Dr. Abraham Rhea, a leading and skillful physician of Whiteville, was born February 25, 1830, in Maury County, Tenn. His parents were Matthew and Mary (Looney) Rhea, both natives of Sullivan County, Tenn. Their father was of Scotch-Irish extraction. He was married and resided in Maury County until 1836, when he moved to Fayette County and there passed the remainder of his life. His family consisted of thirteen children, only five of whom are living. He and his wife were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Rhea was a man of great culture and intellect. He had a thorough liberal education and was considered a fine classical scholar. In early life, he completed a law course but never practiced to any great extent. After abandoning his profession he taught school a while, then turned his attention to farming, but spent a great portion of his time with his books, of which he was very fond. He made the first map of Tennessee, taken from a survey of the State. At Somerville there he also drew a map of Fayette County. He died in 1870 at the age of seventy-five years. Mrs. Rhea, who was of English descent, departed this life in 1884, having attained the full ripe age of eighty. The grandfather, Matthew Rhea, was an officer of the Revolutionary war; for his gallantry, had the honor of being presented with a very fine sword by the distinguished General Greene. The great-grandfather, Joseph Rhea, was a graduate of the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and was a Presbyterian minister. The subject of our sketch spent his early days on a farm; later he lived in Somerville, where his literary education was received. At the age of eighteen he began the study of medicine under the guidance of Dr. A. F. McKenzie. In 1853, he graduated at the Memphis Medical College. After several years of extensive practice, he became a great sufferer from rheumatism and afterward sold drugs for three years. In 1861, he volunteered in Company B, of the Thirteenth Tennessee Infantry, Confederate service. After serving some fourteen months, he stood an examination and was appointed surgeon, remaining in that position until close of the war, when he came to Whiteville to practice medicine. He has met with unusual success, receiving a liberal and lucrative patronage. He is acknowledged throughout the section as one of the most able and popular physicians. In 1869, he married Miss Emma L. Cross, who was born in 1846. To their union three sons and four daughters have been born. Mrs. Rhea is a member of the Methodist Church and the Doctor of the Presbyterian. He is also a strong Democrat and was a Whig previous to the war.
Source: “The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1886”