My Genealogy Hound

W. P. Rhea, of the mercantile firm of W. P. Rhea & Co., of Salem, Ark., was born in East Tennessee in 1831, and while growing up attended Maryville College, receiving educational advantages which he improved. He was married, in 1855, to Miss Sarah Pile, who was born in East Tennessee September 30, 1836, and the following are the children born to their union: Laura E. (wife of R. A. Robins), David C., Joseph M., Margaret L. (wife of A. W. Ellis), Edmund G., Bettie E., Rob Preston, Kittie (who died in infancy), Oscar Lee and Holmes G. In 1866 Mr. Rhea emigrated to Arkansas, thinking to better his worldly condition, and after residing in this county for some time, and his many admirable qualities becoming known, he was elected to the offices of circuit clerk, ex-officio county clerk, clerk of the probate court, and county recorder, holding these responsible positions for ten consecutive years. Since 1883 he has also been engaged in mercantile business, but is now retired, his establishment being managed by his two partners, R. A. Robins and Arch. Northcutt. Mr. Rhea served in the late war for three years, under Gen. Longstreet, and was in a number of fiercely contested engagements. He has since been a Democrat in his political views, and has always been deeply interested in the cause of education. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is the owner of 600 acres of fertile land. He was next to the youngest of eleven children, eight of whom grew to maturity, born to Joseph M. and Kittie (Myers) Rhea, who were born in East Tennessee and Berkeley County, Va., May 14, 1787, and July 28, 1788, respectively. The father was a farmer and school teacher by occupation, was reared in his native State, but was married in the “Old Dominion.” He served in the War of 1812, and was in Canada during that time as private secretary to one of the officers of the army. He spent the remainder of his life in Tennessee, and died August 14, 1860, his wife having died February 25, preceding. Matthew Rhea, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Scotland, and was an early emigrant to America, and took an active part in the Revolutionary War, being a major in the Continental army. After the close of that conflict he settled in Tennessee, and was for many years clerk of Sullivan County, and held various other civil positions in the county. He died at about the age of sixty years. The maternal grandparents, Charles and Ann (Care) Myers, were Virginians, and were of German and French descent, respectively. R. A. Robins, of the above mentioned firm, and a prosperous young financier of the county, was born in Izard County, Ark., in 1852, and is a son of A. A. and Indiana (Pritchett) Robins, the former being a Virginian, who grew to manhood in his native State, but removed to Tennessee at an early day, and still later to Izard County, Ark., where he followed the occupation of carpentering. R. A. Robins was educated in Philadelphia, of his native county, and upon reaching a suitable age, entered mercantile pursuits as clerk in a general store in Batesville, Independence County, Ark. He remained here ten years, and then came to Salem, and in 1883 became a member of the present firm. He owns some valuable town property, and was married, in 1882, to Miss Laura E. Rhea, who was born in Tennessee. They have two children living: Maud E. and Bernice Preston, and one child deceased, named Lillias. Mr. Robins is a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The other member of the firm, Arch. Northcutt, is a Warren County Tennesseean, his birth occurring in 1858. He left his native State when eleven years of age, and came with his people to Arkansas. He was educated in the common schools of Izard County, and worked at the monotonous duties of farm life for his father until he reached his majority, when he was married, and entered the employ of Archer & Daniels, general merchants of Salem, with whom he remained eight years, during which time he never lost a day from sickness or otherwise. In February, 1887, he became a member of the present firm, which carries a stock of about $5,000, their annual sales amounting to $25,000. Mr. Northcutt is chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of Fulton County, and is now discharging the duties of this position. He is a charter member of the I. O. O. F., and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, whose maiden name was Jennie Brown, was born in the State of Ohio in 1859, and is connected to Judge O’Key. To their union have been born three children: Burton, Horace and Mamie O’Key.