The newspaper bio below is incorrect as to his place of birth (it is correct above - he was born in Rockville, Indiana, as shown in the top left obit)

Daily Illinois State Register (Springfield, Ill) - August 2, 1898. Page 5.

COL. JOHN H. REA DEAD. NEWS OF HIS DEATH IN LONDON RECEIVED YESTERDAY.

Former Assistant Postmaster of Chicago and Son-in-Law of the Late Nicholas H. Ridgely—Mrs. T. W. S. Kidd's Funeral at 3:30 p.m. Today.

Rea—William Ridgely, president of the Ridgely National bank, yesterday received a cablegram from his sister, Mrs. Julia Ridgely Rea from London, announcing the death in that city yesterday [Aug 1, 1898] of her husband, Col. John H. Rea formerly assistant postmaster at Chicago, at the age of 74 years.

Col. Rea was born in Fayetteville, N.Y. In 1826, while he was clerk of the United States court for the southern district of Indiana under Judge Huntington at Indianpolis, he was married in this city to Miss Julia Ridgely, daughter of the late Nicholas H. Ridgely. Shortly after his [Rea's] marriage, Judge Huntington died, and Mr. Rea was succeded by another in the clerkship, and then removed to Chicago. From 1883 to 1889, he was assitant postmaster of Chicago, under the administration of the office by S. Corning Judd. About seven years ago he removed to Munich Germany, with his family excepting his son, Ridgely Rea, who remained in Chicago. While there, his daughter Mary, was married in Stuttgart, Germany, to Wallace DeWolf, of Chicago. Singularly the wedding occurred in the morning, and that night Mr. Rea's son, Wallace, who had been ill for some time, died in Stuttgart. Col. Rea and his family also resided some time in Munich, another son, Lawrence, pursuing his studies in voice culture. During the past year the family has traveled in Europe, staying principally in Florence and Parice. They have been accompanied by Mrs. DeWolf and Miss Mary Hudson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Hudson, of this city, and a niece of Mrs. Rea. They had recently gone to London, to be there at the beginning of the opera season. Col. Rea suffered a very severe attack of la grippe several years ago, which it is thought, developed into consumption, and a month ago he suffered a stroke of paralysis, and while his death was sudden news to his relatives in Springfield, it was not unexpected. He is survived by his wife, two sons, Ridgely Rea who resides in Chicago and who holds a position with the Consolidated Coal company, and Lawrence Rea, who has been residing with his parents in Germany; and two daughters, Mrs. Wallace DeWolf, of Chicago, and Miss Lillie Rea who was with her parents.

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From contributor Linda Smiley:

John Rea's father is Wallace Rea, who was the County Clerk & Recorder for Parke County, Indiana from 1821-1833. There are no death sources for him on Ancestry.com and there are no Find A Grave memorials for him. All I could find, is where his mother re-married around 1834 to a Henry Hoag, which he would be a step-father (FAG #22285076) not the biological father.