For the first time in twenty-five years Grundy county has the Senator in the district composed of Blackhawk and Grundy counties. It was in 1868 that the Hon. C. F. Clarkson was elected to that position, and in 1898 the Hon. J. M. Rea was chosen. He was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, March 1, 1846. While he was quite young his parents moved to Illinois and in addition to giving him a public school training sent him to the seminary at Mount Carroll and afterwards to Chicago university. In the latter institution he studied law. On receiving his diploma he came west, locating at Grundy Center in 1870. The only public office he held previous to being elected Senator was that of county superintendent of schools in 1871-2. He belongs to several secret societies and is a member of the Baptist Church.