Matthew L. Rea
Matthew L. Rea represents the fourth generation of a family that has lived in Madison County since pioneer times, and his individual activities have been devoted to farming and various business and public interests. He is a retired resident of London.
He was born in Oak Run Township, of Madison County, July 10, 1859. The founder of the family in Madison County was Matthew A., who was born in Rockbridge, Virginia, in 1793, and in 1812 came to Ohio, purchasing a large tract of land in Madison County and spending the rest of his life making a farm of it. His son, Jeremiah Rea, was born on a farm that is now included in the City of London. Matthew Rea was the son of Jeremiah Rea, a native of Madison county and a farmer and stock raiser. He married Catherine Leach, of Madison County, and they were the parents of two sons and one daughter, one of the sons being Matthew L. Rea.
Matthew L. Rea finished his education in the London High School, and more than forty years ago took his place as an industrious farmer. He has been successful with live stock, and is president of the Central National Bank of London. Mr. Rea has filled some of the important public offices of Madison county, having been county commissioner one term, trustee of the Madison County Children's Home for twenty years, and for nineteen years, treasurer of the Madison County Fair. He is a Methodist and a democrat.
Mr. Rea married at Mason, in Warren County, Ohio, December 13, 1882, Miss Grace Dodds, daughter of E. C. and Lavinia Dodds, of Warren County. Mr. and Mrs. Rea have two sons, both now prominent in agricultural circles in Madison County. The older, Earl D., born in 1886, was educated in the London High School and the Miami Military College. He is a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner. By his marriage to Marie Tanner, of London, he has three children, Jane, Ruth and Matthew.
Robert C. Rea, the second son, was educated in the London High School, and is president of the Madison County Fair Board, president of the Farmers Cooperative Association, served one term as a member of the London Council, and is also a Mason and Shriner. In 1922 he was elected to represent Madison County in the State Legislature. Robert C. Rea married Eunice Uhl, of Gary, Indiana.
From HISTORY OF OHIO - C. B. Galbreath [Chicago: American Historical Society, 1925]