John Patterson Rea
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John Patterson Rea | |
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 Sketch of John Patterson Rea (1888) | |
| Born | October 13, 1840 |
| Died | May 28, 1900 (aged 59) |
| Education | AB, Ohio Wesleyan, 1864 |
| Occupations | Journalist and attorney |
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John Patterson Rea (1840–1900) was a Minnesota judge. He was also editor of the Minneapolis Tribune, and from late 1887 to 1888 Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, succeeding Lucius Fairchild.
Rea was a native of the state of Pennsylvania, born October 13, 1840, in Lower Oxford Township, Chester County.[1] He was a second cousin, once removed, of John Andrew Rea. Both were brothers in Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. In politics, Rea was a Republican, and was "considered a true friend of that party."[2]
Respect for the Republic ran deep in the Rea family. John was the son of Samuel Andrew Rea and Mary Patterson; great grandson of John Rea and Unknown Ewing, his spouse. Other forebears included Robert Patterson; Samuel Light and Mary Light; Jacob Light; and John Light. Grandfather Samuel Rea (1756–1816), brother to John Andrew Rea’s great grandmother Barbara, was a private in Captain Thomas Whiteside’s Company, Colonel Thomas Porter’s Battalion, Pennsylvania militia, fighting in the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth; Samuel wintered at Valley Forge with General George Washington, assigned to the "fire detail" faking encampment while the Continental Army broke camp to avoid General Cornwallis and secure Princeton. Forebearor Robert Patterson was in the same battles, assigned to Captain Wilson's Company. John Light was secretary to the Convention at Lebanon, adopting the Lebanon Resolves on June 25, 1774, and was a member of the Committee of Safety, Lancaster County, during the Revolution. Jacob Light fought as a volunteer at the battle of Brandywine, occurring on part of his farm. After the war, he warred against the Miami nation in southern Ohio.[3]
The Rea family prospered after the American Revolution. John Patterson Rea's father was a woolen manufacturer, and owned the factory in which John worked. The son, John, received his education, attending school until he was twenty years of age. In 1860, he emigrated to Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, where he taught school.
Civil War service
On April 17, 1861, John P. Rea enlisted as a member of Company B of the Eleventh Ohio Infantry. After serving with this company for four months, he was commissioned second lieutenant of Company I, First Ohio Cavalry. Rea was commissioned Second Lieutenant on September 23, 1861, and for gallant and meritorious service he was promoted to First Lieutenant on March 12, 1862, and Major on November 23, 1863, following gallant service at Cleveland, Tennessee. Major Rea served continuously in the Army of the Cumberland until November 24, 1864, when he was obliged to resign due to poor health. He served in the regiment about three years and a half, and during that time was absent only ten days, seven as prisoner and three days on sick leave.