Rhea County Sheriff Fred Mullins & The Love of His Life

Reminiscing back upon a special couple from our little town of Dayton, Fred & Ida Mullins. Fred met Ida McClure at a community get-together in the Bogle's Chapel community in 1923.

On July 4, 1925, Fred, who was 19, took Ida, who was 18, to be his bride. This was a special day of celebration, celebrating both our country’s independence and the loving couple joining hands in marriage.

A former classmate of Fred’s from high school, Rev. John Porter married the couple. This was back when the cost of a wedding was minimal, compared to the high cost of weddings today.

The couple had two children Ruth & Curtis. During their life, the couple saw many changes, such as transportation and technology, just to name a couple. During an interview in the 1990’s, the couple stated, “Their hardest times were during the Great Depression”.

In 1948, Fred ran for the office of Rhea County Sheriff and was elected. After serving for two years as sheriff, Fred went on to serve four years as Rhea County Tax Assessor. Fred retired from the Southeast Manpower Program, where he served as director of programs in seven area counties.

After raising their children, Ida worked as a bookkeeper at Tennessee Reform School, and also as a clerk in a few downtown Dayton stores. Ida was dedicated to her churches, Bogle's Chapel Baptist Church, and New Union Baptist.