Our Rea family line has been traced back to the early 1700s, to James S. Rea from Augusta, VA. The census and family stories show that he, and his wife Elizabeth, lived in Pennsylvania for a while. They then moved to the great state of Kentucky. There they lived comfortably and raised several children, one of which was our ancestor, Starling Edgar Rea. Starling and his wife, Martha (Sisk) Rea lived in Dalton, Kentucky. They also had a large family - our direct line was their son, George Washington Rea.
George Washington Rea and his wife Rebecca (Ross) Rea moved to the Ozarks in Boone County, Arkansas. Both had interesting stories passed down in family lore regarding the life they lead during the Civil War times. For more information on that you must read the family stories complied by Larry D. Rea called, "Green Beans and Applesauce". It brings history to life and it shows the true characters for what they were.
One of George and Rebecca's sons was Theodore Columbus Rea. Theodore and his wife Martha (Inman) Rea had seven children. Their fourth child was born August 11, 1883 in Springfield, Missouri. That was their son, Abija Lee Rea. Abija grew up and married Lydia Belle (Mysinger) Rea. They lived in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas for while, but when their family was still young they decided to migrate west to the Idaho wilderness. While living in Idaho, they traveled out to Oregon one time to attend a funeral of a family member, Lydia liked the climate so much she talked her husband, Abija, into moving the family further west.
There were many times that the family traveled back and forth between Boise, Idaho and Rainier, Oregon working the farms. They had 10 young mouths to feed and there were hard times ahead. One of their daughters, my Grandmother, Ruth G. Rea was born in Meridan, Idaho but spent most of adult life in Rainier, Oregon. There she married her high school sweetheart, Milford Lloyd Kellar.
