Pleasant V. Rhea

First Mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas

Pleasant V. Rhea (deceased), one of the early settlers of this county, was

born in Lincoln County, Tenn., grew to manhood there, and there married Miss

Fannie B. White. They moved to Washington County, Ark., in 1830, and here

Mr. Rhea followed the occupation of a blacksmith, and also taught school, taking

his pay in corn, pumpkins, etc. His family consisted of seven children,

three sons and four daughters. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and

died at the age of sixty-one years. The mother is also a member of the same

{!hurch, and is now living at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Their eld

·est son, William H., was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., in 1825, and came with

his parents to Washington County, Ark., where he learned the blacksmith trade.

At the age of twenty-four he opened a little grocery in Maysville, Benton Co.,

Ark., and after running that a short time he came to Cincinnati, and bought a

stock of goods. Being a shrewd business man he gradually arose until at the

time of his death he owned three stores, a mill and several farms, amounting in

all to about $75,000. He was a public-spirited man, and was ever ready to contribute

to worthy enterprises. He was a Democrat in his political views, and a

member of the Masonic fraternity. He married Miss Elizabeth C. Powell,

daughter of Dr. Samuel Powell, and a native of East Tennessee. This union

resulted in the birth of eight children, four sons and four daughters. He died

in 1884, but she is still living. Their fifth child, Robert J., is one of the most

extensive merchants of Cincinnati. He was born a:; Rhea's Mills October 15,

1862, and was reared chiefly in the store. He had good educational advantages,

and at the age of fourteen he commenced clerking in his father's store, and has

handled goods ever since that time. After the death of his father he purchased

his present store, and has the largest stock of goods in the county outside of

Fayetteville. In 1886 he married Miss Myrtie, daughter of Charles McClellan,

and a native of Washington County, Ark., born November 5, 1868. To this

union one son, William H., has been born. Mr. Rhea is devoted to his business,

and is accounted a wide-awake business man. He is a Democrat in politics, is a

member of the I. 0. 0. F., and his wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian

Church.