12. John J.⁴ Rea (James³ Rae, Henry², David¹) was born in Hayston, Glammis Parish, Scotland 9 Jul 1814. John died 9 Jul 1872 in Mt. Vernon, Dane Co., Wisconsin. His body was interred in Mt. Vernon, Dane Co., Wisconsin, Mt. Vernon cemetery, NW of town.

He married Ellen G. Craick in Glamis, Forfarshire, Scotland, 12 Mar 1836. Helen was born in Scotland 17 Feb 1814. Helen was the daughter of David Craik. Helen died 20 Dec 1903 in Turin, Monona Co., Iowa. During a prairie fire in South Dakota she fell and broke her hip. She died soon after.

Her body was interred in Soldier, Jordan Twnshp, Monona Co., Iowa, Jordan Cemetery. Helen gave legal title to Mr. Hobbs to secure a mortgage loan 3 Oct 1877. Paid 29 Jul 1881.

A census listed John as head of household in Charleston, Forfarshire, Scotland, 1841. John's occupation: quarrier (stone mason) in Charleston, Forfarshire, Scotland, 1841. In the Census of 1850, John J. Rea was listed as a head of household in Merton, Waukesha Co., Wisconsin. He purchased land 6 Feb 1854 in Mt. Vernon, Primrose Tnwshp, Dane Co., Wisconsin. Purchase price was $250.

He purchased land 3 Mar 1855 in Mt. Vernon, Primrose Twnshp, Dane Co., Wisconsin. Purchase price $880.

In the Census of 1860, John J. Rea was listed as a head of household in Mt. Vernon, Dane Co., Wisconsin. In the Census of 1870, John J. Rea was listed as a head of household in Mt. Vernon, Dane Co., Wisconsin. He made a will in Mt. Vernon, Primrose Tnwshp, Dane Co., Wisconsin, 2 May 1872. I John J Rea of the Town of Primrose Dane county State of Wisconsin Being of Sound mind and Memory and mindful of the uncertainties of human Life do make Publish and declare this my last will and Testament in manner following. First after the Payment of my just debts and Funeral Expenses I give devise and Bequeath to my wife Elen Rea all the Property that I have whether it be in land or money or in other Personal Property and in case there is any property that falls to me from my Fathers Estate I give devise and Bequeath it all to my wife Elen Rea allso to controle and dispose of as she Sees fit. I hereby nominat and appoint my Sone James C. Rea the Executor of this my last will and testament and hereby authrozie and empower him the said James C Rea to compound comp-- and Settle and Claim or --- which may be against or in favor of my Estate in witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Second day of May AD 1872. John J. Rea The above instrument consisting of this Sheet was signed Published and declared by the Said Testator to be his will and testament in Presence of us who have signed our names at this request as witnesses on his Presence and in Presence of each other. Witnesses Richard B. Chandler of the Town of Primrose. Mathias Schlingan of the Town of Primrose. Edwin Shumway of the Town of Springdale. Inventory NW 1/4 North West Quarter Sec ten (10) town five (5) North of Range seven (7) east $2400 (Primrose Township). Horse $90, 3 yr old mare $70, Yearling Colt $35, 2 cows $50, 4 2yr old steer $72, 2 yr old heifer $16, 2 yearline heiffers $22, yearling $6, 23 sheep $54, Hogs & Sholts $31, Seeder $30, harrows $8, plows $3, Fanning mill $5, Sorghum mill $20, wagon $15, harness $15, sled $5, graindstone $1, 2 hive bees $10, 60 bu wheat $60, 150 bu oats $30, 100 bus corn $30, 20 bu potatoes $10, 2 stoves $20, watch & clock $25, Clothing $30, Sundry Household furniture $30, Total $796.50 According to Paul Hutchinson, a local historian, in Canada, James was likely working in connection with the construction ofthe second Welland Canal, whic hwas being constructed in 1843 when his son John was born. A lot of stone was needed for locks, weirs, embankment reinforcement and probably other miscellaneous uses. The series of locks enabled ships to "climb the mountain," that is to go up and down the Niagara escarpment, a major difficulty for the canal which links Lakes Ontario and Erie. The town in the early 1800s was called Centreville, became the Town of Merritton, and is now St. Catherines.

The name slabtown has reference to lumber and sawmills. When a log is sawn into planks the outer, rounded parts with bark on them are not saleable. These pieces, referred to as slabs, were salvaged by poor Irish people and used to construct shanties, which were numerous in Centreville, where many lived. Thus Centreville's nickname became Slabtown. This latter name appears in print many time in newspapers, but rarely does it appear in any serious context. A birth, marriage, or death notice pre-1860 will always say Centreville, rather than Slabtown. However, in disparaging accounts in the newspapers, Slabtown was the norm, even "the classic district of Slabtown".

