Individual Details
Thomas REA
(22 Nov 1820 - )
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.
Pages 336-337 have a bio of Thos. Rea:
"Thos. Rea, capitalist; post-office Gilroy. But few of those men whocame to Gilroy when it was a mere stage station yet remain to note thegreat development which has been shown by the little hamlet of thatday, and by the country surrounding. Perhaps no other name has been sointimately associated with that progress from the first as that ofThomas Rea.
Mr. Rea is a native of Gallia County, Ohio, where he was born November22, 1820. His father, James Rea, was born in Greenbriar County,Virginia, of Welsh-Irish extraction. He was reared in his nativeState, and there married Hannah Hutsinpiller, whose parents werePennsylvanians. He served his country in the war with Mexico, being inthe command of Co. E. D. Baker, afterward Senator from Oregon. In hispolitics, he was identified with the old Whig party, and became aRepublican when the political lines were re-drawn and that partyformed. He was a man of remarkable memory, which he retainedunimpaired until his death, in 1879, after he had reached hiseightieth year. Even in the latter years of his life, he could vividlyrecall the lessons from the hitory of his country learned in earlyyouth, while the happenings of later days and the movements inbattles, campaigns, and marches, during the Mexican War were indeliblyimprinted on his mind. His wife preceded him to the grave, her deathhaving occurred in 1871. They rest side by side in the cemetery at SanJose.
Thomas Rea, whose name heads this sketch, was the second in order ofbirth of their twelve children. He grew up amid the primitivesurroundings of his native country in Ohio, and in Hancock County inthe same State, whither the family removed in 1833. He received theusual education afforded by a pioneer community, which was, of course,limited. In 1838 the family removed to Macon County, Illinois, andthere he continued his studies, having for a tutor and uncle of hisfather, a well-educated man. Attaining his majority, Mr. Rea, filledwith the spirit of adventure, was not at all satisfied with the ideaof settling down to the quiet life of an Illinois farmer. Accordingly,in 1842, he went to Grant County, Wisconsin, where he engaged in leadmining, continuing in that occupation until November, 1849. At thattime stories of the new El Dorado led himi to become one of the goldseekers of California. En route, he passed down the Mississippi to NewOrleans, thence via steamer and Isthmus route to Panama, where heembarked on the old whale-ship "Norman", which had been converted intoa passenger boat by the necessities of emigration. He reached SanFrancisco February 22, 1850, thence, ,a few days later, passed on toSacramento, and directly to the placer mines at Auburn. There and atother points the season was spent in mining and in prospecting. Beforewinter set in, he was engaged in mining operations at Downieville,where he remained until March, 1852. On the fifteenth of the nextmonth, Mr. Rea embarked for Panama, and returned to Illinois. Lookingafter his interests in the lead mines and visiting friends, occupied afew months. Meantime he arrnaged for his return to California, inwhich State he had determined to establish his future home. Theimportant preliminary preparations were consummated April 11, 1853,the day he wedded Miss Mary Ann Jones. Mr. Rea, with his wife, hisbrother-in-law, Mr. G. B. Montgomery, and others, left Illinois thesame month, and, crossing the plains, ,deserts, ,and mountains, madethe overland trip to California. Late in August, in company with hisbrother-in-law, he reached San Jose. Resting a few days, they reachedGilroy September 3. But little promise of the present was then to beseen. One store, conducted by L. C. Everitt,, three residences, and aschool-house made the Gilroy of that date. The post-office and hotelwere in the same building, which is yet standing near the presentresidence of Mr. A. Lewis.
Mr. Rea first settled on the Solis Ranch, and established a dairybusiness, thus becoming one of the pioneers of the county in thatindustry. He expended about $2,000 in improving that property, but inJune, 1857, not being fully satisfied with his location, he bought 160acres out of the Los Animas Ranch. Year by year he added to hispurchase until he owned and yet owns about 935 acres of the Los AnimasRanch. His residence was about three mimles from Gilroy, although theboundary of his land was but a little more than a mile from the city.Constantly increasing, his dairy industry was successfully prosecuted,until 1871, when, desiring a life more retired, Mr. Rea removed toGilroy. His present fine residence, on commodious shaded grounds, waserected by himself with regard to comfort and convenience, rather thanto cost, and was taken possession of in June, 1873.
