Individual Details
Samuel REA
(4 May 1830 - )
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County,California, Edited by H. S. Foote, Chicago: The Lewis PublishingCompany, 1888. This is a scanned image located at the Santa ClaraCounty USGENWEB site.
Page 333 contains a bio of Samuel Rea:
"Samuel Rea. Among the subsdtantial men of South Santa Clara County isSamuel Rea, who has been a citizen of the county since 1859, at whichtime his total capital consisted of $70. For four years he was engagedin business with his brother, Thomas Rea, then bought where he nowresides, on the county road leading from Gilroy to Hollister,, andcommenced operations independently, in the line of stock-raising anddarying. The ranch consists of 322 acres, with three flowing wells,one of which is worthy of special mention, as it throws four and ahalf inches of water over a seven-inch pipe. He has for many yearsbeen earnestly engaged in the work of breeding superior stock,--infact was among the first to give this subject attention. The excellentreputation of the "Rea's Nutwood" horses is a sufficient testimonialto his success in this matter. "Plutarch," son of his "Rea's Nutwood,"recently sold for $2,000.
Mr. Rea has also an extensive dairy, usually milking about one hundredcows. At present, however, he is milking but eighty-five to ninety,and is turning out an average of 225 pounds of cheese per day, whichis shipped to the city market. He is quite a chicken fancier too, andhas some game cocks that have made good records.
Mr. Rea was born in Gallia County, Ohio, May 4, 1830. The Reas were ofIrish descent, and the parental [sic] grandfather of the subject ofthis sketch, on leaving his native country, a young man, settled inVirginia. The father of our subject, James Rea, was born and reared inVirginia, and went, when a young man, to Ohio. There he married HannahHutsinpiller, also of Virginian birth and parentage. In 1838 thefamily removed from Hancock County, Ohio, to Decatur, Macon County,Illinois, and there Samuel Rea was reared. In 1852 he joined thethrong of emigration to California, making the then tedious journeyvia new Orleans and Panama. After crossing the Isthmus, he took asailing vessel for San Francisco. This latter part of the tripconstituted an epoch in his history never to be forgotten. Six monthswere required to make the voyage from the Isthmus to the Golden Gate,the vessel being becalmed most of the time. Provisdions wereexhausted, water became scarce, and after enduring untold hardshipsand privations, the crew and passengers arrived in San Francisco July28, 1852, in an almost famishing condition. The unpleasant incidentsof the trip were soon forgotten for the time, in the haste to reachthe mines, which characterized all new-comers to the golden coast, andMr. Rea was soon at Downieville, in Sierra County, engaged in mining.For several years he followed the fortunes of the camp, part of thetime working for others and the remainder prospecting on claims of hisown. In 1859 he determined to give up mining as a means of livlihood,and then turned his attention to Santa Clara County, with which he hasever since been identified.
Mr. Rea was united in marriage, May 20, 1869, in Jefferson County, NewYork, to Miss Frances M. Powell, a native of that county, and adaughter of E. and Mary Powell. Two children have been born tothem,--Florence V. and Lillian Etta. Mr. Rea was elected Supuervisorin 1879, serving three years. His influence in county and localaffairs is a potent factor, and his opinions are always sought andrespected in the councils of his party, the Republican. He is a memberof the A. F. and A. M. Lodge at Gilroy, No. 187, and of the R. A. M.,No. 41, at Watsonville, and of San Jose Commandery, No. 10, K.T., andalso of the A. O. U. W. Lodge at Gilroy"
Page 333 contains a bio of Samuel Rea:
"Samuel Rea. Among the subsdtantial men of South Santa Clara County isSamuel Rea, who has been a citizen of the county since 1859, at whichtime his total capital consisted of $70. For four years he was engagedin business with his brother, Thomas Rea, then bought where he nowresides, on the county road leading from Gilroy to Hollister,, andcommenced operations independently, in the line of stock-raising anddarying. The ranch consists of 322 acres, with three flowing wells,one of which is worthy of special mention, as it throws four and ahalf inches of water over a seven-inch pipe. He has for many yearsbeen earnestly engaged in the work of breeding superior stock,--infact was among the first to give this subject attention. The excellentreputation of the "Rea's Nutwood" horses is a sufficient testimonialto his success in this matter. "Plutarch," son of his "Rea's Nutwood,"recently sold for $2,000.