John J. Rea and Ellen G. Craick had the following children:

32 i. Jane Donald⁵ Rea was born in Charleston, Forfarshire, Scotland 2 Jul/Aug 1836. Jane died 23 Jan 1917 in Richland Center, Richland Co., Wisconsin. Her body was interred in Richland Center, Richland Co., Wisconsin, Loyd Cemetery. She married an unknown person in Mt. Vernon, Primrose Tnwshp, Dane Co., Wisconsin, 11 Dec 1855.

Suffered from heart disease for two years before her death.

Died of acute bronchial pneumonia.

33 ii. Agnes Rea was born in Charleston, Forfarshire, Scotland 28 May 1838. Agnes died 24 Nov 1862 in Mt. Vernon, Primrose Tnwshp, Dane Co., Wisconsin. Her body was interred in Mt. Vernon, Primrose Tnwshp, Dane Co., Wisconsin. Buried with the children of the Watson family.

IONS_(OTHER) Died of Diptheria.

34 iii. Margaret (Margaretha) E. Rea was born in Charleston, Forfarshire, Scotland 15 May 1840. Margaret died 3 Feb 1925. Her body was interred in Eugene, Lane Co., Oregon, Pioneer Cemetery. She married Charles Whitton in Springdale, Wisconsin, 17 Jun 1863. Charles was born in Scotland Feb 1838. Charles was the son of Charles B. Whitton and Margaret ??. In the 1880 Census, Charles Whitton was listed as a head of household 1880 in Austin, Mower Co., Minnesota. In the Census, Charles Whitton was listed as a head of household 1900 in Watertown, Coddington Co., South Dakota. In the 1900 Census, Charles Whitton was listed as a head of household 1900 in Fairview, Faulk, South Dakota. (See Charles Whitton for the continuation of this line.)

+ 35 iv. James C. Rea was born 2 Dec 1841.

+ 36 v. John Rea [Jr.] was born 4 Mar 1845.

37 vi. Marjory (Margery, Marjie) Rea was born in Waukesha Co., Wisconsin 23 Mar 1847. Marjory died 11 Jul 1887. Her body was interred in Mt. Vernon, Dane Co., Wisconsin. She married Isaac George Brader Jr 1867. Isaac was born in Lincolnshire, England 6 Apr 1846. Isaac was the son of Isaac George Brader Sr and Joanna Burke. Isaac died 4 Jan 1939 in Storm Lake, Buena Vista Co., Iowa. Glorya Welch indicates birth in Wisconsin.

His body was interred in Storm Lake, Buena Vista Co., Iowa, private mausoleum. Isaac immigrated, about 1848. Destination: New York. Isaac was the census enumerator on the 1800 Census in Mt. Vernon, Dane Co., Wisconsin. In the Census of 1870, Isaac George Brader Jr was listed as a head of household in Springdale, Dane Co., Wisconsin. In the 1880 Census, Isaac George Brader Jr was listed as a head of household 1880 in Mt. Vernon, Dane Co., Wisconsin. Isaac was the census enumerator on the 1800 Census in Waunakee, Dane Co., Wisconsin. Isaac was the census enumerator on the 1800 Census in Waunakee, Dane Co., Wisconsin. (See Isaac George Brader Jr for the continuation of this line.)

38 vii. Charles Rea was born in Waukesha Co., Wisconsin 25 Nov 1848. Brian Bonner indicates Charles was born in 1849.

+ 39 viii. Alexander (Allick) Donald Rea was born 16 Feb 1850.

40 ix. William Rea was born in Waukesha Co., Wisconsin 14 Oct 1851. William died 28 May 1937 in Mt. Vernon, Dane Co., Wisconsin. He married twice. He married Margaret March. Margaret was born in Glasgow, Scotland 1826. He married Mary Alice More 22 Sep 1882. Mary was born in Wisconsin 20 Sep 1859. Brian Bonner indicates she was born in 1857.

Mary died 8 Apr 1945 in Wisconsin. Her body was interred 1945 in Turin, Monona Co., Iowa, Jordan Cemetery. Her tombstone says Alice Rea.

William's occupation: operated the telephone office in Mt. Vernon, Dane Co., Wisconsin. No children of record according to Glorya Welch.

41 x. Ellen D. Rea was born in Wisconsin 9 Oct 1853. Ellen died 12 Apr 1891 in Soldier, Jordan Twnshp, Monona Co., Iowa. Her body was interred in Turin, Monona Co., Iowa, Jordan Cemetery.

42 xi. George M. Rea was born in Mt. Vernon, Primrose Twnshp, Dane Co., Wisconsin 18 Nov 1856. George died after 1906. He married an unknown person 1892. No children of record according to Glorya Welch.

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