Mr. Rea was one of the incorporators and principal stockholders of theGilroy Bank, and until January, 1874, when he sold out his interests,he was one of the Board of Directory and President of thatinstitution. Upon his retirement, he was presented by the stockholderswith a handsome clock, as a testimonial of their respect and esteem.
Mr. Rea is prominent in political as well as in busines and socialcircles. A Whig until the organization of the Republican party, heneeded no schooling to fit him for leading in the new organization.Under the teaching of Henry Clay, he had learned to oppose theextension of slavery, and had adopted the doctrine of protection toAmerican industries. In the General Assembly of the State, herepresented his district in 1873 and '74, serving with credit on theCommittees on Corporations and Counties, County Boundaries, andseveral special committees. From 1872 to 1876 he served Gilroy in itsCity Council, and from 1886 to 1888 as its Mayor. Although a member ofno religious organization, JMr. Rea recognizes the power exerted byall for good, and while devoting more of his means to the upbuildingof the Congregational Church, of which he is one of the trustees, hehelps all denominations.
Mrs. Rea was born in Palestine, in Vermillion County, Illinois. Herfather, Wm. A. Jones, died in 1854, and her mother, Mrs. ElizaethJones, in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Rea are the parents of the followingchildren: James W., who resides on the Alameda road between San Joseand Santa Clara, and is one of the State Railroad Commissioners ofCalifornia; Addie, who is the wife of E. W. Strange, of San Francisco;Emma, who is the wife of Louis Loupe, of Gilroy; Carrie, who has herhome with her parents; Clara, who is the wife of Jacob Hanna, ofLivermore; and George Elmer, who lives on his father's ranch; and oneadopted daughter, Mary, is now the wife of D. M. Pyle, of Bakersfield.
The parents of Mr. Rea naturally followed him to California, comingone year later, in 1854. They lived near the Seven Mile House, on theroad from San Jose to Gilroy, until about 1865, when they removed toGilroy Township, where they spent the rest of their lives."
Pages 336-337 have a bio of Thos. Rea:
"Thos. Rea, capitalist; post-office Gilroy. But few of those men whocame to Gilroy when it was a mere stage station yet remain to note thegreat development which has been shown by the little hamlet of thatday, and by the country surrounding. Perhaps no other name has been sointimately associated with that progress from the first as that ofThomas Rea.
Mr. Rea is a native of Gallia County, Ohio, where he was born November22, 1820. His father, James Rea, was born in Greenbriar County,Virginia, of Welsh-Irish extraction. He was reared in his nativeState, and there married Hannah Hutsinpiller, whose parents werePennsylvanians. He served his country in the war with Mexico, being inthe command of Co. E. D. Baker, afterward Senator from Oregon. In hispolitics, he was identified with the old Whig party, and became aRepublican when the political lines were re-drawn and that partyformed. He was a man of remarkable memory, which he retainedunimpaired until his death, in 1879, after he had reached hiseightieth year. Even in the latter years of his life, he could vividlyrecall the lessons from the hitory of his country learned in earlyyouth, while the happenings of later days and the movements inbattles, campaigns, and marches, during the Mexican War were indeliblyimprinted on his mind. His wife preceded him to the grave, her deathhaving occurred in 1871. They rest side by side in the cemetery at SanJose.
Thomas Rea, whose name heads this sketch, was the second in order ofbirth of their twelve children. He grew up amid the primitivesurroundings of his native country in Ohio, and in Hancock County inthe same State, whither the family removed in 1833. He received theusual education afforded by a pioneer community, which was, of course,limited. In 1838 the family removed to Macon County, Illinois, andthere he continued his studies, having for a tutor and uncle of hisfather, a well-educated man. Attaining his majority, Mr. Rea, filledwith the spirit of adventure, was not at all satisfied with the ideaof settling down to the quiet life of an Illinois farmer. Accordingly,in 1842, he went to Grant County, Wisconsin, where he engaged in leadmining, continuing in that occupation until November, 1849. At thattime stories of the new El Dorado led himi to become one of the goldseekers of California. En route, he passed down the Mississippi to NewOrleans, thence via steamer and Isthmus route to Panama, where heembarked on the old whale-ship "Norman", which had been converted intoa passenger boat by the necessities of emigration. He reached SanFrancisco February 22, 1850, thence, ,a few days later, passed on toSacramento, and directly to the placer mines at Auburn. There and atother points the season was spent in mining and in prospecting. Beforewinter set in, he was engaged in mining operations at Downieville,where he remained until March, 1852. On the fifteenth of the nextmonth, Mr. Rea embarked for Panama, and returned to Illinois. Lookingafter his interests in the lead mines and visiting friends, occupied afew months. Meantime he arrnaged for his return to California, inwhich State he had determined to establish his future home. Theimportant preliminary preparations were consummated April 11, 1853,the day he wedded Miss Mary Ann Jones. Mr. Rea, with his wife, hisbrother-in-law, Mr. G. B. Montgomery, and others, left Illinois thesame month, and, crossing the plains, ,deserts, ,and mountains, madethe overland trip to California. Late in August, in company with hisbrother-in-law, he reached San Jose. Resting a few days, they reachedGilroy September 3. But little promise of the present was then to beseen. One store, conducted by L. C. Everitt,, three residences, and aschool-house made the Gilroy of that date. The post-office and hotelwere in the same building, which is yet standing near the presentresidence of Mr. A. Lewis.
