Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah November 1, 2020

Although comparatively a new arrival in Carroll county, Chris H. Reese, editor and manager of the Carroll Times, has made a highly favorable impression and ranks among the public-spirited and enterprising citizens who are to be found in the advance line in everything pertaining to the permanent interest of the county. Born of German parents in Denmark near Veile, his eyes first opened to the light of day June 21, 1881. He is a son of Christ M. and Maria (Skou) Reese, both of whom were natives of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The father was a contractor and builder. He came to America in 1889 and after spending two years at his trade at Marinette, Wisconsin, brought his family to this country and settled at Storm Lake, Iowa, where he continued in his trade. He is now living in Buena Vista county, Iowa, and is engaged in farming. He and his wife are sincere members of the Lutheran church. There were eight children in their family, five sons and three daughters, namely, Chris H., Christine, Nels, George, Peter, Nettie, Alma and Henry. The grandfather on the paternal side was a native of Schleswig-Holstein and a farmer. He died in Denmark. The maternal grandfather was Niels Skou, also a farmer, and his wife was Hannah Winter. They both died in Denmark, having reared a large family.

Chris H. Reese arrived in the new world at the age of ten years. He grew to manhood at Alta, in Buena Vista county, Iowa, and possessed advantages of attendance at the public schools. At the age of fourteen he began learning the printer’s trade and is an all-around printer, having ever since been identified with the business. He published the Alta Observer for a short time, being then the youngest editor in the state. He later edited and managed several papers in the northwestern part of Iowa and in 1910 came to Carroll and purchased stock in the Carroll Times of which he has since been editor and manager. The paper is one of the well established publications in this part of the state and under his management its circle of readers is steadily increasing.

On the 14th of September, 1902, Mr. Reese was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Rucker, who was born at Cerro Gordo, Illinois, a daughter of James A. and Josephine (Merritt) Rucker, also natives of Illinois. The mother died at Cerro Gordo in 1892 but the father is still living and makes his home at Ramona, South Dakota. They had eight children, Bessie, Bert, Pearl, Louis, Orville, George, Hazel and Mont. Three children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Reese, Marion, James and Creston.

Mr. Reese is not identified with any religious denomination but his wife is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In politics he adheres to the democratic party and is an active worker and writer in its behalf. He is a man of good judgment, thoroughly alive to the possibilities of Carroll county and one who has the ability, energy and persistence so necessary in the accomplishment of worthy ideas. His friends prophesy for him a brilliant future as editor of the Carroll Times.

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