Mr. Rea has also an extensive dairy, usually milking about one hundredcows. At present, however, he is milking but eighty-five to ninety,and is turning out an average of 225 pounds of cheese per day, whichis shipped to the city market. He is quite a chicken fancier too, andhas some game cocks that have made good records.
Mr. Rea was born in Gallia County, Ohio, May 4, 1830. The Reas were ofIrish descent, and the parental [sic] grandfather of the subject ofthis sketch, on leaving his native country, a young man, settled inVirginia. The father of our subject, James Rea, was born and reared inVirginia, and went, when a young man, to Ohio. There he married HannahHutsinpiller, also of Virginian birth and parentage. In 1838 thefamily removed from Hancock County, Ohio, to Decatur, Macon County,Illinois, and there Samuel Rea was reared. In 1852 he joined thethrong of emigration to California, making the then tedious journeyvia new Orleans and Panama. After crossing the Isthmus, he took asailing vessel for San Francisco. This latter part of the tripconstituted an epoch in his history never to be forgotten. Six monthswere required to make the voyage from the Isthmus to the Golden Gate,the vessel being becalmed most of the time. Provisdions wereexhausted, water became scarce, and after enduring untold hardshipsand privations, the crew and passengers arrived in San Francisco July28, 1852, in an almost famishing condition. The unpleasant incidentsof the trip were soon forgotten for the time, in the haste to reachthe mines, which characterized all new-comers to the golden coast, andMr. Rea was soon at Downieville, in Sierra County, engaged in mining.For several years he followed the fortunes of the camp, part of thetime working for others and the remainder prospecting on claims of hisown. In 1859 he determined to give up mining as a means of livlihood,and then turned his attention to Santa Clara County, with which he hasever since been identified.
Mr. Rea was united in marriage, May 20, 1869, in Jefferson County, NewYork, to Miss Frances M. Powell, a native of that county, and adaughter of E. and Mary Powell. Two children have been born tothem,--Florence V. and Lillian Etta. Mr. Rea was elected Supuervisorin 1879, serving three years. His influence in county and localaffairs is a potent factor, and his opinions are always sought andrespected in the councils of his party, the Republican. He is a memberof the A. F. and A. M. Lodge at Gilroy, No. 187, and of the R. A. M.,No. 41, at Watsonville, and of San Jose Commandery, No. 10, K.T., andalso of the A. O. U. W. Lodge at Gilroy"
Events
| Birth | 4 May 1830 | Gallia Co., OH | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1850 | Macon Twp., Macon Co., IL, stamped pg. 162B; Samuel Rea, 20 (1829-30) born OH, laborer. Living with parents. | |||
| Marriage | 20 May 1869 | Jefferson Co., NY - Frances M. POWELL | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1880 | Gilroy Twp., (outside town), Santa Clara Co., CA, ED 258 pg. 17; Samuel Rea, head, 50 (1829-30), born OH both parents born VA, farmer. | |||
| Reference No | 9304 |
Families
| Spouse | Frances M. POWELL (1842 - ) |
| Child | Florence V. REA (1869 - ) |
| Child | Lillian Etta REA (1872 - ) |
| Father | James REA (1799 - 1879) |
| Mother | Hannah HUTSONPILLAR (1799 - 1871) |
| Sibling | Thomas REA (1820 - ) |
| Sibling | Melinda REA (1828 - ) |
| Sibling | Rebecca REA (1835 - ) |
| Sibling | Nancy REA (1837 - ) |
| Sibling | Margaret REA (1839 - 1925) |