Mr. Rea first settled on the Solis Ranch, and established a dairybusiness, thus becoming one of the pioneers of the county in thatindustry. He expended about $2,000 in improving that property, but inJune, 1857, not being fully satisfied with his location, he bought 160acres out of the Los Animas Ranch. Year by year he added to hispurchase until he owned and yet owns about 935 acres of the Los AnimasRanch. His residence was about three mimles from Gilroy, although theboundary of his land was but a little more than a mile from the city.Constantly increasing, his dairy industry was successfully prosecuted,until 1871, when, desiring a life more retired, Mr. Rea removed toGilroy. His present fine residence, on commodious shaded grounds, waserected by himself with regard to comfort and convenience, rather thanto cost, and was taken possession of in June, 1873.
Mr. Rea was one of the incorporators and principal stockholders of theGilroy Bank, and until January, 1874, when he sold out his interests,he was one of the Board of Directory and President of thatinstitution. Upon his retirement, he was presented by the stockholderswith a handsome clock, as a testimonial of their respect and esteem.
Mr. Rea is prominent in political as well as in busines and socialcircles. A Whig until the organization of the Republican party, heneeded no schooling to fit him for leading in the new organization.Under the teaching of Henry Clay, he had learned to oppose theextension of slavery, and had adopted the doctrine of protection toAmerican industries. In the General Assembly of the State, herepresented his district in 1873 and '74, serving with credit on theCommittees on Corporations and Counties, County Boundaries, andseveral special committees. From 1872 to 1876 he served Gilroy in itsCity Council, and from 1886 to 1888 as its Mayor. Although a member ofno religious organization, JMr. Rea recognizes the power exerted byall for good, and while devoting more of his means to the upbuildingof the Congregational Church, of which he is one of the trustees, hehelps all denominations.
Mrs. Rea was born in Palestine, in Vermillion County, Illinois. Herfather, Wm. A. Jones, died in 1854, and her mother, Mrs. ElizaethJones, in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Rea are the parents of the followingchildren: James W., who resides on the Alameda road between San Joseand Santa Clara, and is one of the State Railroad Commissioners ofCalifornia; Addie, who is the wife of E. W. Strange, of San Francisco;Emma, who is the wife of Louis Loupe, of Gilroy; Carrie, who has herhome with her parents; Clara, who is the wife of Jacob Hanna, ofLivermore; and George Elmer, who lives on his father's ranch; and oneadopted daughter, Mary, is now the wife of D. M. Pyle, of Bakersfield.
The parents of Mr. Rea naturally followed him to California, comingone year later, in 1854. They lived near the Seven Mile House, on theroad from San Jose to Gilroy, until about 1865, when they removed toGilroy Township, where they spent the rest of their lives."
Events
| Birth | 22 Nov 1820 | Gallia Co., OH | |||
| Marriage | 11 Apr 1853 | Illinois - Living | |||
| Reference No | 9310 |
Families
| Spouse | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Emma REA ( - ) |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Mary REA ( - ) |
| Father | James REA (1799 - 1879) |
| Mother | Hannah HUTSONPILLAR (1799 - 1871) |
| Sibling | Melinda REA (1828 - ) |
| Sibling | Samuel REA (1830 - ) |
| Sibling | Rebecca REA (1835 - ) |
| Sibling | Nancy REA (1837 - ) |
| Sibling | Margaret REA (1839 - 1925) |