August 4, 1849, daughter of L. Littler, of Champaign County. Their children are William H., Clarence E., Claud A. and Edith May. Mrs. Rea is a member of the Baptist Church.