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Below is a family biography included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Pleasant V. Rhea (deceased), one of the early settlers of this county, was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., grew to manhood there, and there married Miss Fannie B. White. They moved to Washington County, Ark., in 1830, and here Mr. Rhea followed the occupation of a blacksmith, and also taught school, taking his pay in corn, pumpkins, etc. His family consisted of seven children three sons and four daughters. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and died at the age of sixty-one years. The mother is also a member of the same church, and is now living at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Their eldest son, William H., was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., in 1825, and came with his parents to Washington County, Ark., where he learned the blacksmith trade. At the age of twenty-four he opened a little grocery in Maysville, Benton Co., Ark., and after running that a short time he came to Cincinnati, and bought a stock of goods. Being a shrewd business man he gradually arose until at the time of his death he owned three stores, a mill and several farms, amounting in all to about $75,000. He was a public-spirited man, and was ever ready to contribute to worthy enterprises. He was a Democrat in his political views, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He married Miss Elizabeth C. Powell, daughter of Dr. Samuel Powell, and a native of East Tennessee. This union resulted in the birth of eight children, four sons and four daughters. He died in 1884, but she is still living. Their fifth child, Robert J., is one of the moat extensive merchants of Cincinnati. He was born at Rhea’s Mills October 15, 1862, and was reared chiefly in the store. He had good educational advantages, and at the age of fourteen he commenced clerking in his father’s store, and has handled goods ever since that time. After the death of his father he purchased his present store, and has the largest stock of goods in the county outside of Fayetteville. In 1886 he married Miss Myrtle, daughter of Charles McClellan, and a native of Washington County, Ark., born November 5, 1868. To this union one son, William H., has been born. Mr. Rhea is devoted to his business, and is accounted a wide-awake business man. He is a Democrat in politics, is a member of the I. O. O. F., and his wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

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This family biography is one of 300 biographies included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Washington County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Washington County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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