A Guide to the William Francis Rhea Papers, 1899-1902
A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 41312
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference)
Fax: (804) 692-3556 (Archives Reference)
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
© 2005 By the Library of Virginia. All rights reserved.
Processed by: Trenton Hizer
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
William Francis Rhea Papers, 1899-1902. Accession 41312, Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Acquisition Information
Purchased 14 August 2002 from L. and T. Respess Books, Charlottesville, Virginia.
Biographical Information
William Francis Rhea was born 20 April 1858 in Washington County , Virginia. He attended rural and private schools, then graduated from King College in Bristol, Tennessee, in 1879. Rhea was admitted to the bar in 1879 and began practicing in Bristol, Virginia. Elected judge of the Washington County court in 1880, Rhea served until 1885 when he was elected to the Virginia State Senate. In 1888, he returned to Bristol and became judge of the city court. Resigning in 1895, Rhea returned to the practice of law. Rhea was elected to represent the 9th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives in 1898 and served from 1899 to 1903. Rhea's elections as a Democrat to the House in 1898 and 1900 were unsuccessfully challenged by his Republican opponent James A. Walker (1832-1901). Rhea lost his relection bid in 1902 to Republican candidate Campbell Slemp (1839-1907). Rhea was appointed a member of the State Corporation Commission in 1908 and he moved to Richmond, Virginia. He retired from the SCC in 1925. Rhea married first Mary Chester Keebler (1859-1913) in December 1878 and they had three children. He married second Rosa Smith Turpin (1869-1936). Rhea died 23 March 1931 in Richmond and was buried in Hollywood Cemetery.
Scope and Content
Papers, 1899-1902, of William Francis Rhea (1858-1931) of Washington County , Virginia, consisting of correspondence to and from Rhea while serving as United States Congressman for the 9th Congressional District located in Southwest Virginia. Papers cover a wide range of topics such as local, state, and national politics, including Rhea's contested elections in 1898 and 1900 against James A. Walker (1832-1901); the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1901-1902; and a range of requests from Rhea's constituents.
Arrangement
Collection is organized into the following series: Series I: General Correspondence, 1899-1902. Series II: Postal Service, 1899-1902. Series III: Agriculture, 1900-1902. Series IV: Employment Requests, 1901- 1902. Series V: Military, 1900-1902. Series VI: Pensions, 1899-1902. Series VII: Contested Election, 1900-1901. Series VIII: Miscellaneous.
Contents List
General Correspondence, 1899-1902, consists of letters and telegrams to and from Rhea concerning local, state, and national politics, including Rhea's contested elections to Congress in 1898 and 1900 and his opponent in those elections, James A. Walker (1832-1901); Rhea's selection as Democratic candidate for Congress in 1900 and 1902 by his district; requests for Rhea to support or oppose various legislation; requests for aid or employment; and other political issues. Papers also contain correspondence concerning the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1901-1902 and how it may affect elections; the Philippines Insurrection; the clean-up of the Clinch River, including requests for jobs on the project; a weather bureau station in Wytheville, Virginia; a request that a courthouse be built in Catlettsburg, Kentucky; and pension and relief claims, including a pension request from Rebecca Mayo, one of the four remaining lving Revolutionary war widows. Papers also include correspondence concerning property Rhea is interested in selling.
Arranged chronologically.
- Box 1
Folder 1
General Correspondence, 1899.
- Box 1
Folder 2
General Correspondence, January-March 1900.
- Box 1
Folder 3
General Correspondence, April-May 1900.
- Box 1
Folder 4
General Correspondence, June-December 1900.
- Box 1
Folder 5
General Correspondence, 1901.
- Box 1
Folder 6
General Correspondence, January-April 1902.
- Box 1
Folder 7
General Correspondence, May 1902.
- Box 1
Folder 8
General Correspondence, June-July 1902.
- Box 1
Folder 9
General Correspondence, August-November 1902.
- Box 1
Folder 10
General Correspondence, n.d.
- Box 1
Folder 11
General Correspondence envelopes, n.d.
Postal Service, 1899-1902, contains correspondence to and from Rhea, his constituents, and officials in the United States Postmaster General's office concerning post offices, postmasters, postal routes, and postal carriers located within Rhea's congressional district in Southwest Virginia, asking for new post offices or routes; moving existing offices; changing existing routes; asking for employment as postmaster or mail carrier; or complaining about problems with offices, routes, or carriers. Includes Rhea's correspondence with Postmaster General's office regarding these requests and complaints. Papers also include references to Rhea's contested elections of 1898 and 1900, the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1901-1902, and other political matters. Papers include envelopes that contain information concerning the resolution of questions and requests.
Arranged in subseries: Post offices; Postmasters; Mail Routes; Mail Carriers; Mail Miscellany.
- Box 1-2
Post Offices.
- Box 1
Folder 12
Bristol City, July 1901.
