Joseph W. Crees, who is numbered among the old and honored pioneers of Cedar county, has the distinction of being the only surviving one of the old settlers residing on the road from Tices bridge to Pedee, a distance of about thirteen miles. As he grew up in this locality he has been an interested witness of much of its growth and development and was closely identified for a number of years with its business and agricultural interests.
One of Ohio’s native sons, he was born in Wayne county, May 15, 1839, his parents being John H. and Sarah (McLaughlin) Crees, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born on the 13th of January, 1806, and the mother on the 21st of May, 1804, and both passed away in Cedar county, the former in April, 1879, and the latter in June, 1870. In their family were six children, of whom the subject of this review is the youngest in order of birth. The others were: Nancy, who makes her home with her brother, Joseph W.; Henry, deceased, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Thomas M., Neely and Joel, who have all passed away.
In early childhood Joseph W. Crees left the state of his nativity and, with his parents, went to Pennsylvania, where a year was spent. The family then came to Iowa in 1845, two or three months being spent at Fort Madison, whence they removed to what was known as the “new purchase” and was the last purchase of land made from the Indians. After a year at that place the family went to Salem, Henry county, and in the winter of 1848-9 came to Cedar county, the family home being established at Pedee, Iowa township. Joseph W. Crees was a lad of ten years when he came with his parents to this county and within its borders he has since continued to live, covering a period of more than six decades. He was reared to farm life but later took up veterinary surgery and for twenty-five years after his marriage was engaged in that pursuit. Subsequently, however, he turned his attention to farming and became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land located on section 27, Iowa township. There for a number of years he carried on farming and stock-raising, and his efforts in that direction were so well directed and his interests so carefully managed that as the years passed his labor was rewarded with a substantial degree of prosperity which made it possible for him to lay aside active work and leave the actual management of his affairs to others. He rents the farm to his sons and now, in the evening of life, is enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of former toil.
It was in 1872 that Mr. Crees was united in marriage to Miss Jane Linn, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, April 20, 1849, and in 1855 came to Cedar county with her parents, Moses and Hannah (Darner) Linn, both of whom passed away in this county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crees were born nine children, as follows: James L., of Oklahoma; Clyde H., also residing in that state; Verrena, the wife of Fred Schafnit, of Atalissa; Edgar M., of Iowa township; Estelle, who wedded Charles Adams, of Rochester township; Frank, at home; Alice J. and Luella, also at home; and Florence, who passed away at the age of three years.
Outside of the demands made upon his attention by his business interests Mr. Crees has yet found time and inclination for other interests in life and is an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Ionic Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Atalissa. He was also a member of the Presbyterian church at Pedee until it went out of existence, and the teachings of that denomination have ever been the guiding influences in his life. In politics he gives stanch allegiance to the democratic party and has served his township as trustee and in other official capacities. Although he has passed the Psalmist’s allotted span of three score years and ten, he yet retains a deep interest in all vital questions relative to local and national affairs and ranks among the honorable and valued citizens of Cedar county. As one of the oldest surviving settlers of the locality in which he resides, he is recognized as authority upon many subjects concerning the history of this section, his memory forming a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present.
