REA, John Patterson, soldier, born in Lower Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania, 13 October, 1840. He was educated in the public schools, and, after working for some time in a factory, he removed in the autumn of 1860 to Miami county, Ohio. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted as a private in the 11th Ohio infantry, and in August he joined the 1st Ohio cavalry. He was commissioned 2d lieutenant soon afterward, promoted 1st lieutenant, 12 March, 1862, captain, 1 April, 1863, and brevet major, 23 November, 1863. He participated in all the campaigns and battles of his regiment, which formed part of Loring's cavalry brigade, Army of the Cumberland, and during his service was never absent from duty except while he was a prisoner for eight days. After leaving the army he entered the Wesleyan .university, Delaware, Ohio, where he was graduated m 1867. He afterward returned to Pennsylvania, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1868. In 1869-'73 he was assessor of internal revenue. Removing to Minnesota, he then became editor of the Minneapolis "Tribune," but in May, 1877, he resumed the practice of law, and in November was elected a judge of probate for Hennepin county. He was next elected judge of the 4th Minnesota district, and in November, 1886, was re-elected for the term of six years. He was quartermaster-general of Minnesota from 1883 till 1886, holding the rank of brigadier-general, and in 1887 was chosen commander-in-chief of the Grand army of the republic at the national encampment at St. Louis.