Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - REA, David, B

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Pioneer - REA, David B.

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906

REA, David B. , Co. Antrim, Ire.; d. age 72. He came to Canada in 1820, and set. near Lachute, Quebec. In 1838 he came to Eramosa, and bought 200 acres, lot 32, con. 3. He was a Presbyterian and a Liberal. He m. Jennie Black. Issue: Robert (d.), John , James (d.), David (d.), Thomas, in Manitoba; William, in Fergus; Mrs. Ellen Sanderson, Eramosa; Jane, and Margaret (d.).

John, b. near Lachute, Quebec, Aug 24 1827, came to Eramosa with his parents in early youth. He is one of the oldest municipal office holders in Ontario, having been elected to the Eramosa Tp. Council in 1864, and outside of eight years, when he was not in office, had been in the Council either as Councillor, Deputy Reeve or Reeve for forty years. He was Reeve of Eramosa for twenty-one years, and Warden of Wellington Co. for three years. His advice has often been sought by neighbors, and he has acted as arbitrator many times. Mr. Rea and John Mair were appointed by the Co. Council to valuate the county in the eighties. In 1848 he purchased lot 31, con. 7, Eramosa, which he cleared. There were no roads in the vicinity, and he cut out a road from the 5th concession to his farm. He was a Presbyterian and a Liberal. His first wife was Maria Peters, who d. in 1883, Issue: Mrs. William Tookey, Fergus. His second wife was Lizzie Lightbody. Issue: John , in Manitoba, and Bessie, at home.

Mr. Rea now rents his farm and is retired. He is at present County Commissioner, to which office he was elected in 1904, and is one of the best known and most highly respected men in the county.

James, b. 1829; b. 1901. He m. Agnes Torrance, and set. on lot 29, con. 7, Eramosa. Issue: Mrs. James Grant. He, in connection with Robert Williamson, first proposed establishing the Mimosa Presbyterian Church, and they were really its founders. Mr. Rea took a great interest in church matters, and was an Elder in the church for years, and was also a Sunday School teacher. He was one of the most respected men in his section.

William, b. 1836, m. Mary A. Oustic, and set. on 100 acres, lot 29, con. 7, where he lived for many years, finally retiring to Fergus, where he now resides. Issue: Mrs. Fred Freure, David, Mrs. William Anderson, George, and Mrs. Matthew Armstrong.

Thomas m. Jean Wilkie, and lives in Man., where he is a large land owner, and a prosperous citizen.

From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906