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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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Spencer
H. Rees One
of Jasper County's substantial and representative citizens is Spencer H. Rees,
who is essentially a self-made man, and as such ranks with the most enterprising
and progressive of his contemporaries. He
has, from early life, steadily pursued the honorable course which in due time
brought social recognition and the high position he has long occupied in the
industrial life of Newton. By
a life consistent in motive and action and because of his many fine personal
qualities he has earned the sincere personal regard of all who know him, and in
his home, which is the center of a large social circle, there is always in
evidence a spirit of generosity. Mr.
Rees was born of a sterling old Buckeye family, on August 4, 1847, in Hancock
County, Ohio, being the son of Thomas and Mary A. (Prouty) Rees, the father a
native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Ohio.
In 1840 Thomas Rees came to Ohio, where he followed his trade of
stonecutter for about eight years, during which time he met and married Mary A.
Prouty. Shortly after the birth of his son, Spencer H., of this review, he
emigrated to Iowa, reaching Jasper County in the fall of 1848, settling in Palo
Alto Township, and there he entered wild prairie land from the government, on
which he built a one-roomed log cabin and began life in pioneer style, setting
resolutely to work to carve out a new home in a new country.
Here he became well established in due course of time, developing an
excellent farm on which he remained until his death, March 10,1865.
For three months during his first winter here the only neighbors seen
were Indians, but they were friendly. Wolves, deer and turkey were plentiful.
Thomas Rees became a man of much influence in his community, being a man
of fine personal characteristics and pronounced public spirit.
The first election held in the Township was in his barn.
At the time of his death he was one of the County's largest landowners,
having seven hundred and forty acres in Palo Alto Township.
After his death his widow married Isaac G. Badger, a native of England.
She lived with him until her death, on November 22, 1881. To
Thomas Rees and his first wife nine children were born, one of whom died in
infancy; Lewis died at the age of ten, and Anson B., well known all over the
County, died April 6, 1910; those living are. Spencer H., of this review;
Henriette married Harry McVey and they live in Rathburn, Iowa; Rowland L. lives
on a farm in Palo Alto Township; Franklin P. is engaged in the mercantile
business at Wann, Oklahoma; Estella M. married Dr. D. N. Johnson, of Chickasha,
Oklahoma; Effie C. married G. W. Byington, a real estate dealer in Little Rock,
Arkansas. After Mr. Rees's death,
Mrs. Rees married Isaac Badger and two children were born to them, H. J. Badger,
who is now residing in Chinook, Montana, and Mary Belle, who married S. A.
Guessford, a farmer of Buena Vista Township, this County. On
October 24, 1877, Spencer H. Rees was married to Margaret E. Holmes, daughter of
Ranson P. and Mary A. (Duncan) Holmes, the father being a native of Kentucky and
the mother of Indiana, Mr. Holmes having been a farmer and stock raiser.
His death occurred on February 26, 1893, and that of his wife on October
27, 1891. Their family consisted of six children, of whom five are
living, John W. Holmes having died in 1905; those living are: Charles W., of
Texas; Alnora is the wife of Dr. J. W. Hannah, of Tonkawa, Oklahoma; Ida married
George W. Maund and lives in Jennings, Louisiana; Verna married A. L. Lewellen,
who is living in Rosendale. Missouri. After
the death of their father, Spencer H. Rees and his elder brother assumed control
of the farm and managed the same until the estate was settled upon the
re-marriage of the mother, at which time the subject began working for himself,
following farming until 1904, with more than ordinary success, when he was
elected secretary of the Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Association of
Jasper County, which position he has held ever since, discharging the duties of
the same in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself and to the
entire satisfaction of all concerned. He
has served both as trustee and clerk of Palo Alto Township for two terms and has
been assessor of that Township three terms.
He has acted as trustee of roads and upon coming to Newton he resigned as
clerk of the school board. He is
the owner of an excellent farm in Palo Alto Township, upon which is the site of
the cabin his father built when he came to this County.
He also holds considerable property interests in Newton, having been very
successful as a businessman in whatever he has directed his attention to.
During the year 1887 he was traveling mail weigher for the United States
government on route No. 27036. In 1889 he was nominated for County auditor by
the Union Labor party and endorsed by the Democrats, being defeated by a small
margin only. In 1895 Mr. Rees was nominated for County Treasurer by the
Populists and in the three-cornered fight which followed he polled his share of
the votes. Both these nominations
came to Mr. Rees unsought. Five
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rees, two of whom died in infancy; those
living are, Morris H., born April 27, 1880; he received a high education and is
professor of biology in the college at Tarkio, Missouri; Edith Glen, born
January 8, 1884, is unmarried; Floy Naoma, born October 17, 1887, is unmarried
and at home. Both
Mr. and Mrs. Rees are members of the United Presbyterian Church. While living in
Palo Alto Township he was a trustee of the Church. In March 1905, Mrs. Rees was
stricken with rheumatism from which she has been a constant but patient
sufferer, having been almost helpless during the past five years, but here
severe affliction has not changed her genial and kindly disposition. Mr. Rees is one of the honored "boys in blue," having proved his patriotism and loyalty to his country by enlisting in Company B, Forty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, on May 24, 1864. After serving faithfully for five months he was honorably discharged October 21, 1864. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 633. |
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