O. K. REA --1897
[OLE K. REA]
Page 18
Mr. Rea came to America from Norway in 1886 when he was
11 years old. He lived in Wisconsin until 1877, when he came to
Texas, living in Milam, Bell, and Williamson Counties before coming to
Hamilton County
Page 20
in 1881. To quote from the 1897 Herald:
"He came to Hamilton County with a flock of 900
sheep in which he owned a half interest and bought 638 acres of land where
he now resides near Indian Gap. He was soon launched upon his career
as a wool grower and farmer, and by close economy and untiring energy he
has succeeded in accumulating a competency. He is now owner, in addition
to his homestead, of 1,300 acres of fine farm land on the north side
of the Cowhouse, which he uses as a sheep ranch. He has a flock of
1,200 sheep after selling a few weeks ago 800 head at $1.50 a head.
He cultivates only 100 acres of land, using the balance of 1,800 acres as
pastures for his sheep and cattle. He speaks his native tongue, together
with German and English with fluency, and is among our most
reliable citizens."
O. K. is the father of Otto [Otto
Newton], Willie [William Andrew],
Herman [Herman Paul], and Miss
Anna [Anna Louise] Rea who still (1938) lives in Hamilton County.
PIONEER EDITION
HAMILTON COUNTY NEWS, Vol. VIII, No. 7
THE CARLTON CITIZEN, Vol. 30, No. 23
Friday, June 24, 1938
W. F. Billingslea, Publisher, Hamilton
County, TX
[Ole K. Rea married Anna Carolyn
Zschiesche in 1881 in Bell County, TX. They were also the
parents of Albert Sterling and Mary Nell]
