CREES, John Frederick "Fred"

CREES, COPPERSMITH, DAVIDSON, ELLER, KOGER, BECK, WELDON, BUELL

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/25/2014 at 05:40:35

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 234-38. Chicago. 1915.

John Frederick "Fred" Crees

John F. Crees, who has lived retired at Grand River for nine years, is one of the wealthiest men of Decatur County, owning one thousand acres of excellent land which is operated by his sons. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, January 12, 1840, of the marriage of Joseph and Catherine Ann (Coppersmith) Crees, both natives of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. They grew to maturity in their native county and there their marriage occurred. In the fall of 1839 they removed to Wayne County, Ohio, but in the following spring returned to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where they remained until 1848 or 1849, when they removed to Jefferson County, Iowa. In the fall of 1854 they came to Decatur County and located in the northwestern part of Decatur Township. Mr. Crees purchased land from the Hungarian Colony but as they were unable to give a clear title he lost the thousand dollars which he had paid upon the land. Subsequently he entered land from the government, securing seven thousand acres which he cultivated and improved. At the time there were many Indians living here and our subject and his brothers and sisters had more Indian playmates than white. The father broke land with a team composed of eight yoke of oxen and the plow which he used had a fourteen foot beam and would cut and turn a furrow of thirty-six inches. He was a democrat and served as supervisor of Decatur Township, proving a very efficient officer. He passed away when eighty-three years of age, in the faith of the United Brethren Church, to which his wife also belonged. She died when about fifty-five years old. To their union were born eleven children, of whom our subject is the third, and of whom three sons and four daughters survive, namely: Michael, a farmer of Grand River Township; Mrs. Rebecca Davidson, a widow living in Grand River; John F.; Mrs. Maria Eller, a widow living in California; Mrs. Catherine Koger, a widow who resides in Grand River; Sallie, the wife of T.T. Beck, of Grand River; and Joseph, who resides upon the homestead in Decatur Township. The following have passed away; Ann, who was a school teacher and died when twenty years of age; Cyrus; Mary; and one who died in infancy.

John F. Crees was reared in Decatur Township and early in life became familiar with approved agricultural methods. In his early manhood he traveled to a considerable extent and made two trips across the plains to California, returning the first time by way of the Isthmus of Panama. In 1867 he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and for many years was actively engaged in farming in this county. In addition to growing the usual crops, he bought, fed, raised and sold stock, handling many head annually. At one time he operated about six hundred acres of land in the northwestern part of Decatur Township and he now owns about one thousand acres which is comprised in three farms of respectively one hundred and sixty, five hundred and forty, and three hundred and fifty acres. His land is now farmed by his sons and it is situated in Long Creek, Decatur, Grand River and Richland Townships. He received eighty acres from his father's estate but has acquired title to all of the rest by his own well planned and unremitting labor.

In 1867 Mr. Crees married Miss Margaret E. Koger, who was born and reared in Harrison County, Missouri, but was residing in this county at the time of her marriage. She passed away about nine years ago, when fifty-three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Crees became the parents of fourteen children, seven of whom survive, namely: Cyrus, who is farming the home place; Jordan, who is operating what is known as the Varga place, which is now owned by our subject; Cedothia, the wife of Harry Weldon, of Grand River; Fred and Grover, both of whom are cultivating land belonging to our subject; Kline, at home; and Henry, who resides in Nebraska. Those deceased were: Mrs. Etta Buell, who died leaving two children; Lizzie, who married Amos Bell and became the mother of three children; one who died in infancy unnamed; Lena, who died when about four years old; Hayward, who died at the age of two years; and Granville, the first born, who died at the age of six months.

Mr. Crees is a democrat and for several years served as supervisor of his township. During the Civil War he enlisted from this county in Company I, Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served for a year, after which he was honorably discharged. He at one time belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Decatur but has now allowed his membership to lapse. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Grand River Township and take a leading part in the furtherance of its work. He has not only gained an unusual measure of material prosperity but he has also won the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens to a marked degree and is recognized as one of the most valued residents of Grand River, where he has lived in honorable retirement for the past nine years.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014

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From Olive Wheelwright in Des Moines comes the following:

John F. CREES served in Co. I, 34th Iowa Infantry in Civil War. Age 21, residence Decatur Co., nativity Ohio, enl. Aug. 15, 1862. Discharged for disability April 10, 1863, Chicago, Illinois.

The GAR Index Card gives his name as John Frederick, born Jan. 12, 1840, Wayne Co., Ohio. Died May 24, 1920, Grand River; buried Oak Hill, Funktown Cemetery, Grand River, Decatur Co., Iowa. His father was Joseph and his mother Catherine COPPERSMITH. He had 12 children: Mary M. Howard, Lena, Granville - all deceased. Also Cyrus and Frederick of Grand River, Iowa, and Kline, Henry, John, Libbie Bell, Mrs. Harry JORDAN of Weldon, Iowa, and Mrs. Lou BUELL of Davis City, Iowa.

[Transcriber's note: the GAR is the Grand Army of the Republic, the fore-runner to the American Legion.]

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person (s).

Submission by Joey Stark, February of 2006