HENRY CREES

On the list of Cedar county’s honored dead is found the name of Henry Crees whose life, exceeding the Psalmist’s allotted span of three score years and ten, covered the period between the 27th of February, 1831, and the 19th of February, 1903. Born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, he was a son of John H. and Sarah (McLaughlin) Crees who, arriving in Cedar county in 1849, spent their remaining days here, the father in the meantime following the miller’s trade. In their family were the following children: Nancy, residing in Iowa township; Henry, of this review; Thomas, Neely and Joel, all deceased; and Joseph, also of Iowa township.

As a little lad of six years Henry Crees left his native state, accompanying his parents on their removal to Wayne county, Ohio. Later they returned for a year to the Keystone state and then, in 1845, came to Iowa, locating in Jefferson county. The year 1849 witnessed their arrival in Cedar county, and here Henry Crees was raised to manhood. During the period of his boyhood and youth he attended the country schools in the acquirement of an education and when not busy with his text-books assisted his father in the work of the farm. His early training was broad and comprehensive, serving as a substantial foundation upon which to win success. Entering the business world upon his own account, he took up the occupation of farming and continued to devote his remaining days to that vocation. He became the owner of two hundred acres of rich land located on section 34, Iowa township, and also twenty acres of timber land about six miles north of his home farm. The farm had originally belonged to his father-in-law and under the well directed efforts of both was brought under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Crees was also a successful stock-raiser, this branch of his business proving an additional source of remuneration. A man of good business ability, he possessed that spirit of energy and determination which is so essential to the attainment of success, and the exercise of these qualities resulted in a degree of prosperity which ranked him among the substantial farmers of his locality.

It was in the month of October, 1859, that Mr. Crees was united in marriage to Miss Mary Walter, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio, September 27, 1839, a daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Michener) Walter, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Walter, who was born in Chester county on the 17th of February, 1812, removed to Morgan county, Ohio, in 1839, and later, in 1852, to Whiteside county, Illinois, whence, in 1853, he came to Cedar county, Iowa. He passed away on the 10th of February, 1875, leaving a widow and eleven children. Mrs. Walter, also born in Chester county, on the 12th of December, 1816, was a maiden of sixteen years when, in 1832, she accompanied her parents on their removal from Pennsylvania to Belmont county, Ohio. Four years later they removed to Harrison county and there, on the 11th of August, 1836, she gave her hand in marriage to Daniel Walter. Her death occurred on the 3d of March, 1900. In their family were the following children: James, of Mitchellville; Mary, the wife of Henry Crees; William, of California; John; Wilson, deceased; Louisa, the widow of Charles E. Buckman, of West Liberty; Joseph, residing in Mitchellville; Amy, the widow of Albert Bonsall, of Woodbine, Iowa; Milton, making his home in Montana; Phoebe, the wife of Ira McAninch, of Oklahoma; and Henrietta, who became the wife of A. H. Floyd, of West Liberty.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Crees was blessed with ten children, namely: John H., who passed away in infancy; George, a resident of Muscatine county; Ida May, the wife of Alva W. Wilson, of South Dakota; Willard Lee, of Iowa township; Anna Bell, who died when but nine months old; Nancy, the wife of W. W. Cary, of Rochester township; Amy, who became the wife of C. L. Aikins, of Iowa township, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume; Herbert and Chester, operating the home farm; and Nelly Blanch, at home.

Mr. Cress was an earnest and faithful member of the Presbyterian church from 1873 until the time of his death, in the work of which he was ever actively and helpfully interested. In politics he was an active worker in the local ranks of the democratic party, giving stanch support to its principles and doing everything in his power to further its influence in this locality. A man whose interests were ever thoroughly identified with those of his country, he was loyal in citizenship, honorable in business, kindly in action and true to every trust confided to his care, and his life was ever the highest type of Christian manhood. It was a matter of deep regret, therefore, when, on the 19th of February, 1903, news was received of his demise, and with his passing Cedar county lost one of its valued and useful citizens.