- Box 1 Folder 13
- Box 1 Folder 14
- Box 1 Folder 15
- Box 1 Folder 16
- Box 1 Folder 17
- Box 1 Folder 18
- Box 1 Folder 19
- Box 1 Folder 20
- Box 1 Folder 21
- Box 1 Folder 22
- Box 1 Folder 23
- Box 1 Folder 24
- Box 1 Folder 25
- Box 1 Folder 26
- Box 1 Folder 27
- Box 1 Folder 28
- Box 2 Folder 1
- Box 2 Folder 2
- Box 2 Folder 3
- Box 2 Folder 4
- Box 2 Folder 5
- Box 2 Folder 6
- Box 2 Folder 7
- Box 2 Folder 8
- Box 2 Folder 9
- Box 2 Folder 10
- Box 2 Folder 11
- Box 2 Folder 12
- Box 2 Folder 13
- Box 2 Folder 14
- Box 2 Folder 15
- Box 2 Folder 16
- Box 2
Folder 17
Miscellaneous, December 1900-February 1901.
- Box 1
Folder 12
- Box 2
Postmasters.
- Box 2 Folder 18
- Box 2 Folder 19
- Box 2 Folder 20
- Box 2 Folder 21
- Box 2 Folder 22
- Box 2 Folder 23
- Box 2 Folder 24
- Box 2 Folder 25
- Box 2 Folder 26
- Box 2 Folder 27
- Box 2
Mail Routes.
- Box 2 Folder 28
- Box 2 Folder 29
- Box 2 Folder 30
- Box 2 Folder 31
- Box 2 Folder 32
- Box 2 Folder 33
- Box 2 Folder 34
- Box 2 Folder 35
- Box 2 Folder 36
- Box 2 Folder 37
- Box 2 Folder 38
- Box 2
Mail Carriers.
Arranged alphabetically by individual.
- Box 2 Folder 39
- Box 2 Folder 40
- Box 2 Folder 41
- Box 2 Folder 42
- Box 2
Mail Miscellany, January-May 1901.
Arranged chronologically.
- Box 2
Folder 43
Correspondence, January-May 1901.
- Box 2
Folder 43
Agriculture, 1900-1902, contains answers to an unidentified questionaire from various counties located in Rhea's congressional district. Series also includes Rhea's correspondence with the Department of Agriculture regarding his allotment of seeds which congressmen received annually, as well as requests from constituents for seeds, trees, and pamphlets concerning agriculture.
Arranged chronologically.
- Box 3
Folder 1
Correspondence, 1900.
- Box 3
Folder 2
Correspondence, 1901.
- Box 3
Folder 3
Correspondence, January-February 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 4
Correspondence, March-June 1902, n.d.
- Box 3 Folder 5
Employment Requests, 1901-1902, consists of correspondence to Rhea containing requests from constituents regarding federal employment and Rhea's response that most positions required would-be applicants to take the Civil Service exam.
Arranged alphabetically by individual.
- Box 3
Folder 6
William B. Leslie, October 1901-January 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 7
Paul Sexton, February-December 1901.
- Box 3
Folder 8
M. N. Shufflebarger, December 1901-January 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 9
Mark L. Wallis, February 1901.
- Box 3
Folder 10
A. S. J. Wheeler, November 1901-February 1902.
Military, 1900-1902, includes correspondence to and from constituents, many serving in the military, asking for Rhea's help in securing commissions, promotions, transfers, discharges, and payment for service while in the military. Papers also contain a request for Rhea to intervene in a desertion case of a son of a constituent, as well as a request from a constituent for Rhea's assistance in helping him locate his son serving in the army in the Philippines.
Arranged alphabetically by individual.
- Box 3
Folder 11
Marion S. Battle--seeks commission in Army, February-March 1901.
- Box 3
Folder 12
William W. Bentley--seeks commission in Army, September 1901-January 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 13
Charles M. Blackford--examination for appointment in Army, January 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 14
E. Wirt Crockett--seeks commission in Army, March-April 1901.
- Box 3
Folder 15
John W. Hyatt--seeks commission in Army, December 1901-January 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 16
J. S. Kelly--attempting to locate his son in Army in Philippines, April-July 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 17
Frank Lewis--seeks transfer in Navy, April 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 18
J. C. McNew and Abner McNew--seek payment for military service, February 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 19
M. M. Mills--seeks to attend artillery school, July 1901.
- Box 3
Folder 20
Carson L. Perry--requests discharge from Army, December 1900-January 1901.
- Box 3
Folder 21
R. K. Spiller--requests transfer/reinstatement in Army, February 1901-February 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 22
L. Harry Strother--seeks appointment as major in adjutant-general's office, February-March 1901.
- Box 3
Folder 23
Smith G. Talbot--examination for appointment in Army, July 1901.
