Anna Lea (1849-1927) was the daughter of William Lea (1805-1876) and Jane Scott Lovett (1817-1888). Since the 1770s, the Lea family were among the largest flour mill operators at the Brandywine Falls, north of Wilmington, Delaware. In 1834, William Lea took over operation of the Tatnall-Lea grain mills from his father Thomas Lea (1759-1833) who had been in partnership with his father-in-law Joseph Tatnall (1740-1813).

In 1864, William Lea brought his sons Henry Lea (1839-1888) and Preston Lea (1841-1916) into the firm, changing the name to William Lea & Sons Company. William Lea died in 1876 and his sons carried on the business, modernizing the mills, but facing increasing competition from the West. The firm dissolved in 1923, after the death of Preston Lea. The Lea family was prominent in Wilmington and Brandywine Village, and married into several other prominent Delaware business families.

William Lea and his wife Jane Scott Lovett were married in 1836 had eleven children: Esther Lea (1837-1911), Henry Lea (1839-1888), Preston Lea (1841-1916), William B. Lea (1844-1913), Mary Lea (1846-1920), Sarah Lea (1848-1848), Anna Lea (1849-1927), Edward T. Lea (1852-1867), Alice Lea (1854-1857), Thomas Lea (1856-1858), and Jane Lea (1860-1927).

Anna’s sister Esther Lea (1837-1911) married historian, Ziba Ferris (1828-1888) in 1856 and had two children: Alice Lea Ferris (1858-1925) and William Lea Ferris (1860-1911), who went on to be Vice President of William Lea & Sons Company while his uncle, Preston Lea served as President.

Anna’s brother William B. Lea (1844-1913) married Sarah B. Bentley (1848-1928) in 1867 and had three children: Jennie Lovett Lea (1868-1933), Edith Bentley Lea (1872-1888) and Edward Tatnall Lea (1874-1922).