The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-12-08

life OF Col. CONSTANTINE hea, INC
father of our esteemed citizen, Capt.
sR. N. Rea. Col. Rea's life was
full of thrilling experiences, and his
services to his country are part and
parcel of the history of two great
wars. He was gallant soldier IN
the Mexican war, and as equally a
gallant one in the cause of the Con-
federacy. Captain Rea, his son,
seems to have inherited the father $
military spirit, for he 200 can boast
of bright and daring career as a
soldier of a lost, but unforgotten
cause. 1t is not necessary~to re-
count here his spledid services to the
Southland; but IN Difference to his
military record, which we have
always admired, despite political
differences of opinion, we publish
this sketch of Col. Rea's life, which
our readers will appreciate:
Constantine Rea was born in Mo-
bile. Ala. in the year 1925. His faith
er and mother died when he was quite
young, and at the age OF eight years
he ran away from his guardian. and
worked as cabin boy on one OF the
Alabama riversteam boats. He was
very attentive aud industrious, and
finally became steward on the same
steamer. He held this position until
the commencement of the Mexican war,
when he resigned his position and en-
listed in one of the Alabama regiments,
and remained until the close of the
war, having participated in nearly
all Of the battles of that memorable oc-
scasiori. After the fall of the Mexican
Capitol and peace having been de-
clared, be reformed with his company
to his native city and was discharged.
Soon after this memorable occasion,
he married his cousin, Miss Marguerite
Bragg, of Choctaw county, Ala, and
at once engaged in the avocation OF
farming for the short period of one
year, which was brought suddenly to
an unexpected close by personal
difficulty with a business man of But
Ter, Ala. whom he ent nearly TO death
with a common barlow knife. Being Il
stranger. without influential friends or
wealth, and feeling that he would have
but little claim for justice with his
powerful opponent, his few friends ad-
vised him to leave the State, which he
did, and settled in Lauderdale county,
Miss Here. he began life in real earn
est, and built the foundation of his for
tune. He bought small farm and
worked industriously in the day, and
nj night he began a systematic study;
and the writer has known him to sit up
many long nights reading his old rus
ty looking law books. After two
wears of hard toll and hard study. he
was admitted to the bar. This was a
bright day in our little log cabin.
when our father became a lawyer. The
subject Of this sketch was then begin
ing To be known as substantial farm
er, who was buying two and three
negroes annually and young lawyer,
who was for ging his way to the front
4 By hard and industrious strokes. Grad
ually, but surely, his practice grew
until his clientage was as large as any
! attorneys practice at the county bar.
In 1850 he sold his planting interests
and moved with bis family to Marion.
i where he bought The Lauderdale Re-
| publican" the only newspaper then
! Published in East Mississippi. lie was
the editor and proprietor of the paper
for long number of years. Under
his management Its influence and pros
periiy was very great, and its sub
scription list WAS very large. and in
the end this investment was eminently
very satisfactory. During the period
/ OF his ownership OF this paper, it was
strictly = secession Dvmocratic paper.
advocating all of the doctrines of
the Democratic party of that day
About this time, or prior to it. he had
been member of the Mississippi leg
islature for several terms aud was
! known all over the state for his fine
legal talent and political influence.
and his service was sought far and
wide. In consequence of this and his
/ fearless and sarcastic articles on
the political issues of the day, it was
out OF the bounds Of reason to suppose
that le would not make enemies. II
4 Is here that one of the most eyentful
eyents Of his life begins.
\ One Of his political opponents chai-
4 lenged him to fight duel. and the
1 ehaiienge was accepted The prelim-
inaries were promptly arranged and in
J short time the meeting came of at GO
\ PAGES with rifles 1t was said that
three thousand men followed the prin-
i cipals to within mile of the place OF
tins duel" This duel was fought with
Major w ?. Evans. lawyer and poll.
tician II the, same residence as Col
\ Rea. The place of meeting was ID
Sunpter county, Ala and is known