- Box 3
Folder 24
Robert Thompson--desertion from Army, February-April 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 25
W. O. Trenor--seeks commission in Army, February-July 1901.
Pensions, 1899-1902, contains correspondence from constituents asking Rhea to assist them in securing pensions for Civil War and U.S. military veterans, or for relatives of soldiers killed during the Spanish- American War or the Philippines Insurrection.
Arranged alphabetically by individual.
- Box 3
Folder 26
William H. Burgis, September 1901-March 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 27
Lizzie B. Crockett, mother of Allen T. Crockett, January-April 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 28
Jennie Dennis, mother of William E. Dennis, February 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 29
Lewis Hood, December 1900-March 1901.
- Box 3
Folder 30
Charles Hopper, November 1900-April 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 31
Mary Hopper, widow of Alexander Hopper (alias William Harper), December 1900-June 1901.
- Box 3 Folder 32
- Box 3
Folder 33
Lucy Milligan, mother of [?] Mitchell[?], August 1900-January 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 34
Lawrence E. Payne, December 1899-May 1901.
- Box 3
Folder 35
William Pennington, January-February 1901.
- Box 3
Folder 36
Sarah J. Shell, widow of Henry B. Shell, November 1901-February 1902.
- Box 3
Folder 37
[?] Snavely, February 1901.
- Box 3
Folder 38
S. R. Timberlake, February 1901.
- Box 3
Folder 39
Jacob Wilcox, February 1902.
Contested Election papers, 1900-1901, contain letters, depositions, voter lists, instructions, and other documents concerning Rhea's contested 1900 election against Republican James A. Walker. Letters include Rhea's correspondence with his legal representatives concerning his strategy, county election officials, and other interested parties in the counties making up the 9th Congressional District; and correspondence from election officials concerning Republicans who voted for the Democrat Rhea as opposed to Walker. Depositions include those from election officials in Pulaski, Smyth, and Washington Counties . Voter lists include voter party affiliation by precincts in Pulaski and Russell Counties , and by race in Bristol. Papers also include a county -by- county vote tally for the 1896 9th District congressional election of 1896 between James A. Walker and Samuel Walker Williams; Democratic campaign committee instructions to election officials; Democratic party canvass books and lists; a Minnesota state ballot; and a copy of the Baltimore (Maryland) AMERICAN, 5 November 1900, containing a sample ballot.
- Box 4 Folder 1
- Box 4 Folder 2
- Box 4
Folder 3
Bristol City correspondence, January-February 1901.
- Box 4
Folder 4
Bristol City--voter lists by race.
- Box 4
Folder 5
Bristol City--voter lists by race (marked).
- Box 4
Folder 6
Bristol City--voter list by race (white) (marked).
- Box 4 Folder 7
- Box 4 Folder 8
- Box 4 Folder 9
- Box 4 Folder 10
- Box 4 Folder 11
- Box 4 Folder 12
- Box 4 Folder 13
- Box 4 Folder 14
- Box 4 Folder 15
- Box 4 Folder 16
- Box 4 Folder 17
- Box 4 Folder 18
- Box 4 Folder 19
- Box 4 Folder 20
- Box 4 Folder 21
- Box 4 Folder 22
- Box 4 Folder 23
- Box 4 Folder 24
- Box 4 Folder 25
- Box 4 Folder 26
- Box 5 Folder 1
- Box 5 Folder 2
- Box 5 Folder 3
- Box 5 Folder 4
- Box 5 Folder 5
- Box 5 Folder 6
- Box 5 Folder 7
- Box 5 Folder 8
- Box 5
Folder 9
1896 congresional election results for Southwest Virginia.
- Box 5
Folder 10
Baltimore (Md.) American, 5 November 1900, newspaper containing sample ballot.
- Box 5
Folder 11
Minnesota ballot, 1900.
- Box 5
Folder 12
Instructions to election officials from the Democratic Campaign Committee.
- Box 5
Folder 13
Democratic Party canvass books and lists, 1900.
Miscellaneous items include a handwritten and typewritten copy of a speech delivered by Rhea in the United States House of Representatives on 14 May 1902 on the United States occupation of the Philippines; two of three volumes containing materials relating to Rhea's contested 1898 election against James A. Walker for the 9th Congressional seat, published by the Government Printing Office, middle volume is missing; Democratic Campaign Book for the congressional election of 1902; and mailing addresses for Rhea as a member of Congress.
- Box 5
Folder 14
Speech, delivered 14 May 1902, by Rhea on the United States and the Philippines (typed).
- Box 5
Folder 15
Speech, delivered 14 May 1902, by Rhea on the United States and the Philippines (handwritten).
- Box 6
Contested Election Case of James A. Walker vs. William F. Rhea, volume 1, Government Printing Office, 1899.
- Box 6
Contested Election Case of James A. Walker vs. William F. Rhea, volume 3, Government Printing Office, 1899.
- Box 6
Democratic Campaign Book Congressional Election 1902 issued by the Democratic Congressional Committee.
- Box 6
Congressional mailing labels for William F. Rhea.