Albert Thomas Rees

REES, DAVIS, HOBBS, BARRUS, CHILDERS, HOPKINS

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 6/8/2006 at 13:45:51

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
December 4, 1924

Death Claims A. T. REES

Dies in Des Moines Hospital, Following Operation

A. T. Rees, lifelong resident of Winterset, and widely known through long business acquaintance, died in Des Moines Sunday night, Dec. 1, 1924, following an operation performed that morning.

Two weeks ago, Mr. Rees was at his place of business. While he had been in poor health for the past year or more, he made little complaint and consequently his friends throughout the county were pained and shocked by the announcement of his death, which seems peculiarly untimely.

With the death of Mr. Rees, there passes from Winterset an insstitution that was unusual in point of public service and continuous operation by father and son.

In 1866, David Rees and wife came to Winterset to make this their home. Mr. Rees engaging in the blacksmith business at the place known all over Madison county as Rees' shop. A. T. was born in Winterset the same year. He attended the Winterset schools, but even when a small boy, began learning the trade under the instruction of his father, who was unusually skilled in his occupation. So for 58 years, the Rees shop has been in the hands of father and son. In recent years, modern improvements were added, but always it was an institution in Madison county where pride of workmanship and honest service to the public was the constant endeavor and was carried on without self-proclaimed virtue.

"Allie" Rees' death will be a real loss to this community. It will be felt as a personal loss in many a home, for he had sterling qualities of manhood beneath an unpolished surface. Honestly, industry, unselfishness and devotion to his family, and a sense of wholesome humor were some of the traits that made him a good citizen, a useful business man and a friend worth while.

Funeral services were held from the Tidrick funeral home on Wednesday afternoon, the Knights of Pythias order participating at the grave of one whom they held in high esteem.
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Winterset Madisonian – December 4, 1924
Pg 12

Albert Thomas Rees, son of David F. and Elizabeth Jane Rees, was born in Winterset, July 16, 1866 and died at Mercy hospital in Des Moines Dec. 1, 1924, at the age of 58 years, 4 months and 15 days. He was one of a family of three children, one brother dying in infancy, and one sister, Maggie B. Hobbs of Winterset.

He was associated in business with his father from the time he was 18 until his father’s death in 1900 and has since carried on the business at the same place. He was a man of sterling worth, kind and generous, always thinking of others more than himself.

He was married April 4, 1889 to Mary M. Davis, who departed this life April 4, 1901. To this union were born three children: Hazel M. Barrus, Edna I. Childers and Albert D. Rees. On June 10, 1909 he was married to Mayme W. Hopkins, who was always a faithful and loving wife and companion.

He leaves to mourn his loss, the wife, his children, seven grandchildren, his aged mother, Mrs. E. J. Rees, his sister, Mrs. B. D. Hobbs and Mrs. Rees’ children: Dale Hopkins, Mrs. Russell Rippey, Mrs. Glenn Hess and a host of friends. His health has been ailing for several years, but his courage and will power kept him going until within two weeks of his death.

Funeral services were conducted from the Tidrick funeral home on Wednesday afternoon by Rev. W. Z. Allen of the United Presbyterian church. The Knights of Pythias lodge attended in a body and conducted their ritualistic service at the grave.

(Note: He was the son of David and Elizabeth (Null) Rees. Burial was in the Winterset Cemetery)

Gravestone Photo
 

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