Richard Griffith Rees 1850-1901

REES, ERDMAN, MARTIN, RAWITZER, ANDERSON

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 2/26/2013 at 08:48:06

CAUGHT BY THE MILL SHAFT.

R. G. Rees Rescued by His Two
Sons from a Position of
Greatest Danger.

ACCIDENT AT THE PUMPING STATION.

About 4 o'clock Saturday afternoon City Councilman R. G. Rees was assisting in making the connections of the new pumps at the pumping station. One of the pumps is to derive its power from the large shaft which furnishes the motor power for the grist mill and the building in which the pumps are located is constructed so that this shaft passes through one end of it, being at this point only a few inches above the ground. Mr. Rees stooped over the shaft to get a small piece of lumber which was lying between the shaft and the wall when the strong overcoat which he was wearing at the time was caught by some bolts on the shaft and he was drawn forward and partly under this large piece of machinery which was moving with irresistible force. His sons, Herbert and Harry, were employed near by, Herbert in the same building and Harry on the outside. Herbert heard the noise made by the tearing of his father's clothing and hastening to his assistance saw his father's head and right arm drawn between the shaft and the ground with his face upward and against the bolts which were rapidly cutting his mouth. Herbert pulled and held him away as far as possible but was unable to tear loose the clothing which by this time was tightly wound about the shaft, but Harry also heard the commotion and came to the rescue and by his assistance Mr. Rees more dead than alive and almost destitute of clothing was torn away from the revolving machinery. The boys wrapped him in the own clothing and immediately carried him across the steer to his home where he at once received medical attention. The right shoulder was dislocated and the arm severely strained and wrenched; his face was somewhat lacerated but aside from this no injuries of an alarming character were noticed.

It was impossible to stop the machinery from the room in which they were at work and even if it had been possible to have thrown it out of gear the momentum would have been sufficient to have kept it revolving for some time.

[handwritten on clipping is "Dec-14-01"]

Source: Entler Scrapbooks, vol. 4, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA

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RICHARD GRIFFITH REES.

Bonaparte Carriage Manufacturer
Dies from Injuries
Received in An Accident.

OBITUARY.

Richard Griffith Rees was born in Cardiff, Wales, May 18, 1850. When a boy of six years he, together with his parents, sailed for America and was shipwrecked and tossed about upon the Atlantic for sixteen weeks.

They first came to Chicago, Illinois, but remained there only a short time, removing to northern Iowa in 1856, and finally locating in East Dubuque, Illinois. At the age of seventeen Richard secured an apprenticeship as carriage smith with The Thomas Conley Carriage Manufacturing Co., of Dubuque, Iowa, and remained with the company until he was twenty-one. He next moved to Pladville [sic], Wisconsin, where he met Miss Carrie Erdman to whom he was married at Galena, Illinois, January 14, 1873.

In July, 1774 [sic], they came to Bonaparte and Mr. Rees entered into a partnership with D. W. Riggle in the manufacture and sale of vehicles. In 1891 Mr. Rees assumed the entire control, Mr. Riggle retiring from the firm. By industry and fair dealing, by close attention to work and careful inspection of every material which entered into the construction of his vehicles, he built up a thriving business for himself and his town.

The imposing three story structure on Front street is a monument to thrift and enterprise of R. G. Rees. It cannot seem possible that Mr. Rees is dead, it was but yesterday that we saw him in the blacksmith shop and there conversed with him, and if one would enter the door of his shop today he would expect to hear his friendly greeting. "There is but a step between us and death."

On Saturday, Dec. 14, while assisting his sons in the new water works power house, Mr. Rees, being caught by the immense mill shaft and crushed to insensibility, was only rescued by the heroic efforts of his two sons. That he was not instantly killed was almost a miracle. It was at first supposed that a shoulder dislocation was his worst injury, but later developments proved that he had sustained mortal wounds. Mr. Rees did not seem to realize his dangerous condition and told his friends that he would be again at work in three weeks. Alarming symptoms made themselves known in a few days and on the next Friday after the accident, Dr. Maxwell of Keokuk was summoned and gave it as his option that there was slight hope of his recovery. A few minutes after eight o'clock on Sunday morning, Dec. 22, the end came, and the news spread over the little city.

Mr. Rees always stood for temperance and morality, for right against wrong and was always an active worker in the interests of Bonaparte. He was elected a member of the first Town Council and has since served in that capacity. He was greatly interested in the water-works system which was indirectly the cause of his death, and was chairman of the water-works committee. he is one whom you have known, whom you have respected, loved, and honored with a place in the city government. His twenty seven years of life in Bonaparte have left an impress upon the town which will not soon be forgotten.

He was a member of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodman of American, both of which lodges assisted in the funeral services and did what they could to honor the memory of their dead brother. A number of visiting brothers from Keosauqua and Farmington were present and marched in the long procession to the church and the grave. The funeral services were held Thursday, Dec. 26, from the Methodist Church, Rev. G. W. Barber of Drakesville being in charge. The large audience, the beautiful floral offerings that covered the casket, and the tears of sympathy all gave token of the universal esteem in which he was held. The body was interred in the Bonaparte cemetery, the lodges in charge offering an impressive ceremony at the grave.

The wife who was so suddenly bereaved, and the two sons, Herbert E. and Harry, who now mourn the loss of their father, have the sympathy of the entire community.

The following relatives were present at the funeral services: Miss Rosa Martin, a half sister of Mrs. Rees, and Miss Mamie Rawitzer, a niece, from Omaha; _____ Rees, a cousin, of Aurora, Ill.; and Frank Anderson, a brother-in-law, of Epworth, Iowa.

Those who were unable to be present were: the three brothers, Henry Rees of Missoula, Mont., John Rees who was snowbound at White Sulphur Springs, Mont., and Chas. Rees of Dubuque, Iowa, whose mother was so ill he could not leave her; four sisters, one at Medicine Hat in the Northwest Territory, one at Waterloo, one at Epworth, and one at Julian, Iowa. There were also other relatives who were prevented from being present.

[handwritten on clipping is "1901"]

Source: Entler Scrapbooks, vol. 4, Iowa Historical Library, Iowa City, IA

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