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HERMAN M. REA. There is no such word as luck in the lexicon of business men, for experience has taught them most convincingly that success is the result of persistent application of intelligent methods that demand time for their development. To executive ability and organizing sense must be added public confidence and a thorough knowledge of the field to be occupied, which latter can only be gained by gradual and steady approaches. Sudden acquisition of wealth is a rare occurrence, and often followed by speedy and irremediable collapse. In any event, none of the citizens of Christopher would intimate that Herman M. Rea owes his distinction to any adventitious aid. His present enviable position is due to manly energy, sterling honesty, inflexible sense of justice, tireless energy and intimate acquaintance with business methods. He is a native of FranklinCounty, Illinois, and was born five miles north of Christopher, September 25, 1877, a son of Frank G. and Bretana Elizabeth (Buckner) Rea.
The grandparents of Mr. Rea, Abner and Mary (Overturf) Rea, natives of Tennessee, came to Illinois in early life, took up land from the Government, and here spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Rea became one of the wealthiest agriculturists in Franklin County, and before his death presented each of his children with a farm, in addition to a sum of money. Frank G. Rca, who for many years was engaged in farming in Franklin County, and was also a successful merchant of Christopher for fifteen years, is now living retired in this city. He has had a prosperous career and the honorable lines along which he conducted his business have served as an example for his son, who has inherited many of his admirable traits.
Herman M. Rea received his educational training in the common schools of Christopher, and as a youth worked in his father�s store. He then entered the postoffice at Zeigler, where he acted as clerk for six months, and his first experience in the real estate field came as an employe of Horn & Dimond, with whom he continued five years. Since that time Mr. Rea has been in business with Jesse Dimond & Company, a firm that does a tremendous business in real estate, buying land all over the state, and in addition trades for stores and mines. Mr. Rea is president of the Christopher Electric Company and of the Horn-Dimond Coal Company, secretary of the Benton District Coal Company and the West Frankfort Coal Company, vice-president of the First National Bank of Christopher and a director of the First National Bank of West Frankfort. Although immersed in business, with so many large interests claiming his attention and demanding
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much of his time, Mr. Rea yet finds leisure to devote to those domestic and social relations in which he finds his chief enjoyment. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Modern Woodmen of America. A Republican in politics, the high esteem in which he was held by his fellow townsmen resulted in his election as collector of Tyron township, although at that time the district was strongly Democratic. He has given the greater part of his time to his business interests, however, and has never sought public preferment.
In 1894 Mr. Rea was married to Miss Ida Clark, daughter of Scott Clark, an early settler and prominent agriculturist of Mulkeytown, who also for some years was the proprietor of amusement enterprises during season, and who died about 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Rea have six children: Leo, Clyne and Thelma, all of whom are attending school; and Helen, Mildred and Mary, at home.