The Cyrus Crees Family

CREES

Posted By: Stacey McDowell Dietiker (email)
Date: 11/3/2001 at 22:30:03

Subject: The Cyrus Crees Family
Date: Tuesday, May 22, 2001 4:32 PM

The Cyrus Crees Family

Henry H. Crees (b. in Pa., Nov. 30, 1786) and Mary Magdaline Haney were
united in marriage on Feb. 14, 1805. To this union were born 11 children,
the sixth of whom was Joseph Crees (b. Oct. 5, 1814), the perpetuator of the
Crees family in Decatur County. Joseph was married to Catherine Ann
Coppersmith (b. March, 1812) and started a home and family in Allegheny
County, Pa. Henry died July 29, 1847.

In the following year Mary Magdaline, accompanied by Joseph and four of his
brothers (and families), started west. They settled in Jefferson County,
Ia., in 1848; but the brothers soon scattered to separate parts of Iowa: one
in the vicinity of Fort dodge and one in Wayne county (the father of Phil
Crees, who resided in Grand River for several years, and Joe Crees, who
resided in Lineville).

Joseph and family, his mother, and brother Henry (b. Jan. 11, 1823) came to
Decatur County in the fall of 1854. Settling in the northwestern part of
Decatur Twp., they built a log cabin about 60 rods east of the township line
on the south bank of the Grand river for the winter. In the following spring
they built a log house on higher ground in the N. W. corner of the south
one-half of the N. W. one-fourth of Sec. 6, Decatur Township, and lived there
for 3 years, later relocating 1/4 mile west, where they lived and died.

Joseph bought land from the government and from the Indians, acquiring a
considerable amount. (There were many Indians living here at this time, and
Joseph's children had more Indian playmates than white). Joseph gave each of
his eight children 80 acres of land as they became of age or married. Joseph
broke land with 8 yoke of oxen and a plow that cut and turned a 36-inch
furrow.

In the meantime Henry, Jr., and his mother located on the S. E. 1/4 of Sec.
34, Richland Township, which is now known as Shewmaker Park. Henry married
Mary E. Beck, daughter of John H. Beck (a resident of Decatur Township).
After Henry's mother died (Aug. 19, 1866) and was buried in Oak Hill
Cemetery, he moved to Kansas.

Joseph, Senior, was a man of many trades. He owned and operated the first
sawmill and the first threshing machine in his neighborhood. They were run
by horse power. He quarried limestone for building stone and burnt limestone
in kilns for lime and plaster. The quarry was some 50 rods northeast of the
present old brick house (where the river ran at that time). The rock house
that his son Fred built was made from rock that Joseph had quarried. He also
made and burn brick. His son Michel built a brick house from his brick (This
would be where Ronnie Binning's new home now stands). The first community
school was a log building which was replaced by a brick building, the brick
made by Joseph, Senior. This was called the Diamond School, which stood
southwest across the road from the present Richard Binning home. Joseph,
Senior, got his clay for brick out of the river bank some 400 feet southeast
of the brick house. Joseph also quarried rock and burnt lime at the ford 1/2
mile west of the present Loren Parkhurst home.

Joseph and Catherine Ann lived and died in the faith of the United Brethern
Church. Catherine died on Jan. 30, 1885; Joseph, on May 2, 1897. Both were
buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

To be continued....

Copied from Reflections of Grand River, Iowa 1881-1981 by Stacey McDowell
Dietiker

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